Vince Gironda Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Just Another Afternoon at Vince’s Gym

Posted on Monday, April 25th, 2022 by John Wood

Here’s a rare and impromptu shot from Vince’s gym on some forgotten afternoon long ago. Vince was in mid-sentence and his eyes were half closed — he would probably have a fit if he knew this shot ever got out. Look closely, that’s a stack of Vince’s (new?) abdominal course on the counter. Also note Vince’s bodybuilding trophies on display in the background. If you ever tried to call Vince’s, that’s the phone that rang — and most likely, the phone that Vince hung up on you just as fast!

The fellow on the right is bodybuilder John Tristram.

At the time, it must have seemed like those days would last forever.

Now the gym is gone … Vince is gone … and any common sense in bodybuilding is pretty much gone too! But at least the great memories remain … and if you want to get a sweet Vince’s Gym t-shirt, you can still do that HERE.

Vince Gironda Tossing The Caber

Posted on Wednesday, June 19th, 2019 by John Wood

Here’s something you don’t see every day: “The Iron Guru” Vince Gironda tossing the caber. Vince was, of course, well-known in bodybuilding circles but he had other talents as well. In the early 1970’s he used to get a gang together every Saturday morning to practice tossing the caber and other heavy events in order to represent Vince’s Gym at the annual Los Angeles Highland Games held at Corsair Field at Santa Monica City College.

Vince Gironda ~ The Iron Guru

Posted on Friday, August 17th, 2018 by John Wood

Known as “The Iron Guru,” Vince Gironda left an indelible mark on the bodybuilding world. For over fifty years “Vince’s Gym” was one of the most popular bodybuilding gyms in the country and a number of famous bodybuilders AND movie stars often trained there. Vince was one of the first muscle experts to place a great deal of emphasis on nutrition and was also well known for his “unorthodox” training methods and unusual exercise ideas.

Rheo H. Blair’s Instant Protein

Posted on Thursday, April 10th, 2014 by John Wood

Longtime reader’s of Iron Man Magazine will no doubt recognize these two fellows and this familiar color scheme. On the right is Irvin Johnson, otherwise known as Rheo H. Blair. (He changed his name after a numerologist said it would make him more successful — it worked!)

Blair’s secret formula was fashioned after enzymes found in mother’s milk. As a result, “Blair’s Protein” became THE protein powder of choice of all the top pros and likely the best-known supplement of all time. Vince Gironda, the Iron Guru, was a big fan and supporter of Blair’s Protein and since many Hollywood movie stars trained at Vince’s Gym, the popularity of Blair’s Protein sky-rocketed.

On the left is classic bodybuilder Don Howorth, one of Blair’s top students and winner of many west coast bodybuilding contests, including the 1967 IFBB Mr. America.