Author Topic: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids  (Read 76332 times)

Lord Humungous

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Re: Steve Reeves
« Reply #125 on: October 15, 2007, 01:39:56 PM »
haha monster blue eyed sentimentality.

Classic case of being nailed  ::)
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Made in Montana

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Steve Reeves
« Reply #126 on: October 15, 2007, 03:21:47 PM »
Made in Montana, Where did you get that picture? That was taken on the North Shore of Oahu (now a Boy Scout camp) as far as I can recall and I have one taken within minutes of that one with a relaxed Steve looking down the beach.
Stuntmovie, that's Les and Pudgy Stockton with Steve and George and a Hawaiian guy in the spring of 1949. They took part in two shows in Honolulu to help raise awareness for bodybuilding, health and fitness and to raise money to send the Nuuanu weight lifting team to the U.S. for the National Weight Lifting Championships. Steve then flew to Vancouver, B.C. afterward and guest posed at the Mr. British Columbia Competition.
Here's a picture of Abby "Pudgy" Stockton. She was a hand balancer on Muscle Beach, wrote a column called "Bar Belles" and was the first woman to start a physical culture studio that was geared for woman. She used to be overweight until she met Les... (hence the nickname "Pudgy") then she got into great shape training with weights.

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Are you the fan of Steve's who lives or used to live in Las Vegas?
No, I am from Montana. I was born in the 70s...
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Other guy looks like Mickey H. but that's definitely not Tommy Kono (someone here at the house taking a guess) whom I believe lived in Sacramento around that time. (Not sure about that though!)
I thought I had a picture of Tommy Kono somewhere...but I found this one of Tommy Leong with Steve.

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A few years before George passed away, he and his wife presented me with a Gold Eifferman Medallion. While George placed it around my neck, his wife leaned into my ear and said, "George is real selective on whom he gives these to and you've certainly deserved it". I've received combat metals where words were not appreciated as much as hers.
That's quite an honor for you to receive the Gold George Medal. Congratulations and thank you for sharing that. I agree that sometimes it is the words that people say to us that mean as much or more than the awards themselves. That is a priceless memory for you, no doubt.

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Thanks for reading this stuff, Montana. And others too.
There's a lot of BB history out there that should be written down before us old timers head to Greener Pastures. Some stuff I gotta with-hold (so I've been warned). Maybe one day I'll "braven up" and shoot the works.
Shoot whatever you feel comfortable with sharing. We appreciate it.
Thank you, Stuntmovie..and everyone here who contributes stories too.

slaveboy1980

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Re: Steve Reeves
« Reply #127 on: October 15, 2007, 04:16:10 PM »
Classic case of being nailed  ::)

you still believe in santa claus too?  ;D

stuntmovie

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #128 on: October 15, 2007, 10:29:16 PM »
Montana, Both Tommy and Timmy are personal friends of mine but I've been out of contact with them these past few years due to a long term family illness and a major move to the mainland.

Also was friends with Dr Peter George and Dr Richard You and worked a few times in Olympic lifitng endeavors with Harold Sakata who some of us may know as "Oddjob" in the James Bond movie long long ago.

Bringing back some great old memories here, Montana. Thanks!

I was an active member in the Nuuanu Y and helped promote many a bodybuilding contest in the basement weight room and upstairs under the basket ball net. Those were the good old days when we ran contests with four to five contestants and less than 100 fans and family members sitting on the court and applauding any and every decision that the judges made. And the contestants always joined in likewise.

Things were so much different then!

Gotta give Tommy a call this weekend.

stuntmovie

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #129 on: October 15, 2007, 10:49:34 PM »
Montana, remind me to tell you the story about Pudgy when she moved to San Diago. It concerns a Marine Corps bud who took some time off from active duty (don't ask me how) to gain more muscle.

Heading off to get some shut eye!

Lord Humungous

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Re: Steve Reeves
« Reply #130 on: October 16, 2007, 06:33:19 AM »
you still believe in santa claus too?  ;D

There's a better chance that santa clause is at the north pole then Steve Reeves was on juice, so why not! :D
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stuntmovie

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #131 on: October 16, 2007, 10:24:49 AM »
Montana, you seem to have a good amount of knowledge on bodybuiding's past history, so please feel free to correct me when and if you catch me in an error and want to offer added comments. Someday I'd like to write a book about this subject, but my date and place and "who" memory is slowly slipping into the dark side ..... so any corrections or possible corrections, updates, etc. is greatly appreciated.

