Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure
Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: Topskin69 on May 25, 2007, 02:02:05 PM
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For those that may not know....over the last two days...Gold's venice has been removing all of the images of ARNOLD....
First they tore down the Muscle Beach mural...then they tore down the "Mecca Of Bodybuilding" mural that contained pictures of Arnold, Haney, Lenda Murray, Corey Everson, and Dorain Yates. They also took down a similer picture that was hanging upstairs near the posing room.
I asked the front desk about this, and they told me that Arnold owns the rights to any of his pictures, and that he doesnt want them in Gold's. They also told me that he would be coming down in a few days for a "meeting," (whatever that means).
If anyone else knows more about this, (maybe Chick and offer some insight), I would love to hear about it.
You know its a sad day in bodybuilding when Arnold no longer wants to be assicoated with Gold's.
M!
"You have the right to freedom of speech. That is as long as you arent dumb enough to actully try it!"
Joe Strummer
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Interesting....
I was also suprised to see Arnolds Column back in the lates Flex, after that major clusterfuck years ago.
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Interesting. After hearing Arnolds speech at the Arnold or Olympia recently (within the last couple years) I was glad to see he embraced the thing that gave him the opportunity's he's had.
Now I read this and think it would really be too bad if, at this stage of his life, he turned his back on bodybuilding....That aint being true to your self.
However, I also think it could be related to the recent Venice Beach bodybuilding show problems with the old timer.
If so, and this is a show of support for Arnolds old friend, then I applaud him. It would show that he really is 100% true to himself and the thing that gave him the opportunity's, bodybuilding.
Like I said in the Venice Beach BB show thread, I would not support the show either if I were a part of that Venice community and if what we read is true I don't think any BB's should.
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I dont think Arnold's column ever left, but his finanical intrest in Ami/Weider had to be cut.
In any event it was depressing to see those mural's get taken down. Hopefully they replace it with another bodybuilding related picture. They also took down all the Mr. America pictures, (although they may have done it just to make room to work...for all I know they might be putting them back up.)
I just hope this isnt the begining of Gold's management attempt to distance themselves from bodybuilding.
M!
"When the populace becomes involved in thinking...All is lost!"
Voltaire
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Arnold disowned Golds many years ago when Joe Gold started the World Gym franchise, so this comes as no surprise.
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Yes...I thought about Joe Gold and World's....but you would think that he would have had his pictures pulled a long time ago. Also all of the pictures are taken from his Gold's/Venice era....they are part of the rich history that is Gold's/Venice.....and its a shame if he pulls the plug.
M!
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Yes...I thought about Joe Gold and World's....but you would think that he would have had his pictures pulled a long time ago. Also all of the pictures are taken from his Gold's/Venice era....they are part of the rich history that is Gold's/Venice.....and its a shame if he pulls the plug.
M!
It is a shame the pics have come down..its not like he's losing any money by them being up.. I wonder what repercussions this might make across all gyms who carry Arnold's pics?
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It is a shame the pics have come down..its not like he's losing any money by them being up.. I wonder what repercussions this might make across all gyms who carry Arnold's pics?
I think he has simply become disgusted the way Golds has turned out to be the fag gym it is now..
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Ugh...I hope this isnt the start of a trend....I will say this though...if they continue to take down pictures and piss on bodybuilding. I will simply jump ship and start training at Worlds/Marina Del Ray. Training at Gold's is depressing at times, (when one looks around and sees all the clowns that hang out there now), but even then...there is still a sense of history that premeates the place. I think they could toss out every picture/bodybuilding refrence in the building, and the atosphere will still remain. There is just something special about the place.
Also there are still serious bodybuilders/pros that go there...so hope isnt quite lost yet.
M!
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That's really sad news.
-HOS
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Hmmm, Never heard of him.....Does he lift??
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For those that may not know....over the last two days...Gold's venice has been removing all of the images of ARNOLD....
First they tore down the Muscle Beach mural...then they tore down the "Mecca Of Bodybuilding" mural that contained pictures of Arnold, Haney, Lenda Murray, Corey Everson, and Dorain Yates. They also took down a similer picture that was hanging upstairs near the posing room.
I asked the front desk about this, and they told me that Arnold owns the rights to any of his pictures, and that he doesnt want them in Gold's. They also told me that he would be coming down in a few days for a "meeting," (whatever that means).
If anyone else knows more about this, (maybe Chick and offer some insight), I would love to hear about it.
You know its a sad day in bodybuilding when Arnold no longer wants to be assicoated with Gold's.
Awwww, man. What the hell is going on? :-\
Those are extrememly motivational pictures of Arnold hanging on Gold's Gym walls. I know this has to be from Arnold's part because what gym in their right mind would take down any picture(s) of him? This really comes as a surprise for me. :(
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If i was Arnold i wouldnt want to be associated with modern day bodybuilding but why would you take it out on golds
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If i was Arnold i wouldnt want to be associated with modern day bodybuilding but why would you take it out on golds
why??
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Yeah, I noticed the murals being painted over too. It's pathetic. That was THE gym- the most famous in the world. It has a legacy like no other, and now they're dismantling the history piece by piece. World won't be an option though because that's going softcore too now. I guess "The Mecca" of bodybuilding is no more... >:(
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Yeah, I noticed the murals being painted over too. It's pathetic. That was THE gym- the most famous in the world. It has a legacy like no other, and now they're dismantling the history piece by piece. World won't be an option though because that's going softcore too now. I guess "The Mecca" of bodybuilding is more... >:(
I know only of 2 "hardcore" gyms in SoCal....
Milos' and Armz's....
Definitely the end of an era.
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Yeah, I noticed the murals being painted over too. It's pathetic. That was THE gym- the most famous in the world. It has a legacy like no other, and now they're dismantling the history piece by piece. World won't be an option though because that's going softcore too now. I guess "The Mecca" of bodybuilding is more... >:(
I thought you liked Arnold
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Ugh....Something...or someone has to give.... We shouldnt let Gold's go down the drain without a fight...perhaps if more pro's started to come back and stick out like a sore thumb...that might help.
Jay has been stopping by here and there....maybe he can spend some more time at the Mecca...
If they continue to shit all over the legacy I feel that a boycott (for those that live in the Venice area), might be in order.
M!
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Don't be surprised to see more and more "phasing out" of bodybuilding pics and publicity in Gold's Gyms across the country...
Source : http://www.goldsgym.com/golds/pressroom/press_new.php?id=29
Advertising Age: Hasta La Vista, Musclemen
Gym Chain Associated With Schwarzenegger and His Buff Brethren Wants to Overhaul Its Image
03.19.2007
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) – Gold's Gym, arguably the highest-profile name in the workout-club category, is undergoing an extreme brand makeover.
Once known as a musclehead mecca, Gold's is reaching for a bigger share of the $16 billion industry by marketing itself in a kinder, gentler, fashion: as a health-and-fitness center for everyone from babies to baby boomers.
"We must evolve," said Gold's Gym Senior VP-Chief Marketing Officer Joe Flanigan. "If we stay exactly where we've been, soccer moms and boomers move on and we remain a brand with nice black-and-white photographs of when Arnold [Schwarzenegger] used to work out there."
A weighty proposition
With rivals such as Bally Total Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness edging closer to its lead, Gold's is leveraging its $30 million ad budget with a print, TV, radio and internet campaign featuring the tagline "Change Your Body. Change Your Life." Executions, created by independent Riester Agency, Phoenix, include a senior citizen lifting weights and a woman in a lap pool, among others.
Without completely trashing its 41-year history and tradition – in fact, it's keeping its iconic logo of a chiseled bodybuilder with a sagging barbell – Gold's is walking a fine line. It wants to trade on its experience in the field but at the same time lose the perception, found in its own company research, that the brand is viewed as a place where bodybuilders craft their physiques and intimidate anyone else trying to work out.
"The bottom line is – and this is what we told the franchise system – the trick here is to fully leverage the expertise and authority platform we have while minimizing the musclehead/intimidating factor," Mr. Flanigan said. "We have 40 years of heritage, but I believe you can rebrand yourself."
