Monday, February 15, 2010
Harry Truman's GymIn honor of President's Day and all, I thought you might be interested in seeing Harry Truman's gym in the White House, circa 1948.
It is sparse, but certainly contains everything someone would need to stay in shape: medicine balls, Swedish Bars, Wall Pulleys, Gymnastic Rings, Rowing machine, health rider bike, situp board, and a rack of dumbbells (more of which are out of the frame.)
Labels: Classic Gym, Gymnastic Rings, Harry Truman, Health Rider Bike, Medicine Balls, Physical Fitness, Rowing Machine, Swedish Bars, Wall Pulleys, White House
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
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Harry Shafran's WeightsA unique look at some of the equipment once belonging to Harry Shafran and housed in his great gym. Much of what is shown here was previously owned by Warren Lincoln Travis. The whereabouts of this equipment is currently unknown.
Labels: Classic Gym, Globe Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbells, Gym Equipment, Harry Shafran, Harry Shafrans Gym, Indian Clubs, Kettlebells, Strongman Equipment
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, December 31, 2009
The Michigan State Normal School Gymnasium, Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1894A look at The Michigan State Normal School Gymnasium in Ypsilanti, Michigan, circa 1894, the year it was built. This impressive red brick building was located across the street from the Water Tower in Ypsilanti (and if you have been to Ypsi, you know exactly where this is).
This gymnasium was divided completely in half, the North half reserved for women and the South half for men. The Michigan State Normal School eventually became Eastern Michigan University, and unfortunately, this particular building was demolished in the mid-1960s.
Labels: Classic Gym, Eastern Michigan, Gymnasiums
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
Monday, December 07, 2009
Krajewski's GymHere's a unique opportunity to take a look at Dr. Vladislav Von Krajewski's Gym in St. Petersburg, Russia, circa 1901. This is the place where an untold number of strength champions trained, most notably George Hackenschmidt. I know that I could sure get strong in a place like this.
Labels: Classic Gym, Dr. von Krajewski, George Hackenschmidt, Gymnastic Rings, Kettlebells
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
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Father Lange's GymA look at a a training session at Father Lange's Gym, at the University of Notre Dame. Lange was a great carpenter and made much of the equipment (i.e. benches and racks) shown here. Also of note are the cambered bar for squats and the large selection of Jackson Barbell plates.
Labels: Cambered Bar, Classic Gym, Father Lange, Father Lange's Gym, Jackson Barbell Company, Jackson Barbell Plates, Notre Dame, Super Squats, Unique Equipment
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 12, 2009
Desbonnet's GymA look at another one of Professor Desbonnet's classic gyms, circa, 1909. Of particular interest are the unique Pushup bars in the foreground - a simple, but very effective, training idea.
Labels: Classic Equipment, Classic Gym, Classic Strongman Gyms, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Professor Desbonnet, Pushups
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, October 22, 2009
Marine GymA buddy of mine is over in Iraq at the moment and sent me this great picture of the gym on his base. Good to know that the men and women of our armed services at least have a good place to train while over there. Interestingly, despite the extreme conditions, this setup is not all that different than many of the great gyms of the past. You certainly wouldn't need much more than what is pictured here to get damn strong - and you gotta love that badass Helicopter in the background.
Labels: Classic Gym, Marines, Military Training
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
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Zuver's Hall of Fame GymA look into the legendary "Zuvers Hall of Fame Gym" run by the Reverend Bob Zuver in Costa Mesa, California. With a variety of unusual training equipment and an even more unusual atmosphere, anyone who ever trained there sure never forgot it.
In the background, you can just make out the 'World's largest Squat Rack" and the "World's Largest Dipping Rack." Also of note are the distinctive Zuver Barbell plates to the left of the picture.
Labels: Bob Zuver, Classic Gym, Dip Bars, Squat Rack, Unusual Training Equipment, Zuver's Hall of Fame Gym
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, September 01, 2009
"Classic Gym"I don't know anything about this particular classic gym other than this picture was taken in 1889. Looks like a great place to train...
Labels: Classic Gym, Climbing Ladders, Climbing Ropes, Gymnastic Rings, Gymnastics, Indian Clubs, Physical Culture Equipment
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
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sig Klein's GymSig Klein opened his gym in 1926 and ran it -- without a day off -- for the next 50 years. It's not hard to see why it was the place to train in the east coast. Here's some classic Kettlebells, Ring Weights and Globe Barbells. Sig luckily inherited much of the equipment when he married Professor Attila's daughter.
Labels: Antique Equipment, Classic Gym, Classic Kettlebells, Kettlebells, Ring Weights, Sig Klein, Sig Klein's Gym
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
Monday, August 10, 2009
Desbonnet's GymA look at Professor Desbonnet's Gym (or at least one of them) circa 1901. Do you think you could get strong training in a place like this?
