Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure
Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: stuntmovie on July 08, 2017, 04:53:08 PM
-
Found an old camera while cleaning out the attic and took it to the photo shop to get that old roll of film developed. (Not an easy task to accomplish.)
So I'll do my best to post some old pics of some old folks ... most of whom I once knew .... and in some cases still do know .... with the hopes that you younger folks might find them somewhat interesting and have the ability to name the few who have served before your time.
I think that Wes and Tommy Wishbone will have the most success in naming a few of these usual suspect... some of which may be easy while others will be impossible
And for the rest of you GetBiggers .... this may show you how this 'sport' of bodybuilding used to be ....while others will show you how things still are ....
-
Pretty cool pics man, last one's kinda gay but all in all very nostalgic.
-
Found an old camera while cleaning out the attic and took it to the photo shop to get that old roll of film developed. (Not an easy task to accomplish.)
So I'll do my best to post some old pics of some old folks ... most of whom I once knew .... and in some cases still do know .... with the hopes that you younger folks might find them somewhat interesting and have the ability to name the few who have served before your time.
I think that Wes and Tommy Wishbone will have the most success in naming a few of these usual suspect... some of which may be easy while others will be impossible
And for the rest of you GetBiggers .... this may show you how this 'sport' of bodybuilding used to be ....while others will show you how things still are ....
First one I think is John Hansen. These pictures look from the late 80's to early 90's
-
First one I think is John Hansen. These pictures look from the late 80's to early 90's
Was thinking Baldwin.
-
No, VINCE. Way before Hansen's time.
But "Yes!" on Richard Baldwin. Decent call. Disgusted!
-
More old pics ..... But I now realize that some of these were not taken by me..... But most were....
Interesting back story on this first pic.
-
Corey was absent.... but ....
-
Joe Nazario on the beach ?
-
BIG AL, CORRECT!!! That seems to be an East Coast Beach.
-
More old pics ..... But I now realize that some of these were not taken by me..... But most were....
Ron T and Birdsong?
-
WOW, disgusted. You know this old time stuff pretty damn well.
Correct on both counts.
The photo of RonTeufel was taken when he lost a national title to Tony Pierson if I am recalling correctly. There was a big 'ruckus' backstage that evening but I forgot the details a long time ago,
Any help?
Ronnie died way too young.
-
I cannot recall the dates in which all these photos were taken but here are a couple of shots of PH when he was very young. Got more of him which I'll post later on after he is correctly ID'ed.
And I'll be surprised if Tommy wishbone does not ID the first individual.
-
No, VINCE. Way before Hansen's time.
But "Yes!" on Richard Baldwin. Decent call. Disgusted!
Ok, when I saw the hair style on the 2nd pic, I figured it was late 80's. Awesome pictures though....what bodybuilding SHOULD BE
-
Year, Vince, .... It was what bodybuilding was way back then. I think that Classic will take it back to the good old days but only after more 'illnesses'' take place.
And I had to look up John Hansen .... Had no idea what he looked like nor who he was.
I thought I knew it all, but apparently I was mistaken.
-
The good ol' days when Pecs stood out further than the stomach, which is completely the opposite nowadays.
-
More Old shots. These were on the disc, but I didn't take most of them, I don't know how that happened.
-
Actually .... there were not too many female competitors back then but we worked with or met many of the ladies that did.
-
BREAK-TIME. MORE TO FOLLOW.
-
Great pictures.
-
Thanks, OLDTIMER.
-
Final two for the day ....
-
I cannot recall the dates in which all these photos were taken but here are a couple of shots of PH when he was very young. Got more of him which I'll post later on after he is correctly ID'ed.
And I'll be surprised if Tommy wishbone does not ID the first individual.
Man... I'm trying... :D
-
BW group pic....some names are Hernon....Marjo Selin. Husband Hanu Selin...Cahling.
-
Jeff Everson on beach with gals.
-
Awesome pics, stunt! I much prefer pics from the golden age than of modern bbers.
-
TOMMY, I don't know the years nor the Gold Gym locations when you were there but here's a clue concerning two of the individuals whom I think you may know or may have trained with way back then.
One such individual is Joe Tong (as pictured in one of the darker photos somewhere above).... Great guy from Hawaii and the hauoli guy who is pictured above the two Phil Hernon shots is Marty Gentle (USMC) who passed away (way too young) recently while residing in Huntsville, Alabama
Upon serving his time in the Corps he went to Cal to train at Gold;s 3rd Street location and became close friends with the "Barbarian Brothers", Pete G. and a host of other well known individuals who lifted heavy things.
