IOL Strength and Conditioning

Originally published in Ironman Magazine, September 1988
Reprinted with permission of Dr. Ken and Ironman publisher John Balik

In college during the volatile 1960s, I enjoyed playing football. Lifting weights and becoming stronger was also high on my list of things to do, and a number of college teammates at the University of Cincinnati felt the same.

One of my teammates was Larry Gordon. He was easily noticed due to his outstanding physique. If he wasn’t a bodybuilder, he had certainly lifted weights in a serious manner. He was a former Mr. Cincinnati winner, and quite strong in many lifts, especially the bench press. At 5’10” and 190 pounds, his All State running back status paled in comparison to his lifting accomplishments.

Larry decided to leave school, at least for a while, with the intention of traveling to California. Six months later, he returned much bigger and unbelievably stronger. He raved about a gym that sounds like it had fallen off of another planet. A gym where sirens announced the lifting of a heavy squat; where one could test ones strength against a variety of odd shaped dumbbells and globes. Here strong men strained to become stronger under the guidance of a Lutheran minister who allowed only gospel and religious music as background to the clanging of heavy iron.

Oversized fiberglass gorillas and a two-ton front door added to the atmosphere. Everyone’s purpose was to become stronger, this at a time when most “serious” California gyms were dedicated to the enhancements of their members’ muscular measurements.

This strength training oddity was Zuver’s Hall of Fame Gym.

In 1968 I found myself sitting in Zuver’s Gym, receiving the first of many lectures from the Reverend Robert Zuver. In time, I became quite friendly with Bob, his wife Jean and their two sons. His son Ricky “The Rhino,” in fact, was forever exhorting gym members to “help Ken on his next squat.” A different type of gym? Words still, after two decades, fail to describe it, and the feeling one got upon the initial visit.

The walls that supported the very high ceiling were decorated with signs exhorting one to further heights. The good Reverend included many spiritual messages, meant to augment the muscle that filled the air. Signs reminded one that “Profanity Is Not Tolerated On These Premises,” nor was it. Unlike the typical gym, members policed newcomers, reminded them that respect was to be shown to all others, and the equipment, at all times.

Each of the three competitive powerlifts was given a special place. Many heavy duty benches, forerunners to today’s sturdy, high tech products, lined one wall. Like other California gyms, a particular training philosophy dominated the programs of most of the members and competitive lifters. The primary auxiliary exercises were dumbbell bench presses and dips, done with very heavy weights. Special short benches would be pulled close to angled dumbbell racks, built so that one could in fact bring the 100- to 250-pound bells to ones chest without dangerously cleaning them. These benches were constructed so that a spotter could literally launch the trainee back towards the angled rack, allowing for replacement of the dumbbells, which were held close to the lifter’s chest the entire time.

Few gyms have angled dipping bars, which allow for a variety of grips, and Zuver’s was the only one that had a 12-foot version, allowing for more than one lifter to train simultaneously.

In order to safely allow for the use of 300-pound dumbbells, a converted railroad flatcar rode on a track beneath the dip bars. This added to the safety and convenience of moving such heavy weights from one end of the bar to the other.

While the lat pulleys were very strong, one cannot forget the day Wayne Coleman, later to gain fame as professional wrestling’s Superstar Billy Graham, loaded the weight carriage to an absurd limit. Although the carriage failed to move, the solid iron lat bar handle literally curled around Coleman’s upper back, ensuring this semicircle of iron would forever remind others of his legendary strength.

A refreshing pause by the water fountain was met by the clanging of fire bells. In a tribute to the firefighters who trained in his establishment, Bob had covered the fountain with a fire helmet, which, when lifted on its hinges to allow access to the drinking spout, triggered the bells.

The specialized squatting racks also were never to be forgotten. One had its own 300-pound bar, indicating that only the heaviest of squats could be done within its confines. Bob’s walls were mounted with 100- and 200-pound plates for the stouthearted. An airplane bomb hoist provided a foot-operated safety spot within the rack, an innovation that protected both the lifter and his spotters.

The power rack in the back of the gym had lights and sirens, which alerted other gym members that a member of Zuver’s competitive powerlifting team was about to make a personal record attempt. This, of course, allowed everyone present to cheer the lifter on, and made for enthusiastic training sessions.