New aesthetics
So does Ernest Lupinacci, a former creative with Wieden & Kennedy who worked on the ESPN and Nike accounts and is now the creative director of Ernest Industries, New York. "There's a distinction between your gesture and your aesthetic," he said. "Their aesthetic isn't trying to bench press a Ford minivan. Their aesthetic is physical fitness, but at one point in time, that manifested itself in bodybuilding. I would argue that in the market space, Gold's Gym has great brand equity, and what they have to do is convince people of the proficiency they have in fitness."
The health-and-fitness-center industry is, well, healthy. Between 1995 and 2005, U.S. health-club memberships rose 71% to 41.3 million, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. The number of clubs that opened nationally in 2005 jumped to nearly 29,000, up 21% from 2004.
But the industry is highly fragmented. The 50 largest companies -- which include Gold's Gym, 24 Hour Fitness, Bally's Total Fitness, Lifetime Fitness, Curves and LA Fitness -- hold only about 30% of the market. Nonprofits, such as the YMCA, operate more than 5,000 of the 29,000 clubs.
Gold's had $1.2 billion in revenue last year from its 620 clubs, including 500 in the U.S. Bally Total Fitness had $1.05 billion from 361 units, and 24 Hour Fitness had $1 billion from 340 units.
No Control
An earlier hurdle for Gold's was that its advertising and marketing were also fragmented; franchisees sometimes weren't on the same page as corporate. "People were doing what they wanted. There was no control from a brand perspective," said Cody Pierce, Gold's Gym director-franchise marketing, who came onboard with Mr. Flanigan two years ago when TRT Holdings bought the franchise. "We had to step up and provide franchisees a good, solid marketing calendar with good promotions."
Gold's was also losing out on the 55-plus crowd. Health-club memberships in that demographic have increased a whopping 265% in the past 15 years, according to IHRSA. Gold's Gym membership from those 55 years and older was 7%, compared to an average of 25% overall, according to IHRSA.
To that end, Gold's has increased its alliances with various groups, including the American Diabetes Association, to associate its brand with "life-changing" causes.
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I think he has simply become disgusted the way Golds has turned out to be the fag gym it is now..
This makes the most sense.
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This is really a sad day.... I always thought that Gold's Venice would be immune to the changes of the rest of the company, but this doesnt appear to be the case at all.
Bodybuilding has degenerated to the point where we dont even have a flagship gym anymore.
Im at a loss for words.
M!
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Arnold disowned Golds many years ago when Joe Gold started the World Gym franchise, so this comes as no surprise.
Speaking of which, I was in Worlds Gym today (Marina Del Rey) having an arm blast with Robby Robinson and all the pics are coming down from there also. They close their doors on June 12th :'(
www.kagedmuscle.com
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Milos gave him some advices....told him to pull the pics to avoid any hassle from Robin Chang...
M!
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We need Chick's opinion on this... where ya at??
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I thought you liked Arnold
I do. But it's a misconception that Arnold has anything to do with this. It's Gold's Corporate (see the article a few posts back) calling the shots.
And for the record, Jerome Ferguson was doing everything he could, including spending his own money, to save that World Gym location. He knew Joe Gold for years and felt he owed it to Joe's memory to save that place. No such luck.
I guess my advice to everyone who's never trained there would be to get out to Marina del Rey before July 12th and train on the equipment Arnold and the boyz use in Pumping Iron, before it's gone for good.
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Thats crazy....maybe I will swing by world Tommorow...to pay some respects...
M!
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Don't be surprised to see more and more "phasing out" of bodybuilding pics and publicity in Gold's Gyms across the country...
Source : http://www.goldsgym.com/golds/pressroom/press_new.php?id=29
Advertising Age: Hasta La Vista, Musclemen
Gym Chain Associated With Schwarzenegger and His Buff Brethren Wants to Overhaul Its Image
03.19.2007
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) – Gold's Gym, arguably the highest-profile name in the workout-club category, is undergoing an extreme brand makeover.
Once known as a musclehead mecca, Gold's is reaching for a bigger share of the $16 billion industry by marketing itself in a kinder, gentler, fashion: as a health-and-fitness center for everyone from babies to baby boomers.
"We must evolve," said Gold's Gym Senior VP-Chief Marketing Officer Joe Flanigan. "If we stay exactly where we've been, soccer moms and boomers move on and we remain a brand with nice black-and-white photographs of when Arnold [Schwarzenegger] used to work out there."
A weighty proposition
With rivals such as Bally Total Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness edging closer to its lead, Gold's is leveraging its $30 million ad budget with a print, TV, radio and internet campaign featuring the tagline "Change Your Body. Change Your Life." Executions, created by independent Riester Agency, Phoenix, include a senior citizen lifting weights and a woman in a lap pool, among others.
Without completely trashing its 41-year history and tradition – in fact, it's keeping its iconic logo of a chiseled bodybuilder with a sagging barbell – Gold's is walking a fine line. It wants to trade on its experience in the field but at the same time lose the perception, found in its own company research, that the brand is viewed as a place where bodybuilders craft their physiques and intimidate anyone else trying to work out.
"The bottom line is – and this is what we told the franchise system – the trick here is to fully leverage the expertise and authority platform we have while minimizing the musclehead/intimidating factor," Mr. Flanigan said. "We have 40 years of heritage, but I believe you can rebrand yourself."
New aesthetics
So does Ernest Lupinacci, a former creative with Wieden & Kennedy who worked on the ESPN and Nike accounts and is now the creative director of Ernest Industries, New York. "There's a distinction between your gesture and your aesthetic," he said. "Their aesthetic isn't trying to bench press a Ford minivan. Their aesthetic is physical fitness, but at one point in time, that manifested itself in bodybuilding. I would argue that in the market space, Gold's Gym has great brand equity, and what they have to do is convince people of the proficiency they have in fitness."
The health-and-fitness-center industry is, well, healthy. Between 1995 and 2005, U.S. health-club memberships rose 71% to 41.3 million, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. The number of clubs that opened nationally in 2005 jumped to nearly 29,000, up 21% from 2004.
But the industry is highly fragmented. The 50 largest companies -- which include Gold's Gym, 24 Hour Fitness, Bally's Total Fitness, Lifetime Fitness, Curves and LA Fitness -- hold only about 30% of the market. Nonprofits, such as the YMCA, operate more than 5,000 of the 29,000 clubs.
Gold's had $1.2 billion in revenue last year from its 620 clubs, including 500 in the U.S. Bally Total Fitness had $1.05 billion from 361 units, and 24 Hour Fitness had $1 billion from 340 units.
No Control
An earlier hurdle for Gold's was that its advertising and marketing were also fragmented; franchisees sometimes weren't on the same page as corporate. "People were doing what they wanted. There was no control from a brand perspective," said Cody Pierce, Gold's Gym director-franchise marketing, who came onboard with Mr. Flanigan two years ago when TRT Holdings bought the franchise. "We had to step up and provide franchisees a good, solid marketing calendar with good promotions."
Gold's was also losing out on the 55-plus crowd. Health-club memberships in that demographic have increased a whopping 265% in the past 15 years, according to IHRSA. Gold's Gym membership from those 55 years and older was 7%, compared to an average of 25% overall, according to IHRSA.
To that end, Gold's has increased its alliances with various groups, including the American Diabetes Association, to associate its brand with "life-changing" causes.
Huge mistake by Gold's. First off the majority of the Gold's are franchises. Which means the owners pay for their own advertising, marketing and everything else associated with the gym. Corporate has raised the fees and costs of having a franchise. Owners have to set their prices at a cost where they can afford to stay in business, pay for advertising and market their club against clubs like 24 and Ballys. But, because the 24 and Bally's are all corporate owned gyms they have way more money for advertising and marketing and support. They act as one. They can also set their membership prices lower than most other clubs can. And today its pricing that the consumer is looking at because most clubs are getting to be the same. I mean weights are weights, some have pools, nice locker rooms etc. Each Gold's is different and it depends on the owner on what goes into the gym and how much money he is willing to spend to make it better than the club down the street. The problem is he doesn't have the corporate backing and bank account where he can afford to offer monthly memberships at $20 a month. He needs to be at $30 a month or whatever. So the consumer is going to pick the lesser to save money since both clubs are about the same. I think it is a bad idea that they are changing. Gold's is unique. It is the original. Ever since Pete sold, it has gone downhill.
