Franco's 19.5 inch arms

[EL Mariachi]

I used to see Franco almost everytime I was in the gym at least most of the time.  he was just getting into learning to give massages.  He would give you a massage if you wanted one right there between sets.  It was great.  The one memory I have most about him was when he was doing bent over rows one day with 405.  He stood on a block of wood without a shirt in shorts.  When he bent over his lats would just blow up and they started at his waist of his shorts.  He was just unreal wide.  I remember standing next to him doing curls one day and thinking to myself how big I was compared to him.  But when I looked at him not in the mirror I thought he was huge.  I was only about 247 or so.

grabs a beer and popcorn, good stuff

[FREAKgeek]

Franco was not the best short BB'er but probably the strongest.

[#1 Klaus fan]

He had lean muscles.

[Hulkotron]

What did Franco weigh noworries?

[noworries]

What did Franco weigh noworries?

I have no idea but if I was to guess probably at least 200.  he was short but solid.  People always used to guess me around 270 or so when I was 250.  Then when I hit 300 no one thought I weighed that much

[FREAKgeek]

He was like a buck 180, contest.

lifetime best 750 deadlift, 525 bench.

That's getbig poundages, man.

[#1 Klaus fan]

I used to see Franco almost everytime I was in the gym at least most of the time.  he was just getting into learning to give massages.  He would give you a massage if you wanted one right there between sets.  It was great.  The one memory I have most about him was when he was doing bent over rows one day with 405.  He stood on a block of wood without a shirt in shorts.  When he bent over his lats would just blow up and they started at his waist of his shorts.  He was just unreal wide.  I remember standing next to him doing curls one day and thinking to myself how big I was compared to him.  But when I looked at him not in the mirror I thought he was huge.  I was only about 247 or so.

What did you see him bench? Did you see him ever do any olympic lifts?

[noworries]

What did you see him bench? Did you see him ever do any olympic lifts?

I did see him benching 315 and some dumbell curls.  To tell you the truth I really did not look at others very long.  I never have.  I really kind of just am into what I am doing.  Watching Bertil rep with 500 on the bench was something I will always remember.  And having Kal going around the gym like a little kid telling everyone Bertil was there was memorable for some reason.  Walking towards Louie doing standing calf machine in a torn flannel with a full beard getting ready to leave for Italy for Hercules was unreal.  He was the biggest guy I have ever seen.

I trained regularly from 8am till around 10am M-F.  I lived in Manhattan Beach so it was quite a drive.  I painted houses back then and did find quite a bit of work in Santa Monica so that made it easier to train and work.

[kiwiol]

I used to see Franco almost everytime I was in the gym at least most of the time.  he was just getting into learning to give massages.  He would give you a massage if you wanted one right there between sets.  It was great.  The one memory I have most about him was when he was doing bent over rows one day with 405.  He stood on a block of wood without a shirt in shorts.  When he bent over his lats would just blow up and they started at his waist of his shorts.  He was just unreal wide.  I remember standing next to him doing curls one day and thinking to myself how big I was compared to him.  But when I looked at him not in the mirror I thought he was huge.  I was only about 247 or so.

Did he train heavy year round?

[Parker]

.

I never believed his arms were 19.5.  I guess people were far more gullible back then than now...

[Figo]

I used to see Franco almost everytime I was in the gym at least most of the time.  he was just getting into learning to give massages.  He would give you a massage if you wanted one right there between sets.  It was great.  The one memory I have most about him was when he was doing bent over rows one day with 405.  He stood on a block of wood without a shirt in shorts.  When he bent over his lats would just blow up and they started at his waist of his shorts.  He was just unreal wide.  I remember standing next to him doing curls one day and thinking to myself how big I was compared to him.  But when I looked at him not in the mirror I thought he was huge.  I was only about 247 or so.

Ive read many of your reminiscences, you've lived a good, full life!
Did you realize then, those WERE THE DAYS, did you know how lucky you were to be a part of the history of something you love?
Good stuff 

[Sherief Shalaby]

You guys aint picking up on the sarcasm.

His arms were 17.5, on their best day, 18.

Another example of bbers inflating nrs.

no figo i got your point as soon as i saw the pic. but may be here he was not at his biggest!!..

[wes]

I saw Franco back in the 70`s at a contest where he was a guest poser and also a judge.

He bent a peice of re-bar that he held with his teeth,blew up a hot water bottle until it burst,(the actual scene that was in Pumping Iron as they were filming parts of the movie at this contest),but most impressive was his back in a dress shirt while he sat at the judges table................sup er looooooow lats that began at his waist and tapered up huge and wide.

He was very impressed with Ronnie Magnum the winner of the show as he presented him his overall trophy.

Anyone remember Magnum?   

[FREAKgeek]

Both Franco and Louie competed in the first annual world's strongest man competition in 1977. I think Louie finished 4th and Franco 5th. Franco lost his balance in the refrigerator carry and badly broke his leg. It was thought that his BB'ing career was over. 

