Friday, October 09, 2009
Bert Elliott in ActionA look at modern Bent-Press master Bert Elliott in action at the AAU Southern California Weightlifting Championships, circa early 1960s. Note how balanced (and therefor stable) Elliott is, you could draw a straight line between the arm holding the barbell and his right foot. - That's the only kind of form that will allow the Bent-Press to "work."
Labels: AAU, Bent Press, Bert Elliott
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Mr. America '68, Jim HaislopJim Haislop, the popular bodybuilder from Tampa, Florida, shows the foundation of his development: squats. Haislop had quite a career, winning Mr. Florida in 1965, Mr. North America in 1966, Mr. Northern States and Mr. USA in 1967, Mr. America and Junior Mr. America in 1968 and took first in his class at the 1969 NABBA Mr. Universe.
Labels: 1940 Mr. America Contest, 1968 Mr. America, AAU, Bodybuilding, Jim Haislop, Mr. America, Mr. Florida, Mr. North America, Mr. Northern States, Mr. Universe, Mr. USA, NABBA, Squat
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Wednesday, September 02, 2009
John Grimek: 1940 Mr. America Here's a rare shot of John Grimek right after winning the 1940 AAU Mr. America contest. Grimek would come back and win it again the next year too. Shortly afterward they passed a rule that someone could only win the contest one time, otherwise Grimek would just have likely run away with it for the next decade or so.
Labels: 1940 Mr. America Contest, AAU, Bodybuilder, John Grimek, Mr America, Mr. America 1940
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009
| Hugo Labra was a popular West Coast Bodybuilder. Originally from Peru, South American, Labra made his home in Los Angeles and was firmly a part of the Muscle Beach scene. Labra placed very high in almost all the contests he entered. In his first contest, he placed second (the 1960 Mr. California contest, one that he would win the next year.) He won the 1960 AAU Mr. Los Angeles title shortly afterwards then the 1961 AAU Mr. California title. He also took second and the Most Muscular title at the 1962 AAU Mr. America contest 6th in the 1963 AAU Mr. America contest and his class in the 1963 and 1964 IFBB Mr. America contest. Some of Labra's training methods are outlined in The Dellinger Files. |  Hugo Labra |
Labels: 1962 Mr. America Contest, 1963 Mr. America Contest, AAU, Bodybuilder, Hugo Labra, IFBB, Mr. California, Mr. Los Angeles, Muscle Beach
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Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Steve Reeves - THE Classic PhysiqueIt's not hard to see why Steve Reeves was known as THE Classic Physique - just take a look. During his career Reeves won the 1947 AAU Mr. America , Mr. Pacific Coast and Mr. Western American Contests, the 1948 Mr. World contest, and the 1950 NABBA Mr. Universe contest.
Labels: 1947 Mr. America, AAU, Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Mr. America, Mr. Pacific Coast, Mr. Universe, Mr. Western American, Steve Reeves
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Thursday, July 09, 2009
Leroy SabaBodybuilder Leroy Saba on the cover of the May, 1963 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. He won his class in the AAU Mr. California contest that year. A few years before, Saba finished second to Red Lerille at the 1960 AAU Mr. America Contest (He was also runner up for the 'Most Muscular' sub-division as well).
Saba was uncharacteristically strong for a bodybuilder, with a a 500 lb. squat, 325 lb. bench press, 455 lb. deadlift and 240 lb. press to his credit (at a bodyweight of only 165 lbs.)
Labels: 1960 Mr. America Contest, AAU, Bench Press, Bodybuilder, Bodybuilding Magazine, Cover, Deadlift, Leroy Saba, Mr. California, Press, Red Lerille, Squat, Strength and Health Magazine
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
1946 Mr. America Alan StephanAlan Stephan on the cover of the August 1946 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. As evident by the headline, Stephan was the newly crowned 1946 AAU Mr. America. He also won the IFBB Pro-Mr. America in 1949.
Labels: 1940 Mr. America Contest, 1946 Mr. America Contest, AAU, Alan Stephan, Bodybuilding, Cover, Muscle Magazine, Strength and Health
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Monday, June 01, 2009
Elmo SantiagoElmo Santiago on the cover of the July, 1959 issue of Ironman Magazine. He won the AAU Junior Mr. America contest that year.