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I was speaking with "World" Will Harris not too long ago...he said that he had spoken recently with Ed Conners...and Ed spends everyday regreting that he ever sold Gold's....
I suppose the real question here is...what can we (the bodybuilding community) do about it....anything? Patronizing another "hardcore" gym really isnt a choice...there arent any left!
M!
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I was speaking with "World" Will Harris not too long ago...he said that he had spoken recently with Ed Conners...and Ed spends everyday regreting that he ever sold Gold's....
I suppose the real question here is...what can we (the bodybuilding community) do about it....anything? Patronizing another "hardcore" gym really isnt a choice...there arent any left!
M!
You know whats funny is the new owners offered Pete an executive position with his old pay and he didn't even have to do anything. They just wanted to use his name. He didn't want anything to do with them. Hey when you see Big Will ask him if I paid him what I owed him then come back on here and tell everyone what he says.
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Speaking of which, I was in Worlds Gym today (Marina Del Rey) having an arm blast with Robby Robinson and all the pics are coming down from there also. They close their doors on June 12th :'(
www.kagedmuscle.com
They're converting to Planet Fitness, right?
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Ironically, Joe Gold never put up photos of the champs in his Gold's Gym at 1066 Pacific, Venice. I asked him about that and he said why put photos up when those guys train there. Removing photos would be consistent with what Joe preferred. He did have a few photos in his World Gym when it was in Venice-Santa Monica. I remember taking some photos of the photos. Haney and Lou.
The gym business is a tough one to make a profit in. We have seen Bev and Steve with Golds and then Powerhouse but who are they with now? Those franchaise fees cost an arm and a leg and the return might not be worth it. I doubt Golds will be able to reinvent themselves.
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Yeah, I noticed the murals being painted over too. It's pathetic. That was THE gym- the most famous in the world. It has a legacy like no other, and now they're dismantling the history piece by piece. World won't be an option though because that's going softcore too now. I guess "The Mecca" of bodybuilding is no more... >:(
No joke, Shawn. If anything, leave the fuckin' "Mecca" alone! >:(
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And for the record, Jerome Ferguson was doing everything he could, including spending his own money, to save that World Gym location. He knew Joe Gold for years and felt he owed it to Joe's memory to save that place. No such luck.
At least someone tried to take action.
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I guess my advice to everyone who's never trained there would be to get out to Marina del Rey before July 12th and train on the equipment Arnold and the boyz use in Pumping Iron, before it's gone for good.
I was fortunate enough to have. :)
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i don't buy it.
this whole bodybuilding intimidation thing has got so out of hand that i wouldn't be surprised if some of these supposedly 'intimidating' bbers started suing these wankers.
:o hey, that's not a bad idea!!!
i would invite any bber, pro or otherwise, that has been the victim of this type of defamation and, ironically enough, bullying, to file a civil suit against these pencil necks. >:(
just don't name the accused a 'pencil neck' when you do so or you may be counter sued. :-[
don't let these prissy little metrosexual girls (i'd leave that one out too btw) take your identity and legacy.
LET THE BODYBUIDING FRATERNITY STAND UNITED AND KICK THAT MUTHA FUCKIN SAND STRAIGHT BACK IN THEIR FACE!!!
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Hmmm, Never heard of him.....Does he lift??
Who?
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Well....something needs to be done. If nothing else if we can save the mecca...even if thats the LAST thing we, (the bodybuilding community), have. We should have at least one sacred cow....and that cow is in venice.
I will try to dig up some more info over the next few days...and pass it along. If nothing else maybe a "save Gold's Venice" petiton will be in order.
Hopefully im just overeacting...and this is just a reaction from the Gold's management to avoid any lawsuits from Arnold....(you would think he would have better things to do then worry about a few pictures hanging up on a wall). If thats the case I suppose we could bombard his office with some WTF?-style messages....
M!
P.S. ---Any comments Chick?
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I think he has simply become disgusted the way Golds has turned out to be the fag gym it is now..
don't tell that to Chuck Pendleton.
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Bodybuilding has degenerated to the point where we dont even have a flagship gym anymore.
Sure we do.... it's down in Fullerton. Unfortunately for Shawn Ray, he's banned from it! ;D
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this sport has become an abomination and ALL of you know it.
Why would a business trying to sell health use BB a backbone?
The un-countered greed and corruption within this "sport" reaps what it sows.
Clean it up and things would be different, why isn't that happening?
Yes, that was rhetorical.
sites like this that feed and grow in a anarchistic fashion underline that fact.
Any on here that post as fools have a hand in this (not that you care or possesss the responsiblity to rise above it and shout for something better). Keep in mind I didn't say all of GB. The fools know who you are as do the rest of us. the owner of this site allows such and he is directly responsible. no doubt about that as he hides behind "free speech" blah blah blah.
enjoy the results of your "work" and don't whine now
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this sport has become an abomination and ALL of you know it.
Why would a business trying to sell health use BB a backbone?
The un-countered greed and corruption within this "sport" reaps what it sows.
Clean it up and things would be different, why isn't that happening?
Yes, that was rhetorical.
sites like this that feed and grow in a anarchistic fashion underline that fact.
Any on here that post as fools have a hand in this (not that you care or possesss the responsiblity to rise above it and shout for something better). Keep in mind I didn't say all of GB. The fools know who you are as do the rest of us. the owner of this site allows such and he is directly responsible. no doubt about that as he hides behind "free speech" blah blah blah.
enjoy the results of your "work" and don't whine now
Yeah, that's it, it's Getbig's fault Arnold's pics are coming down! ::)
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A little surprised that someone who could do something about it say Arnold or Joe, hasn't stepped in on one or both of those gyms as well as the old Gold's a long while ago. Not necessary to make money on them, but possible.
It's time, guys. ;)
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Yeah, that's it, it's Getbig's fault Arnold's pics are coming down! ::)
there's free speech and there's responsible speech (but that takes a little effort) ;)
you guys threw that out the window long ago for your jollies.
And MORONBOY, stop for a second and TRY to think with a business perspective (hard for you I'm sure). As was stated, Gold's corporate is disassociating itself with BB not Arnold pulling the pictures (read a little at least will you?).
don't always deny - it makes you look even worse (possible?)
everything culminates.
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Is it just the pictures that have Arnold on it or are they doing away with all of them? ???
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Is it just the pictures that have Arnold on it or are they doing away with all of them? ???
Who's getting them and how long were they up?
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It's really too bad that Gold's Venice didn't just burn to the ground or get swallowed up by a giant sink-hole or something. Some things are best leaving like that... Elvis, Jim Morrison, Jimmy Hendrixs, Bruce Lee, James Dean.
Watching those guys get old and die would have been sad. Watching Gold's Venice slowly decay, rot, and die is sad.
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They're converting to Planet Fitness, right?
Nope, closing down. The owner of the building doesnt want a gym in the premisis. He would prefer to have it empty :(
www.kagedmuscle.com
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I was in Golds Venice in early September 2004 one morning and the place was packed. I never saw it busy like that before. Obviously they attract more than muscleheads there. Good for them.
Wonder why Arnold didn't buy the Marina Worlds Gym? Joe told him there was no money in the gym business but surely Arnold could have owned that property and it would have remained as a legacy to Joe and the past that helped Arnold succeed.
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Nope, closing down. The owner of the building doesnt want a gym in the premisis. He would prefer to have it empty :(
www.kagedmuscle.com
Good! One less Planet Fitness. Although no more World/Venice. :'(
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I was in Golds Venice in early September 2004 one morning and the place was packed. I never saw it busy like that before. Obviously they attract more than muscleheads there. Good for them.
Wonder why Arnold didn't buy the Marina Worlds Gym? Joe told him there was no money in the gym business but surely Arnold could have owned that property and it would have remained as a legacy to Joe and the past that helped Arnold succeed.