He had a small role in one of the HULK TV episodes appearing as a bodybuilding contestant when the Hulk gets out of control for some for some forgotten reason and also a photo of him holding the play GIRLof the Month on his shoulders in one of the Playboy issues (she was murdered soon thereafter).
Interesting story about "MARTY" .... Upon returning to Alabama he worked at a major US tire manufacturing plant in or near Huntsville and somehow got sucked into some major piece of equipment that pulls in the rubber at one end and out comes the tire at the other end.
But this time MARTY got sucked into the beginning end and never came out at the other end .... so they called in the two guys who knew how to take the entire 'machine' apart and eventually got Marty out and to the hospital where the doctor examined him dnd said that the only reason he wasn't crushed to death was that he was to damn solidly built with muscle .... so that machine wasn't able to squeeze him to death.
His only complaint was that he felt "tired".
True story except for the "he felt tired" addition.
PS... I think that Joe Tong may still be a Gold's Gym Venice member and possibly own or work at a local supplement store there.
-
One photo easy to ID. He signed it.
The other could possibly be only ID'ed by TW.
-
Stunt,
Did you have any involvement with this cable show?
-
He had a small role in one of the HULK TV episodes appearing as a bodybuilding contestant when the Hulk gets out of control for some for some forgotten reason and also a photo of him holding the play GIRLof the Month on his shoulders in one of the Playboy issues (she was murdered soon thereafter).
Dorothy Stratton?
-
More Old shots. These were on the disc, but I didn't take most of them, I don't know how that happened.
Bottom photo in this group I believe is Tito Raymond, brother of Jose.
-
WOW, disgusted. You know this old time stuff pretty damn well.
Correct on both counts.
The photo of RonTeufel was taken when he lost a national title to Tony Pierson if I am recalling correctly. There was a big 'ruckus' backstage that evening but I forgot the details a long time ago,
Any help?
Ronnie died way too young.
Nice video tribute to Teufel:
-
Bottom photo in this group I believe is Tito Raymond, brother of Jose.
no hahaha. Although I must admit there is a slight resemblance. Damn I can't remember this guys name....
-
no hahaha. Although I must admit there is a slight resemblance. Damn I can't remember this guys name....
Yes that is absolutely a young Tito Raymond in pic
-
Bottom photo in this group I believe is Tito Raymond, brother of Jose.
Wow! No shit
-
PRINCESS, Yep ... It was Dorothy Stratton. If I recall right, I believe she was killed by a photographer in the vicinity of Palm Springs .. But that story is most likely covered someplace on this here internet.
Marty (pictured above someplace) was a great looking kid with a hard, classic bod and just stopped to watch what was going on and someone associated with that Playboy shoot saw him and asked if he would not mind holding her on his shoulders which he immediately agreed to do...
and the rest is PLAYBOY history of some sort.
He was also the model of what turned out to be the largest selling poster of that time which I have heard is still available someplace on this here internet.
I'll post a copy if I can find.
Sad to say that he passed away last year. Another great person way to early.
And "No" ... I was never an active participant in the show that Jeff and Cory produced but was on the set a number of times and one of my nephews was actively involved .... but for some unknown reason I never saw any episode on TV.
Both Jeff and Cory have been like family members to me.
But that's a long story for another occasion.
-
PRINCESS, Yep ... It was Dorothy Stratton. If I recall right, I believe she was killed by a photographer in the vicinity of Palm Springs .. But that story is most likely covered someplace on this here internet.
Marty (pictured above someplace) was a great looking kid with a hard, classic bod and just stopped to watch what was going on and someone associated the that Playboy shoot saw him and asked if he would not mind holding her on his shoulders which he immediately agreed to do...
and the rest is history of some sort.
He was also the model of what turned out to be the largest selling poster of that time which I have heard is still available someplace on this here internet.
I'll post a copy if I can find.
And "No" ... I was never an active participant in the show that Jeff and Cory produced but was on the set a number of times and one of my nephews was actively involved .... but for some unknown reason I never saw any episode on TV.
Both Jeff and Cory have been like family members to me.
Long story for another occasion.