The popular (and quite prolific) New York bodybuilder also won the AAU Mr. New York Metropolitan contest in 1953, Mr. New York City in 1954, Mr. Eastern America in 1958, Mr. North America in 1960, and the 1965 NABBA Mr. Universe title.
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Cover, Elmo Santiago, Iron Man Magazine, Jr. Mr. America, Mr. New York City, Mr. New York Metropolitan, Mr. Universe, NABBA
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Monday, March 30, 2009
Melvin Wells - The Buffalo HerculesMelvin wells on the cover of the January, 1949 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. That year Wells took the AAU Mr. New York State Bodybuilding contest and won the Most Muscular subdivision at the 1949 AAU Mr. America contest. Well was often called 'The Buffalo Hercules' in honor of his hometown of Buffalo, New York.
Labels: 1949 Mr. America Contest, AAU, Bodybuilder, Cover, Melvin Wells, Most Muscular, Mr. New York State, Strength and Health Magazine
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Sunday, March 29, 2009
| 1. Alan Stephan 2. Sam Loprinzi 3. Leo Stern 4. Joe Lauriano 5. John Farbotnik 6. Abe Goldberg 7. Victor Nicoletti 8. Kimon Voyages 9. Everett Sinderoff 10. Gene Jantzen 11. Mike Dubel 12. Joseph Thaler 13. John McWilliams 14. Robert McCusie 15. Peter Bonny Most Muscular 1. Sam Loprinzi 2. Alan Stephan |  Alan Stephan |
Labels: 1946 Mr. America Contest, AAU, Alan Stephan, Bodybuilding Contest, Gene Jantzen, John Farbotnik, Kimon Voyages, Leo Stern, Most Muscular, Sam Loprinzi
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Thursday, March 26, 2009
Al ChristensenHere's Al Christensen, of the Bosco weightlifting club performing a pretty amazing feat: he could clean and jerk 230 pounds while on his knees. You won't be seeing that one again any time soon.
Al won the AAU Mr. Florida bodybuilding contest in 1951 and appeared on the cover of Strength and Health Magazine. His wife Vera was also a long-time columnist in Strength and Health.
Labels: AAU, Al Christensen, Bosco, Clean and Jerk, Mr. Florida, Strength and Health Magazine, Vera Christensen
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Friday, February 06, 2009
 Clancy Ross1945 Mr. America | 1. Clarence Ross 2. Harold Zinkin 3. Kenneth Graham 4. Elias Rodriguez 5. Phil Courtois - Cliff Byers - Perry Combs - Jack Delinger - Gene Jantzen - Joe Lauriano - Sam Loprinzi - Eric Pedersen - Leo Stern - Marvin Urvant - Kimon Voyages Most Muscular: 1. Clarence Ross 2. Sam Loprinzi 2. Kimon Voyages 4. Phil Courtois 4. Eric Pedersen 4. Elias Rodriguez |
Labels: 1945 Mr. America, AAU, Bodybuilding Contest, Clancy Ross, Eric Pedersen, Gene Jantzen, Harold Zinkin, Jack Dellinger, Kimon Voyages, Most Muscular, Mr. America, Sam Loprinzi
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Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Mr. America 1962 Joe AbbendaJoe Abbenda from Long Island, New York was a very popular and successful bodybuilder during the late 50s and early 60's.
He began his bodybuilding career by winning the Teenage Mr. America title in 1959. The next year he finished fifth in the AAU Mr. America contest, followed that up with second place finish in 1961 and finally won the title in 1962. Abbenda also won the NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe that same year and the Pro Mr. Universe in 1963.