Back in the mid 60's I was stationed with a bunch of Marines (grunts/03's/Jarheads/Uncle Sam's Misguided Children - USMC/etc) who spent a lot of time in the base gym doing our best to outlift one another during our one to two hour "lunch break". Anyone (Marines and Navy) were allowed to lift providing they had the heart and competitiveness to do so. The gym was small so we had to be selective, but strength and weakness did not matter as long as "heart" was evident and one progressed up the wt scale over time.

This lunchtime activity grew to the point where we had to close the gym for only those who showed "heart" and yearned to train in earnest. The other guys would have to go running the hills or jump a rope or do laps in the pool on the other side of the camp. (Camp Margarita if memory serves me correctly.)

Over the months a lot of gains were made in that gym and some of the guys went off on weekends and returned with various olympic lifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding trophies. And a few of the guys even managed to set new records for the Southern California area in many  pullup, situp and pushup contests that were held throughout the relatively small beachside towns back then.

One Marine (a young, aggressive Lieutenant with tons of bodybuilding potentital who was the USMC "poster boy" back then) made some unreal gains over a short period of time and decided that he was going to be the best bodybuilder that he could be even if he had to "leave the Corps" in order to accomplish his new objective.

Well, Chesty Puller must have heard his dream and wanted him to stay, so this young Lieutenant (let's call him "Chris") with unreal potential somehow got orders to report to MCRD San Diego immediately - just down the road a piece! (MCRD = Marine Corps Recruit Depot for you civilian critters.

And San Diego just so happened to be the town in which Pudgy Stockton had a health food store...... and soon their paths would converge and change a small part of one Marine's history.

To Be Continued.... heading off to do some cardio.

BEAST 8692

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #132 on: October 16, 2007, 11:35:11 AM »
Montana, you seem to have a good amount of knowledge on bodybuiding's past history, so please feel free to correct me when and if you catch me in an error and want to offer added comments. Someday I'd like to write a book about this subject, but my date and place and "who" memory is slowly slipping into the dark side ..... so any corrections or possible corrections, updates, etc. is greatly appreciated.

Back in the mid 60's I was stationed with a bunch of Marines (grunts/03's/Jarheads/Uncle Sam's Misguided Children - USMC/etc) who spent a lot of time in the base gym doing our best to outlift one another during our one to two hour "lunch break". Anyone (Marines and Navy) were allowed to lift providing they had the heart and competitiveness to do so. The gym was small so we had to be selective, but strength and weakness did not matter as long as "heart" was evident and one progressed up the wt scale over time.

This lunchtime activity grew to the point where we had to close the gym for only those who showed "heart" and yearned to train in earnest. The other guys would have to go running the hills or jump a rope or do laps in the pool on the other side of the camp. (Camp Margarita if memory serves me correctly.)

Over the months a lot of gains were made in that gym and some of the guys went off on weekends and returned with various olympic lifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding trophies. And a few of the guys even managed to set new records for the Southern California area in many  pullup, situp and pushup contests that were held throughout the relatively small beachside towns back then.

One Marine (a young, aggressive Lieutenant with tons of bodybuilding potentital who was the USMC "poster boy" back then) made some unreal gains over a short period of time and decided that he was going to be the best bodybuilder that he could be even if he had to "leave the Corps" in order to accomplish his new objective.

Well, Chesty Puller must have heard his dream and wanted him to stay, so this young Lieutenant (let's call him "Chris") with unreal potential somehow got orders to report to MCRD San Diego immediately - just down the road a piece! (MCRD = Marine Corps Recruit Depot for you civilian critters.

And San Diego just so happened to be the town in which Pudgy Stockton had a health food store...... and soon their paths would converge and change a small part of one Marine's history.

To Be Continued.... heading off to do some cardio.

when i was a kid i competed in amateur boxing and had to go to school during the day so the only time i could train was 5pm when EVERYONE turned up. one of the problems competitve amateur fighters have is that they often have full time studies/ employment and they can only make it to the gym at peak times when many people turn up with absolutely no intention of seriously learning to box, but rather to 'train in a boxing gym'.

it got so bad (gym was so full, people were training outside) that the head coach put a sign up indicating wednesday nights were sparring nights, meaning that anyone that turned up would be required to spar with someone.

well, the next wednesday only 5 of us turned up the whole night. ;D 8)

Made in Montana

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Steve and Abby
« Reply #133 on: October 17, 2007, 02:03:44 AM »


Interesting stories, Stuntmovie. When you write that book, we will be very interested to read it. Thank you so much for sharing...and keep going...when you time...