If anything, he needs to save the original Gold's/Venice on Pacific Avenue. :(
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This is really a sad day.... I always thought that Gold's Venice would be immune to the changes of the rest of the company, but this doesnt appear to be the case at all.
Bodybuilding has degenerated to the point where we dont even have a flagship gym anymore.
Im at a loss for words.
M!
Even though I don't like the trend of bodybuilding the past 15 years or so, I don't know if it really has degenerated, like you say.
When I first began training, 82 at 13 years old, it seemed the gyms were mostly filled with guys that wanted to be bigger, stronger, athletes and bodybuilder/powerlifter types with very few women.
Sometime in the 80s women started getting more and more into the class' at Jack LaLanne and Lucielle Roberts.
As a matter of fact the gym I trained at, mr Americas, was a bodybuilding type gym... Around 86 or so the owner sold the gym because he found out a gym was opening across the street that offered Aerobic classes and had lots of cardio equipment.... Within a couple years the Mr Americas gym shut down.
Today it isn't just guys like us that train...This thing has evolved tremendously...Now a big percentage of people are doing some form of exercise, from youth to senior.
I don't think it's BB becoming less popular as much as it's exercise becoming more popular...Marketing to the masses and not just a little group, relatively speaking.
I've been BB since age 13, competing since 15 until my last show 3 years ago. Since then I've become disgusted with the gyms in and around my neighborhood that I just went to the paper and bought some equipment and have been training at home or in the wrestling gym, but NOT in the "fitness centers" anymore.
Last time I was there I had a guy walk right between me and the rack during deadlifts, hahha...ya can't get upset with them they just don't get it, although common courtesy should have prevented it, although ettiquette is rare around south florida, haha.
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The new owners(TRT holdings) of Gold's Gym have no understanding of the fitness industry and its history. None of the top executives even work out, some probably never even step in a Gym before. What separates Gold's Gym from the others brands its unique heritage. Golds use to be a place her all the top athletes in the World go to. The kind of serious fitness and intensity is part of professional sports. Magic Johnson use to train at Gold's Venice even though he had part ownership of 24 Fitness. It is sad to see the destruction of the Mecca and part of the History of the fitness Industry.
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"Gold's Venice... the place where He Who Almost Died for You Bitches took his Advil!"
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I do. But it's a misconception that Arnold has anything to do with this. It's Gold's Corporate (see the article a few posts back) calling the shots.
And for the record, Jerome Ferguson was doing everything he could, including spending his own money, to save that World Gym location. He knew Joe Gold for years and felt he owed it to Joe's memory to save that place. No such luck.
I guess my advice to everyone who's never trained there would be to get out to Marina del Rey before July 12th and train on the equipment Arnold and the boyz use in Pumping Iron, before it's gone for good.
Joe Weider or Arnold could save it if they cared. They've got enough millions of dollars that I'm sure the owner would let them buy the place and all the equipment.
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yeah, it is a bit of a shame, but what is really the big deal? Bodybuilding has been declining for over 10 years, so this shouldn't be a big surprise. Venice Gold's still has a vast array of equipment and you can still get a great workout there. Yeah, I'd rather it stay true to its "roots", but life goes on- nobody or no industry should live in the past. Also, it's not like the place is totally bereft of big name pros or photo shoots.
Last night I was training there and saw some she-male working out there. She is some "famous" pro, but I can't remember her name. That is just a small example of what is wrong with modern bodybuilding. I mean, she looks completely hideous.
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Patronizing another "hardcore" gym really isnt a choice...there arent any left!
There are a few. Virginia Beach, VA...Flex Gym on Bonney Rd. If you're ever in the area, check it out.
Hell, this gym is the biggest reason I've stayed in this geography!
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I'm going to talk to a few people and see, if nothing else, we can at least save that equipment at World that everyone from Draper to Arnold to Lee Priest trained on. Some priceless photos there too that better not find their way to a dumpster.
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Gene LaMott was a good operator. Too bad he isn't with Golds anymore.
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Some priceless photos there too that better not find their way to a dumpster.
That would be fucked up! >:(
Put them on eBay or some shit!
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Bodybuilding has been declining for over 10 years
You got no arguement from me there. It's a damn shame. How I wish I could've lived in the days of the "Golden Age" of bodybuilding. :(
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I think he has simply become disgusted the way Golds has turned out to be the fag gym it is now..
yeah because back in Arnolds day there were no queers associated with BBing ::)
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Arnold will be in venice this weekend for the Muscle classic show
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Arnold will be in venice this weekend for the Muscle classic show
getbig ambush
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getbig ambush
HAHA he's in the gov't so this comment makes you a terrorist. BRUTAL THOUGHT-POLICE
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getbig ambush
This is a business decision totally. When normal (non-lifter) is asked to name a "hardcore gym", I guarantee the first thing out of their mouth is GOLD'S. I am in the gym business, bottom line is that hardcore facilities or facilities that have that reputation make less money than more family oriented fitness centers. The gyms my company owns and operates are really nice, and have awesome equipment, but it lacks an edge that I enjoy when training. In order to make more money we promote a different atmosphere, it against my personal preference, I sacrifice that to have my operations be more successful. Gold's and most other facilities are distancing themselves from bodybuilding because it alienates the normal gym member, all that does is cost you memberships. Unfortunately in this business we need to cater to the masses in order to survive, if we catered to a small segment of BBers or Powerlifters we would lose the bulk of our membership base that we worked so hard to get. Take for example Milos's gym, the place is great, but if he took the bbing element out he would make momre money, he would even tell you that. Can you imagine a soccer mom walking in looking for a membership and seeing a photo shoot in the middle of the place, Armin Schultz and Heiko Kallbach flexing and posing? She will leave scared for her life. She won't join and neither would anyone like her, that negativity travels fast. Even a normal guy training, what if he couldn't get on equipment on a certain day because people from FLEX magazine were there. Not great for business.
You guys are sad because of all the photos and murals coming down? The wall of Olympians is next, all the big portraits if the past Olympians will come down after this year's Olympia. Sad but true.
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Very sad.
Sad that the insecurities of a sedentary, apathetic public affect those of that give a crap so severely.
The most ironic thing is that 99% of the "intimidating" meat-heads keep largely to themselves when they train and would be the first to offer help or good advice to a novice.
I'm sure all of us have seen some inexperienced person doing an exercise incorrectly and have taken the time to show them the proper execution. Then there are the countless times we give training and diet advice...
We laugh and poke fun amongst ourselves, but the fact is that we're not intimidating, very helpful and want others to succeed.
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This is a business decision totally. When normal (non-lifter) is asked to name a "hardcore gym", I guarantee the first thing out of their mouth is GOLD'S. I am in the gym business, bottom line is that hardcore facilities or facilities that have that reputation make less money than more family oriented fitness centers.
All true but only half a loaf; Schwarzenegger, Joe and just a few others are in a position to act individually or collectively to preserve the old Gold's, either of these two gyms and any other worthwhile artifacts including the original gym equipment, without applying the usual business equations. They can either operate them at relatively small loses or find new ways to generate break-even profits or better. For example making the old Gold's into some type of BB Planet Hollywood museum/bar restaurant.
I realize that Arnold's bottom line is always self-interest; on the other hand he is a true BB fan as well and i'm surprised he hasn't done something in any of these cases.
There's still time (hint hint).
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Very sad.
Sad that the insecurities of a sedentary, apathetic public affect those of that give a crap so severely.
The most ironic thing is that 99% of the "intimidating" meat-heads keep largely to themselves when they train and would be the first to offer help or good advice to a novice.
I'm sure all of us have seen some inexperienced person doing an exercise incorrectly and have taken the time to show them the proper execution. Then there are the countless times we give training and diet advice...
We laugh and poke fun amongst ourselves, but the fact is that we're not intimidating, very helpful and want others to succeed.
It sucks, but it is business.
It makes no sense when you really look at it, a small subculture erupts and brings health and fitness to the forefront in this country. And now the people that jumped on that bandwagon are so critical of the same people that they once admired.
Same as I don't understand the concept of women's only facilities. Why are you more worried about people looking at you, than the results you are getting from your training? Besides that, women are more catty and shitty towards other women then men are. Weird.
