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Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => History - Stories - and Memories => Topic started by: dantelis on December 05, 2007, 11:55:48 AM
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Made in Montana,
From your past posts, it sounds like you are related to Steve Reeves. If so, what is your relation?
Any ideas why Reeves never had kids? Sure would be interesting to see how much of Steve's genetics his children would have had.
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Steve's wife Aline could not have children, but the Reeves genes were passed on through other family members. Steve's cousin's son had Steve's hair, eyes and similiar frame/bone structure. He was good looking...handsome...but he did not have a physique quite like Steve's because he did not train with weights the way Steve did. The potential was there, but it was just not realized for him. But it was not his goal to attain a classic physique...which is o.k.
Thank you for your comments about Steve in the various threads, Dan. I wish he was here...yet he lives still when we remember him. The main thing that is important to know about Steve is that he trained in a way that was balanced and healthy...and any one here can too and achieve the kind of results that will set you apart from the rest of the population in terms of having well developed muscles, symmetry, good health, attractive aesthetics and considerable strength. It's the total package that counts--and that involves not only genetics, but a good strong mind and spirit, discipline, intelligence, art and science. Instead of saying, "No pain, no gain," Steve used to say "No brain no gain"...emphasizing that intelligent training and nutrition is key. It's true.
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MM, I didnt think you were a 70 yr old man, but am definitely surprised. :o
My apologies if my comments in earlier posts were derrogatory or offensive, I did not know you were a lady. :-[
I, and Im sure others, appreciate your insight into S.Reeves' life and times.
And, regarding the genes, well, you sure have them, looking great. Takes guts to post a pic on this board, but looking the way you do, makes it easier.... ;)
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MiM I had a lot of respect for you, comming to the board and defending Steve as a family member. Now that I know your a beautiful woman I respect you that much more ;D
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Drop Dead Gorgeous :)
Id much rather look at pics of you than of steve ;D
Anyway thanks for all your stories
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:o Wow , you look stunning.
The Reeves good looks gene was passed along to you :)
Do you do modeling etc
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:o
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Ha Ha... ;D I Though you were a guy... Whoops, sorry if I was a little rude.
That 1st photo is esp awesome, and I'm not even usually crazy about blonde/blue and light skin tone..
...."My pictures wont interest anyone much..." Ha Ha Ha... :D
Intoxicating to men, I'm sure you've noticed that for a LONG LONG time... ;)
You must be responsible for the death of a lot of rolls of prof. photographer's film.
Hearing damage from the sound of rewind?
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Thank you Trab. My mom said I looked better in person than in pictures...I send Serge pictures and talk with him on the webcam, he said I look better on webcam, so...I just figured my pictures were o.k...but no big deal...but thanks for the nice words.
I started training again...in 2 months I'll be up 7-10 lbs. I'm 5'7" 114 lbs. now. Maybe I will post a picture after several weeks and you can tell me if I look better or worse...or if I need to get fake boobs. lol.
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/goose.JPG)
NO!!!!! to fake boobs :)
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Thank you Trab. My mom said I looked better in person than in pictures...I send Serge pictures and talk with him on the webcam, he said I look better on webcam, so...I just figured my pictures were o.k...but no big deal...but thanks for the nice words.
I started training again...in 2 months I'll be up 7-10 lbs. I'm 5'7" 114 lbs. now. Maybe I will post a picture after several weeks and you can tell me if I look better or worse...or if I need to get fake boobs. lol.
From what I can see from this picture, there is no need for you to get a boob job done. Your breasts are proportional to your body. Don't mess it up like many female bodybuilders do and get big 'ol double D's that are huge and fake. Keep your breasts natural. I'm sure if Steve was still alive, he would tell you the same.
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/mont.JPG)
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all makes sense now
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all makes sense now
yup
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Thanks for the chest/breast implant input, DVSGOD and Dan...you are right about what Steve said. Why knock out your teeth to go get dentures? lol. A guy friend told me fake boobs are the same as if a guy puts a sock in his speedo to try to appear larger to look sexy (not that there's anything wrong with it, but) they're obvious and can throw off balance, symmetry and proportion.
The reason fake appendages:boobs/calves/balls/penises/etc. are not mentioned as part of the classic physique program is because adding fake body parts is not necessary for good health or strength.
A lot of men still like the way women's chests looked naturally...but many female fitness models don't realize it and go get fake boobs anyway...