Labels: 1962 Mr. America Contest, AAU, Bodybuilding Contest, Classic Bodybuilder, Joe Abbenda, Mr. America Contest, Mr. Universe, NABBA
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Saturday, January 17, 2009
| 1. Roy Hilligenn 2. Malcolm Brenner 3. Marvin Eder 3. George Paine 5. Pepper Gomez 6. Keith Stephan 7. Victor Nicoletti 9. Joe Sanceri 9. John Witkowski 10. Ken Cameron - Max Grunig - Ed Heckinger - Elwood Holbrook - Ed Holovchik - Dominick Juliano - Alvin Lee - Newman Lewis - Ralph Mascaro - Allen Moraes - Elias Rodriguez - Stan Stanczyk - Carlin Venus - George Waselinko - Monte Wolford |  Roy Hilligenn won the "Most Muscular"award as well as the overall title |
Labels: 1951 Mr. America, AAU, Bodybuilding, Bodybuilding Contest, Carlin Venus, Elwood Holbrook, George Paine, Malcolm Brenner, Marvin Eder, Pepper Gomez, Roy Hilligenn, Stan Stanczyk
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Mr. America 1961 Ray RoutledgeRay Routledge, 1961 AAU Mr. America on the cover of the December 1960 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. Routledge was also the 1961 NABBA Mr. Universe.
Labels: 1961 Mr. Amerrica, AAU, Bodybuilder, Bodybuilding, Cover, Mr. America, NABBA, Strength and Health Magazine
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Friday, January 09, 2009
Bill PearlThere is little doubt that Bill Pearl is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He won nearly every contest he ever entered (including 1953 AAU Mr. America, 1953, 1961, 1967, 1971 NABBA Mr. Universe and 1965 Mr. USA), appeared on dozens on bodybuilding magazine covers, ran a successful gym, authored several best selling training books, performed classical feats of strength and today still trains regularly and runs a thriving business. Here's how he looked on the cover of the September, 1957 issue of Ironman Magazine.
Labels: 1953 Mr. America, AAU, Bill Pearl, Bodybuilding, Iron Man Magazine, Mr. America, NABBA, Strength Author
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Friday, November 07, 2008
Jim Park - 1952 Mr. America1952 AAU Mr. America Jim Park, on the cover of the June 1952 Iron Man Magazine. Park also won the 1952 Mr. World and 1954 Mr. Universe bodybuilding contests.
Labels: 1952 Mr. America, AAU, Bodybuilder, Cover, Iron Man Magazine, Jim Park, Muscle Magazine
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Thursday, October 09, 2008
Mr. America 1960 Red LerilleIt all began with a skinny, red-haired kid from Louisiana who wanted to grow up to be Mr. America -- and he did it!
That skinny kid was Lloyd "Red" Lerille, shown here on the cover of the March 1961 issue of Strength and Health magazine. Red was famous for his chest development which is evident in this picture. In 1963 Red opened his first gym and went first class all the way. Through the years it has grown into one of the finest gyms/health clubs in the country. If you're ever in the Lafayette, Louisiana area, be sure to stop by and get in a workout (and tell Red we said "Hi!")
(Bonus points for noticing the first appearance of "Protein from the Sea" in this issue.)
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Cover, Mr America, Strength and Health Magazine
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Thursday, August 07, 2008
Ken HallWell-known for his superb abdominal development, Ken Hall has been one of the most active bodybuilders in history winning over 250 trophies in a career that has spanned the better part of the last five decades.
After moving to the U.S. from his native Barbados, Hall began winning many contests around the New York City area.
His first place finishes include 1957 Mr. New York City (AAU), 1959 Mr. New York Metropolitan (AAU), 1960 Mr. New York City (AAU). He also competed in the 1960 AAU Mr. America Contest finishing 13th (also getting 3rd in the Most Muscular Sub division) and in the 1962 AAU Mr. America contest, finishing 10th.
Ken Hall keep competing well into his 70's and won many Masters Bodybuilding titles.
Labels: 1962 Mr. America Contest, AAU, Abdominal Development, Bodybuilder, Joe Abbenda, Ken Hall, Masters Bodybuilder, Mr. America Contest, Mr. New York City, Mr. New York Metropolitan
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Monday, June 23, 2008
1959 AAU Mr. America winner Harry Johnson demonstrates Moore's Squat Bar, a unique piece of equipment often advertised in the old Iron Man Magazine that eliminates much of the discomfort of squatting.
Look familar?
The rights were eventually purchased by multiple-time Mr. Olympia winner Frank Zane, and re-released as the Frank Zane Leg Blaster (which is still available today.)
Moore's Squat BarLook familar?