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All true but only half a loaf; Schwarzenegger, Joe and just a few others are in a position to act individually or collectively to preserve the old Gold's, either of these two gyms and any other worthwhile artifacts including the original gym equipment, without applying the usual business equations. They can either operate them at relatively small loses or find new ways to generate break-even profits or better. For example making the old Gold's into some type of BB Planet Hollywood museum/bar restaurant.
I realize that Arnold's bottom line is always self-interest; on the other hand he is a true BB fan as well and i'm surprised he hasn't done something in any of these cases.
There's still time (hint hint).
It's a great idea, but Arnold has no say in what Gold's Gym Corporate wants to do. The front desk staff is lying, Arnold's pictures were taken down because management was told to take them down. The only way these clubs survive is if they are bought by an investor, and run under a different name.
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The only way these clubs survive is if they are bought by an investor, and run under a different name.
To an extent, I agree. Gold's is trying to be Bally's. Unfortunately for them, there are already several large chains that cater to this demographic. I think they'll be more successful in some areas (more dense population centers) than others. I have heard that 24-hour Fitness has largely bought Gold's out throughout Texas.
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It's a great idea, but Arnold has no say in what Gold's Gym Corporate wants to do. The front desk staff is lying, Arnold's pictures were taken down because management was told to take them down. The only way these clubs survive is if they are bought by an investor, and run under a different name.
With his name and money, it wouldn't take much to find out what it would take to work a deal before assuming the worst re: the old Gold's, the equipment and possibly the current Gold's & World's. He bought the rights to Pumping Iron for various reasons, could do same here.
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There are a few. Virginia Beach, VA...Flex Gym on Bonney Rd. If you're ever in the area, check it out.
Hell, this gym is the biggest reason I've stayed in this geography!
Flex is a great gym! And you won't find too many guys who know more about training than Big Al.
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To an extent, I agree. Gold's is trying to be Bally's. Unfortunately for them, there are already several large chains that cater to this demographic. I think they'll be more successful in some areas (more dense population centers) than others. I have heard that 24-hour Fitness has largely bought Gold's out throughout Texas.
I should clarify myself, they will survive, but to survive as they are they need an outside owner to come in.
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I should clarify myself, they will survive, but to survive as they are they need an outside owner to come in.
The only way these more hardcore facilities survive is you need a situation like in Texas, MetroFlex with Brian Dobson. He is not running the place as a business, it is fun for he and his friends, just like Joe Gold ran Gold's back in the 70's. You need a small space, with a dedicated owner that manages it, and that has another career or money to support himself. The monthly expenses too are heavy and keep getting more expensive, larger facilities need more members to offset this, take away the BBing atmosphere, and you end up with more members.
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It's a great idea, but Arnold has no say in what Gold's Gym Corporate wants to do. The front desk staff is lying, Arnold's pictures were taken down because management was told to take them down.
agreed. Arnold is a public figure and anyone can hang his picture anywhere.
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agreed. Arnold is a public figure and anyone can hang his picture anywhere.
Sure, but in terms of ownership there's plenty that could be explored.
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It's a very sad developement.
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yeah well with more and more golds getting busted for serious amounts of steriods distribution he dont need his name attached to that crap, bev francis is a true fucking idiot if anyone follows it youd know the evidence is sick (oh wait rick collins schmuck will help them) some will do serious time here especially since they claim a death and several serious health problems where a result of crap that they sold.
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agreed. Arnold is a public figure and anyone can hang his picture anywhere.
Exactly. Gold's owners are making the calls, not Arnold.
I might go by later today and say good-bye to an old friend.
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Another health center franchise rising!
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gold's corporate has been trying to run all hardcore lifters out for years, thats why no real mf's train there. The golds management use to constantly accuse me of using roids, but what business of it was theirs, when 85% of the gym including women were using roids.......its a shame that such a great thing like the murals in the second room of lenda, arnold and lee haney are being painted over, those pics gave the place a sense of history, and what the venice bbing lifestyle was about......and for those who dont know, world gym in marina del rey is staying worlds gym, a current bber and another went in partnership and it is now under new rule, and will change alot..................mo re of a gym for bbing and such.....its sad to see venice golds destroying the history of bbing and arnold, lee, and lenda...........peace... ..even if golds did reinstate my membership I would never want to train there, its a total shit gym now, nothing but skinny and out of shape people who know nothing about training. Its a sad case, atleast I get to enjoy myself and can train down at muscle beach and never have to worry about waiting for equipment or waiting on people reading newspapers, drinking coffe, and ones who arent even working out.
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Hey....I just wanted to update everyone...
Gold's Venice has now taken off ALL pictures of Arnold. When I started this thred they had only painted over the two murals that were in the 2nd room. Now all pictures are gone...and their wall of Olympia's looks pretty silly now that there is arnold's spot missing.
The front desk insists that this was done due to ARNOLD threating legal action if they were not taken down. No one can seem to tell me why Arnold gives a rat's ass about his pictures hanging up, but they do tell me he his slated to have a "meeting" with Gold's brass in about a weeks time.
Spoke to someone today that informed me that there has been a mandate from Gold's corperate to turn the MECCA into a regular Gold's and toss out the bodybuilding element completly. I will keep everyone posted on what winds up happening.
If this does wind up being a raw deal for us.....I feel that it will be a turning point for our subculture...we are starting to revert back to what is our, (arguably), rightfull status....outsiders. This isnt a bad thing per say...we just have to realize that we ARE a SUB-CULTURE and there is no hope of ever being in the mainstream, but just like any other sub-culture we need to adopt a reactionary mentality and band together. There is no reason why a "Hardcore" gym cant exist in the Venice area, (or in any large metropolitan area for that matter),....it just needs our support.
This could turn out to be a positive if it recreates the spirit of comadirie that existed "back in the day."
I would like to hear others ideas input on this.
M!
"Be carefull not to stare too long into the abyss. For when one gazes into the abyss for too long....the abyss will stare back into you."
Neitzsche
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I stated that golds has been doing this for years now..................... ....there are hardly any hardcore lifters left in the gym.......and I dont mean bbers..................t here isnt one pro who trains at golds or was there one that trained hard in the past 8 years that I trained there. I stated that World gym in marina del rey is going to become more hardcore friendly, jerome ferguson is part owner now and is changing the gym rules from what they use to be, so guys like us real hardcore guys have a place to train.
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Well....Worlds/Marina Del Ray closes its doors June 12th...despite Jerome's best efforts...so we are soon to be shit out of luck.
M!
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The front desk insists that this was done due to ARNOLD threating legal action if they were not taken down. No one can seem to tell me why Arnold gives a rat's ass about his pictures hanging up, but they do tell me he his slated to have a "meeting" with Gold's brass in about a weeks time.
maybe the people in the corporate office are hard core republicans and are upset with arnold's positions on health care and the environment.
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Sure, but in terms of ownership there's plenty that could be explored.
I have a poster of Arnold and I own it. He might have bought rights or whatever but I am pretty sure those are for the originals and negatives. It s impossible for him to make everyone in the world not use his pics. He would have to pay each person. I want $50,000,000 for mine.
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I do. But it's a misconception that Arnold has anything to do with this. It's Gold's Corporate (see the article a few posts back) calling the
If it turns out to be true Arnold does have something to do with htis it would be great for BB.
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there must be more to this.
no way would arnold be so pretentious as to attempt to extinguish traces of his bodybuilding success.
he has acknowledged on numerous occasions that his bodybuilding success was a very important factor in his gaining acceptance and adulation from the public.
in fact, it would not be difficult to argue that, if not for bbing, he would not have had the success he did in movies or the resulting fame that led him to his current status.
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Thats what I heard though through a promoter pretty sure the dude is on top his game too hopefully arnold is their I would love to see if he will be back
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There is no reason why a "Hardcore" gym cant exist in the Venice area, (or in any large metropolitan area for that matter),....it just needs our support.
This could turn out to be a positive if it recreates the spirit of comadirie that existed "back in the day."
I would like to hear others ideas input on this.