Every piece of equipment was by far the most heavy-duty I had seen up to that time, anywhere. Conventional leg extension, curl and press machines were available, all handcrafted by Bob and his young sons. Bob felt that one could lift as heavily as possible only if he had the confidence that comes from the knowledge that the equipment was the best, the sturdiest and the safest available.

Bob’s expertise led him to manufacture his own line of strength training equipment. These design innovations are still utilized today, although I am sure many are not aware of their origins. He also provided all of the unique lifting apparati used in the early World’s Strongest Man contests. Needless to say, “well equipped” was an understatement at Zuver’s Gym.

Interestingly enough, the gym was not located on commercial property. Bob had long maintained an interest in physical fitness, and had converted his garage into a small but functional home gym. His bench, squat racks and other odd pieces were homemade, yet good looking, and well used by many youngsters in the neighborhood.

Bob’s interest in Costa Mesa’s youth eventually let to his garage being an unofficial meeting area and positive hangout for many formerly disruptive adolescents, youngsters who had been led into positive pursuits by the Zuver family. In time, Bob’s wife insisted that he either give this up, or build a real gym. They purchased the house across the street from the one they lived in, and converted it into a gym. At the time I wandered into the gym, they had expanded it a number of times, and it provided an excellent training facility, although they would not even have have showers installed until late in 1968.

Bob’s collection of strength “odds and ends” was given a permanent home on a specially constructed platform in the rear of the gym. My favorite was the Big Barrel, a metal monstrosity filled with 200 or 250 pounds of constantly shifting water. I became the twelfth man to elevate the barrel overhead, a feat requiring one to first roll it up the length of his body before attempting an overhead thrust.

When I returned to New York, I told many tales of Zuver’s Gym and the great powerlifting team they had. Len Ingro, Tom Overholtzer, Bill Whitting, Jim Waters, Willie Kindred, Rudy Lozano and others won local, state and national honors, often jostling with the more famous club from Bill West’s Culver City garage.

Upon a return visit to Southern California two years later, I returned to Zuver’s Gym, only to find it had again expanded and now housed a complete women’s fitness area. The approach to the gym, what had in fact been the driveway to the house, featured a life-sized gorilla statue, huge iron gates shaped like a pair of muscular arms and a cascading waterfall that fell over huge boulders that formed the new front of the gym. It was a sight to see, and a sight to remember.

For those who do remember Zuver’s Hall of Fame Gym, it was fondly recalled as an inspirational and colorful home of powerlifting. The wonderful workouts, unusual and enthusiastic environment, and the great lifts born of camaraderie and encouragement all come to mind when the name is mentioned.

More than a challenger for the powerlifting titles, Zuver’s Gym remains one of those chapters of strength training history that make the sport what it is today. No gym has ever quite recreated the championship atmosphere fashioned by Robert Zuver.

Enthusiastic thanks for Dr. Ken for this glimpse of the special place that was Zuver’s. For a photo collection and other memories of Zuver’s from people there at the time, here’s a choice IOL forum thread you’ll get a kick out of.

To sink your teeth into the era in which Zuver’s fits, grab yourself a copy of Dick Tyler’s West Coast Bodybuilding Scene.

Or start here, with a Zuver’s memory excerpt from West Coast Bodybuilding Scene.

Our old forum friend, Bill Luttrell (RIP), offered up his later memory of Zuver’s.

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Dave Draper, the Blond Bomber

With his golden locks, beach habitat and mind-blowing mass, Dave Draper became the archetype for an entire subculture. The iconic Muscle Beach regular graced 24 muscle magazine covers and earned the titles Mr. America (’65), Mr. Universe (’66) and Mr. World (’70). Now 65, he’s the author of three popular fitness books and hosts IronOnline at www.davedraper.com.

When I thought no one was looking, I held my breath, closed my eyes and leaped onto the posing dais, hit a few shots and miraculously disappeared. I later discovered the place was packed with screaming fans – “They’re hanging off the chandeliers, Draper” – and I’d won the 1965 Mr. America title.

One ordinary day not long after my move from the East Coast to the West, word circulated through the gyms that the popular Los Angeles television station was looking for a character to host their upcoming Saturday prime-time show. I couldn’t resist joining in the cattle-call action, and was eventually ushered onto a soundstage, placed before a marker and asked to read a handheld teleprompter. I got the part and they called the show, “David the Gladiator.” And so began my brief show business career.

24 magazine covers and countless inside spreads later, the weights – barbells and dumbbells – were the source of resistance that built the muscles that build the men who built the magazines. I, and the guys before me, lifted the cold and noisy metal not for a moment on a page of paper, but for reasons, wonderful reasons too numerous to count. Be sure of this: Few pastimes provide more benefits, rewards and fulfillment.

If I’m proud, it’s because I’m a muscle-building original. I invented, improvised and rooted about along with a small, disconnected band of rebels with a cause: to build solid muscle and might through the austere, hard labor of love – the lifting of iron. Our shirts were not torn to be fashionable; they were shredded by use and outgrowth. We didn’t imitate; who would be the model before us?

Training for contests in the Golden Era with The Governor, Franco Columbu, Frank Zane and Mike Katz: The heat was on and the pain was welcome. When you’re done, you’re done. Tomorrow’s another day. Nevertheless, it is very good – splendid, in fact – when you crown the fiery, intense moments with gratitude, mutual recognition and the encouragement of the guys.

My training today is fundamentally the same as it was when I trained for contests in the ‘60s and ‘70s: hard, long, supersetted and volume accented. There’s a lesson in this for all of us, new and seasoned, male and female, striving and maintaining: What worked for you in the past will work for you today with appropriate modifications and extraordinary care.

In 1970, after winning the Mr. World in New York City, I sensed a shifting of the gears in bodybuilding, and stepped out of competition. The sport took off like a rocket to the moon, soaring into the ‘80s with ever-increasing momentum toward where it is today. Where it will go next, no one can say.

The secret is, there are no secrets. You simply have basic God-given genetics, body chemistry and bone structure. And provided the attributes of discipline and determination, you apply yourself full bore and your body potential emerges, slow and sure. Where most go wrong is in perseverance; they give up too quickly.

My workouts have been fluid since I stepped out of competition nearly 40 years ago, no less intense, just less rigid. Therefore, in that sense, my training principles have not changed. I search each and every workout for the exercises, the combinations, the sets and reps, the page and tempo for the methodology that will allow me to optimize intensity.

The years have come and gone and tons of weights have moved up and down. I, as you, love this stuff and I can’t, nor do I wish to, put it aside.

We spent Monday, Joe Weider Day, tromping around the California State Capitol Building in Sacramento in our Sunday best, adding our presence to the honoring of Joe Weider’s contributions to world-wide physical fitness. There’s no doubt that because of his passion for bodybuilding and his publishing talents, weight training gained popularity and grew from a basement sub-culture to its current standing running the gauntlet from medical re-hab to athletic pursuits, elder longevity to supermodel weight loss. We may have gotten here, eventually, or truthfully we may not have; there’s no way to measure the results of his life’s work.

Now that Dave’s given you the fodder of his reminisces, you can count on me for a blow-by-blow report.

Dick and Penny Tyler, Frank and Christine Zane, Dave and moi (I’m the short one)
John Corlett photo

We spent the prior day at Dick and Penny Tyler’s, where the good doc you know as the author of West Coast Bodybuilding Scene and the medical text Alternative Chiropractic did live blood cell analysis on both of us — fascinating to see both of our blood looking entirely different, not even the color of the cell groupings were the same — and ran a phonocardiograph on Dave to get a reading on his heart health.

Phonocardiography is similar to the electrocardiograph you’ve probably heard of from your cardiologist (or your dad’s), only this machine measures sound instead of electrical pulses. So here’s Dave holding his breath for what felt like minutes, while an ancient and perfectly preserved dust-free machine scratched out its markings and Dick muttered his interest in the squiggled peaks of ink.

Dick’s a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to his doctoring tools. I say that with a grin thinking of his telling the story of gluing his important trinkets into their positions, and then laughing with glee after realizing this was the impression he had shared with a woman sitting next to him at dinner who turned out to be the Executive Director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, her introduction to our pal Doc Tyler. Melissa Johnson (said Director) was just one of a number of fascinating people we were to spend the day with Monday.

Senate Pro Tem Don Perata and Joe Weider
John Corlett photo

On the Senate floor after the brief presentation to Joe by the Senator Perata, Sylvester Stallone, on a four-hour break from editing a new Rambo film, captured the attention of all, and when he departed game show host Bob Barker took center stage. Considering the Weider group’s friends and family and the summer tourists in attendance, the legislative hall was quite empty; I’m uncertain how many bodies it takes to constitute a quorum, but as a voting Californian, I hope there was no pressing business that day.

