BETHERE,
I agree with ya that Bodybuilding always has and always will be a weird subculture, but before Uncle Joe came on the scene it was relatively "weirder" and almost non-existent.
But slowly and gradually he made it what it is today through his various magazines with just a couple of lies thrown in to the mix .... some of which were a bit questionable even by today's standards.
But he persisted where others failed or feared to tread ... enabling us present day fans and haters to question his reasons "why "... while others such as Dan Lauri, the Hoffman camp, and Perry and Mabel, etc. have drifted far from recollection.
(Our is not to reason why! Ours is but to lift and die!)
And I may be too damn dumb to argue this point but I am smart enough to disagree with ya concerning your belief that the Mr Universe is more well known than the Mr Olympia.
In my own mind ... that may be true but you may be wrong ....unless you reside on the other side of the planet from the good old USA.
But then again I may be dumber than I think I is so ... maybe this GetBig jury will decide.
Weider may not have made bodybuilding 'mainstream' .... but he did, in fact, make it what it is today!
Be that good or be that bad.... it's all within the mind of the beholder.
Aways good conversing with ya, BETHERE. THANKS!