Labels: Antique Equipment, Classic Gym, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Professor Desbonnet
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
Friday, July 24, 2009
A Presidential WorkoutRunning the country is hard work which is why a regular workout schedule is a good idea. Here's Calvin Coolidge swinging the Indian Clubs while House Speaker Frederick H. Gillett trains on the wall pulley in the White House Gym. This picture was taken on January 31st, 1923.
Labels: Calvin Coolidge, Classic Gym, Indian Club Swinging, Indian Clubs, Physical Culture Equipment, President, Wall Pulleys
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
Friday, April 17, 2009
Bill Pearl's GymIn 1962, Bill Pearl moved to Los Angeles and took over George Redpath's gym in east L.A. Bill actually had several other health clubs previously in Northern California. Rather than spread himself too thin, he closed the other locations to concentrate on making this new centralized location the best it could possible be. -- Bill took a great deal of care in doing things first class.
The newly re-named "Bill Pearl's Gym" became one of the hotspots for bodybuilding and weightlifting out on the west coast. Plus, he had some nifty shirts for the gym. Maybe we can talk Bill into reprinting those...
Labels: Bill Pearl, Bill Pearl's Gym, Bodybuilding Gym, Classic Gym, George Redpath
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, March 31, 2009
The Easton GymThe Easton Gym (also known as the 'Screwball Gym') was started in 1938 by brothers Dale and Harvey Easton and was located on Beverly Boulevard location in Hollywood, California. It was the earliest gym ever established on the West Coast -- and is evidently still in business.
The Easton Gym was well known for the selection of unusual equipment which was designed and built by Harvey Easton and his good friend Jack LaLanne. Easton's was also the place where Vince Gironda got his start.
Labels: Classic Gym, Harvey Easton, Jack LaLanne, The Easton Gym, Unusual Training Equipment, Vince Gironda, West Coast Gym
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
Waterman Gymnasium, University of Michigan, 1903In keeping with the saying Mens sana in corpore sano (A healthy mind in a healthy body) the University of Michigan built some of the grandest gymnasia the world had ever seen in the late nineteenth century.
In 1894, the Waterman Gymnasium (pictured right)was completed and was followed two years later by the addition of the Barbour Gymnasium for women (on left.)
Labels: Barbour Gymnasium, Classic Gym, Gymnasiums, University of Michigan, Waterman Gymnasium
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
Saturday, March 14, 2009
"The Tipton Slasher" Benny Yanger"The Tipton Slasher" Benny Yanger gets in a workout with the wall pulley at an oldtime Chicago gym circa 1906. Note the small dumbbell which has been added to the weight stack. Like most boxers of that era, Benny was also fond of throwing the medicine ball around to build upper body strength and stamina. Over his career, the New York lightweight was 51-9.
Labels: Benny Yanger, Boxing, Boxing Training, Classic Gym, Medicine Ball Training, Oldtime Boxers, Upper Body Exercise, Wall Pulleys
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
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Classic Physical Culture GymYou sure won't find many gyms like this one these days but they used to be much more common. Note the huge open space, the cathedral ceiling, the climbing ropes, Swedish Bars, pommel horse and the window-ladder climber on the far end.
Labels: Classic Gym, Classic Strongman Gyms, Climbing Ropes, Physical Culture Gym, Pommel Horse, Swedish Bars, Window Ladder
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
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Handstands!You won't see many pictures like this these days. This is a group of six Chicago "Turners" each doing a handstand on a set of parallel bars. Note the sets of Indian clubs, wooden dumbbells and Milo weights on the wall in the background. The picture dates to 1905.
Labels: Classic Gym, Gymnastics, Hand Balancing, handstand, Indian Clubs, Milo Barbell Company, Physical Culture, Physical Culture Equipment, Turnverein, Vintage Gymnasiums, Wooden Dumbbells.
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
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Kim Wood's GymNo, it's not Professor Desbonnet's Paris Gym or Professor Attila's Health Studio but the private gym of Kim Wood. Look closely and you'll see a barbell that once belonged to Warren Lincoln Travis a Jackson Barbell Set an oak climbing ladder from the Narragansett Machine company and more than one Milo Kettlebell. There's no finer gym in the land.
Labels: Classic Gym, Classic Strongman Gyms, Globe Barbell, Jackson Barbell Company, Kim Wood, Milo Kettlebell, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Strongman Equipment, Warren Lincoln Travis
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, October 14, 2008
I've shown plenty of shots of the inside of Sig Klein's Gym but here's a rare shot of the outside. Klein's Gym was located at 717 Seventh Avenue and was hard to miss with the huge picture of Sig out front.
