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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: funk51 on May 06, 2020, 11:47:29 AM

Title: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: funk51 on May 06, 2020, 11:47:29 AM
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-obituaries/harry-johnson-atlanta-two-time-america/lMMO9fIEEmdDB2hWHYUxCK/
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: funk51 on May 06, 2020, 11:48:38 AM
 :'(
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: funk51 on May 06, 2020, 11:50:13 AM
rip
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: funk51 on May 06, 2020, 11:53:32 AM
harry won mr a on his 7 th try.    http://musclememory.com/show.php?a=Johnson,+Harry+(1)
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: Humble Narcissist on May 06, 2020, 12:13:32 PM
Steroids took out another one.  If he never used he would have lived to 97.
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: funk51 on May 06, 2020, 12:24:01 PM
Steroids took out another one.  If he never used he would have lived to 97.
          only bill pearl is left from that era.he won the mr a in 1953 but he'll only be 90 in oct this year.
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: Humble Narcissist on May 06, 2020, 12:28:15 PM
I remember a magazine article in Muscle & Fitness from years ago with Pearl where he told of his training routine at the time.  He got up and lifted every morning for a couple hours at 4 or 5am.  Truly loves the iron.
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: Hypertrophy on May 06, 2020, 12:40:41 PM
          only bill pearl is left from that era.he won the mr a in 1953 but he'll only be 90 om oct this year.

90!!! That's amazing.
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: funk51 on May 06, 2020, 12:59:04 PM
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: funk51 on May 06, 2020, 01:01:55 PM
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: OneMoreRep on May 06, 2020, 01:07:08 PM
Looking at some of these greats that have been posted above, I think Bill Pearl has the body I would aim to have the most in terms of the biggest size I would ever care to get and also the right level definition. I'd even dare to say that 10 pounds lighter would probably be just fine.

(http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=665541.0;attach=1165812;image)

"1"
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: Rambone on May 06, 2020, 01:17:38 PM
Looking at some of these greats that have been posted above, I think Bill Pearl has the body I would aim to have the most in terms of the biggest size I would ever care to get and also the right level definition. I'd even dare to say that 10 pounds lighter would probably be just fine.

(http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=665541.0;attach=1165812;image)

"1"

I’ve always said the same. Ideal physique IMO
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: TTfit on May 06, 2020, 01:22:24 PM
Steroids took out another one.  If he never used he would have lived to 97.

 :D :D :D
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: Primemuscle on May 06, 2020, 01:37:50 PM
Harry Johnson in middle age:

(https://usamusclepublicmedia.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/USAMuscleMen01/public/galleries/13129/fullsize/13129-PVW-johnson-h-01.jpg)
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: prowlermaniac on May 06, 2020, 03:21:28 PM
Harry Johnson in middle age:

(https://usamusclepublicmedia.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/USAMuscleMen01/public/galleries/13129/fullsize/13129-PVW-johnson-h-01.jpg)

Am I crazy or would he be in his 80s here if that 2008 NPC stamp is accurate?  Doesn’t seem right but if so then holy fuck
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: robcguns on May 06, 2020, 03:31:20 PM
Rip,guy looked awesome.

On a side note his name makes me laugh pretty hard.its the immature kid in me.hahaha.
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: wes on May 06, 2020, 07:13:13 PM
RIP to a guy who paved the way for the rest of us !!
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: Matt on May 06, 2020, 07:28:57 PM
Am I crazy or would he be in his 80s here if that 2008 NPC stamp is accurate?  Doesn’t seem right but if so then holy fuck

That's a slightly different Harry Johnson in that photo.  And while he was around 50 in that photo [possibly over 50], it was not the Harry Johnson from the OP, who turned 96 last November.

http://musclememory.com/show.php?a=Johnson,+Harry+(2
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: harmankardon1 on May 06, 2020, 07:45:06 PM
Great physique bill pearl...

Rip Harry Johnson also a nice rugged old school physique..
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: hazbin on May 06, 2020, 10:18:36 PM
Rip,guy looked awesome.

