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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: BIG ACH on November 26, 2010, 11:50:10 PM
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Hey guys,
So I finally made it out to Golds Gym in Venice California and blasted a good back work out!
Place is huge, looooots of machines, and even an outdoor area for functional training! Lots of posters all over the walls of bodybuilders (except for Arnold - apparently he asked for them to be taken down), sports athletes, movie posters, football jerseys, etc.
I didn't see any pros unfortunately, but I saw a lot of huuuge guys in general and a bunch of bimbos/gym bunnies (And I could've sworn I saw Charles Glass - but then again it could've been someone else completely, I have no idea if Glass evens trains there or not, didn't get a great look so maybe I was imagining things! If it wasn't - its someone that looks just like him!)
Overall it was a really cool experience, I've been wanting to visit it for a very long time, I even drove by The Firehouse on the way over there, will try to make it out for a bite to eat before I leave here!
Here are some pics, excuse the quality:
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice1s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice2s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice3s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice4s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice5s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice6s.jpg)
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Nice!
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I cant imagine the motivation you get once you step into that gym.
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I cant imagine the motivation you get once you step into that gym.
Yes!!! But after you get past the distraction and being so overwhelmed!! I was almost in a daze while there lol
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Yes!!! But after you get past the distraction and being so overwhelmed!! I was almost in a daze while there lol
Did you also visit the legendary "locker rooms"? They say champs are built in there... :-X ;D
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Is that the really big guy you saw standing by the door?
I was in Venice too...
(http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x263/timeamajorova/venicesurfers.jpg)
See my finger? Wanna smell it? Pull it?
(http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x263/timeamajorova/venice.jpg)
Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson... remember?
(http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x263/timeamajorova/venicewhitemencantjumpcourt.jpg)
My puppy... winded after only a few steps. He was the biggest bodybuilder I saw on the walk...
(http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x263/timeamajorova/veniceamericanbully.jpg)
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Dyslexic, Nah there were some all the way Big dudes, almost pro size.... But I didn't go out to the actual beach to be honest!
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Probably was Charles but he is pretty skinny most of the time.
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Probably was Charles but he is pretty skinny most of the time.
Yeah he wasn't a real big guy or anything - was covered up so hard to tell!
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Dyslexic, Nah there were some all the way Big dudes, almost pro size.... But I didn't go out to the actual beach to be honest!
I have been out on the beach quite a bit just for the walk. Still ain't seen anybody waddlin' around. Mostly older dudes that are in decent shape. You can tell they are juicin a bit, but nothin' freaky.
It's just fun to kick back and chillax.
I did talk to Debbie Bramwell not too long ago. She is ripped all the time.
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Bremwell is 1 of the chic with ugliest face I've seem on internet so far, holy Molly
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Hey guys,
So I finally made it out to Golds Gym in Venice California and blasted a good back work out!
Place is huge, looooots of machines, and even an outdoor area for functional training! Lots of posters all over the walls of bodybuilders (except for Arnold - apparently he asked for them to be taken down), sports athletes, movie posters, football jerseys, etc.
I didn't see any pros unfortunately, but I saw a lot of huuuge guys in general and a bunch of bimbos/gym bunnies (And I could've sworn I saw Charles Glass - but then again it could've been someone else completely, I have no idea if Glass evens trains there or not, didn't get a great look so maybe I was imagining things! If it wasn't - its someone that looks just like him!)
Overall it was a really cool experience, I've been wanting to visit it for a very long time, I even drove by The Firehouse on the way over there, will try to make it out for a bite to eat before I leave here!
Here are some pics, excuse the quality:
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice1s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice2s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice3s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice4s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice5s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice6s.jpg)
Did Tom Prince give you the customary blowjob while standing with his feet inside a paper bag in a bathroom stall?
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Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson... remember?
(http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x263/timeamajorova/venicewhitemencantjumpcourt.jpg)
Are those the same courts from American History X?
???
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I trained there for a year. I have to admit when I first went in I thought was kinda a dump. There arwe insane people training there though. Motivating. I am thinking of checking out the redondo beach one now that I am in south bay and I heard people there are insane too. One guy me and my pal called superman cuz he was my height 6-6 but had mad abs liek a volleball plaer on roids. I think I trained 8 days straight after seeing him. Showers are hilarious since they have yellow squirt soap in lil a mchine next to each shower.