Beast, that's hilarious. I have to say...anyone who spars with you quickly realizes you are a formidable opponent. Thanks for sharing.

BEAST 8692

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Re: Steve and Abby
« Reply #134 on: October 17, 2007, 02:32:28 AM »


Interesting stories, Stuntmovie. When you write that book, we will be very interested to read it. Thank you so much for sharing...and keep going...when you time...



Beast, that's hilarious. I have to say...anyone who spars with you quickly realizes you are a formidable opponent. Thanks for sharing.

M in M, where do you get this endless supply of pics? i believe podgy was a gymnast? how the hell did she get the name 'podgy'?

believe me, i wasn't so formidable an opponent back then. seemed i was always going to school with black eyes or sore/broken ribs. with hinsight, i should have listened to 'the fonz' and walked away from fights instead. my mother hated boxing with a passion and pleaded with me to play tennis, golf, badminton - anything but boxing. damn i wish i listened to her. mother knows best. :'(

slaveboy1980

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Re: Steve Reeves
« Reply #135 on: October 17, 2007, 04:46:24 AM »
There's a better chance that santa clause is at the north pole then Steve Reeves was on juice, so why not! :D

yeah if your 5   :D

Figo

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #136 on: October 17, 2007, 10:04:52 AM »
Great pics.

Lord Humungous

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Re: Steve Reeves
« Reply #137 on: October 17, 2007, 01:08:20 PM »
yeah if your 5   :D

epic hater syndrome.
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stuntmovie

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #138 on: October 17, 2007, 02:28:34 PM »
I'm getting a few "?" marks where the Steve pics are supposed to be. Any way to solve that situation?

slaveboy1980

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Re: Steve Reeves
« Reply #139 on: October 17, 2007, 04:06:13 PM »
epic hater syndrome.

haha, mental age confirmed.

Lord Humungous

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Re: Steve Reeves
« Reply #140 on: October 17, 2007, 05:45:53 PM »
haha, mental age confirmed.

guess  you have a bad case of wounded pup syndrome huh? :D 
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slaveboy1980

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Re: Steve Reeves
« Reply #141 on: October 17, 2007, 07:36:23 PM »
guess  you have a bad case of wounded pup syndrome huh? :D 

stop looking in your mirror  ;D

Megalodon

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #142 on: October 18, 2007, 01:34:19 PM »
 8)

stuntmovie

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #143 on: October 18, 2007, 06:30:01 PM »
I believe that photo of Reeves and Eifferman was taken during the L'il Abner stage play auditions. Anyone got some background on that pic? Also how about some details on that photo of Steve and his friend outside the gym? Did Steve own or have an interest in a Gym back then? I don't recall that. I can only recall him training at Yarick's and sometimes coming into American Health Studios on Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco.

Does anyone have any of the Mae West photos with Eifferman and the rest of the old timers? Tommy Kono was invited to participate in that Mae West tour but did not for some reason.

How about that old photo of Reeves that was in Life Magazine way before he was a movie star?  I recall seeing these old time photos but never kept any. As a side - Anyone recall Walt Baptiste?

Made in Montana

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #144 on: October 19, 2007, 02:01:07 AM »
Stuntmovie, here are the links to some of the pictures if you couldn't see them, try these:
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/abby.JPG
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/military.jpg

I believe that photo of Reeves and Eifferman was taken during the L'il Abner stage play auditions. Anyone got some background on that pic? Also how about some details on that photo of Steve and his friend outside the gym? Did Steve own or have an interest in a Gym back then? I don't recall that. I can only recall him training at Yarick's and sometimes coming into American Health Studios on Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco.

Does anyone have any of the Mae West photos with Eifferman and the rest of the old timers? Tommy Kono was invited to participate in that Mae West tour but did not for some reason.

How about that old photo of Reeves that was in Life Magazine way before he was a movie star?  I recall seeing these old time photos but never kept any. As a side - Anyone recall Walt Baptiste?

Beast...mother does know best...but I think I did see an episode where the Fonz was in a fight...so, it's o.k. the way you did it...everyone learns their own best.