Klein's GymLabels: Classic Gym, Classic Strongman Gyms, New York, Sig Klein, Sig Kleins Gym
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, July 01, 2008
One Corner of Ed Yarick's GymThis picture represents approximately 50% of Ed Yarick's Gym out in Oakland, California. As you can see, there wasn't much to it -- a couple rows of dumbbells, a few platforms, barbells and benches -- but that is all it takes.
These spartan surroundings produced some of the greatest strength champions the world has ever known: Olympic Champion John Davis, THE clasic physique, bodybuilding champion Steve Reeves, Mr. Americas Roy Hilligenn, Clancy Ross and Jack Dellinger all trained there. As did Doug Hepburn and Reg Park when he visited the west coast.
Labels: Clancy Ross, Classic Gym, Doug Hepburn, Ed Yarick's Gym, Oakland California, Reg Park, Roy Hilligenn, Steve Reeves
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, June 26, 2008
Yes, we have shown it before but Sig Klein's gym never goes out of style.
Here's another shot clearly showing the rich, oak panneling, great collection of oldtime globe barbells and antique weights and the Persian rug on the floor (better take your shoes off before you train at Sig's place!)
This shot was taken before Sig had a shelf built around the perimeter of the gym for his world-famous beer stein collection.
Sig Klein's GymHere's another shot clearly showing the rich, oak panneling, great collection of oldtime globe barbells and antique weights and the Persian rug on the floor (better take your shoes off before you train at Sig's place!)
This shot was taken before Sig had a shelf built around the perimeter of the gym for his world-famous beer stein collection.
Labels: Antique Equipment, Classic Gym, Classic Strongman Gyms, Globe Barbell, Sig Klein, Sig Kleins Gym
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, May 22, 2008
Loprinzi's GymA look at Sam Loprinzi and his famous gym in the Portland, Oregon area. Loprinzi took great care in the equipment selection and layout of his gym which is why it was known as one of the top gyms in the country for many years. (I hear it's still in business.)
The pro-wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura used to train there early in his career and mentions that he benched 500 pounds for the first time while training at Loprinzi's place.
Loprinzi's gym also was one of the very first gyms in the country with a full set of Nautilus Machines.
Labels: Bench Press, Classic Gym, Jesse Ventura, Loprinzi's Gym, Nautilus Machines, Sam Loprinzi
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, May 20, 2008
| Tommy Kono succeeds in jerking unusual classic barbell at Cayeaux's Paris gym (the same place where Norb Schemansky lifted the Apollon Wheels.) This non-rotating thick-handle barbell weighed 358 pounds and the smaller plates necessitated a longer pull making it quite a challenge. The first two men to clean and jerk this weight were Charles Rigoulot and John Davis. |  Tommy Kono |
Labels: Charles Rigoulot, Classic Gym, Clean and Jerk, Famous Barbell, Jerk, John Davis, Thick Handle, Tommy Kono
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
Friday, February 15, 2008
The York Barbell Broad Street Gym One of the great training halls was the old York Barbell gym, located on Broad Street on York PA. It was an old factory converted to a gym, with nothing but a couple lifting platforms, a climbing rope, a few old dumbbells and plenty of iron.
It was hot, dark and cramped (just like a great gym should be)and the equipment was old, but solid and it produced an untold number of strength Champions in bodybuilding and Olympic weightlifting.
That's Ike Berger on the platform working on his press while Bob Hoffman, Tommy Kono and others look on.
Labels: Bob Hoffman, Broad Street Gym, Classic Gym, Classic Strongman Gyms, Ike Berger, Olympic Weightlifting, Tommy Kono, York Barbell Company
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, February 12, 2008
Titanic Gym Here's something you don't see every day; this is a rare photograph of the workout room from The Titanic -- yes, that Titanic, the one that sunk back in 1912.
It may look familiar as they recreated it for a few scenes in the movie of the same name from a decade ago. -- Looks like they did a pretty good job.
Note the early 2-man Rowing machine and exercise bikes. It's hard to make out but those may be some Zander Machines over on the left.
I have to say, I dig the dark wood paneling.
Labels: Classic Gym, Exercise Bike, Physical Culture Equipment, Rowing Machine, Titanic
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
Welcome to the Strongest Blog on the Net!
This is THE PLACE where you will find interesting bits of Iron Game history, lore and training tips from the strongest men of all time.
Previous Posts
Featured Products
Monthly Archives
Not yet a member? Subscribe now to receive daily doses of Strongman history, training tips, and site updates!
Copyright © 2010 Thunderdome Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved