Author Topic: Muscle Beach History - by Stuntmovie (Read 727182 times)

stuntmovie · « **Reply #450 on:** July 07, 2013, 06:36:48 AM »

Thanks for that correction, FUNK! Changes made.

I believe it was at the most recent Oly Expo that I saw LENDA and she's still as beautiful as ever.

It's been many years sine I've seen BIDSONG. The most recent was at some function in Anahiem when just about every bodybuilder in the area showed up at some unreal restaurant south of Disneyland (name forgotten but MR MB may recall it).

We sat with Bob, his wife, and his daughter and Bob advised us to just order a "little bit" becaue a "little bit" was way too much for the average eater.

One of us ordered the Turkey Plate and I ordered a Turkey Sandwich.

The Turkey Plate arrived and it was one-half of a 16 lb turkey with all the trimmings!

And my sandwich was the other half of that 16 lb bird (but sliced)
and half a loaf of bread .... plus plate-loads of the other stuff that goes into the construction of such a sandwich.

Definitely a fine dining spot for off season men of iron.

Anyone recall that place?

stuntmovie · « **Reply #451 on:** July 07, 2013, 06:45:47 AM »

FUNK, There's a strong possibility that I took that elephant picture that day. That story comes next.

Thespritz0 · « **Reply #452 on:** July 07, 2013, 07:15:20 AM »

Quote from: funk51 on July 07, 2013, 06:24:29 AM

amazing that it's still in business.

^^
It exists now only in memory, I tried googling it: it is now a liquor store.

funk51 · « **Reply #453 on:** July 07, 2013, 07:18:17 AM »

funk51 · « **Reply #454 on:** July 07, 2013, 07:29:25 AM »

Quote from: stuntmovie on July 07, 2013, 06:45:47 AM

FUNK, There's a strong possibility that I took that elephant picture that day. That story comes next.

always found it funny that MTi a new york musclemag used to devote a whole issue to a contest outside of it's organization the WBBG.

funk51 · « **Reply #455 on:** July 07, 2013, 07:31:45 AM »

Quote from: funk51 on July 07, 2013, 07:29:25 AM

always found it funny that MTi a new york musclemag used to devote a whole issue to a contest outside of it's organization the WBBG.

Mr. MB · « **Reply #456 on:** July 07, 2013, 08:28:45 AM »

Was that the retaurant located in a funky jungle setting? It did have an outragious menu.

The Scott · « **Reply #457 on:** July 07, 2013, 09:11:53 AM »

Ken Waller and Dave Dupree. Dupree was a big fan of Steve Reeves and it showed in his excellent physique.
Ken Waller had a solid, powerful build and seemed a nice guy too.

As soon as I locate my Way-Back Machine, I will be setting the dial for the 40s through the 70s not only to visit the men whose physiques I admire but also to stop by and influence myself a little more. If Doc Brown can meddle with his past, then why not me?

stuntmovie · « **Reply #458 on:** July 07, 2013, 09:57:40 AM »

The Waller/Dupree (another great person) on the elephant photo was taken on a Friday morning in 1977 in Santa Monica, California.

And Waller and Dupree and Robinson and Grant and Cathy and a lot of the other Gold’s Gym regulars of that period were in a parade …. THE 1977 MR. AMERICA PARADE!

At that time Gold’s was situated on 2nd Street in Santa Monica and was owned and operated by Ken Sprague who was responsible for the promotion of the 1977 MR. AMERICA contest which would be held in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium the next morning.

And Ken proceeded to promote the hell out of that contest with a parade, a Mr. America newspaper, and a live symphony orchestra playing Star Wars type nusic for each and every posing routine.

The City of Santa Monica even declared it “Mr. America Week” and the gym was open to one and all free of charge.

That was the year that Dave Johns won and was Awarded the overall trophy by Bert Goodrich and Mae West.

This was most likely the most extravagant bodybuilding production of all time … the likes of which will never be seen again.

stuntmovie · « **Reply #459 on:** July 07, 2013, 10:07:06 AM »

MB, You could definitely be right. but I seem to recall it as more of a ranch-house / barn type setting.

SCOTT, I ran into Dave recently and will do my best to find and post the photo.

DroppingPlates · « **Reply #460 on:** July 07, 2013, 12:10:47 PM »

Quote from: funk51 on July 07, 2013, 07:18:17 AM

I'm always amazed to see those old fragile looking benches, holding heavy ass weight

Mr. MB · « **Reply #461 on:** July 07, 2013, 12:26:20 PM »

Stunt the ranch house restaurant setting was Knott Berry Farm?? You could in those days order all you can eat fried chicken.

stuntmovie · « **Reply #462 on:** July 07, 2013, 05:07:15 PM »

MB, Nope, it wasn’t Knott’s Berry Farm. I knew Knott’s chicken dinners very well. Went there often in the 60’s when it was a much smaller place.

The big dinner place was roughly 5 miles south of DL, Sorry that I have forgotten its name but I’m sure its closed down now anyway.

New Subject - I think that the following photo is interesting because I think that this photo was taken at the contest in which a lot of the competitors complained about Franco taking 2nd place.

Note the looks on Birrdsong’s and Grant’s faces……

stuntmovie · « **Reply #463 on:** July 07, 2013, 05:39:29 PM »

A couple more Birsong pictures.

Mr. MB · « **Reply #464 on:** July 07, 2013, 08:38:28 PM »

Yeah...Franco. "The gift". And when he won the Oly....gag me. When he dislocated his leg and tore up his quad on live TV in 1977 hoisting a frige on the Worlds Strongest Man show he had signed an "iron clad" waver. Similar to the waver signed by every pro athlete in the USA. Franco and his attorney broke that waver, sued for the heavans, won, and set the scene for a multitude of law suits against sports and promotional organizations F'ing it up for everyone. In the long run the fans paid more for tickets (and still do) to all kinds of events and shows. THANKS FRANCO.

funk51 · « **Reply #465 on:** July 08, 2013, 07:48:45 AM »

funk51 · « **Reply #466 on:** July 08, 2013, 07:51:05 AM »

funk51 · « **Reply #467 on:** July 08, 2013, 07:52:56 AM »

Powerlift66 · « **Reply #468 on:** July 08, 2013, 11:41:09 AM »

Going back to the ladies for a second, I remember the first time I saw Laura Combes (RIP) in a mag, I said "holy s*&t" things are a changing.
These days, Laura would look tiny compared to the current crop of IFBB "ladies"..

Thanks for keeping this thread going, some good reading on a slow day..

funk51 · « **Reply #469 on:** July 08, 2013, 12:11:05 PM »

Quote from: Powerlift66 on July 08, 2013, 11:41:09 AM

Going back to the ladies for a second, I remember the first time I saw Laura Combes (RIP) in a mag, I said "holy s*&t" things are a changing.
These days, Laura would look tiny compared to the current crop of IFBB "ladies"..

Thanks for keeping this thread going, some good reading on a slow day..

;)laura was one of the pioneers of the sport, along with several others

funk51 · « **Reply #470 on:** July 08, 2013, 12:14:43 PM »

Quote from: funk51 on July 08, 2013, 12:11:05 PM

;)laura was one of the pioneers of the sport, along with several others

this woman was a big early influence back than and still around.

funk51 · « **Reply #471 on:** July 08, 2013, 12:22:43 PM »

funk51 · « **Reply #472 on:** July 08, 2013, 12:23:22 PM »

stuntmovie · « **Reply #473 on:** July 08, 2013, 12:31:17 PM »

DANG!!!! I completely forgot about DORIS B.

I did meet DORIS more than once but I believe DORIS was from someplace back east (FLORIDA???) and I had (dumbly) forgotten all about her.

A very GREAT lady by the way!

I gottta start a list of all the great people in this game whom I have forgotten.

Here's the start.... Maybe some of you GetBiggers remain in contact with some of them ...

Mel Knoll .... San Francisco bodybuilder in the 50's/60's.
Curt Freeman ..... SF Bay Area bodybuilder back them also.
Gary Leonard .... Good old friend when he won the Mr. A. (Lost contact shortly after he got lost in some forest near the High Sierra).
Phil Hernon ... Will be calling him soon.
Joe Nazarrio .... Gym owner someplace outside the US way down south. WIll email him for an update and pass it along.

A hell of a lot more to follow but now I gotta go rob a casino.

stuntmovie · « **Reply #474 on:** July 08, 2013, 12:33:47 PM »

FUNK, I'll take a closer look at the latest photos once I return. Never saw either of those shots.