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr61.jpg)
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr156.jpg)
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr73.jpg)
fake tits suck.
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Fake boobs RUINE lots of womens looks. I don't like them.
Risk, pain.... My wife's sister has had about 3-4 ops to change or fix probs. Same w/ tummy.
Its like tats these days, more rare NOT to have them..
I can see possibly for some actors as the 1 dimensional screen view needs giant breasts to really stand out.
eg: Trish Stratus the wrestler. (btw IMO she'd be a run of the mill big-ass woman w/ out them supersize balloons) Next compare Stacy Keeblers build, she'd look BAD w/ giant fake boobs IMO, it would destroy her looks.
Letting directors or anyone push one into decisions about their body would be something I'd rather not see for a friend.
M&M With face shots like you have and such nice lines why bother? I can see maybee with age but what can some surgeon improve on natural perfection?
I prefer a nice athletic shape over giant boobs anyday. I Love sprinters build.
I'd say skip it Montana. Looks pretty darn painfull too.
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Thank you for your opinion and compliment, Trab. You are right...many women have complications from breast implants because the body tries to identify/break down any foreign objects/materials and filter them out. MSN reported 40% of women with implants have them redone at some point because of leakage problem. Having that happen near the lungs and heart is not without health risks. I have no desire to get fake boobs because I would feel the same as you would walking around with a banana and ping pong balls in your shorts. My mom is almost 60 and she has a large natural chest still. My dad used to call her robin red breast...so if I do a few push ups and keep a little fat, maybe I'll still look ok when I'm older.
On a related note...I learned years ago that if someone you're interested in doesn't like what you've got going on...just forget him and keep shopping (and this goes for guys too)...I was interested in this guy once who told me he liked brunettes better than blonds. So I went into town to a hair salon and asked if they could make my hair brown. It was the first time I was in a hair salon because my mom usually cuts my hair once every other year or so...Anyway...this gal turned my hair black, suggested I needed a trim and cut most of it off. When I saw my mom, she was mad and asked me what I was thinking. I said, "I don't know...that's a good question..."
When I saw the guy I was trying to impress, he laughed and said I looked better before. So I went to all that trouble for nothing. A month later, I had an inch of blond roots showing at the top. I looked like a strange bird. I didn't want to go back to the salon (and still haven't) so I cut off all my hair myself, slicked back what was left and decided to just start over and forget the hair dying trick. It's too much work and didn't look that good. The moral of the story...even if you're a small chested albino, it's a hell of a lot less trouble to stay that way than make changes that might not be for the best. I know if I had a lapst of good judgement and got roped into getting fake boobs, I'd be in the 2% that died from the operation and when I saw Steve on the other side he'd say, "What were you thinking?" and I would say, "I don't know...that's a good question..."
Everyone has a different taste for boobs, body styles, hair...etc. which is good because there's a lot of variety out there. The main thing is people should try to make healthy choices. Whatever comes natural is always best. The power of the Classic Physique is that it appeals to most men, women and children worldwide--and that universal appeal promotes and spreads the power of bodybuilding and physical culture more than anything because it is attainable for anyone to a lesser or greater degree.
Having a classic physique means focusing on the quality of every body part down to its cellular level...including it's functioning and conditioning. It's a message about health and strength first and foremost...and then aesthetics. And that's the way it should be with bodybuilding...and boobs...and everything. When it's good on the inside...all the way through...it's always classic and timeless.
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr93.jpg)
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Whale oil beef hooked, MinM is a Sheila! Could that be part of the reason we 'clashed' in the past in this forum? Naw, it must have been my fault! ;)
I visited my mate Robert Nailon on the weekend and he has a Steve Reeves album with clipping, photos, magazine covers, etc. He even has Steve's original entry form for the 1950 NABBA Mr Universe contest.
It is interesting looking at the photos and press because he became a legend and hardly anyone else from his era is still regarded in that way. I looked at his poses and what I think happened is many of the bodybuilders came up with poses or copied those of others. Often the photographer would help them pose and I think Tony Lanza took the best shots of Steve back in 1947 on the St Lawrence River in Montreal. Tony said he waited until 5 pm in the summer to get the best light for the physique. I visited Tony in 1965 in Montreal and saw a few large negatives of Steve. I am not sure who has those negatives now. Anyway, the shot of Steve doing the ab pose with hands behind his head is perhaps the most impressive bodybuilding photo ever taken. I took a few shots of the image Robert had in his album and will duplicate it here. The legs aren't in the best position but the upper body is like a Greek statue.