Dorothy Stratton was killed by her husband, you are thinking of that other bunny who was killed by the photog Stunt
Dorothy Ruth Hoogstraten (February 28, 1960 – August 14, 1980), who took the stage name Dorothy Stratten, was a Canadian Playboy Playmate, model, and actress. Stratten was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for August 1979, Playmate of the Year in 1980[1] and was the second Playmate (after Lee Ann Michelle) born in the 1960s. Stratten appeared in three comedy films and in at least two episodes of shows broadcast on US network television. She was murdered at the age of 20 by her estranged husband/manager Paul Snider, who committed suicide on the same day. Her death inspired two motion pictures.[2]
-
One photo easy to ID. He signed it.
The other could possibly be only ID'ed by TW.
Matt Mendenhall
Neil Spruce
-
NELSON, Thanks for the clarification. How did you know all that?
STRAW. I'm surprised that anyone was able to ID Spruce! Good job!
This may prove to be a tougher question for you related to Neil.
Name the supplement product that he developed and sold through the Gold's Gym chain.
-
NELSON, Thanks for the clarification. How did you know all that?
STRAW. I'm surprised that anyone was able to ID Spruce! Good job!
This may prove to be a tougher question for you related to Neil.
Name the supplement product that he developed and sold through the Gold's Gym chain.
why?
well known guy at the time
I have no idea on whatever supplement he was selling
-
Neal Spruce. Good friend for many years. If you turned pro in the late 80's or early 1990's he probably helped you.
He's made about 25 million over the last many years via nutrition and fitness.
Second pic is Neal and a friend at Neal's home in SoCal.
-
TOMMY, I don't know the years nor the Gold Gym locations when you were there but here's a clue concerning two of the individuals whom I think you may know or may have trained with way back then.
One such individual is Joe Tong (as pictured in one of the darker photos somewhere above).... Great guy from Hawaii and the hauoli guy who is pictured above the two Phil Hernon shots is Marty Gentle (USMC) who passed away (way too young) recently while residing in Huntsville, Alabama
Upon serving his time in the Corps he went to Cal to train at Gold;s 3rd Street location and became close friends with the "Barbarian Brothers", Pete G. and a host of other well known individuals who lifted heavy things.
He had a small role in one of the HULK TV episodes appearing as a bodybuilding contestant when the Hulk gets out of control for some for some forgotten reason and also a photo of him holding the play GIRLof the Month on his shoulders in one of the Playboy issues (she was murdered soon thereafter).
Interesting story about "MARTY" .... Upon returning to Alabama he worked at a major US tire manufacturing plant in or near Huntsville and somehow got sucked into some major piece of equipment that pulls in the rubber at one end and out comes the tire at the other end.
But this time MARTY got sucked into the beginning end and never came out at the other end .... so they called in the two guys who knew how to take the entire 'machine' apart and eventually got Marty out and to the hospital where the doctor examined him dnd said that the only reason he wasn't crushed to death was that he was to damn solidly built with muscle .... so that machine wasn't able to squeeze him to death.
His only complaint was that he felt "tired".
True story except for the "he felt tired" addition.
PS... I think that Joe Tong may still be a Gold's Gym Venice member and possibly own or work at a local supplement store there.
Stunt, I always amazed at how many mutual acquaintances we have. I first met Joe Tong in the mid 1980s when he moved from Kentucky to Torrance, CA to stay with a good friend of mine, Max Malone, who knew Joe as Max was also from that part of the country. Max had an apartment that was right across the street from Barlow's (later "Kasey's") gym. I worked at the gym part time and they both trained there for several years. Joe was a great laid back guy and I use to get a kick out of his accent. Instead of "dirty" he would say "darty".
I didn't know he was in Hawaii but heard that he got a nursing degree and works as a nurse.
-
This is Tony Breznik. I met him in Vegas in 2013. I was at bonnie spring ranch with my friend from Vegas and he came from nowhere with a friend of us. He was so huge he was cartooonesque. He's a former professional hockey player from austria, he's a cool guy with ton's of fun story about girl and fight. I don't know what he's doing to live because he don't work, he just travel all over the world. In vegas he was with a friend of mine from austria who sells private jet to billionnaire. I was 275lbs and i was a midget near to him. He was dressed very well and i can tell that even if he's fucking huge he's a pussy magnet because he got a lot of charisma. You can check his facebook, he's involved on everything about jetset in the world.