Oh, right. The budget’s two weeks past due. I suppose the lawmakers were on holiday.

Well, we *were* on holiday, so after the presentation, our party of about 40 shifted off to the Council Room adjacent to the Governor’s Office, where subsequent presentations were made, including a 10-minute video compilation documenting Joe’s notable history.

Arnold spoke, of course, as did Franco Columbu, Sly and Melissa, followed by a family member and a family doctor. The speeches were nice, and Arnold’s especially so, but I remember thinking how delightful would have been the addition of an Artie Zeller story about Joe – any Weider/Zeller drama would have done — hilarious in the telling. Alas, Artie died in 1999; his characterizations perished with him, but happily we’ll always have his priceless black & white photos of Golden Era bodybuilding.

Dave Draper, Serge Jacobs, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane
Artie Zeller photo

Golden Era bodybuilding was the time that many consider pivotal to today’s fitness atmosphere, and the heroes of those days were well represented this week in Sacramento. Led by — who else? — the Governor, included in the group were Frank Zane, Franco Columbu, my personal fav Dave Draper, Dave’s model-partner, Joe’s wife Betty Weider (still unbelievably beautiful, I’ll just toss that in there before you get a chance to ask), and flanked by Dick Tyler, the writer who made them famous in Joe’s Muscle Builder magazine.

Joe and Betty’s families filled out the crowd, wherein we were introduced to Joe’s sister, Freda — you knew about Ben, but did you know he had a sister? Quite a jewel, that woman. I liked her very much, as did the others at our end of the table later that night at dinner.

Friends and business partners over the years stood the test of time — even Betty’s oldest friend, Janet, friends since age 14, was there to tease Dave about his beach photo shoots with Betty at his side, Janet there to keep her company amid the 1960s Venice Beach bodybuilders. Weider Publications was well represented by Editor in Chief Peter McGough, quick to put a smile on my face, who was there with his terrific wife, Ann. Kris Lannin Liang, Arnold’s long-time executive secretary, and Charlotte Parker, the Weiders’ publicist, were credited with pulling the event together efficiently and effectively.

The biggest surprise and a great pleasure of the day was spending time with Bill Chatfield, an energetic and knowledge-filled ex-Marine (actually, I’m told there’s no such thing as an ex-Marine; at any rate, he’s no longer on active duty), whom we later discovered to be the Director of the Selective Service System.

At one point, an assistant to the Governor moved about the room dispensing commemorative Arnold Schwarzenegger cigars. When Dick and Penny discovered our souvenirs were heading to Baghdad to reward an IronOnline pal after a training session in the 140-degree heat of Camp Victory, they, of course, contributed theirs. If either the Governor or the Selective Service Director Chatfield had known of our plans, I’m certain there would have been a greater cigar subsidy.

Gary Volesky, Joe Anderson, David Mullin
Cigar Aficionado photo

Comin’ atcha, guys. While we’re off gallivanting around the state for the fun of it, you and the rest of our troops continue our anti-terror mission. We can’t thank you enough.

So, I copped the text for the MC’s “in the audience” segment for ya. I see a few notables missing that were highlighted previously in the Memories of the 2007 AOBS Dinner post — not many, but a few. No worries, we already got a look at them earlier, eh?

The text used by the announcer follows.

I am your MC for this evening, Steve “The Mighty Stefan” Sadicario.

At our dais this evening:

• IFFB Mr. Amercia, Mr. Universe and Mr. World, and one of this evening’s honorees – “the Blond Bomber” Dave Draper
• 2-Time Olympian, 8-Time National Weightlifting Champion, World Championship medallist, our 2nd honoree this evening - Mike Karchut
• Coach, Administrator, Newsletter Publisher and All Around Strongman - Bill Clark
• Mr. America and Mr. Universe - Joe Abbenda
• World Powerlifting Champion, World Recordholder and World Strongest Man Winner - Don Reinhoudt
• Legendary strongman and 102-year-old miracle man - The Great Joe Rollino
• The legendary grandmaster of strength - the incomparable Slim “The Hammerman” Farman
• Bodybuilder, renaissance man and AOBS chronicler - Dr. Ken Rosa
• Artist extrordinaire and artist for more Iron Game Notables than any other man living - Jim Sanders
• World Renowned Weightlifting Coach and York Barbell historian - Dick Smith
• Mr. America and Health Club Industry Legend – Red Lerrille
• Natural Bodybuilding Promoter and one of the AOBS’s most popular speakers - Fred Yale

In our audience tonight we have with us:

• Our official photographer, videographer and all around Iron Man for the AOBS – Iron Mike D’Angelo
• Steel Bar Bending Strongman and artist – Erik Vining, who will be performing for us tonight
• Multi-time National Weightlifting Championship medalists – Ericka Dice and Ed Herger, who will also be performing for us tonight
• Former National Weightlifting Champions - Pat Omori, Fred Schutz and Sam Bigler
• 3-time Chinese National Weightlifting Champion and Asian Games champion – Joe Yu
• The man regarded worldwide as the golden voice of bodybuilding, Mr. Olympia announcer - Len Bosland
• Multiple National Champion, Olympian and the only American under 242 lbs to Clean & Jerk more than 500 lbs - Mark Cameron
• Son of the immortal Mighty Atom - Mike Greenstein
• Strongman, Motivational Speaker and AOBS Multimedia Coordinator - Russell Jones
• 28-time national masters weightlifting champion - C Jack Lano
• Squat lifting pioneer - Julian Levy
• Daughter of Leo Murdock - Rosemary Miller
• Strongman Performer – Stan “Stanless Steel” Pleskun
• Renowned Iron Game publisher - Denis Reno
• Former Mr. America competitor - Joe Marino
• Masters Bodybuilding champion - Reg Faust
• Rising Stars of Strongmanism - Pat Povilaitis and Steve Weiner
• Teenage Mr. USA - Steve Borodinsky
• Strongman and videographer - Lou Tortorelli
• Strongman, Strength and Wrestling Historian and loyal supporter of the AOBS - Tom Townsend
• Strongman and photographer - John Varrone
• The Master of Stonelifting - Steve Jeck
• World and Olympic Champion – Isaac Berger (expected, but unable to attend at the last minute)
• Mr. American and Mr. Universe - Boyer Coe
• IFBB Mr. American – John Decola (expected, but unable to attend at the last minute)
• Probably the greatest father and son weightlifting team in the history of US weightlifting - National Champion, Fred Schutz and his son, 9-time National Champion and 2-time Olympian – Richard Schutz
• World Championship Team Coach – Lou DeMarco
• Publisher of “Mr. Weightlifting” the biography of Norb Schemansky - Del Reddy
• 4 Time National Weightlifting Champion, World Championship medalist and 2-time- World’s Strongest Man Winner – Bruce Wilhelm

“AOBS would also like to thank our loyal sponsor - Iron Grip Barbell Company, whose representatives could not be with us tonight, but who have generously supported our organization for many years.”

Laree back for just a sec… Remember last week I told you about John Wood’s strongman feat at the afternoon show? I didn’t find a picture of it (in the show, John ripped a phone book while Pat stood atop), but this is sort of what it looked like.

I grabbed the image (stole it actually) because it may not be at the top of the blog page when you get around to following this link over to the Bodyweight Basics blog page.

Ouch! These guys are crazy, man.

Our first steps through the Saddle Brook, New Jersey, Marriott lobby toward a Friday afternoon lunch set the stage for the weekend as we were greeted with a “Hey, Dave!” and the excited chattering of Lou Mezzanotte, who writes those great Legends articles for Bob Kennedy, Iron Mike D’Angelo, the eager 102-year-old Joe Rollino, Fred Yale, the announcer who was to introduce Dave at the Awards Dinner the following night, and his good-spirited young sidekick, pro wrestler John Brooks, Al Santos and his wife, Olga, then Dave and Julie Hartnett, and so it continued hour by hour through the long reunion weekend.

Each trip through the lobby crammed additional new friends, a substantial list of barbell enthusiasts, many well known, and equally as many unknown, deceptively strong and pleasantly humble.

Here at IronOnline we enjoy a breadth of experiences and interests in the forum, yet most of us have little knowledge of the greater reaches of the Iron Game. Many of the AOBS attendees live in the niche areas where the average IOL reader probably doesn’t venture, so let’s bump around the ‘net a little and get to know some folks who were part of the Jersey connection last weekend.

The Marriot hotel lobby buzzed Friday night as the collection of personalities grew. A casual half hour chatting with Fred and John suddenly expanded to include Mike Corlett and his son, Andy, Del Reddy, the publisher of Norb Schemansky’s biography, “Mr. Weightlifting,” William Moore, one of the first to create a collector’s exchange, Robert Francis and David Landau, portrait artist Jim Sanders, who would present Dave with a painting Saturday night, Rick Perkins, Reuben Weaver, Howard Havener, and on and one until eventually I stood to the side simply to watch and grin at the rising energy.

Literally hours passed between the time we set out for dinner and the point when Mike D’Angelo pushed me toward the dining room, “Get in there before it closes; I’ll send Dave… Artie would never forgive me if I let youse two miss dinner.” What a gem, that guy!

Shoved through the crowd, I pretty much stumbled into Dr. Ken Leistner’s pal from the early Nautilus days, Coach Kim Wood, his son John Wood, a renowned grip and strength artist in his own right, plus their traveling companion, an old internet friend of mind, Superstrengthbooks.com publisher Bill Hinbern. So… we mostly invited ourselves to dinner with them, after which Coach picked up the tab. Not that we suckered him into it, no way. In fact, after an hour of non-stop storytelling by this master, we’d have paid and still owed him one.

Eventually the restaurant staff began to vacuum under our table, absolutely time to go. Passing back through the lobby, we enjoyed our first of several episodes with Slim “The Hammerman” Farman, a strongman entertainer who built his great strength busting rock during his 50 years of quarry work.

By then tired enough to drop on the marble floor, I was still pumped at the sight of Norm Komich and his son, Jon, two gems of the Iron Game, and even today I get a grin at the memory. It was Norm, many of you will remember, who provided E! TV with much of the ’65 and ’66 footage of Dave’s competitive wins for the True Hollywood Story episode, that same footage you can get from Norm for a nominal fee, and which includes many other priceless memories on film.

Saturday’s events opened with a group of collectors and iron history enthusiasts sharing stories, exchanging ancient books and carefully preserved magazines – even some old bits of wood and metal were swapped with glee. Muscle Museum Forum publisher Mike BonDurant presented his Charles Atlas collection, then corralled the loosely organized historians for a bit of give and take.

Kicking in well for Mike were Carl and Audrey Linich, Rick Perkins, Howard Havener, Reuben Weaver, Don Reinhoudt, Joe Molino, Mike Greenstein (son of Joe, The Mighty Atom), along with another couple dozen participants. The collector’s meeting eventually morphed into a bodybuilding seminar by Mr. America Joe Abbenda, one truly terrific guy, whose seminar was the talk later at our dinner table.

It was here Dave and I began to meet up with our IronOnline pals that throughout the day eventually included Bryon Chandler (ccrow) and the owner of his Scranton gym, King Joe, Steve (bug), and later Dave’s old friend, Richie Pawliak, Joe Matrisciano, Paul Hogroian, Barney and Conor Shannon, Ed Fox, Ardena Busby, Phil and Cecile Nower and Tim Koenig, plus others mentioned earlier as well as our pals from the Leistner’s day-after-Christmas dinner, Jack Lawrence (whom many readers will remember as Dr. Ken’s Life in the Loft lifting partner), and his sidekick, Barney Shannon. Our excited chattering carried on too long and the restaurant closed, too late for lunch. Luckily, Bob and Linda O’Leary were quick with a gift box of Muscle Sandwich bars to tide us over quite tastefully. You might even say we scarfed those right down.

As the afternoon passed, the entertainment grew in size, passion and power. You see, Artie talked Slim into creating an outdoor feats of strength display to showcase the next generation of showmen (alas, there were no women), a session they call “The Emerging Stars.”

And this is what we saw:

~ Tom Hermansader, an artist by day, bender by night, who after a fairly recent start at this, bent a 60-penny nail and a drill bit and broke a #10 jack chain with a chest expansion belt.

~ Luke Whippo, who first did a combination feat with two 53-lb kettlebells looped with a strap in his teeth as he bent a carriage bolt by hand, followed by bending a 1/2×48″ piece of rebar across the bridge of his nose, which he then scrolled into double circle.

~ Tommy Heslep, after bending a 10×3/8” spike, proceeded to crush the contents of a 5-lb bag of potatoes, one potato in each hand, arms outstretched. Slim said it was to be a 15-second event; as far as I heard, no one with a watch thought to time it. However long it took, it was pretty amazing to see.

~ Steve Weiner, whom, along with his pal, Pat Povilaitis, you may remember from Dr. Ken’s charity event, during which they bent all variety of hardware for charitable donations. This day, Steve was to roll an 8” frying pan inside of a 10” one. That was one cool feat.

~ John Wood… well… to speak of amazing, this was phenomenal. Let’s see if I can set this up so you can visualize it. Big John hits the deck, flat on his back, then bounds up into a full neck bridge. Once up, he tenses, and holds as Pat Povilaitis steps high to stand upright on John’s stomach. Still in a bridge position, with Pat standing on his abdomen, John reaches behind his head, grabs a 2-inch phone book and rips it in half. Pat steps off; John pops up like nothing happened. Incredible.

~ Greg Matonick followed that with a bit of teeth bending, first bending a quarter not once, but twice — a quarter bent on two sides using his teeth as a vice and his fingers to bend. I’m not kidding; I have one sitting here on my desk as proof. A 60-penny nail was next on the teeth-bending agenda, and he bent it good.

~ Sonny Barry bent a 12” long, ½-thick carriage bolt, then bent a 1/2 x 3/4” square 28″ long metal bar in half, braced his elbow between the bar and his leg and bent that hunk of metal around it.

Next up:

~ Dan Cenidoza, a favorite in the IronOnline forum, lured us off into the brush where he brought a smooth 230-lb granite stone from the ground to overhead, dropped it at the back of his neck, balanced ever-so-carefully as he attempted to tear a deck of cards in half with the stone sliding around between his neck and shoulders. Two attempts… one miss, one nearly successful.

~ Pat Povilaitis (The Human Vise) wrapped up the show with one of his favorite combination feats as he lapped the 230-lb stone, brought it upright, then squatted low — real low, seriously rock bottom — and held it there as he simultaneously bent a 6-inch long, 3/8-inch-thick bar of cold-rolled steel. Later that night, he hunted down Dave and me to personally bend us a couple of horseshoe hearts, my very favorites.

But wait! What’s going on over there in the corner? Uh huh! It’s Dan. Can’t possibly leave his trick at failure… third time’s a charm and the cards are ripped with the stone quite still at the top of his shoulders. He told us at breakfast the next day that his practice stones are homemade and rougher, easier to hold steady than Pat’s expensive smooth granite. It took a couple tries to get the hang of it. 1… 2… Success!

Reluctant to part, many of us had to hustle to get gussied up in time for the dinner Awards event, where the list of VIPs in the audience nearly surpassed the number of spectators. This was one special event, and it drew to attendance the likes of Bruce Wilhelm, Boyer Coe, Red Lerille (along with his son Mark and grandson Brady, three generations of health nuts), Steve Jeck, Stan “Stanless Steel” Pleskun, Denie Walter and Chris Devin, among others, and if I can cop the list from Artie, that’ll provide a full backdrop of iron history when posted.
At the dais sat Dave, of course, along with co-recipient weightlifting champion Mike Karchut (a gem of a guy among many that weekend) and Lou DeMarco, who was to introduce him and Fred Yale, who introduced Dave. Also at the head table: Artie Drecshler, Don Reinhoudt, Bill Clark, MC The Mighty Stefan Sadicario, Dick “Smitty” Smith, artist Jim Sanders, Joe Rollino, Joe Abbenda and Ken “Leo” Rosa. Nearby to intervene as needed, Iron Mike D’Angelo and sound man Russell Jones.

John Davis was the posthumous award recipient, and was represented by a Bud Greenspan film that was terrific. This was a decades-old black and white screening that brought exclamations from this experienced audience.

The presentations were spread through the course of the long dinner, with long breaks between in order for the diners to chat and move among the tables. Lou’s introduction of Mike and Fred’s of Dave were thorough, 10, 15 minutes probably, and covered the highlights of their lives and professional history, and, as Dave mentioned in his article, leaving little for the guys to add. Humorous it was to those at our table, but possibly less so for Mike and Dave standing at the podium with nothing much left to say. Gives me a grin to think about just the same.

Earlier I posted a photo of the award the AOBS presented Dave, with the lengthy inscription. Everything these AOBS guys do is first class, I kid you not.

Steve “The Mighty Stefan” Sadicario, emceed the show with his strongman energy, eventually disappearing to re-tool as a stumbling elderly gent who burst out of his suit and into a rapping, bending, ripping, card-tearing carney. This was not before his bit of personal history wherein he told of his first tearing attempt as a thieving child during which he tried to rip a photo of our Blond Bomber from an old Weider magazine at a NYC newsstand. Busted!

Artie Drecshler, the guy Vic Boff tapped to head the Association after his passing, is a respected Olympic weightlifting coach. Saturday night, two of his national-level athletes demonstrated his outstanding coaching ability; Ericka Dice and Ed Herger displayed flawless form during their weightlifting exhibition.

Toward the end of the evening, Erik “Hammerhead” Vining presented his bending and tearing feats, and I have to say his bent metal art is fabulous, on par with the great John Brookfield. I found an article of Erik’s online, a large pdf download that is absolutely worth the wait if you have any interest in bending or coiling steel, and includes photos of Erik at work. You can also follow his action or get some bending advice from him via the Gripboard forum; you to have to register first, but it’s easy.

Just so you know, once grip guys get going, there’s no stopping them. After the Cinderella hour as Dave and I were heading to the elevator (in point of fact, Russ Jones assisted us with the extraction, noting that our heart patient needed some rest), another group of benders we didn’t meet were hauling out more hardware at the far end of the hall. Dan Cenidoza told us at breakfast they bent stuff until 2am. Craziness!

Next year, June 7, 2008, all living AOBS honorees have been invited to the 25th annual AOBS celebration. That will be one incredible gathering; my quick count shows over 30 prior recipients (29 guys and the only gal) are alive and anticipated at the reunion. Save up your quarters this year so you can make the trip, and bring an extra for Greg Matonick to bend for a keepsake.

Meanwhile, to join the AOBS, mail your donation check of $25 to AOBS, P O Box 680, Whitestone, NY 11357. Since the death of founder Vic Boff, the Association oversight is handled by its president, Artie Drechsler (and his wife, Joanne, you can believe that!), with help from the chairman, Johnny Mandel and Artie’s agreeable sidekick, Iron Mike D’Angelo.

The AOBS 2007 Awards Dinner information is now online at Artie Drechsler’s:

Quoting from the site:

We are pleased to announce that this year the AOBS will be honoring three legends of the Iron Game:

• Mr. America, Mr. Universe and Mr. World, the “Blond Bomber” - Dave Draper
• 8 Time National Champion and 2 Time Olympian, Mike Karchut
• And (posthumously) one of the greatest weightlifters ever to mount a platform, the incredible John Henry Davis.

We will also be hosting a Historical and Collector’s meeting from Noon to 2 PM, and a bodybuilding clinic by former Mr. America and Mr. Universe, Joe Abbenda, from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM, both on June 9th. The Steve “The Mighty Stefan” Sadicaro will be performing during “Showtime”, as will National ranked weightlifters, Ericka Dice and Ed Herger. The pre-dinner reception begins at 5:30 PM, with dinner beginning at 7 PM sharp.

The dinner reservation form is here, and the cost is $60 for AOBS members, $70 for non-members. The room is limited and occasionally sells out. If an IOL group pulls together a group of ten people, Artie can make sure our group is seated together at one table.

What began as Vic Boff’s birthday part for Sig Klein in 1983 continues into its twenty-second year this summer as the AOBS (Association of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen) honors Dave, along with co-honorees Mike Karchut and John Davis, in Saddlebrook, New Jersey, on June 9th.

All are welcome to the event; I’m posting now in case you can slide a trip to Jersey into your early summer travel plans. When the dinner reservation form comes online, I’ll post again. Dinner cost will be around $60; there will be a special hotel rate at the Marriott (previously $80). I heard last year’s meal selection was chicken or fish — no beef for aging musclemen. No worries, it’ll probably be prime rib night at the hotel restaurant on Friday.
The event regulars have a collectors meeting and exchange Saturday, followed by a weightlifting clinic that afternoon. There’s a pre-event hangout from 5:30 until dinner at 7, followed by a strongman show of some type. What began as an accident is now a main attraction when the strongmen, grip and benders entertain the enthusiastic crowd.

Check the forearms of top strongman
performer, grip man and bender, Pat Povilaitis.
Photo by Kathy Leistner