Jim Park - 1952 Mr. America

Jim Park - 1952 Mr. America

1952 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.

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The Iron Guru Vince Gironda

The Iron Guru Vince Gironda

Known as "The Iron Guru," Vince Gironda left an indelible mark on the bodybuilding world. For over fifty years "Vince's Gym" was one of the most popular bodybuilding gyms in the country and a number of famous bodybuilders AND movie stars often trained there. Vince was one of the first muscle experts to place a great deal of emphasis on nutrition and was also well known for his "unorthodox" training methods and unusual exercise ideas.

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Ken Hall

Ken Hall

Well-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 1962 AAU Mr. America contest, finishing 10th (His friend Joe Abbenda, who he had previously defeated at the 1962 Mr. New York State contest, was the eventual winner.)

Ken Hall keep competing well into his 70's and won many Masters Bodybuilding titles.

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John Grimek

John Grimek - One Arm Snatch

John Grimek, in mid-one-arm snatch. It was often written that Grimek credited his all-around development to his using a wide variety of exercises.

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Al Berger

Al Berger

Al Berger was a great strength athlete and classic bodybuilder during the 1940's. Berger was a very good bodybuilder but was most well-known for his ability to perform incredible feats of strength while "pinch gripping" rafters in his basement.

He could do 12 pinch-grip chins on rafters 30-inches apart, 6 with an additional 10-pounds and 1 with an incredible 43 additional pounds.

Im addition to his pinch-gripping feats, Berger could perform a reverse curl with 165 pounds.

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Melvin Wells

Melvin Wells
Melvin 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.

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John McWilliams: Dumbbell Curls

John McWilliams

Many people have wondered exactly how it was that John McWilliams built such big arms... The reasons for that should be as straightforward as can be: a)Genetics b)Progressive resistance exercise I hear dumbbell curls are a good bicep exercise -- looks like they worked well enough for John McWilliams. Can't do much about your genetics,but you certainly CAN use this great exercise to build bigger arms.

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Reg Park's Arm Workout

Reg Park's Arm Workout
Some of the most impressive arms in history belonged to Reg Park. Reg built his arms with basic exercises and focused on getting stronger through time. In his many training courses, Reg recommended a lot of overhead pressing for tricep work and the simple barbell curl for biceps.

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Bill Pettis: 23-1/4 Inch Arms!

Bill Pettis Big Arms
Another look at Bill Pettis' 23-1/4 inch arms. Bill actually did compete in a few Bodybuilding contests in the 1970's, finishing as high as third in the IFBB World Pro Championships.

Maybe, just maybe, Bill's arms didn't quite stretch the tape that far, but they certainly are impressive. Bill's not too shabby in the forearm department either...

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John McWilliams - Big Arms For You

The well-known bodybuilder John McWilliams wrote his own arm development course entitled "Big Arms for You" which he advertised in Iron Man Magazine for years. As you can see, his arms were quite impressive. -- McWilliams wasn't all show though, he also had a 710 pound deadlift to his name.

John McWilliams - Big Arms For You

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John McWilliams - "Mr. Arms"

John McWilliams - "Mr. Arms"
John McWilliams was an incredibly strong and powerful bidybuilder of the late 1940's and 1950's who was well known for his arm development.

While many bodybuilder inflated their numbers, John McWilliams used to offer a reward if anyone could measure his arms at LESS than 19-1/2 inches!

He ran a successful gym in Dayton, Ohio (The Dayton Health Studios at 131 E. Third Street) and wrote several training articles for Iron Man Magazine. He also had his own arm development course.

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Eugen Sandow

It's not hard to see why Eugen Sandow was well received as bodybuilding's first superstar a hundred years ago. Sandow's physique is still impressive by today's standards -- probably even more so. Sandow built his strength with basic exercises and the double-progressive technique.

Eugen Sandow

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Roy Hilligenn - 1951 Mr. America

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.

He eventually Clean & Jerked 405 at a slightly heavier body weight, which was an unofficial world record at the time. It was voted as one of the greatest "lifts" of all time. Hilligenn also "cleaned" a pair of 142-pound dumbbells (but did not press them) at Ed Yarick's Gym in Oakland, California in the 50's.

Interestingly, he was also a life-long vegetarian.

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Early Bodybuilder Bobby Pandour

Bobby Pandour

Bobby Pandour was an early physique superstar and Vaudeville performer during the 1900s. Pandour never trained with heavy weights but built his incredible physique with gymnastics, muscle control work, hand balancing and high-rep training with a pair of 10-pound dumbbells. At his peak Pandour weighed only 160 pounds at a height of 5'6". It was reported that he had a 42-inch chest, 23-inch thighs and 17-inch arms.

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