[WillGrant]

I never believed his arms were 19.5.  I guess people were far more gullible back then than now...

Arthur Jones Taped them at 16.3/4 with a slight pump.

[Figo]

Arthur Jones Taped them at 16.3/4 with a slight pump.

thats what ellington darden said, in contest shape, very defined.

[Figo]

Both Franco and Louie competed in the first annual world's strongest man competition in 1977. I think Louie finished 4th and Franco 5th. Franco lost his balance in the refrigerator carry and badly broke his leg. It was thought that his BB'ing career was over. 

apparently he got paid a $Mil compensation for that

and was told might not walk properly again, so the 81 O was a big deal

[FREAKgeek]

apparently he got paid a $Mil compensation for that

wow, I didn't know they were found liable

[Lord Humungous]

Arthur Jones could get them to 19.5

ummm no he got Arnolds to 19.5

[noworries]

Ive read many of your reminiscences, you've lived a good, full life!
Did you realize then, those WERE THE DAYS, did you know how lucky you were to be a part of the history of something you love?
Good stuff 

No.  I have been really lucky to have done alot of things.  And not once did I ever think to myslef how lucky I was.  I have maybe a few hundred photos of things I have done and whatever but 90% of these photos were taken by others and given to me.  I very rarely carried around a camera.  I just seem to do things without thinking.  When I sit down or lay in bed sometimes my memory kicks in and I think about some stuff I have done and realize how lucky I have been.  When I trained at World's when it first opened I saw everyone I saw in magazines but I never thought about how lucky I was to actually train with these guys.  For an example I have mentioned a few times about a basketball game I played in while doing an appearance on Florida.  It was a celebrity team against a Fireman/Policeman team for charity in Boca Raton I think.  On my team I had Hall of Fame guys Dr. J, Rick Barry and John Havelchick(?).  I just went out and did what I did and even scored a basket after Dr. J passed the ball to me.  I didn't get any photos or anything.  Had a fancy dinner party on a famous yacht called Monkey Business.  Oscar winner, Grammy winners and all kinds of celebs and I didn't get any photos.  My and Woody Harrelson partying together at a black tie party where neither of us had a black tie.  I really wish I had photos of alot more stuff I have done.  How having Dr. J in my foursome in golf and watching helping him cheat.  I love it!

[FREAKgeek]

ummm no he got Arnolds to 19.5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm

[YngiweRhoads]

I used to see Franco almost everytime I was in the gym at least most of the time.  he was just getting into learning to give massages.  He would give you a massage if you wanted one right there between sets.  It was great.  The one memory I have most about him was when he was doing bent over rows one day with 405.  He stood on a block of wood without a shirt in shorts.  When he bent over his lats would just blow up and they started at his waist of his shorts.  He was just unreal wide.  I remember standing next to him doing curls one day and thinking to myself how big I was compared to him.  But when I looked at him not in the mirror I thought he was huge.  I was only about 247 or so.

Awesome man!

[LurkyLurker]

No.  I have been really lucky to have done alot of things.  And not once did I ever think to myslef how lucky I was.  I have maybe a few hundred photos of things I have done and whatever but 90% of these photos were taken by others and given to me.  I very rarely carried around a camera.  I just seem to do things without thinking.  When I sit down or lay in bed sometimes my memory kicks in and I think about some stuff I have done and realize how lucky I have been.  When I trained at World's when it first opened I saw everyone I saw in magazines but I never thought about how lucky I was to actually train with these guys.  For an example I have mentioned a few times about a basketball game I played in while doing an appearance on Florida.  It was a celebrity team against a Fireman/Policeman team for charity in Boca Raton I think.  On my team I had Hall of Fame guys Dr. J, Rick Barry and John Havelchick(?).  I just went out and did what I did and even scored a basket after Dr. J passed the ball to me.  I didn't get any photos or anything.  Had a fancy dinner party on a famous yacht called Monkey Business.  Oscar winner, Grammy winners and all kinds of celebs and I didn't get any photos.  My and Woody Harrelson partying together at a black tie party where neither of us had a black tie.  I really wish I had photos of alot more stuff I have done.  How having Dr. J in my foursome in golf and watching helping him cheat.  I love it!

That's the infamous yacht that Gary Hart was photographed on with Donna Rice. Cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_Business_(yacht)

[Danimal77]

Show us where HE said they were that big.  Not a magazine article or any like that.  Weider is famous for inflating numbers.  Show the actual quote by Franco or video where he says they are 19+". 

Mid-1982 edition of Muscle and Fitness. He was talking about his pre-1981 Mr. Olympia training. The article was centered around his chest workout. In that article he claimed his arms were 19" the day of competition.

[Danimal77]

Franco was not the best short BB'er but probably the strongest.

He was not only one of the strongest short bodybuilder, but one of the strongest bodybuilders period.

I don't think he ever weighed over 200 pounds. I always heard he was between 185-190 pounds. Goes to show how short he really was (well under 5'5").