Frank Zane Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Frank Zane, Sergio Oliva, and Chuck Sipes

Posted on Monday, May 24th, 2021 by John Wood

That’s Frank Zane on the chest crusher, Sergio Oliva on the expander, and Chuck Sipes on the Iron shoe! If you didn’t know any better you might think I was talking about a salsa band, but one thing is for sure, that’s a whole lot of muscle. You are looking at twenty six overall bodybuilding titles won between these three, including six Mr. Olympias, three Mr. Universes and two Mr. Americas (IFBB).

Iron Boots

Posted on Monday, May 20th, 2019 by John Wood

Iron Boots are just as effective today for the very same reaseons they were “back in the day”: they are extremely portable and allow you to do a variety of exercises that are all but impossible with any other form of equipment. Here’s an ad for Joe Weider’s Iron Boots from the early 1960’s. Betcha didn’t realize that demonstrating is none other than eventual multiple-time Mr. Olympia winner Frank Zane?

Frank Zane on a Pogo Stick

Posted on Friday, December 18th, 2015 by John Wood

Ladies and Gentlemen, “Mr. Universe” Frank Zane on a pogo stick! – This was taken at Sunken Gardens botanical garden in St. Petersburg, Florida on January, 17th, 1969. On that day, Zane set an unofficial record of sorts by seeing the entire attraction by way of this bouncing mode of transportation.

Irvin “Zabo” Koszewski

Posted on Friday, November 6th, 2015 by John Wood

Here’s Irvin “Zabo” Koszewski (and his famous abs) on the cover of the March, 1966 issue of Mr. America Magazine. Zabo started competing in bodybuilding contests in 1948 and was still going strong when this magazine came out, in fact, he went on to finish second (to Frank Zane) in the Medium class at the 1967 IFBB Mr. America.

The Sandow Trophy

Posted on Sunday, August 17th, 2014 by John Wood

Just over a century ago, Eugen Sandow held the very first physique contest ever, which was known simply as “The Great Competition.” The first place prize for this contest was a magnificent gold statue of Sandow himself, holding a globe dumbbell. Second and third place were the same statues, only comprised of Silver and Bronze respectively. The bronze Sandow statue would later become the first place prize in the 1950 NABBA Mr. Universe contest, eventually won by Steve Reeves.

Several decades later, Joe Weider and the promoters of the Mr. Olympia contest decided to honor Sandow and Bodybuilding’s past by resurrecting a version of this statue for their first place trophy. The first Mr. Olympia winner to take home a Sandow statue was Frank Zane in 1977.

Moore’s Squat Bar

Posted on Monday, March 31st, 2014 by John Wood

Here, 1959 AAU Mr. America winner Harry Johnson demonstrates Moore’s Squat Bar, a unique piece of equipment from the Atlanta Barbell Co., which was often advertised in the old Iron Man magazine and which eliminates much of the discomfort of squatting due to the “yoke” design.
Look familiar?
The rights were eventually purchased by multiple-time Mr. Olympia winner Frank Zane, and re-released as the Frank Zane Leg Blaster (which is still available today.) We have an original Moore Squat bar still very much in use in our private collection.