There are many poses from those days that would not be considered great or even aesthetic today. Steve had such a great body that it looked good no matter what he did or the angle the photo was taken from.
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MiM, great classic pics.
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Here is that famous hands behind neck Lanza image. Many have followed Steve but who has been able to duplicate this classic pose? It represents the finest form that a man has achieved through bodybuilding.
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Visited Robert Nailon and finally had a look at his Steve Reeves album. I've known Robert since 1969 but this was the first time I saw that album. He has plenty of individual photos he keeps separate. Quite a number of images he has of Steve and others from that era. Here are a few.
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Vince, thank you very much for everything you wrote. I appreciate you taking the time to share the scans, pictures and stories...very considerate and interesting. A lot of times people disagree on things at the forum at GetBig and might get irritated, but I know if they went out to dinner or a club to discuss things, they would have no problem getting along because it's easier to talk about things in person. Also, I understand why people question things and it's all o.k. Thanks again for sharing.
I visited my mate Robert Nailon on the weekend and he has a Steve Reeves album with clipping, photos, magazine covers, etc. He even has Steve's original entry form for the 1950 NABBA Mr Universe contest.
That's really cool. I have a copy of it somewhere. Here is his 1948 entry:
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/mruniv.JPG)
These pics are from 1950...with Reg Park.
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/sreg.JPG)
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/sreg2.JPG)
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/stevereg.JPG)
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/Steve_Reeves-006.jpg)
It is interesting looking at the photos and press because he became a legend and hardly anyone else from his era is still regarded in that way. I looked at his poses and what I think happened is many of the bodybuilders came up with poses or copied those of others. Often the photographer would help them pose and I think Tony Lanza took the best shots of Steve back in 1947 on the St Lawrence River in Montreal. Tony said he waited until 5 pm in the summer to get the best light for the physique. I visited Tony in 1965 in Montreal and saw a few large negatives of Steve. I am not sure who has those negatives now. Anyway, the shot of Steve doing the ab pose with hands behind his head is perhaps the most impressive bodybuilding photo ever taken. I took a few shots of the image Robert had in his album and will duplicate it here. The legs aren't in the best position but the upper body is like a Greek statue.
There are many poses from those days that would not be considered great or even aesthetic today. Steve had such a great body that it looked good no matter what he did or the angle the photo was taken from. [/color]
Lanza took the picture below with an original Lake Michigan background when he won the Mr. America in June 1947. Steve cut himself out of one of the copies of it and put the different background standing on a mountain top behind it. lol. Steve was invited to Cecille B. DeMille's office at Paramount to discuss a film contract and when he walked into his office, he saw a blown up 2 X 3 feet copy of it on the wall next to Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour. DeMille titled it "Perfection in the Clouds."
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/PerfectioninClouds.jpg)
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MiM, great classic pics.
AVBG, I'm glad you and some others might enjoy looking at them. That's why I post them...so people remember and think about what it was like at the beginning of the sport.
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(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/sg.JPG)
1948 Mr. Universe...Steve, John Grimek and the other one
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/sg2.jpg)
Steve on far left, Grimek on far right
(http://blog.bodybuilding.com/wp-content/blogs/1164/uploads//sandr.JPG)
Reg and Steve 1950 Mr. Universe
(http://blog.bodybuilding.com/wp-content/blogs/1164/uploads//ste.JPG)
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr71.jpg)
Steve, Miss Britain, Reg
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(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/hs.JPG)
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/schest.JPG)
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Made is Hot!!!!!!!!!!! Note to self: Start reading threads on this board more often.
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AVBG, I'm glad you and some others might enjoy looking at them. That's why I post them...so people remember and think about what it was like at the beginning of the sport.
When seeing pics from the 50's, there's an undeniable innocence that isn't around anymore..it's a shame really..Keep 'em comming MiM!
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AVBG, I'm glad you and some others might enjoy looking at them. That's why I post them...so people remember and think about what it was like at the beginning of the sport.
Thank you it's enjoyed by more than let you know I'm sure ;)
I also agree you are beautiful !!
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Thank you Calmus, AVBG and w8m8.