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Congrats BIG ACH. Hope you're having a good time bro.
Sorry bro it's pretty tight this week... how long are you in socal for?
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Place looks the same that as it was in 2000 when I was there needs a upgrade, I'd rather train in my Garage.
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Plenty of freaks in there too... :-\ :-X
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Place looks the same that as it was in 2000 when I was there needs a upgrade, I'd rather train in my Garage.
Agree... lots of stuff is dated... luv those tube TV... ;D
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what a fukin tool
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I will be there next weekend for the Excalibur. Haven't been to venice since 07, really excited to go back to golds and the whole scene over there. Venice beach is an amazing place.
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LOL.......the mecca of bodybuilding looks like a fucking dump filled with jobless retards.
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I will be there next weekend for the Excalibur. Haven't been to venice since 07, really excited to go back to golds and the whole scene over there. Venice beach is an amazing place.
are you gonna stay with tim fogarty while your down in LA?
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Thanks for sharing. 8)
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The homo trip of a lifetime.
Enjoy the ride while it lasts!
(that's what she said)
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Livin the dream!
AKA
White van parked outside the gym ;D
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Gold's Venice. Yawn. Been there, done that.
The homo trip of a lifetime.
Enjoy the ride while it lasts!
(that's what she said)
x2
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I have been out on the beach quite a bit just for the walk. Still ain't seen anybody waddlin' around. Mostly older dudes that are in decent shape. You can tell they are juicin a bit, but nothin' freaky.
It's just fun to kick back and chillax.
I did talk to Debbie Bramwell not too long ago. She is ripped all the time.
debbie is one of the few swede approved fbb's
all the way cool woman
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Plenty of freaks in there too... :-\ :-X
hahaha (but if those are 45s i couldn't budge 'em off the rack)
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Epic Bucketlist
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big ach dont forget the spinhx stone! when are you going back there?
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I cant imagine the motivation you get once you step into that gym.
The original Gold's was even better, trust me. Man, I am getting too old. ;)
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Those are not squats!!! they are DENVER (as in mile high) squats, and they DO NOT COUNT!!
"Anyting you have ever dreamed of lifting, I already have!!!"
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A friend of mine was in Venice the week of the Olympia, before heading to Vegas. His impression of Venice: broken people. Lots of broken people.
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Plenty of freaks in there too... :-\ :-X
Looks like well informed bodybuilder doing ass to grass Squats getting ready for the Olympia to me
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Used to train at Gold's every once in a while back in the late 80's and early 90's. Used to be $8 to train for a day. Stopped when they upped it to $15. By that time I was training at World Gym anyway for free thanks to my friend Eddie Giuliani. What a difference in atmosphere between the 2 gyms. Gold's was loud and boisterous with loud music. World was a lot quieter. Joe Gold didn't believe in playing music. Definitely a more intimite setting. The saying went that "Gold's was a whorehouse, and World was a church", lol.
The 3 giant rooms at Gold's were unparralleled for quantity and variety of equipment though. And the atmosphere was always inspiring. Rather than being intimidated by all the monsters training there, I was inspired instead to train my ass off. Some of the best workouts of my life! Always several pro bodybuilders and wrestlers around. And there was usually a Flex photoshoot going on. That's where I met Lee Haney and Gary Strydom on the same afternoon after the '88 Olympia. I also met Gregory Hines (PIP) there. Really cool down to earth guy. I miss those days!
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Plenty of freaks in there too... :-\ :-X
Dumb! What is he doing, cause that aint no squat!?!?
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Congrats BIG ACH. Hope you're having a good time bro.
Sorry bro it's pretty tight this week... how long are you in socal for?
Hey Alex! Good hearing from you - as I told you in my PM, I'm only here for another day then flying back to Fl! Short trip! But we'll get together next time - I'll be back cause I have family here that I'll visit again!
On another note there was a guy in there training that is seriously stuck in the 70's.... Dude looks great, well built with a physique that looks like Zane's and very ripped... but he had an afro, was wearing a super tight tank top, and super tight booty shorts, and these 70's looking Nikes! I tell you he was stuck in the golden age!
Dressed just like the guy on the left of Arnold - but he looked great so props to him for that build!
(http://undergroundstrengthmanual.com/images/bodybuilding.jpg)
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A friend of mine was in Venice the week of the Olympia, before heading to Vegas. His impression of Venice: broken people. Lots of broken people.