The rights were eventually purchased by multiple-time Mr. Olympia winner Frank Zane, and re-released as the Frank Zane Leg Blaster (which is still available today.)
Labels: 1959 Mr. America, AAU, Frank Zane, Iron Man Magazine, Leg Development, man Magazine, Moore's Squat Bar, Mr America, Mr. Olympia, Squat Workout, Training Equipment, Unique Equipment
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Walt MarcyanWalt Marcyan was a great lifter, bodybuilder and hand balancer during the early Santa Monica Muscle Beach days. Walt first picked up a barbell and started training when he was 19 years old and shortly afterwards won the Central AAU Light Heavyweight Lifting Championship.
He followed that up by winning the northwest, Pacific, California, Pacific Coast and Illinois State lifting titles. Walt possessed unusual strength in a number of lifts, above he just missed a one-arm snatch of 210 pounds (at a bodyweight of only 180.)
Marcyan was also the inventor of several pieces of training equipment and his "Marcy Gym" line is still going strong today.
Labels: AAU, Golden Age Bodybuilder, hand balancer, Hand Balancing, Marcy Gym, Muscle Beach, one arm snatch, Walt Marcyan, weightlifting
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Sunday, May 04, 2008
Sam LoprinziSam Loprinzi was a very popular bodybuilder in the 1940s and 1950s. The picture above shows the kind of shape that he was in when he finished second at the 1946 AAU Mr. America contest and also took home the "Most Muscular" sub-division trophy.
Sam Loprinzi was on the cover of Strength and Heath Magazine several times and also ran a successful gym in the Portland, Oregon Area (which, evidently, is still in business.)
Labels: 1946 Mr. America Contest, AAU, Bodybuilding, Loprinzi's Gym, Most Muscular, Sam Loprinzi, Strength and Health Magazine
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Friday, May 02, 2008
Elwood Holbrook - Master of the Bent PressElwood Holbrook took 4th at the 1941 AAU Mr. America Contest AND took home the "Best Arms" award (He had also competed in the afternoon's weightlifting contest where he finished 6th with a 715-pound total in the 165-pound class.)
While Holbrook was a very talented strength athlete and equally good at bodybuilding as well as weightlifting, his real gift was the bent press -- he won the national Bent-Press Championship in a contest held by Sig Klein.
Holbrook was also one of the few men to bent press the famous Rolandow Dumbbell - a feat which he did on his first try and without a warmup.
Here's a shot of a 48-year old Elwood Holbrook bent-pressing 240 pounds -- 75 pounds above his bodyweight. That unique dumbbell belonged to Paul Anderson.
Labels: 1941 Mr. America Contest, AAU, Bent Press Arthur Saxon, Best Arms, Bodybuilding, Elwood Holbrook, Olympic Weightlifting, Paul Anderson, Rolandow Dumbbell, Sig Kleins Gym, Total
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Monday, March 24, 2008
Melvin WellsMelvin Wells was a great bodybuilder during the 1940's and 50's.
He won the "Most-Muscular" title but finished second in the 1949 AAU Mr. America contest to Jack Dellinger. He repeated this feat the next year, finishing second at the 1950 AAU Mr. America contest, this time to John Farbotnik. but again winning the "Most Muscular" award.
Wells did eventually win a contest, finishing first at the 1951 "Mr. Strength and Health" contest.
What is most interesting about Melvin Wells though is that he didn't lift barbells and dumbbells, he lifted rocks in an unheated garage at his home in Buffalo, New York.
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilder, Bodybuilding, Golden Age Bodybuilder, Jack Dellinger, John Farbotnik, Melvin Wells, Mr. Strength and Health, Mr.America Contest, Rock Lifting
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Friday, March 21, 2008
Frank Leight - Mr. America 1942Frank Leight, AAU Mr. America 1942, with some classic globe barbells and kettlebells on the cover of the July, 1942 issue of Strength and Health Magazine.
Frank Leight finished 2nd in 1940 (losing to John Grimek and 3rd in 1941 (again behind Grimek, and Jules Bacon)before finally winning the Mr. America contest himself in 1942.