A savvy businessman and bodybuilding practitioner/fan might do well with a place which celebrated the history of bodybuilding and encouraged a serious atmosphere - a place which will be proud to "bear the torch" since Gold's is no longer willing.
Might even get a pretty good deal on some Gold's memorabilia and equipment if they're throwing it all away.
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If anything, he needs to save the original Gold's/Venice on Pacific Avenue. :(
Exactly. Thats the original, hardcore golds. And i think the building is for sale, the windows have been boarded over.
Arnold!!!!!!!!! Save the pacific GOLDS!!!!!!!
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Flex is a great gym! And you won't find too many guys who know more about training than Big Al.
You're not kidding! The man is a walking encyclopedia.
I wish I had come to this gym when I first moved to Va Beach instead of wasting 2 1/2 years at Gold's. I have made more progress over the last 6 months than in a normal year.
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I hear from Reliable Sources that Golds will be closing within 2 years as their lease is running out and they RENT the space where the gym is and do not own the building, land or parking lot - thus the owner is raising the prices to modern pricing to come in line with 2008-2009 market prices and will re-adjust the rent of Golds making it where they cannot afford the space anymore. In addition, the corporate Golds may be just out of it for never buying the property 20 years ago... Lesson here folks - always own the building/land where your business is - it is more valuable than the business...
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I hear from Reliable Sources that Golds will be closing within 2 years as their lease is running out and they RENT the space where the gym is and do not own the building, land or parking lot - thus the owner is raising the prices to modern pricing to come in line with 2008-2009 market prices and will re-adjust the rent of Golds making it where they cannot afford the space anymore. In addition, the corporate Golds may be just out of it for never buying the property 20 years ago... Lesson here folks - always own the building/land where your business is - it is more valuable than the business...
not everyone got that kinda cash when they start, mcdonalds owns most of their locations
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not everyone got that kinda cash when they start, mcdonalds owns most of their locations
Arnold may have asked specifically to have his pictures removed if Gold's is turning it's back on BBing, out of respect, and because they were going to do it anyways they pulled them down. The reality is that they are looking for a new image to become more profitable, their old reputation won't help them get there.
As far as their lease goes, this just may be rumour. Most health clubs lease their buildings, they don't own them. My company takes out a 30 year lease, with a 10 ten year and 20 year renegotiate. That mean we sit down with the landlord and terms could change at those times, usually if everything is going well the relationship is left alone. But other fators play into this, the Gold's lease may be at this point, and if the deal was sruck a long time ago at a low $$ per square foot, the landlord may be looking to get things in line with normal market values.
How does Bob Chick feel about all this? I know he trains there? Bob, what's going on, and how do you feel?
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I stated that golds has been doing this for years now..................... ....there are hardly any hardcore lifters left in the gym.......and I dont mean bbers..................t here isnt one pro who trains at golds or was there one that trained hard in the past 8 years that I trained there. I stated that World gym in marina del rey is going to become more hardcore friendly, jerome ferguson is part owner now and is changing the gym rules from what they use to be, so guys like us real hardcore guys have a place to train.
Several pros still train there- most notably is Melvin Anthony. I also saw Cutler there last week.
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Are they even taking down the "Mr. Olympia Wall"?
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Are they even taking down the "Mr. Olympia Wall"?
I would say yes right after the Olympia they will. Jay or Ronnie will win, that way they won't have to add someone new, and then one day ... poof gonzo.
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I would say yes right after the Olympia they will. Jay or Ronnie will win, that way they won't have to add someone new, and then one day ... poof gonzo.
Poor Jay. He just had his put up. :-[
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gone are the likes of Don Ross, and other gym rats / characters that made it a colorful place in the 80s 90s
can you say C O R P O R A T E
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willie 8-ball golds gym is not those guys home gym, the only bber who made golds their home gym in the past couple of years was gunter and cormier, sure some bbers may go workout there if they are in town, but the mass of bbers left golds gym years ago, bob chic still trains there and thats about it.........the gym has become a total craphole for cheesey people, trainers and their clients........they finally fired mateo, the manager, thank god, but the gym is really nothing anymore but wasted space for the shit people who go there, and the punk corporate workers there.
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True. mostly skinny fags in daisy dukes...shadow boxing in front of the mirror on a "core" rubber training ball.
Dumbassses skipping rope in between the machines, while reading "bluboy" magazines....
The real golds is down the street on pacific avenue with sheets of plywood over the plate windows..
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willie 8-ball golds gym is not those guys home gym, the only bber who made golds their home gym in the past couple of years was gunter and cormier, sure some bbers may go workout there if they are in town, but the mass of bbers left golds gym years ago, bob chic still trains there and thats about it.........the gym has become a total craphole for cheesey people, trainers and their clients........they finally fired mateo, the manager, thank god, but the gym is really nothing anymore but wasted space for the shit people who go there, and the punk corporate workers there.
yeah, I suppose you are right in some ways
I actually don't really care who goes there or what is on the walls, I just want a place with a vast array of equipment so I don't get bored working out and for now, Gold's still has that.
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can you say C O R P O R A T E
Can you say corporate jerks?
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yeah, I suppose you are right in some ways
I actually don't really care who goes there or what is on the walls, I just want a place with a vast array of equipment so I don't get bored working out and for now, Gold's still has that.
Willie is correct. Gold's Venice is still an excellent gym, it just ain't Gold's Gym Venice anymore.
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Willie is correct. Gold's Venice is still an excellent gym, it just ain't Gold's Gym Venice anymore.
yeah, that's the only thing that concerns me a bit. I mean, I want the gym to stick around just because of the equipment. Yeah, it's kind of exciting to see "stars" of bb here and there, but more so I just care about getting a great workout and the equipment at Venice Gold's is the best of any gym I've ever worked out at. The only one that comes close for me is the Iron Pit in Bloomington, IN- the town in which I went to college.
http://www.ironpit.com/
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yeah, that's the only thing that concerns me a bit. Yeah, it's kind of exciting to see "stars" of bb here and there, but more so I just care about getting a great workout and the equipment at Venice Gold's is the best of any gym I've ever worked out at. The only one that comes close for me is the Iron Pit in Bloomington, IN- the town in which I went to college.
http://www.ironpit.com/
Look at all gyms, the trend it is to do wat 24 hour fitness did, complete quality control with maximaztion of profits. All large franchises would be foolish not to adopt this model. If you want hardcore find a place like MetroFlex, othrwise this genre is DEAD! And it is a shame. Conisdering the country followed the lead of a few leading this lifestyle to find ourselves where we are fitnesswise today.
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lil poppa pete.................... ......rob unfortunately left the LA area a few years ago, he had broke up with his girlfriend, and went back to school.........he was trying to get a job coaching at ucla as a grad assistant, but had to finish up some courses........he left from working behind the front counter, then finally move back up around sacramento to finish out his school, so he could get a job coaching....I havent talked to him for a couple of years. Hope this helps.
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yeah rob is a good guy, I use to call his cell phone, but he never answers his phone, but I think it was real hard on him when him and his girl broke up, he took it well but they were real close, remember how they use to workout together in the gym, and I use to eat lunch with them all the time at fresh to go, but hopefully he is doing well. I know I will see him down here eventually if he moves back.
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Here's the reason why:
Gold's had $1.2 billion in revenue last year from its 620 clubs, including 500 in the U.S. Bally Total Fitness had $1.05 billion from 361 units, and 24 Hour Fitness had $1 billion from 340 units.
With double the gyms, they're pulling in basically the same revenue. That's BAD.
"We must evolve," said Gold's Gym Senior VP-Chief Marketing Officer Joe Flanigan. "If we stay exactly where we've been, soccer moms and boomers move on and we remain a brand with nice black-and-white photographs of when Arnold [Schwarzenegger] used to work out there."
http://www.goldsgym.com/golds/pressroom/press_new.php?id=29
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Here's the reason why:
With double the gyms, they're pulling in basically the same revenue. That's BAD.
http://www.goldsgym.com/golds/pressroom/press_new.php?id=29
The difference is ALL the clubs 24 and Bally have are corporate. Not all 620 Gold's Gyms are corporate. Not sure what thoe numbers reflect in terms or Gold's. Does that include the merchindise too. That is really where Gold's generated their money. At their peak they were in more than 13,000 retail outlets worldwide.