;D
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Plenty of freaks in there too... :-\ :-X
what the hell is that guys major malfunction. he should be banned from polite society.
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Big Arch, thanks for posting the pics and I know how you must have enjoyed the GOLDS atmopshere.
As usual plenty of NON bodybuilders chime in who don't get out of their mom's basement.
Thanks again for showing some real bodybuilding in real gym.
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And there was usually a Flex photoshoot going on. That's where I met Lee Haney and Gary Strydom on the same afternoon after the '88 Olympia. I also met Gregory Hines (PIP) there. Really cool down to earth guy. I miss those days!
I was there that same day watching Strydoms photoshoot. Pretty sure it was another Grand Opening. Also, saw Reggie Jackson training.
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I was there that same day watching Strydoms photoshoot. Pretty sure it was another Grand Opening. Also, saw Reggie Jackson training.
Now that must have been cool!
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REEVES, In an earlier post you stated that..."The original Gold's was even better, trust me. Man, I am getting too old."
Do you mean the 'original location' on Pacific Avenue as pictured below?
If so maybe I know ya.....I worked out there a few times and had many a conversation with Joe as he did some welding work in the back.
Second photo shows how it looked back when it was relatively new and the 1st photo is years later when they reopened in 3rd Street in Santa Monica or possibly later when Gold's was relocated to Hampton in Venice and is most likely how it looks at present.
I believe that Ken changed the gym into an extension of his living room once he closed it down and moved lock, stock and barrel to San Monica.
By the way, Ken did not buy Gold's directly from Joe because there was two other guys who bought it from Joe Gold and then Ken Sprague purchased it from them. (Fading memory)
ACH< I'm amost positive that was Charles Glass you saw. He's always there. Good man! You should have talked with him.
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This might be too damn old to research and I doubt that anyone is still alive since then but there was a good gym on one of the side streets up by Muscle Beach and the Santa Monica Pier. It was located right off the side parking lot (no parking structures back then) of an old hotel no further than 30 yards from the beach and had great home-made equipment.
I am not sure about this but I think it was the temporary location of Joe's gym business before he moved to Pacific Avenue about a mile south.
So,if this is correct, Joe Gold's first gym was not located on Pacific Avenue!
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This might be too damn old to research and I doubt that anyone is still alive since then but there was a good gym on one of the side streets up by Muscle Beach and the Santa Monica Pier. It was located right off the side parking lot (no parking structures back then) of an old hotel no further than 30 yards from the beach and had great home-made equipment.
I am not sure about this but I think it was the temporary location of Joe's gym business before he moved to Pacific Avenue about a mile south.
So,if this is correct, Joe Gold's first gym was not located on Pacific Avenue!
Is that the place where someone rolled up with a truck and stole all the equipment one night?
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have they put the dumbells back in order yet, every time I go there they're scattered all over and can't find a matching pair to save my life!
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I love back day
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i love lamp
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I was there that same day watching Strydoms photoshoot. Pretty sure it was another Grand Opening. Also, saw Reggie Jackson training.
Yup, as a matter of fact, I do remember Mr. October training there that day!
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REEVES, In an earlier post you stated that..."The original Gold's was even better, trust me. Man, I am getting too old."
Do you mean the 'original location' on Pacific Avenue as pictured below?
If so maybe I know ya.....I worked out there a few times and had many a conversation with Joe as he did some welding work in the back.
Second photo shows how it looked back when it was relatively new and the 1st photo is years later when they reopened in 3rd Street in Santa Monica or possibly later when Gold's was relocated to Hampton in Venice and is most likely how it looks at present.
I believe that Ken changed the gym into an extension of his living room once he closed it down and moved lock, stock and barrel to San Monica.
By the way, Ken did not buy Gold's directly from Joe because there was two other guys who bought it from Joe Gold and then Ken Sprague purchased it from them. (Fading memory)
ACH< I'm amost positive that was Charles Glass you saw. He's always there. Good man! You should have talked with him.
Yup, that's the one. I was told the windows were walled up due to someone shooting them out. We may have trained next to one another, who knows? Waller was a pretty cool guy. I bought a XXXL shirt from him and he told me with a big smile, "Good luck growing into it, kid!" Franco was great too. Robbie Robinson was pretty nice to be around and the Mentzers and Viator were from another planet. Arnold was a planet and everything revolved around him, or so it seemed.
