Terrible lighting.
Pics of that show have always suggested to me that it was obvious why Weider replaced Oliva as Mr Olympia. The only question was when to do it. He'd found a substitute with the same muscle size who was also taller with more refinement, definition and lines. Who was white, better looking and more articulate even with the accent. Someone who was obviously a far better rep for BB and for pushing mag and product sales to new highs. A no-brainer in other words to someone like Weider intent on expanding the market. Not even close.
Looking at pics from that show i've always thought that Oliva was fortunate to have been allowed to win in '69, they were already so close and quite frankly Oliva couldn't have been much smoother than he was there. Add to that his excessive application of oil. Nor did Oliva seem there to have been a good winner. Very much into himself, unaware from what i see there that it was already a very close show that he could've easily lost.
Joe allowed Oliva to win it mainly so as to make what was a young contest appear more legit, IMO. A good idea, just as with established sports like boxing-when it's close give it to the established guy, at least the first time. Installing his new protege as immediate winner the first time out would've seemed suspect in a show still in the process of establishing itself vis-a-vis other more established shows then available.
Thanks for the rare pix.