-
TOMMY, Thanks! I knew you'd be knowing a few of the individuals I have been .. 0r will be ... mentioning during this 'conversation' .... and I find it a bit strange that I never heard of Neil until he introduced his product line that eventually made him so financially successful.
I've been trying to recall the name of his product but it escapes me at the present.
I know for a fact that I can name a handful of others who are mutual aquaintences and will do my best to do so if this topic continues and if my old time memory bank continues to function.
PELLIUS . .... It's a small world within the bodybuilding game so I am not surprised that we have mutual aquaintances (there's that word that I can't spell again), but I am surprised that you have no knowledge regarding Allison Brundage who was or still is ... a nurse on the North Shore of Oahu.
One of the great female bodybuilders of her day and a great lady in her own right.
Are you still in contact with Paula or Jon these days and have your ever met Ernie Santiago?
-
JON COLE: Jon, were you a powerlifter once upon a tim? If so I met you once upon a time and we also have mutual friends.
Yep! That is Tony with his wild haircut that made him initially famous.
You must have met Tony sometime during the yearly Oly contest here in Vegas or possibly around the same time when we drove to LA and met Gene Mozee and John Balik and Mike N. who did the IronMan photo shoot on Tony's behalf. (I have forgotten the year in which that occurred.)
-
TOMMY, Thanks! I knew you'd be knowing a few of the individuals I have been .. 0r will be ... mentioning during this 'conversation' .... and I find it a bit strange that I never heard of Neil until he introduced his product line that eventually made him so financially successful.
I've been trying to recall the name of his product but it escapes me at the present.
I know for a fact that I can name a handful of others who are mutual aquaintences and will do my best to do so if this topic continues and if my old time memory bank continues to function.
PELLIUS . .... It's a small world within the bodybuilding game so I am not surprised that we have mutual aquaintances (there's that word that I can't spell again), but I am surprised that you have no knowledge regarding Allison Brundage who was or still is ... a nurse on the North Shore of Oahu.
One of the great female bodybuilders of her day and a great lady in her own right.
Are you still in contact with Paula or Jon these days and have your ever met Ernie Santiago?
I haven't talked or seen John Kaiser since high school. I do plan to look him up and hopefully contact him. As I mentioned before, he was the only one that had a car (a Chevy truck) and he took me and a couple of friends to see Pumping Iron for the first time when it first came out in the 70s.
-
Bodybuilders with hair and no guts. Great times.
-
Bodybuilders with hair and no guts. Great times.
What is wrong with no hair and big guts?
-
PELIUS, You saw Pumping Iron at the old theater on Kapahulu Avenue which was then torn down shortly later and I think it was replaced by another ZIPPY's.
Stand by and wait for a personal message with a bit of an interesting story about them good old days.
-
PELIUS, You saw Pumping Iron at the old theater on Kapahulu Avenue which was then torn down shortly later and I think it was replaced by another ZIPPY's.
Stand by and wait for a personal message with a bit of an interesting story about them good old days.
You have a great memory. It was the Kapahulu theatre.
I never formally met Ernie but saw him a few times at the Nautilus gym that was opened up by Hank Grundman. I worked as a security guard at the Esplanade condos in Hawaii Kai where Hank lived. He's the one that introduced me to Arthur Jones and gave me a book saying, "If you read this you'll know more about Nautilus and it's training system than most anyone." I devoured that book and it change my whole way of thinking. I then discovered Mike Mentzer and would read all his articles and even bought his training manuals. I was struck when I got them in the mail that on the package the return address was written by hand. I wondered if it was Mike himself that wrote that.
Ernie wasn't huge like a few of the other bbers I saw at the time (Casey, Ken Waller, Dave Johns, John Cole (who I thought for sure was related to Boyer as he looked so much like him)) but Ernie always looked super conditioned and stage ready year round. Always cut and vascular. I remember Benny Podda telling me when we both were at Barlow's gym in Torrance, Ca. that when he was competing in the same show he was not impressed with Ernie because he looked small. Then in the pump up room he saw Ernie put each hand on his hips and flexed in the mirror. Benny said that cuts and striations just popped out of everywhere and his jaw dropped.
-
JON COLE: Jon, were you a powerlifter once upon a tim? If so I met you once upon a time and we also have mutual friends.
Yep! That is Tony with his wild haircut that made him initially famous.