Steve inspires me because he worked very hard and overcame adversity by positive thinking and having a strong spirit. His father died when he was two. He and his mother struggled through the great depression in Montana. He started lifting scrap metals in his garage when he was in his teens because he didn't have money for a gym membership. Ed Yarrick saw him passing by his physical culture studio and saw his potential and let him train for free. He graduated highschool and entered the service and became known as "The Shape." He served the front lines through WWII and got malaria and lost his health and strength and had to rebuild everything again when he came home. He didn't allow anything to break his spirit...and that's what I admire most. He never gave up.
He never made a dime bodybuilding because bodybuilding wasn't really a developed sport when he was doing it. He borrowed money to travel to compete and won a few trophies in the late 1940's. It cost him money to do bodybuilding because there were no careers or prize money back then, but he did bodybuilding because he loved to train with weights and it made him stronger in body, mind and spirit.
When Steve tried acting in Hollywood, no one wanted him because he was too muscular for most roles at the time. And Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Rock Hudson...and a few other leading men didn't want him in the picture standing next to them and told the directors this. So for 10 years, he worked various gyms/jobs until an italian director's 13 year old daughter saw him and told her father and he knew Steve had to be Hercules.
The moral of Steve's story to me is clear and simple: Never give up. Use the weights in the gym as a metaphor for the weights in life. Resistance can make you stronger when you learn how to use it to your advantage. And do what you love...because it will help you in whatever work you choose to do.
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/stevesuto.JPG)
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Awesome pics! Steve had the crazy narror waste, great chest development, wide shoulders, vascular and muscular forearms. Just a real man body, that is what I aim for every time I go into the gym. A lean 6'1 215 pounds is perfection imo. Great inspiration to get into the gym.
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I'm glad you are inspired, Polychronopolous. There are more pictures here:
http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=203169.0 (http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=203169.0)
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I'm glad you are inspired, Polychronopolous. There are more pictures here:
http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=203169.0 (http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=203169.0)
great pics on that thread. 8)
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Dear Ms. Montana~
I am a longtime admirer of Steve Reeves and I really enjoy all the pictures and info that you post. I come to this thread often, but this is the first time I've ever posted. Can't thank you enough!
Peace,
Rick
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Thank you very much, Rick. Your comment and comments like yours are exactly the reason why I post Steve pics. He inspires people still. His training and life philosophies are useful for everyone...so he cannot be forgotten.
I wasn't sure about posting my picture because I don't plan to compete so it's kind of silly to post it, but...a photographer friend of Steve's who took some pictures of me and Steve when I was 7 saw this thread and contacted a friend who contacted me and he sent me pictures of me and Steve I had not seen before...so I know now that was the reason for me to post my picture...because I look the same as when I was younger (except my hair was almost white)...so he recognized and remembered me.
Years before Steve was ever offered the role of Hercules, he posed for an artist friend as Hercules for a series of drawings. Steve said he didn't know why he did it at the time, but he just did it. Steve said everything you send out there comes back to you. So, if I put up pics of Steve, I get pics of Steve sent to me...and the comments that come with them are as priceless as the photos. It's part of the circle of life...and the main principle of his strength training...what you put into something...you also get out of it.
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/ercole.JPG)
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Has anyone picked up the new issue of "Reps" yet? It has a nice feature in it:
• STEVE REEVES: HIS FINAL INTERVIEW:
The original bodybuilder who successfully made the jump from the posing stage to the silver screen looks back on his Herculean career.
If I'm not mistaken there were a few pictures of Serge in there as well. I din't read that yet I went right to the Reeves interview! Some great pics as well. One in a million Steve was.
Peace,
Rick
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MiM,
With all the interest in Steve and his big box office draw in the 60s, I'm surprised that no one ever did a biography on Steve. The only ones I have ever heard of is the hard to find books by Milton T. Moore and Chris LeClaire.
Any ideas whether anyone in the Reeves extended family or anyone else is working on a bio?
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MIM,
Did you see the Reps magazine article on Steve? It was written as if Steve was writing his bio, based on one of the last interviews with him. Pretty interesting article and worth a look.
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Steve with Clarence (Clancy) Ross, owner of the first gym I ever joined in 1979-Clancy Ross' Mr America Club, Walnut Creek, CA.
Clancy was one of only two men who beat Steve in competition, and Clancy beat Steve twice.
Clancy was a geat guy.......