These guys, well they were real people. They had a camaraderie in and out of the gym that seems to be gone now. There was schmoism going on back then but they called it"hustling". A few did it and were quite honest about it. Everyone cracked up at a made for T.V. move in the early 80s called "The Hustler of Muscle Beach". The guys I talked with were also honest about steroids.
Joe Gold was a gentlemen and I really enjoyed the few times I spoke with him at his World Gym in later years. I had a friend whose cousin was dating a stuntman and they would get us into Universal Studios for free. I can't recall his name but he was a pretty good guy even though my buddy and I didn't have much interaction with him.
As for the other gym you mentioned, that might be the old "Dungeon" where greats like Draper first trained in the sixties. I'm not certain as I never went there but it does sound like it. Good times gone forever now, except in our minds.
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(And I could've sworn I saw Charles Glass - but then again it could've been someone else completely, I have no idea if Glass evens trains there or not, didn't get a great look so maybe I was imagining things! If it wasn't - its someone that looks just like him!)
Likely was him. He has a lot of clients there.
Lucky no one caught you taking pictures. ::) They're kinda anal on the no camera rule.
have they put the dumbells back in order yet, every time I go there they're scattered all over and can't find a matching pair to save my life!
LOL! That's what I remember too ::) the freeweight area being a mess - that and the cardio area being hotter than hell.
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When my son was in second grade, he used to tell me about this kid named Ron Waller who was kind of a bully and used to pick on him from time to time. Sometimes I would go to his school to pick my son up.
Frequently, there was this old guy there as well that used to wait around to pick up his son. He frequently wore a World Gym sweatshirt, and looked like he "used to work out". I thought he was the kid's Grandfather. Then I put 2 & 2 together, and figured out that it was Ken Waller! He didn't age very well, that's why I didn't recognize him. If I did, I would have conversed with him!
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have they put the dumbells back in order yet, every time I go there they're scattered all over and can't find a matching pair to save my life!
Yup! So true! You couldn't get away with that shit at World Gym though!
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When my son was in second grade, he used to tell me about this kid named Ron Waller who was kind of a bully and used to pick on him from time to time. Sometimes I would go to his school to pick my son up.
Frequently, there was this old guy there as well that used to wait around to pick up his son. He frequently wore a World Gym sweatshirt, and looked like he "used to work out". I thought he was the kid's Grandfather. Then I put 2 & 2 together, and figured out that it was Ken Waller! He didn't age very well, that's why I didn't recognize him. If I did, I would have conversed with him!
This is how I remember him...
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Likely was him. He has a lot of clients there.
Lucky no one caught you taking pictures. ::) They're kinda anal on the no camera rule.
LOL! That's what I remember too ::) the freeweight area being a mess - that and the cardio area being hotter than hell.
LOL, the Japanese Gold's Gyms have a rule set that is longer than the insturction handbook of a fighter plane.
No cameras, no mobile phones, no texting, no use of electricity from the gym for you phone or mp3 player, no tattoos, no yelling / loud talk, no dropping dumbbells or plates, no sweat on the machines, no forced reps, no negatives without help, always use security equipment, no super sets, no multiple sets on one machine, bla bla bla.
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Yup, as a matter of fact, I do remember Mr. October training there that day!
We must have all been training there at the same time (85'-88) yes?
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Now that must have been cool!
Until he found out Reggie Jackson's been taking dball since the eary 70's :-\
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have they put the dumbells back in order yet, every time I go there they're scattered all over and can't find a matching pair to save my life!
Come on Coach, tell the truth. You didn't care about matching dumbells as long as the Tom Prince special brown paper bags fit over your shoes. Only when those didn't fit did you raise HOLY hell.
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What the hell are you talking about??
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Yeah Princess, I was trying to be very discrete while taking the pics, figured they wouldn't be too pleased with that. That's why some of them are so crappy! LOL,got a T-shirt too for the memories. These stories you're allt telling about the original Golds Venice sound awesome, wish I could've been there to see it!
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We must have all been training there at the same time (85'-88) yes?
As I said, I would buy a day pass and train at Gold's occasionally. I trained at World on a regular basis, and belonged to Bally's in Culver City.
I also trained at the pit on Venice Beach from time to time. The time frame was from about '87 to '98 when I left LA. Miss those days!
