Magazine Cover Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Elmo Santiago

Posted on Thursday, May 25th, 2017 by John Wood

Elmo Santiago on the cover of the December, 1959 issue of Strength and Health — He won the AAU Junior Mr. America contest that year.

The popular (and quite prolific) New York bodybuilder also won the AAU Mr. New York Metropolitan contest in 1953, Mr. New York City in 1954, Mr. Eastern America in 1958, Mr. North America in 1960, and the 1965 NABBA Mr. Universe title.

Ironman Magazine April, 1952: Cover Man Zabo Koszewski

Posted on Wednesday, February 15th, 2017 by John Wood

Irvin ‘Zabo’ Koszewski on the cover of the April, 1952 issue of Ironman Magazine. He finished 5th at the 1952 Mr. America Contest although to no ones’s surprise, took home the ‘Best Abs’ subdivision. Zabo was a safe bet for an Abs trophy, in fact he won “Best Abs” in every bodybuilding contest he ever entered, including four times in the AAU Mr. America contest and three times in the Junior Mr. America Contest.

David P. Willoughby

Posted on Thursday, January 12th, 2017 by John Wood

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.

Fyodor Bogdanovsky

Posted on Monday, December 26th, 2016 by John Wood

The great soviet Fyodor Bogdanovsky graces the cover of the November, 6, 1957 issue of Health and Strength Magazine above. At the time of this publication, the 1957 World Weightlifting Championships were just about to commence in Tehran, Iran.

The above shot is actually from the 1955 World Championships held in Munich, Germany where Bogdanovsky finished with the Silver medal behind the America, Pete George in the middle weight class. In Tehran, Bogdanovsky again finished second, this time behind Tommy Kono (it was an epic battle: both lifters finished with an identical 420 kg total with Kono ultimately taking the Gold on bodyweight.)

Muscle Builder, April 1954

Posted on Monday, November 14th, 2016 by John Wood

A look at the April, 1954 issue of Muscle Builder magazine with Jack Delinger on the cover. Notice that this was the “Giant He-Man issue.” Delinger (who was once a skinny weakling) was only a few years away from winning the Mr. Universe title.

Barrel Lifting at “The Pit”

Posted on Friday, October 7th, 2016 by John Wood

No matter how you slice it, barrel lifting is a great workout, as shown on this classic cover of Hardgainer Magazine (issue #30, May-June 1994 ). In this shot, Bob Farris from Dick Conner’s place “The Pit” Barbell Club in Evansville, Indiana presses a 150-pound water-filled barrel for 13 reps. If you’ve ever trained with barrels, you know this is STRONG!

Power Vol.1 No.1

Posted on Tuesday, September 20th, 2016 by John Wood

POWER magazine, was noted bodybuilder Barton Horvath’s foray into magazine publishing. Above is Volume 1, Number 1 featuring Ray Moldonado on the cover — (it was one the only issue ever put out.)

Mr. America Magazine: Volume 7, Number 8 Featuring Larry Scott

Posted on Thursday, March 24th, 2016 by John Wood

A look at the cover of Mr America Magazine: Volume 7, Number 8, featuring Larry Scott which came out in August of 1965. Larry won the Mr. America in 1962 and about a month after this issue hit the news stand, became the very first Mr. Olympia. He certainly looks in fine form here. Articles by Dave Draper and Steve Reeves make this issue a must have.

Strength and Health Magazine, November, 1969

Posted on Thursday, March 24th, 2016 by John Wood

How’s this for a groovy cover? The November, 1969 issue of Strength and Health magazine featured this somewhat psychedelic mixed media illustration by Frank Hummel. Front and center is 1963 Mr. America Vern Weaver doing an overhead pulldown with a chest expander. The lovely Vera Christensen is at the left squatting. This issue also has a feature on the newly crowned Teenage Mr. America Bob Gallucci. Hummel had several other Strength and Health magazine covers around the same time period (although none as flashy as this one.)

Mr. America Magazine, January, 1959, Larry Cianchetta Coverman

Posted on Sunday, August 30th, 2015 by John Wood

Larry Cianchetta (later known as Larry Powers) from Staten Island, New York graced the cover of the January, 1959 issue of Mr. America Magazine. He went on to win a number of bodybuilding titles including, appropriately enough, the IFBB Mr. America in 1960. Also, the article ‘Rope-Chinning for Blade Sharp Definition,’ by E.M. Orlick is available at The Iron League.