Sunday, January 10, 2010
Harry B. PaschallHarry B. Paschall is shown here, hard at work drawing up his super strongman character Bosco. As a young man, Paschall became inspired after watching Sandow and Saxon in action. He went on do do illustrations for Alan Calvert's Strength Magazine and, later on, Strength and Health Magazine and the British magazine Vigour. He was also a very good writer, with a number of training articles and three classic books also to his credit
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Bosco, Eugen Sandow, Harry B. Paschall, Strength Author, Vigour
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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
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Earle E. LiedermanEarle E. Liederman has been one of the most outspoken proponents of chest expander training since the very beginning. It's with good reason, expanders allow you to build strength in ways that no other equipment can match.
Labels: chest expander training, Chest Expanders, Earle E. Liederman, Physical Training, Rubber Chest Expanders, Strength Author, Training Equipment
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Sunday, June 28, 2009
PushupsWith the many ways of training out there the simple pushup is still a great exercise choice. They can be done anywhere, require no special equipment and can be trained progressively by adjusting the form.
Shown here is the great oldime strongman Earle E. Liederman demonstrating pushups in one of his classic courses. Liederman and many of the other early strength authors often prescribed a mixture of bodyweight calisthenics and barbell/dumbbell training since the two styles of training compliment each other very effectively.
Labels: Barbell Training, Bodyweight Calisthenics, Bodyweight Training, Earle E. Liederman, Pushups, Strength Author
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Sunday, May 03, 2009
Earle E. Liederman's BooksEarle E. Liederman was a very well-known vaudeville strongman and one of the greatest of the strength authors. Here's a look at his strength bibliography:
Liederman was also the editor of "Muscle Power" Magazine (and several other magazines), wrote an untold number of training articles, several courses and even a few books of poetry.The Science of Wrestling and The Art of Jiu-Jitsu (1923) Muscle Building (1924) Secrets of Strength (1925) Endurance (1926) Muscular Development (1928) Here's Health (1929)
Labels: Earle E. Liederman, Endurance, Mail Order Muscle Courses, Muscle Building, Muscular Development, Secrets of Strength, Strength Author, Strength Books
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Monday, March 30, 2009
John McCallumYou've probably heard a lot about him, and no doubt read plenty of his articles but probably never actually seen him... Here's a classic shot of the great strength author John McCallum doing what he does best, and that's lifting some iron.
If you're wondering the reason behind McCallum's somewhat unusual attire, this was a series of pictures illustrating his training article on 'Weight Training for the Scuba Diver' which can be found (sans pictures) in the appendix section of The Complete Keys to Progress.
Labels: Barbell, Barbell Curls, John McCallum, Keys to Progress, Strength Author
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Sunday, February 22, 2009
Barton HorvathNew York City Bodybuilder Barton Horvath, on the cover of the October, 1937 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. His focus on chest expansion is evident. Horvath did not compete in many contests but did become a successful strength author for a number of years.
Labels: Barton Horvath, Chest Development, Classic Bodybuilder, Cover, Muscle Magazine, Strength and Health Magazine, Strength Author
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Friday, February 06, 2009
Professor Adrian SchmidtProfessor Adrian Schmidt was one of the first mail-order physical instructors and creator of the innovative "Schmidt" Machine, a unique leverage training device. At 5'9" and 125 pounds, Schmidt did not look like your typical strongman, yet he regularly upstaged many larger strength athletes. One of his favorite feats was to perform a one-arm one-finger "pinch" chin-up from the last link of a chain suspended from the ceiling.
Labels: Adrian Schmidt, Mail Order Course, Schmidt Machine, Strength Author
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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
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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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 08, 2009
Gary ClevelandGary Cleveland, 2-time Senior National Champion weightlifter, York Man, strength author an all-around nice guy does a few weighted dips to build his pressing strength. Gary placed 5th in the 82.5 kg class at the 1964 Olympic games held in Tokyo, Japan. Cleveland was a very good presser.
He went on to write a number of training articles for several different publications and also self-published a successful newsletter called the Avian Movement Advocate which was devoted to many different facets of strength training, philosophy and physical culture.
Labels: 1964 Olympics, Avian Movement Advocate, Dips, Gary Cleveland, olympic weightlifter, Strength Author, Weighted Dips, York Barbell Club t-shirt
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Sunday, December 07, 2008
George Hackenschmidt - The Russian Lion"...Any man who is normally of good physique, who has indulged in any form of athletics, or who has practised the series of exercises dealt with previously, for a period, say, of six months, should, however, devote his principal attention to muscular development. He may secure and maintain a condition of fair physical fitness by means of exercise without weights, but he cannot hope to become really strong unless he exercises with weights; for it is only by so doing that he can develop muscle of really good quality, and, as already hinted, it is important, both from the Health and the Strength points of view, that every muscular group throughout the body should be of the best quality attainable..."- The Way to Live by George Hackenschmidt Chapter 9
Labels: George Hackenschmidt, Physical Training, Strength Author, The Russian Lion, The Way to Live
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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, November 03, 2008
Mark H. BerryMark Berry was well known for his excellent training courses but his contributions to the strength world extended far beyond that. He was a very successful featherweight lifter in the American Continental Weight-Lifter's Association (ACWLA) during the mid-1920's.
He also became the editor of Strength Magazine, director of the Milo Barbell Company and helped establish the Association of Bar Bell Men (ABBM) which was a governing body for weightlifting and bodybuilding.
In addition to these accomplishments, Berry was also a coach for the 1932 and 1936 Olympic weightlifting team and was an early mentor to a young John Grimek.
Labels: ABBM, ACWLA, Barbell, John Grimek, Mark Berry, Milo Barbell Company, Strength Author, Strength Magazine
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Wednesday, May 07, 2008
The great Eugen Sandow wrote a number of books over his lifetime. Here is a look at them, in order of publication:
 Eugen Sandow |
Labels: Bodybuilding, Eugen Sandow, Life is Movement, Physical Training, Sandow's System of Physical Training, Strength Author
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Sunday, April 20, 2008
| "The frequent employment of one's will power matters all organs of movement and trains them to perform feats which otherwise would have been difficult, painful, and even impossible. The man becomes independent and self-reliant; he will never be a coward, and, when real danger threatens, he is the one looked up to by others. The knowledge of one's strength entails a real mastery over oneself; it breeds energy and courage, helps one over the most difficult tasks of life, and procures contentment and true enjoyment of living." - The Way to Live by George Hackenschmidt, written in 1908 |  George Hackenschmidt |
Labels: George Hackenschmidt, Physical Strength, Strength Author, Strength Book, The Way to Live, Will Power
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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, February 14, 2008
Alan CalvertA very rare picture of Milo Barbell Company founder and noted strength author Alan Calvert.
Calvert established the Milo Barbell company in 1902, one of the very first training publications "Strength" Magazine in 1914, wrote several training books and courses and helped pave the way for thousands of trainees to develop size and strength.
Gotta love those classic 'bells!
Labels: Alan Calvert, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell, Milo Barbell Company, Strength Author, Strongman Equipment
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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, February 07, 2008
Peary RaderPeary Rader was the editor and long-time publisher of Iron Man Magazine from 1936 through 1986. It all began when Peary printed the first issue of Ironman (there were only 50 copies) on an old mimeograph machine and distributed it to his friends.
His no-nonsense style and focus on the basics went over well... soon the demand for another issue grew too big to ignore, then another and another. At it's peak, Iron Man Magazine had 40,000 subscribers.
