Stunt...20 yrs. old with the gym bag and 21 with the trophy with Clancy. Thank you for sharing...and everyone commenting with good stuff.
Sam Loprinzi sponsored the 1946 Mr. Pacific Coast contest in Portland, Oregon. Steve and his work out partner at the time, Bob Weidlich, entered the Dec. 21st show. They left on Fri., Dec. 20 on the Pacific South Railway car for Portland. Steve and Bob both carried a gym bag with a change of clothes and their posing trunks, and sandwiches and fruit for the trip that Gr Goldie packed for them.
They did not tell Ed Yarick that they entered the contest because that way if either of them did well, then they would surprise him with the good news. Ed was like an older brother/father figure/role model for Steve because Steve's father Lester died when he was two from a pitchfork that went into his stomach. Steve's stepfather went to the bar, drank and smoked, played cards and told jokes...but that was it. He thought bodybuilding was a waste of time and told Steve to dig holes in the backyard instead of lift weights. In other words, Ed had more influence on Steve because of similiar interests.
Steve and Bob were both a little excited and nervous not sure how they would do. They waited a week before the contest to enter. The Mr. Pacific Coast show in Portland was sold out. Merlsi and Bradly started out with a handbalancing act. The judges were Dud Nelson, George Pavlich, Joe Loprinzi, Al Kost and Dr. C. Wheeler. There were 3 classes and the winner was determined by a point system: 5 pts. for muscularity, 7 pts. for proportion, 2 points for posing, a point for general overall appearance=15 pts. total on each of the scorecards. So in other words...75 pts. was a perfect score.
Three poses were allowed and they had to do their routine in 90 sec. When it was Steve's turn, he stepped up on the platform and did a front double biceps, a rear double biceps and front lat spread. The crowd went wild cheering and he scored 72 pts. Steve won Mr. Pacific Coast the first time at age 20.
Strength and Health took his picture and put as a caption "The Herculean Steve Reeves" (11 years before he was offered to play the role for
Hercules on film). When he came back he cave his trophy to Ed and said "Merry Christmas, Ed!"
The 1947 Mr. Pacific Coast contest that was sponsored by the S. California Weightlifting Assoc. was on May 24th at the Embassey auditorium in L.A. Steve entered this one too up against home town favorite Eric Pedersen and Bill Cantrell. Walt Marcyan wrote in
Your Physique "Steve out-glowed, out-shone, and out muscled them all! I personally proclaim him to be the finest specimen of American Manhood I have ever seen...He hasn't a single weak spot in his make up." He won 4 trophies that night for Best arms, Best chest, Best Legs and Champion of show--the most ever won by a competitor at a single show.
Steve and Eric Pedersen