Believe Gironda was married 4 or 5 times. Never heard that he drank himself to death. Did have a hard time recovering from an injury after one of his special designed chinning devices broke, when he was using it. Maybe that lead to extra heavy drink, don't know. Think he shattered his leg pretty bad. He did die broke and his former gym is now a parking lot on Ventura Blvd.
Gironda put major use to the "V" dipping bar (had the knuckles forward or facing inward for extra stretch and influence on the pecs...try it some time and you will know what I mean) and the Scott curling bench (which was really Gironda design). Also the Roman chair and Sissy squats for legs. Gironda had dozens of different ways of preforming regular exercise. Including the position of the grip/fingers/wrist/elbows, etc. (even now days the elbow position is important in BB'ing). And all the special ways to do chins. Put heavy attention to 8X8's, 10X10's, tri sets, quad sets, etc. Ahead of his time with regards to advance training.
Did stunt work and was an expert horseman, like his father was in the movies. Use to be a lot of riding stables along the LA river in North Hollywood back in the day. Was a cool dude and all that but very moody I have been told. Most genius might be considered half mad anyway.