Labels: Iron Man Magazine, Muscle Magazine, Peary Rader, Strength Author
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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
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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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
| 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 |
Labels: Arm Development, Bicep Exercise, Bicep Workout, Big Arms, Bodybuilder, Bodybuilding, Deadlift, Golden Age Bodybuilder, Iron Man Magazine, John McWilliams, Strength Author, Training Course
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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
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
 Lionel Strongfort | Lionel Strongfort, (Real name Max Unger) began his strongman career as a pupil of Professor Attila Strongfort went on to thrill audiences all over the world with his incredible and very dangerous Human Bridge feat where he supported over 7,000 pounds in the Tomb of Hercules position. Strongfort was also one of the most successful Mail Order Muscle Barons and his training courses on "Strongfortism," which only required bodyweight and some light dumbbells, were incredibly popular in the early 20th century. |
Labels: Human Bridge, Lionel Strongfort, Mail Order Muscle Courses, Max Unger, Oldtime Strongman, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Professor Attila, Strength Author, Strongfortism, Supporting Feat, Tomb of Hercules
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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
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
 Earle E. Liederman | Earle E. Liederman began his strength career as a strongman on the vaudeville circuit, traveling the country performing feats of strength and acrobatics. Eventually he grew tired of the traveling life and wrote a series of training courses which became incredibly successful, making him one of the first Mail Order Muscle Barons. His first training course showcased a number of exercises that could be done with chest expanders and bodyweight exercises. Theses courses were very popular since they did not require a lot of equipment and could be done at home. |
Labels: Chest Expander, Earle E. Liederman, Mail Order Muscle Courses, Oldtime Strongman, Strength Author
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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, 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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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, December 16, 2007
| The great British Oldtime Strongman Thomas Inch wrote a lot of training guides you probably never heard of. This one, Scientific Weightlifting was published in the 1920's and covers the finer points of heavy lifting. As you might expect, lots of useful training information is contained within these covers. This particular copy is actually autographed by Thomas Inch himself (No, it's not for sale.) |  Scientific Weightliftingby Thomas Inch |
Labels: book, Scientific Weightlifting, Strength Author, Thomas Inch, 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
Thursday, December 13, 2007
 Earle E. Liederman's Business Card | Earle E. Liederman was a great oldtime strongman and strength author as well as one of the best known of the Mail Order Muscle Barons. Here's a look at his business card from the 1920's when he was billed as "America's Leading Director of Physical Education." It lists 305 Broadway, New York City as his address. Wonder what's at that address these days? |
Labels: Earle E. Liederman, Mail Order Muscle Courses, Strength Author, Strongman Collectible
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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
Sunday, December 02, 2007
| In addition to publishing "THE IRON MASTER" John "Osmo" Kiiha is a former World-Class Olympic Lifter who competed in the 1968 Senior Nationals in the 198 pound class. His bests lifts were: Total: 985, Press: 333, Clean & Jerk: 418, Snatch: 286. Here he is getting ready to incline press a pair of 150 pound dumbbells. |  Osmo Kiiha |
Labels: Clean and Jerk, Dumbbell Benchpress, Iron Master Magazine, Olympic Weightlifting, Osmo Kiiha, Press, Senior Nationals, Snatch, Strength Author, Total
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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, December 01, 2007
 Mike Brown | Mike Brown is a modern day Renaissance man who has written several unique books on various aspects of strength training. I'd say Mike looks like he knows a think or two about building strength and power. Here's a look at Mike around the time he wrote Iron Claws: Grip Development and Bench Press Course. |
Labels: Cables, Chest Expander, Grip Course, Iron Claws, Mike Brown, Sticking Point Smashers, Strength Author
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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, July 05, 2007
The New Bodybuilding for Old School Results by Ellington DardenThe New Bodybuilding for Old School Results is Ellington Darden's latest strength training book. It's over 300 pages, features hundreds of rare photos and unlike any of Dr. Darden's other books, is in full color.
In it, you'll find an equal dose of strength history and training knowledge and each of its 34 chapters is designed to help you get stronger.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES INTERVIEWS:
• Appreciate Ben Sorenson, who was the manager of Vic Tanny's famous gym in Santa Monica (near Muscle Beach) from 1947-1949. Sorenson details the 1949 Mr. USA competition between John Grimek and Steve Reeves and voices his opinion of why Grimek won, even though Reeves had the best physique.
• Uncover authentic adventures at Muscle Beach, which involve certain legends of bodybuilding. There are meaningful lessons among these episodes.
• Reminisce with Jim Flanagan about Milo Steinborn, the last of the old-time strongmen, as he describes what it was like to train in Steinborn's Gym.
• Laugh with Kim Wood as he shares a report of the 1971 NABBA Mr. Universe in London. The men entered included Pill Bearl, Hergio Saliva, Egg Park, and Rank Fane.
• Is the barbell squat the single best free-weight exercise? Find out from Dan Riley, strength coach of the NFL's Houston Texans.
• Dissect the Best Golden-Age Bodybuilders, muscle by muscle, as judged by experienced insiders who were there. Review the outstanding physiques of Larry Scott, Freddy Ortiz, Tom Platz, Scott Wilson, and Mike Mentzer.
Labels: Bodybuilding, book, Ellington Darden, Henry Milo Steinborn, John Grimek, Kim Wood, Muscle Beach, New Bodybuilding for Old School Results, Steve Reeves, Strength Author
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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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