Figo...glad you like the pics. I put them up because I know people appreciate seeing them.


Megalodon

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #145 on: October 19, 2007, 06:06:15 AM »
Megalodone, Great Picture of Steve and [you?] outside his gym in Florida. Thank you for sharing.


Not me, the photo pre-dates my birth plus I'm 6'2".  ;D

Another I found:



stuntmovie

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #146 on: October 19, 2007, 09:11:24 AM »
Great shots, Mega! Were those taken in the San Francisco/Oakland Bay area or elsewhere? Also, do you know the year they were taken and the unidentified person with Steve?

Looking forward to hearing those stories, Montana.

Tommy Kono told me some of  the Mae West story but that was so long ago, I forgot.

Do you know the details abot the fight that Steve was in at the Rio Nido dance hall area one summer Friday night?

Made in Montana

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Mae West
« Reply #147 on: October 22, 2007, 10:55:12 PM »
I wonder if if that's Al Christianson in that picture. Thanks again Megalodon.
Steve had a gym in Florida in 1956, the Steve Reeves Athletic Club at 6th and Alton Street. He sold it later that year and moved back to California...before going to Italy to make Hercules.

George Eiferman met Mae West through a mutual orthopedic surgeon. She was 62 and was starting up a traveling night club act. George convinced her to use bodybuilders in her show and went down to Muscle Beach and recruited bodybuilders to be in the show...Joe Gold (who'd never been onstage), Richard DuBois (a star already), Armand Tanny, Dom Juliano, Les Shaefer, Zabo Kozewski and Paul Novak, Mickey Hargitay and Lyle Fox. Bert Goodrich, the first Mr. America in 1939, pictured here was also in the show.


http://mywebpage.netscape.com/IronGameLegendsF/maewest.JPG

stuntmovie

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #148 on: October 23, 2007, 09:45:19 AM »
Thanks, Montana. I kind of recall when that Mae West show (50's) appeared at the Bal Taveran in San Francisco on Columbus Avenue just up the street from Bimbo's 365 Club (the home of the Girl in the Fishbowl). Many years later I did meet the likes of Joe Gold, Zabo, Bert Goodrich, and Armand Tanny. Spent many a time talking with Armand Tanny and a few of the pro wrestlers on the Beach of Waikiki directly behind the Reef Hotel where the present day "Duke's" is currently situated. Good old days and interesting people back then.

Also met Bert Goodrich backstage at one of the Mr America contests (the year Dave Johns won it) when he escorted Mae West onstage to present the overall trophy. While behind that heavy curtain, Mae just appeared to be a little old, inappropriately dressed, lady who could not see too well. But once she took Bert Goodrich's arm and walked out on that stage she became "Mae West". It was one of the most impressive and shocking changes I've ever seen and I have seen a lot of actors/actresses change from "wimps" and "bozos" to heros and heroines once that camera started to roll. But Miss West was the most impressive.

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Re: Ironage B.S. re old time use of steroids
« Reply #149 on: October 25, 2007, 01:59:14 AM »
Thanks, Montana. I kind of recall when that Mae West show (50's) appeared at the Bal Taveran in San Francisco on Columbus Avenue just up the street from Bimbo's 365 Club (the home of the Girl in the Fishbowl). Many years later I did meet the likes of Joe Gold, Zabo, Bert Goodrich, and Armand Tanny. Spent many a time talking with Armand Tanny and a few of the pro wrestlers on the Beach of Waikiki directly behind the Reef Hotel where the present day "Duke's" is currently situated. Good old days and interesting people back then.

Also met Bert Goodrich backstage at one of the Mr America contests (the year Dave Johns won it) when he escorted Mae West onstage to present the overall trophy. While behind that heavy curtain, Mae just appeared to be a little old, inappropriately dressed, lady who could not see too well. But once she took Bert Goodrich's arm and walked out on that stage she became "Mae West". It was one of the most impressive and shocking changes I've ever seen and I have seen a lot of actors/actresses change from "wimps" and "bozos" to heros and heroines once that camera started to roll. But Miss West was the most impressive.

Great recollections!

Sounds like you've lived your dream, and have lots of good memories. Your posts in the "Tell your favorite stories re pros/legends" thread, were very entertaining, read the whole thing. Thank-you for sharing. Please keep 'em coming! Any stories from the 70's onwards?