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Cover, Frank Leight, Globe Barbell, Golden Age Bodybuilder, John Grimek, Jules Bacon, Milo Kettlebell, Mr. America, Strength and Health Magazine
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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
 John Grimek | This photograph was taken on May 25, 1940 as John Grimek competed in the Heavy weight class (weighing 183 pounds!) at the weightlifting Senior Nationals at Madison Squar Garden, New York City. In the afternoon he placed 3rd by totalling 860 pounds (including the 285 pound press shown here) Later that day he beat Frank Leight to win the AAU Mr. America bodybuilding title, including the "Most Musclular" and "Best Arms" subdivions. |
Labels: AAU, Best Arms, Bodybuilding, John Grimek, Most Muscular, Mr. America 1940, Overhead Press, weightlifting
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Monday, February 18, 2008
| George Eiferman was the 1948 AAU Mr. America and 1962 IFBB Mr. Universe winner and was particularly well-known for his chest development. On of the ways in which he built such a deep and impressive chest was regular trumpet playing. Eiferman used to like to show off a bit too and was fond of playing the "Hawaiian War Chant" on his trumpet with one hand while holding a loaded barbell overhead with the other. -- Talk about core strength. He regularly performed this feat at Muscle Beach. |  George Eiferman |
Labels: AAU, Breathing Exercises, Chest Development, Feat, George Eiferman, IFBB, Mr. America, Mr. Universe, Muscle Beach
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Wednesday, February 06, 2008
 David Willoughby | Strength author and historian David Willoughby gracing the cover of the January, 1936 edition of the British physical culture magazine "Superman." Willoughby was the AAU Southern California AAU weightlifting champion from 1923-1926 and eventually went on to author countless books, articles and training courses. He also owned a successful gym in the Los Angeles area, the same gym where Bert Goodrich got his start. |
Labels: AAU, Cover, David Willoughby, Strength Author, Superman Magazine, weightlifting
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1938 Mr. America Bert Goodrich With Strongman Stage Weights
One of the great things about the history of strength training is that many of the early strength athletes had their own personal training equipment made up which lent quite a bit of character to their training.
Here is a very rare picture of 1938 Mr. America Bert Goodrich with some very interesting oldtime equipment, a globe barbell and kettlebell.
Labels: AAU, Bert Goodrich, Globe Barbell, Kettlebell, Mr. America, Strongman Equipment, Vintage Strength Equipment
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Friday, February 01, 2008
| Originally from Hazard, Kentucky, Ron Lacy was the winner of the 1957 AAU Mr. America Contest. He also won the 1955 Mr. Kentucky Contest and finished first in the medium class in the NABBA Mr. Universe contest. Ron was also well known for his leg development and once squatted 300 pounds for 50 consecutive reps. |  Mr. America 1957 Ron Lacy |
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Golden Age Bodybuilder, Mr. America, Mr. Universe, NABBA, Ron Lacy, Squat Workout
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
 Bert GoodrichThe First Mr. America | The first ever AAU Mr. America was Bert Goodrich, shown here on an early cover of Iron Man Magazine. Bert got his start by training with Earle E. Liederman's courses and was a tremendous athlete in highschool, excelling in hand balancing, swimming, and track and field events. He went on to became a stuntman in several Hollywood Movies and later opened up his own gym. |
Labels: AAU, Bert Goodrich, Bodybuilding, Cover, Earle E. Liederman, Iron Man Magazine, Mr. America
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Friday, January 18, 2008
 Chuck Ahrens and Bert Elliot | Two fixtures in the Santa Monica, California Muscle Beach scene share a laugh in the late 1950's - Chuck Ahrens and Bert Elliott. Chuck Ahrens was a man of immeasurable power, and Bert Elliott was a champion weightlifter and bodybuilder (He won the 1954 Sr. Nationals Weightlifting Title in the 165 Pound Class (totaling 765 pounds), the 1953 "Iron Man" bodybuilding contest as well as the 1954 AAU Mr. Southern California.) At their feet is Bert Elliott's 201 pound "challenge" dumbbell which he could bent- press with ease. |
Labels: AAU, Bent Press, Bert Elliott, Bodybuilding, Challenge Weight, Chuck Ahrens, Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbell, Iron Man, Mr. Southern California, Muscle Beach
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Thursday, January 17, 2008
1971 AAU Mr America Casey ViatorOn June 12th, 1971, Casey Viator went on to win the AAU Mr. America bodybuilding contest in the most dominating fashion imaginable.
