Sunday, February 07, 2010
John Robinson's $25,000 Challenge FeatureIt was during the season of 1898 that Louis Cyr traveled and performed with The John Robinson Circus. According to records, Cyr's measurements at the time were as follows:
John Robinson's challenge was whether any man could equal or better any one of Cyr's feats... needless to say, the money was very safe.Width across shoulders: 27 inches Neck: 23 inches Forearm: 19 inches Bicep: 21.5 inches Waist: 52 inches Thigh: 29-3/4 inches Calf: 24 inches Chest: 59.5 inches
Labels: Challenge Match, Circus Poster, Circus Strongman, John Robinson Circus, Louis Cyr, Performing Strongman
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Monday, December 14, 2009
French Gym ~ 1905Here's an awesome French Gym, circa 1905. Looks like it is Noel Le Gaulois' place. The area in front of the weights was actually a sand pit which was there to provide a surface to drop the weights in case of a missed lift. This area was also used for wrestling.
If you look closely, you can see posters on the wall for Batta, Charles Sampson, and Apollon, among others.
Labels: Apollon, Batta, Charles Sampson, Circus Poster, Classic Strongman Gyms, Globe Barbell, Noel Le Gaulois
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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
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Edgar Muller's GymEdgar Muller's Gym in Leipzig, Germany where Hermann Goerner did most of his training. Note the posters of the Saxon Trio performing their human bridge feat, Goerner in the middle, Pagel's Circus and the incredible selection of kettlebells.
Labels: Circus Poster, Circus Strongman, Classic Strongman Gyms, Edgard Muller, Hermann Goerner, Human Bridge, Kettlebells, Saxon Trio
www.oldtimestrongman.com
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A Congress of Japan's Famous Strong MenHere's a pretty interesting item, a poster from the Barnum and Bailey Circus advertising "A Congress of Japan's Famous Strong Men." Based on the attire, I would expect to see sumo wrestling and/or grappling such as is pictured in the top half of the poster.
The bottom illustrations are intriguing though: Sumo wrestlers engaging in stone lifting, steel scrolling, live animal wrestling, horseshoe bending... and of particular interest is the gent in the bottom right holding a kettlebell in each hand. This poster is from the 1921 Circus season.
Labels: Barnum and Bailey Circus, Circus, Circus Poster, Horseshoe Bending, Japan, Japanese Strongman, Kettlebells, Stone Lifting, Sumo Wrestlers
www.oldtimestrongman.com
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Madame Yucca - The Female HerculesA rare poster featuring Madame Yucca as perforoming in the Forepaugh and Sells Brother Circus. The Female Hercules was shown lifting various globe weights overhead, harness liftnig several animals including an elephant and even lifting an anvil with her teeth. Note the use of kettlebells for one and two arm lifts. The poster dates from 1898.
Labels: Adam Forepaugh, Anvil Lifting, Circus, Circus Poster, Feat, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell, Harness Lifting, Madame Yucca, Sells Brothers Circus, Strongwoman, Teeth Lifting
www.oldtimestrongman.com
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Thursday, November 29, 2007
The Saxon Trio Perform at The Ringling Brothers CircusHere's a look at a very rare Ringling Brothers Circus Poster featuring Arthur Saxon and the other members of the Saxon Trio.
The poster shows a few of their feats which included several amazing supporting feats - the most impressive being the "human bridge" supporting over six thousand pounds as a car with several passengers drove over a planks that two of the members of the Saxon Trio held up with their feet.
That must have been a great one to see in person.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Circus, Circus Poster, Circus Strongman, Human Bridge, Ringling Brothers Circus, Saxon Trio, Supporting Feat
www.oldtimestrongman.com
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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