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr61.jpg)
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(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/4mra.JPG)
4 Mr. America's: Alan Stephan, George Eiferman, Steve Reeves, Clarence Ross
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Thank you Rick and Dan. It's great REPS did an article on Steve. There are words written in it in ways I think Steve would have said a little differently (maybe the interview questions were removed and his responses edited to fit the length they wanted for the article), but what is good is that the magazine and writer showed an appreciation for Steve's life and work. People enjoy looking at Steve's pictures and hearing about his life...not just about his bodybuilding...but his film and personal life working all over the world. He was inspiring because he had the strength to overcome obstacles and setbacks in order to achieve goals while still keeping down to earth and humble after becoming famous and the #1 box office movie star in the world. Steve had a way about him that was interesting; fans have said that something strong in his spirit as well as his appearance always came through in the characters he played in films. People enjoyed watching him so much that directors always offered him the starring role; he headlined all his films over in Europe (all of which were big budgeted epic sized films and he became the highest paid actor in the world in late 50s/early 60s). European film directors and producers had no problem with the size of his muscular physique and he was never told to look differently or lose weight like Hollywood directors wanted him to do.
One of the greatest compliments someone ever gave him was "Steve was beautiful because he saw the beauty in others." It's one reason people liked being around him.
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr70.jpg)
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr133.jpg)
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr31.jpg)
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr106.jpg)
Thank you Paolo at schwarzenegger.it for hosting Steve pics.
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I want to know how steeve got that cool ass facial hair thats near damn perfect? Did he trim that thing everyday? ;D :D
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I want to know how steeve got that cool ass facial hair thats near damn perfect? Did he trim that thing everyday? ;D :D
I highly doubt that is Steve's facial hair....more like "movie magic"....lol. ::)
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I highly doubt that is Steve's facial hair....more like "movie magic"....lol. ::)
dude no way because he has one off screen also in everyday pics it seems......
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Steve always grew his own beard for a role. He sometimes kept the beard in between films because he would finish one film that required one and needed one for the next film. Fans would see him walking around town with a beard. He started a trend in Europe. Young men started lifting weights AND growing beards after watching his films. Steve grew his own beard/mustache for Hercules, Hercules Unchained, The Trojan Horse, The Avenger, Sandokan the Great, Pirates of the Seven Seas, Thief of Bagdad, Son of Spartacus, Goliath and the Barbarians, The White Warrior, Morgan The Pirate...that's 11 films right there. His beard/moustache was trimmed/shaved/looked different in various films.
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/ss.JPG)
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/Steve2.jpg)
Off the set...before a film.
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr50.jpg)
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr84.jpg)
(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr88.jpg)
(http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/rockherc.JPG)
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Steve always grew his own beard for a role. He sometimes kept the beard in between films because he would finish one film that required one and needed one for the next film. Fans would see him walking around town with a beard. He started a trend in Europe. Young men started lifting weights AND growing beards after watching his films. Steve grew his own beard/mustache for Hercules, Hercules Unchained, The Trojan Horse, The Avenger, Sandokan the Great, Pirates of the Seven Seas, Thief of Bagdad, Son of Spartacus, Goliath and the Barbarians, The White Warrior, Morgan The Pirate...that's 11 films right there. His beard/moustache was trimmed/shaved/looked different in various films.
Time to bring that trend back! Wouldn't it be great to see some of the pros onstage with beards and mustaches? It'd be a sharp contrast to the full shaven bodies.
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Well, all I can say is that Steve had some cool and crazy facial hair! ::)
I could never get that type of facial hair.
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Not to sound gay but I have to admit Steve reeves was very good looking. I missed meeting him several times and now wish I had.
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Dear Ms. Montana ~
If you've already answered this question, please forgive me. But whatever happened to Ed Yarrick? I've looked around online some and have found some stuff here and there on him, not much though. Can you help on that one? Your posts are always a pleasure and I don't always post, but I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the pictures and information you share with us. After all these years, Steve is still an incredible inspiration.
Peace,
Rick from NYC
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Dear Ms. Montana ~
If you've already answered this question, please forgive me. But whatever happened to Ed Yarrick? I've looked around online some and have found some stuff here and there on him, not much though. Can you help on that one? Your posts are always a pleasure and I don't always post, but I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the pictures and information you share with us. After all these years, Steve is still an incredible inspiration.