On a side note his name makes me laugh pretty hard.its the immature kid in me.hahaha.

there was an IFBB pro named Harry Dinger.  he was 5 time mr. Turkey
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: Vince B on May 06, 2020, 11:25:18 PM
I started lifting weights in September 1958. Tom Sansone won Mr America that year and Ron Lacy won in 1957. In those days there were points for 'athletic' ability and often weightlifting competitions were entered to gain points. There was also an interview and many guys were prevented from becoming Mr America because of who they were. The Most Muscular Man title was awarded to the guy with the most muscles and definition. Black guys often won that title but not Mr America until Chris Dickerson won in 1970.

The IFBB started their Mr America contest in 1959 when Chuck Sipes won. Larry Scott won in 1962. This contest was for real bodybuilders, even muscleheads!

What happened in 1959 is that Harry Johnson wasn't the best bodybuilder that year. Several guys were better including Ray Routledge. He had to wait a couple of years to finally win the title.
We had Vern Weaver, Jerry Daniels, Val Vasilief, Steve Klisanin, and perhaps Lloyd Lerille were not the best bodybuilder when they won. None of those guys went on to win the NABBA Mr Universe title.

Well, Harry had paid his dues so it was his turn to win and he enjoyed the limelight for a while. He was featured in Strength and Health Magazine put out by Bob Hoffman.
Nice to hear that some of the old champs lived a long life. Not many of us will reach 90 let alone 96.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._America_(contest)
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: Primemuscle on May 07, 2020, 12:35:26 AM
Am I crazy or would he be in his 80s here if that 2008 NPC stamp is accurate?  Doesn’t seem right but if so then holy fuck

If that were right than yes "holy fuck" is exactly what I think too. More than likely, the date stamp is when the photo was published and not when it was taken.....otherwise....H OLY FUCK!
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: Primemuscle on May 07, 2020, 12:46:13 AM
I started lifting weights in September 1958. Tom Sansone won Mr America that year and Ron Lacy won in 1957. In those days there were points for 'athletic' ability and often weightlifting competitions were entered to gain points. There was also an interview and many guys were prevented from becoming Mr America because of who they were. The Most Muscular Man title was awarded to the guy with the most muscles and definition. Black guys often won that title but not Mr America until Chris Dickerson won in 1970.

The IFBB started their Mr America contest in 1959 when Chuck Sipes won. Larry Scott won in 1962. This contest was for real bodybuilders, even muscleheads!

What happened in 1959 is that Harry Johnson wasn't the best bodybuilder that year. Several guys were better including Ray Routledge. He had to wait a couple of years to finally win the title.
We had Vern Weaver, Jerry Daniels, Val Vasilief, Steve Klisanin, and perhaps Lloyd Lerille were not the best bodybuilder when they won. None of those guys went on to win the NABBA Mr Universe title.

Well, Harry had paid his dues so it was his turn to win and he enjoyed the limelight for a while. He was featured in Strength and Health Magazine put out by Bob Hoffman.
Nice to hear that some of the old champs lived a long life. Not many of us will reach 90 let alone 96.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._America_(contest)

Interesting backstory. Whatever the reason he was handed the title, he looked good then and from what little I could find, he maintained a healthy, muscular appearance well into his senior years. Maybe it was because of fewer or no steroids or maybe because he was just sensible in terms of his overall health and muscular fitness. Honestly, I don't know. I'd never heard of him before now. When I was 15 years old, I wasn't paying attention to which bodybuilder was a champion at that time.
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: joswift on May 07, 2020, 02:00:30 AM
but was he saved?
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: Vince B on May 07, 2020, 02:18:14 AM
Look at the results from 1959. Harry probably not in the top 6 or 8. Art Harris was probably the best but was given Most Muscular. Hapless Ray Routledge had to wait two years to win the title.
George Orlando was featured in Weider mags so not a favourite in the AAU. Strange judging in those days.


