Sunday, February 07, 2010
Steve Reeves ~ Hercules!Another classic shot of Steve Reeves as the mythical Hercules. It is a little known fact that Steve did all his own stunts in his movies, including the horse riding and chariot scenes -- this came as a relief to the directors he worked with, after all, finding a stunt double for Steve Reeves would not have been easy!
Labels: Actor, Classic Physique, Hercules, Hercules Movies, 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
Friday, August 21, 2009
Hercules!Who better than a real live Hercules to play Hercules in the movies? 1947 Mr. America Steve Reeves first played and set the standard for the character - heavily influencing the look and style for every portrayal which came afterwards. Reeves played the mythological strongman twice, in "Hercules" and "Hercules Unchained".
Labels: 1947 Mr. America, Hercules, Hercules Movies, 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
Monday, July 13, 2009
Steve Reeves: Dumbbell Incline PressHow does Hercules build his upper body strength? Here's one answer: Dumbbell Incline Press. It's a good variation for building pressing power, and - needless to say - it worked pretty well for Steve Reeves. He also was a fan of doing dumbbell curls on an incline bench, an exercise he used to build his arms before his 1947 AAU Mr. America Contest win.
Labels: 1947 Mr. America, Dumbbell Exercise, Dumbbell Incline Press, Dumbbell Lift, Dumbbell Training, Hercules, Incline Bench Press, Incline Press, 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
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Felice NapoliOne of the earliest of the Oldtime Strongmen, Felice Napoli of Italy was performing incredible feats of strength in Wallshlager's Circus in the 1850's. Napoli dressed as the mythical Hercules as he performed and certainly lived up to it: Napoli's act consisted of his having a cannon shot off while held on his shoulders, bending iron bars, lifting heavy weights while hanging upside down from a trapeze, The Tomb of Hercules, and performing feats while hanging on a vertically suspended rope, a type of feat known as "The Spanish Web'. Plus, he had an excellent goatee.
Labels: Bar Bending, Cannon, Circus Strongman, Felice Napoli, Hercules, Italian Strongman, Oldtime Strongman, The Spanish Web, The Tomb of Hercules
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, February 26, 2009
Reg Park: HerculesReg Park achieved a great deal of stardom by playing the role of Hercules (or a similar heroic character) in a series of Italian movies. Quite frankly, I couldn't think of anyone better suited for the part (except maybe Steve Reeves.) Anyhow, here is a look at Reg's movies:
... Not cinematic masterpieces by any means, but fun none-the-less.Hercules and the Captive Women (1961) Hercules in the Center of the Earth (1961) Maciste in King Solomon's Mines (1964) Hercules, Prisoner of Evil (1964) Hercules the Avenger (1965)
Labels: Hercules, Hercules Movies, Reg Park, Reg Park Movies
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, November 07, 2008
Steve Reeves - HERCULES!Many actors have played the mythical Greek hero Hercules, but certainly one of the most memorable was bodybuilding legend Steve Reeves. Although the 1947 Mr. America winner played Hercules only twice -- in the 1958 film "Hercules" and its sequel "Hercules Unchained" (1960) -- they became very popular, and many more "Sword and Sandal" pictures followed.
Labels: Bodybuilding, Hercules, 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
Monday, May 05, 2008
Reg Park - Dumbbell Standing PressReg Park locking out a standing press with a pair of dumbbells, 235-pounds total. I certainly can't think of anyone more fitting to play "Hercules" in the movies.
Labels: Dumbbell Press, Hercules, Reg Park Workout, Standing Press
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 01, 2008
The Brothers McCannThe Brothers McCann, Henry and Louis, were known as Hercules and Samson when they became professional strongmen in the late 1800s. In 1890, they challenged Eugen Sandow to a match - and Won!
... although they were defeated by Louis Cyr in a similar contest a few years later.
Labels: Amazing Samson, Challenge Match, Eugen Sandow, Hercules, Louis Cyr, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Oldtime Strongmen, The Brothers McCann
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 06, 2008
 Reg Park | There's not too many folks who are instantly recognizable from the back but any iron fan knows that this is undoubtedly Reg Park. Here's Reg pressing a pair of 110-pound dumbbells at the original Muscle Beach. I sure couldn't think of anyone better than Reg to play Hercules in the movies. ... The two-dumbbell press is a great shoulder builder, as you can see. |
Labels: Bodybuilding, Dumbbell Press, Dumbbell Exercise, Golden Age Bodybuilder, Hercules, Muscle Beach, Reg Park, Reg Park Workout, Shoulder Exercise, Two Dumbbell Press
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 04, 2007
Reg ParkWhereas Steve Reeves was known for his classic symmetry, Reg Park was the example of strength, size and power. Reg Appeared on more magazine covers than any bodybuilder in history.
| Over the course of his career he won the following titles: |  Reg Park |
Reg Park was as strong as he looked, here's his best lifts (all performed in the 1950's):
- Behind the Neck Press - 300 Lbs. For one rep.Reg also played Hercules in several movies and once owned the Thomas Inch Dumbbell.
- Behind the Neck Press - 260 Lbs. For four reps.
- Behind the Neck Press - 240 Lbs. For eight reps.
- One Arm Dumbbell Press - 165 Lbs. For two reps.
- Front Squat - 405 for a single.
- Lying Triceps Extension - 300 Lbs. For three reps. This was done at Muscle Beach in 1957.
- Standing Dumbbell Press - Two 120 Lb. Dumbbells for five reps.
- Standing Dumbbell Press - Two 140 Lb. Dumbbells for one rep.
- Dumbbell Bench Press - Two 185 Lb. Dumbbells for five reps.
- Squat - 605 for two reps at Buster McShane and Ivan Dunbar's Gym in Belfast.
- Strict Barbell Curl - 200 Lbs. For one rep.
- Incline Dumbbell Press - Two 185 Lb. Dumbbells for five reps.
Labels: Behind The Neck Press, Bodybuilding, British Champion, Buster McShane, Curl, Dumbbell Press, Hercules, Mr. Britain, Mr. Europe, Mr. Universe, Reg Park, Reg Park Workout, Squat
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