1920 Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Alfons Dobiczek

Posted on Thursday, April 4th, 2019 by John Wood

Alfons Dobiczek, from Ruda Slaska, Poland, won the Polish light-heavyweight lifting championships once and came in second on two other occasions. Here he is around 1920 with a selection of his training equipment.

The Farmer Burns School of Wrestling and Physical Culture

Posted on Monday, January 30th, 2017 by John Wood

It had to be quite an experience to train at the Farmer Burns School of Wrestling and Physical Culture. Farmer Burns believed that every athlete should train like a wrestler – and I agree.

The bulk of the training was, I’m sure wrestling — holds, take-downs, blocks, breaks and plenty of sparring. Of course, the “Old Farmer” knew that wrestling was only “part” of what made a good wrestler — physical training was important too. He had his students throw the medicine ball around, hit the speed bag, jump rope, use light dumbbells, develop their chests with breathing exercises, use traveling rings, swing indian clubs, climb ropes, and do enough calisthenics in order to make them stronger, tougher and more conditioned than any man willing to step in the ring with them. The advertisement above is from 1920.

Billie Miske

Posted on Wednesday, August 26th, 2015 by John Wood

Here’s a classic shot of boxer Billie Miskie training with a medicine ball, circa 1920. Miskie was deep in training to face the great Jack Dempsey for the World’s Heavyweight title in Benton Harbor, Michigan on September, 6th of that year (a fight Miskle lost by Knockout in the 3rd round, the only time he got knocked out in his entire career.) For you trivia buffs, this was the very first heavyweight title match that was ever broadcast on radio. Medicine ball training was always very popular with the oldtime boxers, and for very good reason.

The Amazing Samson, Also a “Human Jack”

Posted on Friday, August 14th, 2015 by John Wood

If you ever get a flat tire, you won’t need a jack if “The Amazing Samson” Alexander Zass is on your friend list. This picture was taken around 1920. Cars were pretty heavy back then and there isn’t much leverage to be had from this position, this is no small feat.