You must have met Tony sometime during the yearly Oly contest here in Vegas or possibly around the same time when we drove to LA and met Gene Mozee and John Balik and Mike N. who did the IronMan photo shoot on Tony's behalf. (I have forgotten the year in which that occurred.)
I'm not the Jon cole, the famous pler, i'm just from France and i live near Paris, i met tony in november 2013, he was on a trip to a private jet convention with a guy from the Zeptair company, in Vegas.
-
Great stuff Stunt.
-
Bill,I recognized quite a few of these guys........thanks for sharing the memories. ;)
-
Jon, It sounds like Tony is now a Jet Setter! Good for him!
I will do my best to contact him and get an update.
WES, THANKS!!!!
RONNIE, THANKS!
If I can get my old computers up and running, I'll post a lot more old shots that may be of interest.
Including some of the early day 'pioneers' who have yet to be mentioned significantly on this here GetBig Board .... such as Bill Grant, Pat Ruel (spelling?), Kent Kuhn, John Corvello, Bill Stathis, Kurt Freeman , Mel Knoll, Gary Leonard, Bill Knuckles, Tommy Kono, Harold Sakada, Arti Zeller, Mabel and Perry, Timmy Leong, Bill Starr, Jeff and Cory, Joe Nazzario, Rev. Zuver and Rhino, Peanuts West, George Frenn, Lloyd Latch, Doug Strohl, Don Peters, .... and a ton and a half of others whom the vast majority of GetBiggers have never heard of.
-
Jon, It sounds like Tony is now a Jet Setter! Good for him!
I will do my best to contact him and get an update.
WES, THANKS!!!!
RONNIE, THANKS!
If I can get my old computers up and running, I'll post a lot more old shots that may be of interest.
Including some of the early day 'pioneers' who have yet to be mentioned significantly on this here GetBig Board .... such as Bill Grant, Pat Ruel (spelling?), Kent Kuhn, John Corvello, Bill Stathis, Kurt Freeman , Mel Knoll, Gary Leonard, Bill Knuckles, Tommy Kono, Harold Sakada, Arti Zeller, Mabel and Perry, Timmy Leong, Bill Starr, Jeff and Cory, Joe Nazzario, Rev. Zuver and Rhino, Peanuts West, George Frenn, Lloyd Latch, Doug Strohl, Don Peters, .... and a ton and a half of others whom the vast majority of GetBiggers have never heard of.
do you have any photos of esfitness?
-
stuntmovie. are you talking about the 78 america where pearson won? no way should he have won. tuefel should have. he got all pissed off and left. they did the universe posedpown that day at the same place but with a different set of judges and pearson didnt win. platz did. if tuefel would of stayed he may have gone to the universe instead of platz. history may be different. ron drank himself to death from what i heard. way to young.
-
BIGBY, Yes and it was held in Cinn. and I was backstage so I can't tell you what I thought about that decision ..... but I'll go into more detail tomorrow when I get some free time.
That photo of Baldwin and the interviewer was one of the shots I took and
Tuefel came running through with a pretty damn pissed off attitude.
Right now we are having a family discussion about the latest Apes movie which we all felt was excellent.
-
anyone remember the old Disk gym in Torrance? By the time my buddies and I got there in the late 80s it was run by an older Asian guy the popped pills from His fanny pack like they were candy
-
BIGBY, In an effort to continue with the RON TEUFEL story that was mentioned above .... a bit more of the story should be mentioned before proceeding further.
The late 1970's were the years in which the history of competitive bodybuilding was in for a dramatic change ....
And I was there as an active participant (of minor importance , but important none-the-less) and was involved in every part of it .... but it was so damn long ago that I have honestly forgotten the exact times, the exact dates, and most of the other exact participants who should be receiving an honorable mention at least.
Many stories have been written about those good old days and what actually occurred in those good old days which appear to me to have been written by others who were not physically present when some damn important major decisions were made that changed the world of competitive bodybuilding as as we know it today.
So with the said ..... I'll do my best to recall all that sort of important shit and let other GetBiggers attempt to correct me if and when my shitty memory falls short.
SO .... let me start someplace in the 1970's possibly a bit earlier ... and do my best to go on from there!
I'll do my best to present this stuff in small pieces so that those with short attention spans may follow in the event that they have any interest.
Break .....
-
OK, here goes! I'll do my best to only write about this short chapter in bodybuilding history as I saw and personally witnessed it.
