1949 Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Mighty Joe Young vs. 10 Strongmen

Posted on Monday, June 20th, 2016 by John Wood

The 1949 film ‘Mighty Joe Young’ features a number of familiar faces. In a memorable scene, Mr. Joseph Young of Africa plays tug of war with 10 strongmen in a nightclub. The strongmen in question are played by Mac Batchelor and Primo Carnera and famous wrestlers ‘Killer’ Karl Davis, William ‘Wee Willie’ Davis, Henry Kulky, “Slammin” Sammy Menacker, Man Mountain Dean, Ivan Rasputin, Sammy Stein and ‘The Swedish Angel’ Phil Olafsson. (The strongmen never had a chance, Mighty Joe easily prevails, pulling them one by one into a pool of water.)

Novak’s World Record Press

Posted on Friday, May 9th, 2014 by John Wood

A look at the great soviet weightlifter Grigori Novak’s World Record standing press of 315 pounds (at 5’3″ and a bodyweight of only 181 pounds!) This would have been in 1949 in a meet in Moscow. Novak’s career was marred by an elbow injury which necessitated an operation – you can tell his left arm is a bit “off” here.

John Davis and the Apollon Wheels

Posted on Wednesday, July 20th, 2011 by John Wood

On September 13th, 1949 the American Olympic Weightlifting Champion John Davis succeeded in cleaning and jerking the famous Apollon Wheels. In doing so, he became just the third man to put them overhead, joining the French Champion Charles Rigoulot and Apollon himself. Davis’ accomplishment did not come easy, on his first attempt he passed out in mid-lift!