In addition to winning the overall title, in that contest Casey also nearly swept the sub-categories of Best Arms, Best Back, Best Chest and Most Muscular.
The only award Casey did not win at that contest was "Best Abdominals" (probably because He won everything else.)
Find out his exact training here.
Labels: AAU, Back Exercise, Best Arms, Best Back, Best Chest, Bodybuilding, Casey Viator, Most Muscular, Mr. America
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Saturday, January 05, 2008
| You can see why they say Steve Reeves has the classic physique -- he looked like a Greek statue brought to life. He was also one of the most successful bodybuilders of all time, winning almost every contest he entered including the 1947 AAU Mr. America title. Reeves trained at the York Barbell Club in York, PA for the 1950 NABBA Mr. Universe contest (which he won.) While there, John Grimek, watched him train, and later wrote an article about what he saw in the November, 1964 issue of Muscular Development Magazine. |  Steve Reeves |
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Exercises, John Grimek, Mr. America, Mr. Universe, Muscular Development, NABBA, Steve Reeves, Workout
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| Vern Weaver won the AAU Mr. America contest in 1963. He was well known for his superb back development could power clean close to 400 pounds! Here's a look at one of his weekly routines: Monday and Thursday: |  1963 Mr. America Vern Weaver |
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Cover, Mr. America, Strength and Health, Strength and Health Magazine, Vern Weaver, Workout Routine
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Thursday, January 03, 2008
| Before authoring over 50 books on strength training and meeting Arthur Jones, Ellington Darden was a very successful bodybuilder in the 60's and 70's. Interestingly enough, Ellington Darden won the 1969 Mr. Texas Bodybuilding contest, the same contest where a 17 year old Casey Viator finished 4th. This shot was taken a few days after Ellington Darden won the 1972 AAU Collegiate Mr. America Contest. |  Ellington Darden |
Labels: AAU, Arthur Jones, Bodybuilding, Casey Viator, Collegiate Mr. America, Ellington Darden, Mr. Texas, Strength Author
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Sunday, December 16, 2007
 Roy Hilligenn 1951 Mr. America | Roy Hilligen was a great all-around "iron athlete." As a bodybuilder, he won the Mr. South Africa title in 1943, 1944, 1946 and 1976 as well as the AAU Mr. America Title in 1951. As an Olympic lifter, Hilligenn was the first South African to Clean and Jerk double body weight. His lifts in 1946 were Press: 245 pounds, Snatch: 255 Pounds and Clean & Jerk: 321 pounds. In the early 1950's, and weighing just 173 pounds, Hilligen unofficially equaled the world record in the Clean & Jerk with a lift of 375 pounds. |
Interestingly, he was also a life-long vegetarian.
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilder, Clean and Jerk, Ed Yarick's Gym, Mr. America, Olympic Weightlifting, Roy Hilligenn, South African
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Saturday, December 08, 2007
 - George Eiferman - Chest Development | Back in the old days, "chest development" meant chest and ribcage expansion. Here's a look at George Eiferman, a classic bodybuilder, who was famous for his chest development, on the cover of the February, 1948 Strength and Health Magazine. Eiferman won the AAU Mr. America, AAU Mr. California and IFBB Mr. Universe titles. In this picture Eiferman weighed around 190 pounds. You can tell that ribcage and chest expansion contributes greatly to the "look" of strength and power. |
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Chest Development, Chest Expansion, Cover, George Eiferman, IFBB, Mr. America, Mr. California, Mr. Universe, Ribcage Expansion, Strength and Health
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Sunday, November 18, 2007
| At just 19 years of age, Casey Viator became the youngest man to win the Mr. America title. This impromptu shot from 1971 gives you a pretty good idea why. Under the tutelage of Arthur Jones, on May 16, 1971, Casey Viator won the AAU Junior Mr. America contest. |  The Arm of Casey Viator |
In addition to the overall AAU Mr. America title, Casey took the Most muscular Man in America title and the subdivisions for Best Arms, Best Back, Best Chest and Best Legs.