Otherwise ... I'll let you know if and when I'm writing shit in which I was not present by writing "Was not present".
Once upon a time not to long ago (sometime in the 1960's) ......
The AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) was the sanctioning body for all bodybuilding contests held within the USA.
In fact the AAU was the controlling body for all amateur sporting events held within the USA and bodybuilding was a very small and minor "sport" under that AAU jurisdiction.
So one year during the mid 1960's Mr Bob Hoffman of the York Barbell empire paid the AAU sanction fee and promoted the USA Olympic Lifting Championships in the old Embassy Auditorium which was adjacent to the old Embassy Hotel in the even older section of downtown Los Angeles.
This Olympic Lifting Championship contest was to be held in conjunction with the AAU Mr. America contest .... the co-eexistance of which was most likely the first straw placed upon that camel's back.
More follows ...
-
Location …. Los Angeles Embassy Hotel Auditortium … Mid 1960 … USA Olympic Lifting Championships and Mr. America contest.
As far as I’m concerned … unless I had a brother or a sister or a great grand-dad or a true and faithful best friend competing within an olympic lifting contest, I’d rather be sitting at home watching the paint dry.
But others were more interested that day because Bednarski (April 5, 1944 – February 22, 2004) was competing or maybe that auditorium was crowded because the best of the best bodybuilders of the day would be competing for the Mr. America title once the Olympic lifting was completed.
So here is a photo of Bob Bednarski which may or may not have been taken that day.
Bob passed away in 2004 and there were some questions about his death but I know nothing about that .... so I'll leave that research up to some other GetBiggers who has an interest.
And I can't recall who the other olympic lifters were ..... But.......
-
Those within the Embassy Auditorium who did not stay home to watch the paint dry sat in their seats patiently in anticipation of the forthcoming Mr. America contest.
(I just discovered that this all occurred in 1966 ... so when I find the time I'll make that change to the above where necessary).
But those who were there for that AAU bodybuilding contest had to wait until each and every olympic lifter received his trophy and once that was done they had to wait even longer until all those olympic bars and plates were picked up and packed away, the lifting platform was taken apart and removed to some trucks outside, and all the chalk was cleaned away from the floor and those old but expensive curtains and etc., etc.
So it appeared that all was ready for the competing bodybuilders shortly after midnight (or it's possible that it was even later or earlier in the morning).
Most of those in attendance had departed and most of those who stayed were either sleeping in some uncomfortable old theater seat or laid out in the aisles catching a few winks.
So this is a mere guess but I'm guessing that the bodybuilders took the stage a bit before 2:00 AM.
I'm guessing at 2:00 AM because when all was said and done we finally left that auditorium while the sun was slowing rising over the eastern horizon.
A lot occurred during this Mr. America contest before the trophies were presented and I've written about this in detail a few years back which caused a lot of turmoil among one of the contestant's family members so I won't repeat it now (you'll have to go and look for it if interested) ... but thanks to Muscle Memory .... here is how that contest turned out which surprised the thirty or forty bodybuilding die-hards who remained in that auditorium to see who was the victor and who would go home without a trophy. (I don't think that they were plastic back then though.)
Jerry Daniels, Chattanooga, Tenn., the winner
Bob Gajda, Chicago, Ill.
Randy Watson, Manchester, Tenn.
Sergio Oliva, Chicago, Ill.
Charles Estes, Nashville, Tenn.
John Gourgott, New Orleans, La.
Von LaMon, Pasadena, Cal.
Craig Whitehead, Texas
Dennis Tinerino, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mike Ferraro, Buffalo, N. Y.
I was sitting in the first row behind the judges and felt that BOB GAJDA was the winner.
In fact just about everyone in attendance was sitting in that first or second row because everyone else had departed earlier.
It was evident to one and all that the trophy and the title was awarded to the good looking, boy-next-door ..... which caused a bit of resentment among those few die-hards who remained.
But competitive bodybuilders and their fans has other reasons to be pissed.
It seemed that no one wanted to sit up all night to watch a bodybuilding contest!
And I think that was the major reason that initially made the shit hit the fan and hostility against the AAU became somewhat evident.
But there were other reasons as well.
And that's up next.......
-
OK, then!
So as a result of promoting this and a few other body building contests at strange hours and only until after the lifters had their chance to display their feats of strength ... a few but now unknown bodybuilding contenders started to object.