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UPDATE!!
Well...after doing a lot of digging...I found out the "official" reason why Arnold demanded his pictures be taken down.
Turns out that Artie Zeller's wife was demanding that Gold's managment pay her royalites for the privilage of using Arnold's pics. Gold's managment told her to pound sand... Arnold caught wind of this and due to his long-standing friendship with Zeller...decided to get involved and issue a warning to Gold's that we wants to have NO association with the franchise any longer.
As for the murals being painted over....my understanding is that ethier the owners or some corperate heads very high up on the food chain did a walk thru of Gold's recently...and demanded that they were not in vouge or some crap along those lines....
The good news is that I dont think that Gold's Venice wanted to do this....they simply didnt have any choice in the matter.... still...it looks like the writing is on the wall...
M!
"I slept with faith and found her a rotten corpse upon awakening; I drank and danced all night with doubt, and found her a virgin in the morning."
A-Crowley
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Going...
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Going...
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Gone. :'(
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No one can say mexicans arent hard workers...... :D
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is that a james caan and michael jordan autograph i see painted over?
that's horrible. jeff, do you plan on working out there after they remodel?
what do you think of milos' gym?
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Thanks for the pics, Mcfarland. Now I truly believe what Gold's is doing. :'( :'( :'(
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I'm sorry, but I gotta bitch and whine one more time about this fuckin' ridiculous movement that is happening to Gold's/Venice....
What made Gold's/Venice (to me) was the atmosphere of the pictures that hung on the wall - Arnold's especially. The famous "Mr. Olympia Wall". The third room with the famous celebrity autographs. The famous "The Mecca of Bodybuilding" painted in the main room. Now granted, the gym still has top-notch equipments - I assume - but the title of being "world famous", I think, is gone! >:( :'(
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The nail in the coffin....
Bodybuilding is dead. Long live bodybuilding.
M!
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The nail in the coffin....
Bodybuilding is dead. Long live bodybuilding.
M!
Yup. Those pics Mcfarland posted showed me that that was in fact the nail in the coffin. :'(
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All of us should look for abandoned gas stations to make into our local "Weights only" gyms.......
To the 70's here we come!! ;D
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All of us should look for abandoned gas stations to make into our local "Weights only" gyms.......
To the 70's here we come!! ;D
You know what would be the shit, but would never happen, is if they reopened the original Gold's on Pacific Ave. back to a gym.
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That may not be entirely unfeasible....someone owns that property...and it isnt exactly doing a whole lot at the moment. Of course it wouldnt be a "Golds" but it could be a Gym once more. Someone on this board probably knows about the legal situation regarding the building. Perhaps with some more info we could all do something....have a reputable third party set up a donation fund to get a non-profit gym of the ground. A non profit business can pay employees....all profits can be redistrubited towards maitnence/new equipment/employee overhead/holding bodybuiding events etc
This is a bit out there...but not completly unfeasible...
M!
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You know what would be the shit, but would never happen, is if they reopened the original Gold's on Pacific Ave. back to a gym.
Ive been talking to Onlyme and he says Pete g. is pissed about this whole thing...Hes tryed to buy the golds on pacific from an old lady who owns it....but she wont budge.
It sits there with plywood over the plate glass windows....doing nothing!!!!
That is the MECCA!!!
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Ive been talking to Onlyme and he says Pete g. is pissed about this whole thing...Hes tryed to buy the golds on pacific from an old lady who owns it....but she wont budge.
It sits there with plywood over the plate glass windows....doing nothing!!!!
That is the MECCA!!!
:(
(http://p.vtourist.com/1/1063894-Golds_Gym-Venice.jpg)
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Here's another from the first room confirming that they have indeed taken down Arnold's image (and Arnold's image only) from the Olympia wall.
In response to Power Rod's questions, yes, of course I plan to continue working out at Gold's Venice, and here's why: The history displayed on the walls is surely a big part of what makes Gold's Venice Gold's Venice...but looking around in there the last couple of days, the MEMBERSHIP there actually accounts for more of that gym's identity than anything hung or painted on the walls ever could. Yes, it's genuinely disturbing to see the changes literally unfolding in front of your eyes...it's as though history is being erased while you watch standing helplessly by. The pictures above I took just over the course of my shoulder/cardio workout this AM. I mean it's just moving so fast that I'm sure it's hard to process for many in there, especially those who've been in there for decades longer than I have (I've only been in there since 2004.) I know that long-standing members have seen numerous, albeit somewhat more subtle changes in decor over the years, so they may not be as concerned as I suspect they might be...but this looks like it may be much more of an overhaul than this place has ever seen.
But going back to what I was saying about the membership reflecting what Gold's Venice stands for...the Barbarian Brothers are of course still there...David actually nearly walked into the picture below before he saw my camera and backed out of the shot. For those of you who've never caught more than a couple of workouts there enough to know, there is no gym on earth like Gold's Venice in that you WILL NOT find a more concentrated population of SERIOUS trainees anywhere else on this planet. Yes, the IFBB pro population has dwindled in recent years, but you will still see a couple training there on any given day...I saw Melvin Anthony and Roland Kickinger in there just this morning, for example...but I'm also talking about HIGH-LEVEL fitness people...people with no names whatsoever in the industry but who are still in the most fantastic shape of ANYONE in the gym you train at right now...I mean, there are 5-10 people I see in there every day who with no more than a 4 week diet could easily serve as fitness magazine cover model material...many who probably HAVE had covers...even the older people that train there train seriously...you'll see people moving 2-4 plates on the bench, squat, etc. all day long. In all the talk regarding how Gold's isn't what it used to be, this fact has gone largely unmentioned until now. This gym is is the BIG POND that will make the fish grow as big as he/she wishes. I'm training in there early AM lately but I can't wait to get back in there after 9 so I can see Gary Strydom...he'll be there closing the place, a minimum of 4 nights out of the week, ready to let you train whatever with him. And there are the freaks...the same colorful people that were there before you, who will be there after you're gone, that vanish back into the workwork of society once they leave the premises...honestly, it boggles the mind to consider where some of these people come from...you NEVER see them unless AT GOLD'S GYM. Celebrities? Gold's Venice still has them...I've seen the SNL "Ladie's Man," Tim Meadows in there the past two days, the Rock's always in and out of there...Um, John Cena, Ray Liotta...I mean it's no big deal but it's still a perk of going there, I don't care what anyone says. Saturday mornings the parking lot looks like a car show. 1/2 a million dollar exotic cars, multiple Lamborghini's, the newest Bentleys...the first place players like these drive them in a place like LA is Gold's Venice on a chill Saturday morning to show them off, apparently...it makes sense...the rides get seen and they compare notes with the other guys driving them, etc. Ah, you get the point. Gold's Venice is just like no other place on earth for the overall experience.
Sure, Milos' gym is cool, I've been there several times...he's got great equipment, collected obviously by someone very passionate about training, and it's now developed it's own special "atmosphere" and hardcore crowd...but it'll never be Gold's Venice...not that it would wanna be, but it's just something different altogether. Gold's still has 3 huge rooms FULL of an ever-rotating collection of the newest equipment and cardio machines coming out, Milos isn't ever gonna have more or better stuff overall than Gold's...
You know they say that with every closed door opens a new one, so I'm trying to keep an optimistic perspective on all this change...I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with the place next, it's obviously their showcase gym so surely they'll put something good up...but in the event that it's nothing to "post on Getbig about," I'm prepared for that, too...but the phenomenon that is Gold's Venice will surely remain in large part for many, many years to come.
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I spoke to a lady who claimed to be a Venice GG manager at the Venice Beach event today and she assured me that any photos removed from the walls in the gym would be replaced as soon as the interior paint is finished.
When I asked her a specific question about the removal of Arnold's picture, she assured me that it would be replaced as soon as the painting is completed and that there are no plans to "change tradition".
I also heard that the gym will be completely remodeled in two years and not abandoned for another location.
But one of the Dave Draper fans at todays Venice contest says that the Draper "rendering" has already been painted over and cries, "BS!".
