IRON, Thanks for your Gold's Gym history input. I knew/know all the individuals you have mentioned, but BUD DANTZ is a complete mystery to me as I must have been 'far away' at that time, but I do recall a story that may be of interest .... or which you may be able to confirm or deny.
When Joe first sold his gym (to BUD??) ... he did not realize that he had also sold the rights to the name "GOLD'S GYM" .... and he intended to open another gym using that name once again in some form or another .... thereby initiating a lawsuit ... in which Joe lost ... and hence ... World Gym was born.
And I gotta partially disagree with ya regarding Ken Sprague's importance regarding Gold's ultimate success.
Ken was definitely important in his own way back then and promoted one of the best contests ever seen on the West Coast. It was Mr. America week and it even included
a decent parade with an elephant leading the way.
Mae West was escorted on stage by Bert Goodrich(?) and presented he winner's trophy (was it Dave Johns who won it that night?) and a live orchestra played during the participant's posing routines.
Sprague was one hell of a great promoter but in my humble opinion the real success of Gold's Gym occurred when Grymko and pals bought it from Sprague in 1979 and FRANCHISED IT!
And actually Sprague moved the gym to its third location ... not its second location as you so mentioned.
But I may be he only individual remaining on this planet who can claim that it was actually Gold's Gym 4th location. (More on that if there is any interest.)
Thanks again, IRON, but what ever happened to BUD DANTZ and who the hell was he?
PS ... DAVE SAXE was also involved when Gold's was purchased from Joe Gold for $50,000 if I recall correctly.
Sprague converted the original Gold's Gym into his personal home.
He owned the gym when it moved to its second location in Santa Monica.
Yes, Grymko and pals did franchise the gym and make the big money but without Sprague there would have been no famous Gold's Gym for Grymko to franchise, no Gold's t-shirt (drawn by Ric Drasin during that time).
No Elvis...no Graceland.
Gold's became the Mecca for Bodybuilding during Sprague's ownership.
Gold's would have closed and been turned into an antique shop if Sprague had not bought it and promoted it.