Bot not a near bit loud enough! Not just yet anyway!
Just about this time something came about to cause many others guys (no ladies involved just yet) to get more verbal with their objections.
That event occurred when one or two or more un-recalled physique contenders made a request with the AAU for funds in order to compete in contests within the AAU (and possibly within other sanctioned bodybuilding events also) that they were qualified to enter .... only discover that funds were not available for those bodybuilders who requested financial assistance due to the fact that all such funds were already allowed to the AAU swimmers.
So now the shit really hit the fan and that shit blew across the USA as swift as shit is able to do so.
So a group of individuals ... none of whom were bodybuilding contenders as far as I an recall... decided to do something about it.
And that shit (plus the use of bodybuilding contests to enhance the lifting events) led to the AAU breakaway and the eventual formation of the NPC.
And this is where is gets a bit confusing .....but very interesting.
I never carry a calendar in my pocket so this could all have occurred in 1920... But that's impossible ... so I will continue with my best date estimates and apologize for my stupidity beforehand.
-
stuntmovie relaying some great stories here, lots of name dropping and anecdotes, all totally believable and great to read.
esfitness take note.
-
stuntmovie relaying some great stories here, lots of name dropping and anecdotes, all totally believable and great to read.
Lol STUNT likes to type that is for sure. This thread with the "old pictures" made me really shake my head. Total fantasy. But who cares, so please carry on STUNT.(Esfitness/be there also).
-
OLKE, Speak up forcibly if you have any doubt about anything I write on this GetBig Board.
I never mind an internet punch in the nose as long as you give me a chance to prove I am not lying.
My biggest problem here is that I am totally useless when it comes to recording dates accurately and I sure as hell ain't gonna report on the bad shit that actually did occur within this bodybuilding world until some people enter the pearly gates or that other place below.
So if you are looking for the somewhat questionable but entertaining stuff that Beefy posts, you will have to look elsewhere.
Some of those old pictures were actually taken by me but the others that were not ... were not. I hope that I explained that earlier.
I do plan to continue and let one and all know how things used to be even though the 'how the things used to be" may be somewhat questionable by those who have never been there.
I will not allow myself to resort to bull-shit-ted-ness.
So if you want to punch, punch hard .... but thanks for being aboard regardless.
-
BETHERE, THANKS. Some English guys will also be mentioned if I can get my mind to cross the boarders of the Atlantic.
And if I recall correctly they were all of the Powerlifting gang of usual suspects.
-
Location …. Los Angeles Embassy Hotel Auditortium … Mid 1960 … USA Olympic Lifting Championships and Mr. America contest.
As far as I’m concerned … unless I had a brother or a sister or a great grand-dad or a true and faithful best friend competing within an olympic lifting contest, I’d rather be sitting at home watching the paint dry.
But others were more interested that day because Bednarski (April 5, 1944 – February 22, 2004) was competing or maybe that auditorium was crowded because the best of the best bodybuilders of the day would be competing for the Mr. America title once the Olympic lifting was completed.
So here is a photo of Bob Bednarski which may or may not have been taken that day.
Bob passed away in 2004 and there were some questions about his death but I know nothing about that .... so I'll leave that research up to some other GetBiggers who has an interest.
And I can't recall who the other olympic lifters were ..... But.......
I once saw Bob Bednarski in the unemployment line in my hometown of Springfield Mass. with a pint of booze in his back pocket.
True story.
-
So to get back on track we have bodybuilding contests that are held late at night or too damn early in the morning and no AAU financial support because the AAU gave it all to some swimming team.
Rebellion on the west coast seems to be necessary but no one is smart enough to pull it off.
But the individuals who were smart enough to pul it off did manage to pull it off and have been mostly long forgotten.
I do recall a heavy set guy by the name of Jerome Weise (spelling?) who had the brain capacity to adhere to the legalities of forming a new organization that would and could sanction bodybuilding contests legally and tell the AAU to take a hike.
And this is the time when my brain gets dumber than usual and the exact details except me, but the NPC was set up and established thanks to Jerome and a gentleman by the name of Ralph Countryman..... and about three others whom I have long forgotten. (Damn it!)
And this all occurred long before we had that meeting in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium to join forces with Uncle Joe and the IFBB.
And that is a story/horse of another color which I recall precisely .... but don't count on that 100% ... but I'll explain it precisely anyway.
-
great stories on this thread! keep em coming fellas.
-
back in the day the aau card was 5 bucks!!! then when the npc took over it was still 5 bucks but look at it now!!!! amazing .
-
BIGBY, What does an NPC card cost now-a-days?
But .... After too many years overseas, I got back to the states and went into a Starbucks for my first and only visit and a 'barista' asked me, "What kind do you want, sir?"
I responded, "I want the 10 cent kind please."
I was a bit surprised when that ten cent cup of coffee cost me three bucks.
And that didn't even include a doughnut.
If you tell me that an NPC card cost more than $50 now, I'm gonna demand a doughnut.
-
OK, back to this true and unexaggerated story .....
WARNING .... Do not read if you are not interested in some of the details regarding the early days of the AAU and the formation of the NPC and its association with the IFBB.
And the following is what actually happened on the West Coast of the USA. I am not personally aware of the East Coast version if such a version even exists.
Nor am I even aware if any of the East Coast individuals were present at the following meeting as described below.
The circumstances surrounding and leading up to the following event are somewhat fuzzy but the following is still pretty damn vivid in my mind.
I don't believe that this event was ever recorded as voice recorders were not as prevalent as they are today. Nor Have I ever seen any written records of this meeting. They may exist though.
The event that I am speaking about occurred on an early Sunday morning in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. I believe that it was Gary Leonard who had won the Mr. A title the night before.
We were all encouraged to attend an important meeting before heading back to where we were from.
The entry-way into the auditorium was set up with a good number of chairs and a small, elevated stage with a podium and a conference type table .
Well known individuals were present and gathered in small groups speaking silently while others took their seats and waited.
It appeared that only a few of us realized why we had been gathered here.
Looking over the audience I noticed about three of the York guys but not Bob Hoffman himself. They appeared to be ready for an argument.
Dan Louri (spelling) was there looking rather bulky.
Joe and Ben Weider were present but were not mingling with the attendees. The stood together up front by the stage and were the only two individuals in the room dressed as if they would be attending a prep school reunion ... blue blazers, grey slacks, tie and a handkerchief in the pocket.
Then five individuals took their seats at that table on that stage and I believe that it was Ralph Countryman who called the meeting to order.
And then everyone took a seat or remained standing in the rear.
And it appeared that everything got serious immediately and Robert's Rules of Order were applied.
And soon enough we realized that Joe and Ben were there for a reason.
And numerous arguments started among the 'spectators' as it appeared that some of those spectators knew what that reason was and what was about to happen.
That is when Ben walked to the podium and offered a proposal which went something like the following ....
The IFBB would refrain from promoting amateur bodybuilding contests within the US if the NPC (or were we still the AAU at that time??) would recognize the IFBB as the world wide governing body for bodybuilding competitions.
Then all hell broke loose .... especially from the Hoffman group!
This was soon followed by a guestion and answer period ... with Ben answering all the questions.
It was evident that he was prepared .... and prepared WELL ..... and stood up to any argument intelligently .... until ....
A real lean older guy sitting to my right raised his hand and was acknowledge by Ben and took a stand and said, "Mr. Weider, I've been working for you for ..... years now and we both know that most of your IFBB worldwide foreign members are nothing more than P.O. boxes!"
.... more to follow
-
last i checked the npc card was 125 bucks!!!! used to go watch a show for 10 bucks. now they are 35 bucks or so. they have "tanners" there etc you cant bring your own tan etc. i dont know all the specifics but it has changed drastically. all about making the money. yes the shows were always held in ymcas dirty chalky floors poor lighting etc. but they were fun. sometimes the bigger shows would use a high school stage or something similar .
-
BIGBY, Thanks!
Back in the day we ran bodybuilding and lifting shows under the basketball net with a lightbulb in a tin can attached to it.
Admission was .. "Throw a buck or two in that tin can --->. Thank you!"
Six bodybuilding contenders and three olympic lifters with the previous year's winner as the 'Special Guest Poser' .... made the show with about 20-30 in the audience. And they had to fold up and put their own chair away while the contestants cleaned up the chalk and took the weights downstairs into the weight room.
Then we'd all go out and get a pizza.
Thanks for reminding me how things used to be.
And I still can't get used to the price of a cup of coffee.
-
What is wrong with no hair and big guts?
HELLOOOO FRISCOOOO...