1959 Mr America - AAU

1     Harry Johnson
2     Ray Routledge
3     Pete Ganios
4     George Orlando
5     Vern Weaver
6     Elmo Santiago
7     Lloyd Lerille
8     Art Harris
9     Kenny Hall
10     Fred Schutz
11     Hossein Shokouh
12     Buddy Basil
13     Walt Cuzzimano
14     Tommy Johnson
15     Leo Downes
16     Joseph Simon
17     Bill March
18     Mike Ferraro
19     Hank Wayne
20     George Wojnowski
21     Harry Lanehart
22     Gene Wells
23     Sam Martin
24     Ed Jacobs
25     William Crozier
26     Pat Hensley
27     Lowell Scott
28     Joe Marino (1)

Most Muscular
1     Art Harris
2     George Orlando



Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: funk51 on May 07, 2020, 04:47:49 AM
Look at the results from 1959. Harry probably not in the top 6 or 8. Art Harris was probably the best but was given Most Muscular. Hapless Ray Routledge had to wait two years to win the title.
George Orlando was featured in Weider mags so not a favourite in the AAU. Strange judging in those days.


1959 Mr America - AAU

1     Harry Johnson
2     Ray Routledge
3     Pete Ganios
4     George Orlando
5     Vern Weaver
6     Elmo Santiago
7     Lloyd Lerille
8     Art Harris
9     Kenny Hall
10     Fred Schutz
11     Hossein Shokouh
12     Buddy Basil
13     Walt Cuzzimano
14     Tommy Johnson
15     Leo Downes
16     Joseph Simon
17     Bill March
18     Mike Ferraro
19     Hank Wayne
20     George Wojnowski
21     Harry Lanehart
22     Gene Wells
23     Sam Martin
24     Ed Jacobs
25     William Crozier
26     Pat Hensley
27     Lowell Scott
28     Joe Marino (1)

Most Muscular
1     Art Harris
2     George Orlando
                               good point, if you look at the pics from 1955 harry is the guy on right all those guys  next to him placed above him in the contest. he should have won that year.
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: oldtimer1 on May 07, 2020, 02:58:21 PM
Art was light years away from the rest. No way would they give the title of Mr. America to a black guy back then.
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: Vince B on May 07, 2020, 03:13:13 PM
In the fifties Muscle Beach became the place to be for many bodybuilders. You know the scene. Muscleheads living near the beach and not wanting to work so what do many do? Use their bodies to make money.

So if you were seen in those quasi gay magazines such as Adonis, etc., posing nude or in a G-string you could kiss goodbye to ever winning the AAU Mr America title.

Along comes Joe Weider to the rescue and he has his own Mr America title. The great Sergio Oliva could place only 4th in the AAU....of course he won Most Muscular Man! Sergio insisted on entering the IFBB Mr America contest because he wanted that title. He won it on the same day he won the IFBB Mr Universe. Larry Scott also never competed in the AAU Mr America. That title wasn't a strictly bodybuilding contest and more of a muscle pageant. I can tell you back in 1959-60 there was a lot of controversy when Harry was awarded Mr America.
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: robcguns on May 07, 2020, 03:19:09 PM
there was an IFBB pro named Harry Dinger.  he was 5 time mr. Turkey

Hahahha also a good one.
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: funk51 on May 08, 2020, 04:50:22 AM
In the fifties Muscle Beach became the place to be for many bodybuilders. You know the scene. Muscleheads living near the beach and not wanting to work so what do many do? Use their bodies to make money.

So if you were seen in those quasi gay magazines such as Adonis, etc., posing nude or in a G-string you could kiss goodbye to ever winning the AAU Mr America title.

Along comes Joe Weider to the rescue and he has his own Mr America title. The great Sergio Oliva could place only 4th in the AAU....of course he won Most Muscular Man! Sergio insisted on entering the IFBB Mr America contest because he wanted that title. He won it on the same day he won the IFBB Mr Universe. Larry Scott also never competed in the AAU Mr America. That title wasn't a strictly bodybuilding contest and more of a muscle pageant. I can tell you back in 1959-60 there was a lot of controversy when Harry was awarded Mr America.
Title: Re: harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96
Post by: funk51 on May 08, 2020, 04:54:37 AM
 :)