Waddayathink?
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jeff, you know that gym is full of hatin azz punks.
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Geezus! His had to be the first one taken down?!?! >:( :'(
Thanks for sharing your pics, Mcfarland. Although it is sad to look at. :(
(http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=150929.0;attach=168620;image)
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that lady you talked to was Niko, she is going to say whatever to make the gym stay in good mind, actually out of all the people that work there she is okay, and a nice person.........fuk golds venice.
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Geezus! His had to be the first one taken down?!?! >:( :'(
Thanks for sharing your pics, Mcfarland. Although it is sad to look at. :(
maybe they put that one away somewhere safe, so it's not with the others.
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Most of us have gone to Golds, Venice. Joe Gold was right about that. The original gym was built by Joe in the late 1960s. Seymour Koenig used to wrestle in Vancouver so I knew him. Seymour told me when I visited Golds Gym in June 1969 on my honeymoon that Joe wanted to sell his gym. He was asking $50,000. I always wanted to own a gym so asked Joe cheekily if he would finance me. No way! I ended up in Sydney, Australia in Jan 1971 and bought a gym several months later. I started modifying equipment soon afterwards and started building gym equipment in 1975 in a room in the gym. I had a welder, drill, angle grinder and electric hacksaw. In 1981 I opened a factory to build gym equipment.
What most people do not realise is that Golds Venice gets most of their equipment donated by gym equipment companies. That has influenced the way the gym is set up. What you find is a row of Flex equipment then some Icarian, Nautilus, Cybex, Hammer and so on. I guess a condition of the companies was to keep the equipment in a line as a showroom. Most of the rooms feature different lines of equipment. Franchaise owners of Golds would come to Venice to view the gym and select equipment. We have over $1,000,000 worth of equipment in our gym. So it is very expensive to set up a modern gym.
I prefer to lay out my gym according to function so put all the leg machines together and so on. At Golds Venice you have to go all over the place if you want to use several of the calf machines. Not ideal as we all know because in a busy gym you can't hog all the gear.
I never bought the gym from Joe but always wanted to have a gym as good as he built. The current Venice gym is huge and has several connecting factory units. It is still a trend setter and a super club.
Milos has a different concept and good for him to have another great bodybuilding gym. The original Vince's Gym in North Hollywood wasn't great re equipment. That place was a monument to the ego of Vince Gironda. I did discover a steel post in the middle of the gym just behind the triceps pressdown and it gave me the idea to build triceps pressdowns with pads behind the user. I eventually put that back rest at an angle to give the user more isolation for the triceps.
All the gyms today have to cater to the general public. The heavy duty gyms installed treadmills and even aerobic rooms in an effort to attract more women. The aerobic gyms installed resistance machines and treadmills to attract more serious trainers and men. There has been a convergence to gyms catering to everyone. The original gym that Joe built wouldn't be successful today. First of all it is way too small.
Another thing that has changed is the way bodybuilders lose fat pre contests. Most do cardio on machines. No one did that when Larry Scott was a champ because he told us not to do anything that might affect our gains. He seriously told us not to play table tennis because we might lose some arm size.
Joe pioneered a bodybuilding gym and designed and built specific machines to assist bodybuilders. The industry has evolved way beyond what any of us imagined in those days. Whether some gym should be retained as a museum of bodybuilding is something that should be discussed and pursued. We will never be in such an opportune position again, politically, in California. We will wait and see what happens but most of us aren't holding our breath.
You have to acknowledge that some bodybuilders got the original Muscle Beach at Santa Monica closed. I think the politicians in those days were concerned about two issues; homosexuality, and sex involving young teen girls. I remember Freddy Baron from Vancouver boasting about helping to close Muscle Beach. Some of the lads were carrying on with teenage girls on the beach in groups or something. I have no idea if Freddy was telling the truth or having a laugh. There was a seedy side to the musclemen and many of them did what they pleased because Southern California has always been a destination for those visiting. The regulars who lived there wouldn't carry on like some of the visitors did.
Here is a machine Golds Venice didn't have when I was last there in 2004. I saw a guy doing standing extensions. I asked the manager where the lying triceps extension machine was. I told him I have three in my gym. Well, like Joe, I had to make machines that you literally could not buy. Here is this machine. Milos can get it copied for his gym. I give him permission to do that. Well, it is not copywritten or patented so people can do what they like. I have never copied any equipment but I admit I was influenced by plenty of good stuff. The original World Class Gym Equipment made me realise I could build equipment like that. You can see my versions of standing pressdowns with back supports. Having a factory is not a cheap way to acquire gym equipment!
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maybe they put that one away somewhere safe, so it's not with the others.
True. They're not in the same league as Arnold. ;D
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....man, this sucks.
Can't they auction off some of that equipment?
Without 'the mecca', bodybuilding has lost something truly unique and special.
But then again, perhaps the stage is set for newer gyms to come to the forefront...but with the current views towards bodybuilding, I ain't holding my breath.
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perhaps the stage is set for newer gyms to come to the forefront...but with the current views towards bodybuilding, I ain't holding my breath.
I don't think anyone is.
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i don't buy it.
this whole bodybuilding intimidation thing has got so out of hand that i wouldn't be surprised if some of these supposedly 'intimidating' bbers started suing these wankers.
:o hey, that's not a bad idea!!!
i would invite any bber, pro or otherwise, that has been the victim of this type of defamation and, ironically enough, bullying, to file a civil suit against these pencil necks. >:(
just don't name the accused a 'pencil neck' when you do so or you may be counter sued. :-[
don't let these prissy little metrosexual girls (i'd leave that one out too btw) take your identity and legacy.
LET THE BODYBUIDING FRATERNITY STAND UNITED AND KICK THAT MUTHA FUCKIN SAND STRAIGHT BACK IN THEIR FACE!!!
Beautiful post
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and make it a museum...
Discuss
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We can't even get the Olmypia on PPV anymore. We lost Olympia and Arnold Classic and they're on Webcast now.
Pro-Shows Disappear each year...and new ones come along...and go away...the sport is in bad shape
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Yea I don't think anyone wants to spend the money on a former safe haven for druggies...even if I think they think that shits cool.....I know I do
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Discuss
I only see Arnold (once out of politics) possibly considering the purchase of the lot, but apart from that, like i said, the sport is nowhere near where it should be in terms of finance and popularity these days, and lets face it, the Weiders are Jewish...
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Yea I don't think anyone wants to spend the money on a former safe haven for druggies...even if I think they think that shits cool.....I know I do
Hey flex would jump at that shit in a second, think off all the "Back in the glory good ole days" Re inactions they could do, they could bath in past glories every day.
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Yea just when you thought the 'bain' wasn't cool anymore.....It comes back with a vengence sponsored by flex magazine ;D
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Ladies and gentlemen. There ain't shit we can do about it no matter how bad or hard we try. It is not for sale and the owner will not budge. Get over it! End of story. :(
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Maybe a fire would solve our problems
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Maybe a fire would solve our problems
son of a bitch! thats brilliant! ;D
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son of a bitch! thats brilliant! ;D
I know I have a 191 IQ you know. You need a good idea I am your man
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Geezus! His had to be the first one taken down?!?! >:( :'(
Thanks for sharing your pics, Mcfarland. Although it is sad to look at. :(
(http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=150929.0;attach=168620;image)
...what a fucking travesty.
...what the hell are things coming to?....
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maybe bodybuilding.com can get something done with it...They seem to be the for front of everything else bodybuilding these days...
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what would that arnold picture in the original golds go for in 20 to 30 years from now?
Could the picture have been stolen?
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Mega-relavent Epic Bump!
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Yes, this was in need of a brutal bump!
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Yeah, like what the fuck? Anybody been to Gold's lately to tell us what's happened since then? All I know is the scene from Bigger, Faster, Stronger where they're tearing all Arnold images down from Gold's.
?
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Yeah, like what the fuck? Anybody been to Gold's lately to tell us what's happened since then? All I know is the scene from Bigger, Faster, Stronger where they're tearing all Arnold images down from Gold's.
?
They're back up, but oddly enough the one picture of him on the famous "Olympia" wall is still down.