Movie Star Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Clark Gable

Posted on Friday, June 29th, 2018 by John Wood

Being a swashbuckling leading man in Hollywood is tough work, which is why Clark Gable here, regularly engaged in physical training throughout his acting career. Not only that, but the posture, and body control developed from this training increased screen presence – Gable was one of the most popular actors of his time. The wall pulleys are likely from The Narragansett Machine Company.

This shot was taken in the Paramount studios gymnasium, circa 1937 (which was a barn on one of the back lots.) Steve McQueen was famously photographed training in the very same gym a few decades later.

Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

Posted on Thursday, May 24th, 2018 by John Wood

Before he swashbuckled his way through Hollywood as Zorro, Robin Hood, and The Thief of Baghdad, the silent film star Douglas Fairbanks Sr.worked as a gym instructor and worked up to be able to do a One-Arm Chin-Up. His ability to do this feat, and other feats of derring-do, were regularly featured in his a fore-mentioned classic film roles.

Joe Bonomo ~ Perils of The Wild

Posted on Friday, March 25th, 2016 by John Wood

A look at a rare still of the great Joe Bonomo in action in “Perils of The Wild” which was a serialized version of The Swiss Family Robinson (1925). Directors loved Bonomo because his great strength allowed him to perform stunts and do all kinds of things that looked impressive on film (like lift a whole crew of pirates!) Joe played the Father Frederick Robinson and actually broke his leg during filming. Hard to say if this still was actually in the movie or just messing around since the film is unfortunately lost.

Steve Reeves: On Top Of The World

Posted on Friday, April 17th, 2015 by John Wood

Steve Reeves is known as THE classic physique of all time. His Herculean good looks led to a number of movie roles and dozens of magazine covers. Steve Reeves won the following bodybuilding titles over his career:

1946 – Mr. Pacific Coast
1947 – Mr. Western America
1947 – Mr. America
1948 – Mr. World
1950 – Mr. Universe

After his competitive bodybuilding career came to an end, Reeves went to Hollywood to find fame and fortune in the movie business. Here’s his filmography:

Athena (1954)
Jail Bait (1954)
Hercules (1957)
Hercules Unchained (1959)
The Giant of Marathon (1959)
The Last Days of Pompeii
The White Warrior (1959)
Morgan, the Pirate (1960)
The Thief of Baghdad (1960)
The Trojan Horse (1961)
Duel of the Titans (1961)
The Avenger (1962)
Sandokan the Great (1963)
Pirates of Malaysia (1963)
A Long Ride from Hell (1967)

Joe Bonomo : The Strongman of the Movies

Posted on Friday, November 4th, 2011 by John Wood

Joe Bonomo was one of the early “Mail Order Muscle” stars and a contemporary of Charles Atlas.
As a young boy, Bonomo was fortunate enough to meet a Polish strongman named Ladislaw who taught him how to train.

Soon the boy they used to call “toothpicks” became a star football player and gymnast. Right out of high school Joe won a talent search contest in the Daily News for “The Modern Apollo” — which led to a role in a motion picture.
He went on to star in dozens of movies as both an actor and a famous stuntman. His performances in serials and adventure films earned him many fans, many of whom wrote in asking how he had developed his rugged physique.

Joe created a form letter detailing his training and sent it to anyone in need of advice. The demand became so large that an outright mail-order business soon followed. In addition to his work in Hollywood, Joe Bonomo inspired millions of young men around the workd with his strength building courses.

Tags: Joe Bonomo, Mail Order Course, Mail Order Muscle Baron, Movie Star, Stunt Man

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