Peace,
Rick from NYC
Joe Roark will know, send him a PM and then post here what his reply is.
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In response to a PM:
From my files about my phone conversation with Barton Yarick:
[ I talked to Bart Mar 21, 1992 a Saturday from about 2:55 to 3:00. He
has just moved into the house his mother owned before she died.
Some years ago she sold about $4,000 worth of magazines and other
materials to John Grimek... she basically gave up lifting in the
mid 1960s and would instead walk for exercise- usually with her
dogs along the canal banks in Modesto, Ca. She and Ed would also
jog; Ed continued to lift until late in his life and rode a sta-
tionary bike and a BMW into his 70s ]
So far as I know, no muscle mag contained any detailed mention of Ed's passing, which was in November 1988 (born June 11, 1910). Wife Alyce died December 4, 1991 (born April 18, 1916). Bart was born February 1, 1954.
I have not followed up on that phone call.
There are some natural bodybuilding mags that may have in recent years published an article about Ed (I just don't know). I have no cause of death for Ed, but at age 78, he had a long life. So if anyone is aware of an article published about Ed after his passing, please share that info.
There are some threads about Ed and Alyce on my forum.
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Joe -
That was fast! Thank you. Ed Yarrick seemed very interesting and way ahead of his time as well.
Peace,
Rick
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With all due respect to Mr Yarick and his family, I don't believe that he would have been as famous as he is today within the BB community if Steve had never trained at his gym. Back then you had to be an extremely exceptional bodybuilding individual to get acknowledge in any way whatsoever.
In fact most people involved in the game back then were merely considered as oddballs and eccentrics. But Steve was the exception due to the fact that he always looked and dressed like every kid wanted to look like and dress like and get the girls' attention.
When he came to the Russian River during the summer months which was not too very often, everyone talked about this new kid down at the beach that was damn impressive and such a polite kid to one and all.
Any other gym owner in the Bay Area was mostly unknown unless he sought publicity by doing publicity seeking stuff. Jack LaLanne was a great example of that and eventually made him famous worldwide, but I can name a few others who passed through life relative obscurity.
I'll also go so far to state that the photographers who shot physique photos of the young Steve Reeve can attribute their success to Steve himself. Steve made many people famous just by his association with them.
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With all due respect to Mr Yarick and his family, I don't believe that he would have been as famous as he is today within the BB community if Steve had never trained at his gym. Back then you had to be an extremely exceptional bodybuilding individual to get acknowledge in any way whatsoever.
In fact most people involved in the game back then were merely considered as oddballs and eccentrics. But Steve was the exception due to the fact that he always looked and dressed like every kid wanted to look like and dress like and get the girls' attention.
When he came to the Russian River during the summer months which was not too very often, everyone talked about this new kid down at the beach that was damn impressive and such a polite kid to one and all.
Any other gym owner in the Bay Area was mostly unknown unless he sought publicity by doing publicity seeking stuff. Jack LaLanne was a great example of that and eventually made him famous worldwide, but I can name a few others who passed through life relative obscurity.
I'll also go so far to state that the photographers who shot physique photos of the young Steve Reeve can attribute their success to Steve himself. Steve made many people famous just by his association with them.
There were a number of top BBers who lived in the Oakland area in those days.
Norman Marks, who is the least well known out of Reeves, Clancy Ross, Jack Dillenger and Jack LaLanne, but Marks had a health club that did very well, and he opend a state of the art 10 sq/ft club in Oakland about 6 blockes west of Lake Merritt in 1982 or so, and as far as I know the club is still there. The old Holmes Book store is where his club is located. Great gym.
That 10K sq/ft gym was the ONLY gym in America, outside of Gold's Venice, that was that big at that time. Gold's Venice in 1981 was just the main room and was 10K sq/ft also.
Marks had won Mr. California, took 2nd behind Clancy Ross in the Mr America. I doubt he is still alive. But who knows, Clancy was alive until May.
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Norman Marks Health Club is still going strong.
He had some really hot daughters who used to work at the club, I wonder if they run it now???
http://www.normanmarkshealthclub.com/
Licensee Name: MARKS NORMAN L
License Type: Chiropractor
License Number: 6007
License Status: INACTIVE Definition
Expiration Date: September 30, 2008
Issue Date: January 01, 1943
http://www2.dca.ca.gov/pls/wllpub/WLLQRYNA$LCEV2.QueryView?P_LICENSE_NUMBER=6007&P_LTE_ID=808
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There were a number of top BBers who lived in the Oakland area in those days.
