Jack LaLanne, Strength and Health Magazine, January 1947

Jack LaLanne

Jack Lalanne on the cover the of the January, 1947 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. Jack is still going strong at 94 years of age!

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Mr. America 1960 Red Lerille

Mr. America 1960 Red Lerille

It all began with a skinny, red-haired kid from Louisiana who wanted to grow up to be Mr. America -- and he did it!

That skinny kid was Lloyd "Red" Lerille, shown here on the cover of the March 1961 issue of Strength and Health magazine. Red was famous for his chest development which is evident in this picture. In 1963 Red opened his first gym and went first class all the way. Through the years it has grown into one of the finest gyms/health clubs in the country. If you're ever in the Lafayette, Louisiana area, be sure to stop by and get in a workout (and tell Red we said "Hi!")

(Bonus points for noticing the first appearance of "Protein from the Sea" in this issue.)

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Norb Schemansky

Norb Schemansky

Champion Olympic Weightlifter Norb Schemansky as he looked pressing 160 kg at the 1960 Rome Olympics (where he won Bronze) and on the cover of the September, 1962 issue of Strength and Health Magazine.

Over his career Schemansky was an Olympic Champion in 1952 (Helsinki), Three time World Champion (1947, 1962, 1963) and set 26 World Records.

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Tommy Kono

Tommy Kono

Tamio "Tommy" Kono on the cover of the August, 1955 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. A year later he would go on to win the Goldmedal at the 1956 Olympic games in Melbourne, Australia with a 447.5 kg total (140+132.5 + 175).

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Pete George

Pete George

Akron, Ohio's Pete George on the cover of the March, 1956 issue of Strength and Health Magazine.
Over his career, George won five World Championships (1947, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955) and three Olmpic Medals (Silver: 1948 games London, England; Gold: 1952 Games, Helsinki, Finland; Silver: 1956 games Melbourne, Australia).

He set three world records and his best lifts were as follows:

Press: 122.5 kg

Snatch: 127.5 kg

Clean and Jerk: 164.5 kg

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Teeth Lifting

Teeth Lifting Bit

Teeth Lifting was a favorite feat of many oldtime strongmen, and this particular mouthpiece was sold by the York Barbell Company in the pages of Strength and Health Magazine Several hundred pounds can be lifted in this manner and this type of lifting will build incredible neck and jaw strength, however, we do NOT recommend this style of lifting (If you decide to do it anyway, please have a dentist onhand.)

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Sam Loprinzi

Sam Loprinzi
Sam Loprinzi was a very popular bodybuilder in the 1940s and 1950s. The picture above shows the kind of shape that he was in when he finished second at the 1946 AAU Mr. America contest and also took home the "Most Muscular" sub-division trophy.

Sam Loprinzi was on the cover of Strength and Heath Magazine several times and also ran a successful gym in the Portland, Oregon Area (which, evidently, is still in business.)

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Dick Bachtell - Weightlifting Champion

Dick Bachtell - Weightlifting Champion
The great weightlifting Champion Dick Bachtell as he appeared on the cover of the January, 1936 issue of Strength and Health Magazine.

Dick Bachtell was a seven-time National Champion (1929-1931, 1934-1935, 1937, and 1943) and competed in the 1932 Olympic games in Los Angeles, Claifornia.

For his last National Title, he totaled 630 pounds in the 60-Kg class.

In addition to his Olympic Weightlifting exploits, Dick Bachtell could also one-arm snatch 154 pounds, squat 350-pounds, deadlift 425-pounds, one-arm press 92-pounds, pullover 100-pounds, swing 137-pounds and bent-press 180-pounds.

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Frank Leight - Mr. America 1942

Frank Leight - Mr. America 1942
Frank Leight, AAU Mr. America 1942, with some classic globe barbells and kettlebells on the cover of the July, 1942 issue of Strength and Health Magazine.

Frank Leight finished 2nd in 1940 (losing to John Grimek and 3rd in 1941 (again behind Grimek, and Jules Bacon)before finally winning the Mr. America contest himself in 1942.

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Pudgy Stockton

Pudgy Stockton

There has never been, nor will there ever be anyone like Pudgy Stockton. -- A pioneer for women in strength training, as you can see here she was power and grace in action. Pudgy promoted the first women's weightlifting contests and also had her own column "Barbelles" which ran in Strength and Health Magazine for ten years. Here, Pudgy Stockton clean and jerks 135 pounds (at a bodyweight of just 118 pounds) on the sands of the original Muscle Beach Santa Monica, California.

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1963 Mr. America Vern Weaver

Vern Weaver won the AAU Mr. America contest in 1963. He was well known for his superb back development could power clean close to 400 pounds! Here's a look at one of his weekly routines: Monday and Thursday: Decline Bench Press: 6x6 Chins: 6x6 Tuesday and Friday: Parallel Squats : 6x6 High Pulls: 6x6

1963 Mr. America Vern Weaver

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