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Reeves, I forget the exact details but I seem to recall that those windows were walled up because the new owner converted that entire gym area into a living room.
And as you mentioned above and as I stated earlier, steroid usage was not a big secret back then ..... unless you wanted to keep your fellow competitors in the dark. But in almost all cases we talked about it openly because there was no reason to hide it from anyone until it became a federal offense and went underground.
I assume you know where most of the hard core guys went for their hard core supps back then. Those were interesting times
That was Tim Kimber who played the lead bodybuilder in Hustle (not hustlER) at Muscle Beach and there was some jealousy when he got that part. He was one of the gym partners with Ed and Pete at that time if I recall correctly.
The stuntman at Universal could have been my best friend, Jack Tyree, who I've written about many times on this board, but most of the Universal crew worked out at Vince's Gym in the Valley whereas I recall that the guys who worked at the Fox Studios would do some minor lifting at Golds in them old days. It wasn't until the Hampton location days that the big names started showing up.
Nope! The other gym I mentioned was not the Dungeon where I did train on a couple of occasions. I do recall that flight of stairs into an area of almost total darkness and a mess of weights scattered all over.
And you're right! Dave did train there for a short while while he worked in what I believe was Weider's first product distribution shop on the west coast across the street from Zucky's Jewish Delicatessen and Coffee Shoppe where every bodybuilder had at least two or more meals a day (now closed and boarded up).
I visited Dave in that store and we'd talk as he prepared various Weider sups for shipment. And I do recall him mentioning the possibility of getting a good movie role with Tony Curtis and Sharon Tate (I believe) in "Don't Make Waves". (He got it and did damn good in it!)
I still think that was Joe's original gym location in the original Muscle Beach vicinity I mentioned earlier, but who the hell would know for sure now?!!
Everyone's gone on to Greener Pastures or their own Happy Hunting Ground!
Or elsewhere!
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What the hell are you talking about??
Just fucking with ya, relax :D
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LOL, the Japanese Gold's Gyms have a rule set that is longer than the insturction handbook of a fighter plane.
No cameras, no mobile phones, no texting, no use of electricity from the gym for you phone or mp3 player, no tattoos, no yelling / loud talk, no dropping dumbbells or plates, no sweat on the machines, no forced reps, no negatives without help, always use security equipment, no super sets, no multiple sets on one machine, bla bla bla.
So what are you basically "allowed" to do? :-\
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So what are you basically "allowed" to do? :-\
LOL, i was wondering it myself. Sit on a bench and be quiet, but don't sit there too long.
Kidding aside, this is typical for Japan. You put up a shitload of rules, and everybody follows them to a point where it becomes ridiculous. For example, there's this HUGE MMA-Fighter who trains in the gym, he has lots and lots of tattoos. Now according to the rules you cannot make a contract when you have tattoos, and when you get some after you made the contract, you can be suspended from the gym.
But, he dwarfs the trainers and almost everyone, so nobody says anything.
Some competitors also do supersets, or forced reps. They know what they are doing, so nobody says anything.
All in all, it is the cleanest, best gym i have ever been to. No phones, no assholes, no hardcore attitude. It's good to have rules when you can bend them a tad without getting problems.
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Hey guys,
So I finally made it out to Golds Gym in Venice California and blasted a good back work out!
Place is huge, looooots of machines, and even an outdoor area for functional training! Lots of posters all over the walls of bodybuilders (except for Arnold - apparently he asked for them to be taken down), sports athletes, movie posters, football jerseys, etc.
I didn't see any pros unfortunately, but I saw a lot of huuuge guys in general and a bunch of bimbos/gym bunnies (And I could've sworn I saw Charles Glass - but then again it could've been someone else completely, I have no idea if Glass evens trains there or not, didn't get a great look so maybe I was imagining things! If it wasn't - its someone that looks just like him!)
Overall it was a really cool experience, I've been wanting to visit it for a very long time, I even drove by The Firehouse on the way over there, will try to make it out for a bite to eat before I leave here!
Here are some pics, excuse the quality:
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice1s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice2s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice3s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice4s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice5s.jpg)
(http://www.ahmedelattar.com/images/goldsvenice6s.jpg)
Not sure I agree with you bringing your nose into the discussion but you are a cool enough guy to get my support. What do you say we run this town tonight? :D