Norman Marks, who is the least well known out of Reeves, Clancy Ross, Jack Dillenger and Jack LaLanne, but Marks had a ealth club that did very well, and he opend a state of the art 10 sq/ft club in Oakland about 6 blockes west of Lake Merritt in 1982 or so, and as far as I know the club is still there. The old Holmes Book store is where his club is located. Great gym.
That 10K sq/ft gym was the ONLY gym in America, outside of Gold's Venice, that was that big at that time. Gold's Venice in 1981 was just the main room and was 10K sq/ft also.
Marks had won Mr. California, took 2nd behind Clancy Ross in the Mr America. I doubt he is still alive. But who knows, Clancy was alive until May.
The main room of the current location of Gold's Venice is 8,000 sq. ft.
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The main room of the current location of Gold's Venice is 8,000 sq. ft.
The entire Gold's Gym when it opened at Hampton was 10K sq ft, I dont know if they included the showers and offices or not.
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JOHNNYV, Funny this Norm Marks subject came up because we just drove by Norm's location yesterday morning when we got lost in Oakland trying to find the 580 freeway location in that downtown area. It's still there on the corner in the seedy downtown area and looks like it needs an update on the outside. We didn't have any time to stop and go inside but I will do that on my next trip to downtown Oakland. I met Norm back in the 50's on one occasion and was really surprised to see his name still in big bold letters on the business front.
I don't know if Norm is still alive but I did hear that his two daughters are running the place.
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JOHNNYV, Funny this Norm Marks subject came up because we just drove by Norm's location yesterday morning when we got lost in Oakland trying to find the 580 freeway location in that downtown area. It's still there on the corner in the seedy downtown area and looks like it needs an update on the outside. We didn't have any time to stop and go inside but I will do that on my next trip to downtown Oakland. I met Norm back in the 50's on one occasion and was really surprised to see his name still in big bold letters on the business front.
I don't know if Norm is still alive but I did hear that his two daughters are running the place.
That gym location is not that bad, it is by Oaklands small Chinatown. Not that far from Lake Merritt.
Marks is still alive, he still has an active chiro license-paste the full link from my earlier post into the browser.
He must be in his late 80's/early 90's.
His daughters, back in the early 80's, were hot little mama's!
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With all due respect to Mr Yarick and his family, I don't believe that he would have been as famous as he is today within the BB community if Steve had never trained at his gym. Back then you had to be an extremely exceptional bodybuilding individual to get acknowledge in any way whatsoever.
In fact most people involved in the game back then were merely considered as oddballs and eccentrics. But Steve was the exception due to the fact that he always looked and dressed like every kid wanted to look like and dress like and get the girls' attention.
When he came to the Russian River during the summer months which was not too very often, everyone talked about this new kid down at the beach that was damn impressive and such a polite kid to one and all.
Any other gym owner in the Bay Area was mostly unknown unless he sought publicity by doing publicity seeking stuff. Jack LaLanne was a great example of that and eventually made him famous worldwide, but I can name a few others who passed through life relative obscurity.
I'll also go so far to state that the photographers who shot physique photos of the young Steve Reeve can attribute their success to Steve himself. Steve made many people famous just by his association with them.
Does that include in the mags as well?
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(http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/reeves/sr110.jpg)
Not to sound gay but I have to admit Steve reeves was very good looking. I missed meeting him several times and now wish I had.
I understand what you mean, Keith. Both straight and gay men and many women thought he was good looking and told him so. Dan Lurie introduced him on stage for an award in 1978 in New York saying "Steve Reeves is God!!" Steve did not know what to do. He was overwhelmed, but he felt how much Dan appreciated his work and his friendship and thought it was very nice. He though most people forgot about him when he finished making films and took up ranching, but I think he was wrong about that. I think he would have had a good time talking to you because you seem like a nice guy and probably know a lot of the same people. You have a lot of interesting stories too.
Rick...thank you for your comments and pm. I'm a little late in replying in here. I am glad Joe Roark was kind enough to come here to respond about Ed. I am going to send you an email with a couple photos with some info. if I do not have them resized to post here.
Thank you Stunt, Johnny and Moosejay. I appreciate your posts...always interesting.