The Nautilus BulletinsLabels: AAU, Arm Development, Arthur Jones, Bicep Strength, Bodybuilding, Casey Viator, Mr. America
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Saturday, November 10, 2007
| Rope climbing used to be a competitive sport and once appeared in the Olympics. Rope Climbing was also sanctioned by the AAU and NCAA as a gymnastic event. A 20 or 25 foot natural fiber Manila Climbing Rope was used. The climber began while seated on the floor straddling the rope. Upon their first movement, the stopwatch started and they were timed while climbing the rope without the use of the legs, pulling all the way to the "tambourine" a black, wooden disc that served as the finish line. Don Perry of Champaign Illinois and Robert Manning of San Fernando, California could each climb a 20 foot rope in 2.8 seconds. - Amazing! Another great rope climber was Garvin Smith of UCLA, who could climb a 25 foot rope in 4.2 seconds. Rope climbing is still popular with wrestlers, gymnasts and any other athletes looking to build a stronger grip and upper-body endurance. |  Competitive Rope Climbing |
Labels: AAU, Climbing Ropes, Don Perry, Garvin Smith, Grip Strength, Olympics, Robert Manning, Rope Climbing, Tambourine, Wrestling
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Saturday, November 03, 2007
Old School Strength: Wilbur MillerWilbur Miller was Kansas wheat farmer who became the best amateur deadlifter in America back in the 1960's.
He trained by himself when the day's farm chores were done.
In 1963, Wilbur Miller pulled an official AAU record 705 lbs. and a year later topped that when he pulled 715 at the very first National Powerlifting Tournament held in York, Pennsylvania.
Wilbur Miller was also widely known as having some of the strongest hands around -- notice the palms forward grip in the deadlift pictured above.
He could also close the "Extra-Heavy" Iron Man Hand Gripper with ease.
You've got to admit -- it looks pretty darn cool when the bar is loaded all the way to the end like that.
Labels: AAU, Deadlift, Grip Strength, Iron Man Magazine, Powerlifting, Wilbur Miller
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Monday, October 29, 2007
On April 19, 1941 Steve Stanko made history as he the first man to break the mythic 1000-pound total in an official weightlifting contest.
Through his specialized upper-body training program he was able to build himself into a bodybuilding champion, winning the 1944 AAU Mr. America and Junior Mr. America, the 1945 Most Muscular Man in America and the 1947 Mr. Universe.
| Unfortunately Stanko also suffered from painful blood clots in his legs and five weeks later found himself in the hospital. By mid-1942 he regained enough health to begin light upper-body training again. He was told to stay off his legs and could only train while sitting or lying on a bench. |  Steve Stanko |
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Mr. America, Mr. Universe, Olympic Weightlifting, Steve Stanko
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 Pudgy Stockton | If there ever were a "bar belle" it was Abbye "Pudgy" Stockton. (She aquired the nickname "Pudgy" as a child and it stuck.) "Pudgy" weighed 115 pounds at a height of 5'2" and, as you can see, was quite the physical specimen -- especially impressive at a time when weightlifting for either gender was frowned upon. She and husband Les Stockton were well known at the first "Muscle Beach" at Santa Monica, California where they primarily worked on acrobatics and gymnastic feats for the crowds. |
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Clean and Jerk, Gymnastics, Hand Balancing, Les Stockton, Muscle Beach, Press, Pudgy Stockton, Snatch, Strength and Health, weightlifting
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Monday, July 30, 2007
Before he became the most popular strength author of all time, Ellington Darden graced the cover of several top bodybuilding magazines including the July 1970 of Muscular Development pictured here.
Ell Darden went on to author over 50 books on strength training. His latest can be found here: The New Bodybuilding for Old School Results
As an expert (not the armchair variety) in training, Ell Darden started asking the right questions very early on. He entered and placed very highly in a number of bodybuilding contests. Here's a look at the contests he won: |  Ellington Darden on the July 1970- issue of Muscular Development |
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Collegiate Mr. America, Cover, Ellington Darden, Mr. South, Mr. Texas, Muscle Magazine, Muscular Development
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
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