Magazine Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Strongfort’s Monthly

Posted on Monday, June 18th, 2018 by John Wood

Lionel Strongfort was among the many strongmen who had their own monthly periodical. It ran for 14 issues. Copies, however, are pretty hard to come by.

Strength and Health Magazine, March, 1934

Posted on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 by John Wood

The great weightlifter Art Levan on the cover of the March, 1934 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. This is one heck of an issue: Check out the lineup of strength authors: George Jowett, Earle E. Liederman, Harry Good, Bob Hoffman and Professor Paulinetti (among others.)

Klein’s Bell

Posted on Monday, March 13th, 2017 by John Wood

A look at the September, 1932 issue of “Klein’s Bell” featuring John Garan on the cover. Garan was called by Klein a “Muscular Marvel” and it would be hard to disagree with what is shown here. Garan’s results would be quite impressive even today. Of particular note is Garan’s thigh development– he was listed as having 23-inch thighs at a bodyweight of 155 pounds. Keep in mind, squat racks were an innovation still a decade or two yet to come.

This issue of Klein’s Bell is posted in its entirety in The Iron League.

Joe Weider

Posted on Thursday, March 20th, 2014 by John Wood

The man who would become known as “The Master Blaster,” Joe Weider himself graced the cover of the November, 1947 issue of Your Physique magazine. Lookin’ good Joe!

Dr. Ken and Darth Raider

Posted on Friday, July 12th, 2013 by John Wood

Dr. Ken and Lyle Alzado

It’s a little known fact that Dr. Ken and Lyle Alzado were good friends back in the old days, having grown up in the same neighborhood. Here’s the good Doc and Lyle on the cover of the May, 1984 issue of Powerlifting USA magazine, decked out, of course, in purple shirts.

Tommy Kono ~ Strength and Health Magazine, August, 1955

Posted on Thursday, October 25th, 2012 by John Wood

Strength and Health Magazine, August, 1955 - Tommy Kono Cover

Tommy Kono graces the cover of the August, 1955 issue of Strength and Health magazine. Just a few months later, in October of 1955, Tommy would go on to take the Gold medal in the light-heavyweight (82.5 kg) class at the World Championships held in in Munich, West Germany. Kono’s winning total was 435 kg, and consisted of a 142.5 kg press, a 127.5 kg snatch and a 165 kg clean and jerk.

Strength and Health Magazine: Volume 1, Issue 1

Posted on Thursday, March 15th, 2012 by John Wood

Strength and Health issues number one, Wally Zagurski cover

Just in case you ever need to know who was on the cover of the very first issue of Strength and Health magazine, the answer is Walter “Wally” Zagurski. This issue hit the scene in December of 1932. Starting a magazine in the teeth of the Great Depression was quite an ambitious undertaking for Bob Hoffman, something which will be covered in great detail in the second volume of The Dellinger Files.

Zagurski was an original member of the “York Gang” who lifted back when it was called the “York Oil Burner Athletic Club.” He competed in the 1932 Olympics, won the 1933 Sr. National Weightlifting title at 165 pounds and was a very good all-around strength athlete.

Physical Culture Magazine ~ February, 1902

Posted on Monday, December 5th, 2011 by John Wood

Physical Culture Magazine - February, 1902

Now THAT’S a kettlebell! …a look at the cover of the February, 1902 issue of Bernarr Macfadden’s “Physical Culture” magazine. If you were wondering where people got their training info a century ago, “Physical Culture” was pretty much it