IOL Strength and Conditioning

Jerry Winick

It was May, 1963, I was 20 years old and was looking for work. I had joined the Navy right out of high school and spent three years stationed in Washington DC.  During my stint, I worked out regularly and built a pretty good body.

Dave Draper, Jerry Winick

When I got out of the navy, I intensified my weight training to a point where I was in the best shape of my life.  It was at that time that I started to enter physique competitions locally, one of them being at a local movie theater in Brooklyn. The competition was in conjunction with a Steve Reeves movie called Hercules Unchained.  

When I arrived at the theater, I found out that the other contestants were made up of some of the best body builders of the time – Larry Powers, Jon Bianculli and a few others. Joe Weider was also there to view the event. When the time came for posing on stage, I started to sense that something special was happening. The audience went wild, I won the event.

The next day I got a call from Joe Weider. He asked me if I wanted to work for him at his plant in Union City, NJ.  I immediately said yes and I started the next day. When I got to the plant I was introduced to the man with the largest muscular arms in the world, Leroy Colbert. I also met Harold Poole. I thought I was dreaming. I was told I would be working with these 2 guys in the back room area helping customers with their needs. Joe also told me that there would be one more person working with us and his name was Dave Draper. They described Dave as a tall blond, very muscular kid from Seacaucus, who would potentially be the greatest bodybuilder of all time (he really said that).

About a week later, Dave finally came to the plant to start work.  When I met him, he was like a gentle giant, the nicest, sweetest guy I ever met and what a body! The four of us made a great team. Customers  came from long distances to meet “Joe’s Backroom Boys”

The backroom had an array of free weights, which we were able to use at anytime. When customers came into the back, they would watch us work out.  Leroy was so funny, he was always joking around. Harold was much more serious. I think he worked out 8 hours a day.

As the days went by, Dave and I became very good friends. I was dating Joe’s receptionist, Sheila, who eventually became my wife. Dave and his wife Penny would go out on Saturday nights with us.

In July of 1963, the contest season started.  Dave had entered the Mr. New Jersey contest, which he won easily. I was doing a posing exhibition for the event. A month later, I entered the Mr. New York contest and placed 2nd to the great Freddy Ortiz. I went on a month later to finish 2nd in the Mr. East Coast event.

Once September came, there was the Mr. America and Mr Universe contests at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. It was a great venue to hold an event of this stature. I continued to work out heavily for the big event.   Dave and I  trained together, sometimes in his garage in his Seacucus home, but mostly in the backroom. With Dave’s encouragement and inspiration, I was ready for the competition. I finished 2nd to Larry Scott in the middle height class of the Mr. Universe event. I was very pleased.

Dave and Jerry, demonstration in a high school auditorium, 1963

Right after the event, Weider Enterprises began their relocation to the west coast. Dave went with the move and I stayed in New Jersey. That was my brush with greatness.

I think by now you’ve heard that Monkees star Davy Jones died earlier today. This seems like a good day for a Monkees review — did you know Dave was on the show?

The Sunday School Times and Gospel Herald, July 1, 1972
Sylvia Storms

The sandy-haired youth in the jeans frowned slightly and jammed his hands into his pockets. Then, with a shrug, he reluctantly followed the probation officer through the black iron gate. Just inside, the young man stopped dead in his tracks and stared.

“This is a gym?” he exclaimed. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

The officer smiled. “This is the place I’ve been telling you about!”

The sight before the boy was hardly that of an ordinary gym. Zuver’s Gym and Muscle Hall of Fame in Costa Mesa, California has to be one of a kind. And the same goes for its owner, Bob Zuver, an ordained minister and former weightlifter, who originated and built the gym and its equipment. He says that it’s a fun place to work out.

Bob Zuver on the “Big Phone”

Inside the heavy iron gate stands a fearsome-looking fiberglass gorilla. Not far away are a ten-foot superman and a fiberglass elephant lifting a barbell with its trunk. The door leading into the main gym weighs two tons!

Everything inside is big. There are a 1,000-pound lift, a 500-pound blog, and several unique racks. Bells ring and lights flash when they’re lifted. There is also the world’s biggest drinking fountain, made from a fire hydrant.

How has God chosen to use the gym and its fantastic equipment to win souls to Christ? Let the Zuvers tell it.

“You need something unusual to interest the kids and the others who com in regularly to keep in shape,” said Bob. “The main purpose of the gym, “added Jean, his dark-haired wife, “is to build fitness and strength, not only in the physical realm, but also in the mental and spiritual realms.”

Zuver’s Gym has an amazing outreach. Six hundred members work out regularly, and thousands of others—men, women and children—have visited the gym on tours and have heard of Jesus Christ. Housewives, former drug addicts, ex-convicts and yes, even musclemen, belong to the club. And the ministry doesn’t stop there. Bob is available for counseling, and he works closely with police and probation authorities. Additional gyms have been set up in the juvenile hall, at Joplin Ranch and at other youth and prison farms.

Zuver’s name is a household word to muscleheads and weightlifters throughout the world. Not only is the name synonymous with the zany gym, but it also stands for equipment made by the Zuvers in their own factory and sold to gyms throughout the country.

Some of the biggest names in weightlifting have visited Zuver’s Gym to set records. An All-Orange County lineup of lifters Bob coached won the 1968 United States Senior National Powerlifting Championship team award. The gym has more unusual heavy-duty equipment than any other training facility in the world. Because of this, many of the country’s strong men have heard of Christ.

“Weightlifters need Christ, too!” declared Bob. “That’s why God literally built this gym!”

It all began in a small garage in 1960. After a whirlwind conversion at the age of 30, Bob Zuver attended a Bible college and became a nondenominational minister. During this preparation, he taught Sunday school. One Lord’s Day after class, two boys came to him and asked whether he would teach them a few things about weightlifting. Bob agreed to help out with a few pieces of equipment he had in his garage. The word spread. Within a month, one hundred boys were meeting there. Within three months, the garage was bursting at the seams with boys, and Bob realized he’d need to find a bigger place quickly.

“We started out with a makeshift bench and one set of weights,” he explained. “Gradually we added to it and expanded. Every time we reached a point where we needed money, the Lord provided. When we were ready to pour the foundation for the new place, the Lord sent a Christian who owned a cement company and who happened to hear of our need, with several thousand dollars’ worth of cement. We stepped out in faith, and the Lord met each step.”

Asked for past history, Bob and Jean emphasized, “We’re interested in what God is doing now and is going to do in the future. This is His ministry, and we’re just working for Him.”

Bob had been a contractor and a Navy frogman before his conversion, and Jean had been a professional dancer. They were married later, while Bob was stationed in Virginia with the Navy. After his discharge, they came to California. Bob was a loose ends, and his nerves were very bad. He was searching for peace of mind. “For some reason, I was on my way to China to find it. I thought, how many problems can you have just walking around in a bunch of rice paddies?” he said seriously.

But the Zuvers never got to China. One evening not long before they were to sail from California, Bob was on his way to a gym. He passed a little Assembly of God church, and decided to go in. The Lord saved him that night. Within a short time, his entire family of 15 (two brothers, their wives and their children) were brought to Christ through his witness. One brother became a minister and a missionary to Mexico. The other is a Christian businessman. In each case, God has used the background of the individual to fulfill His purpose.

Bob and Jean both had been trained for the physical fitness and beauty contest business. God was to use them in this special field.

“We have prayed over every piece of equipment in the gym, and for every person who walks through the door, “Jean said. “The Lord has shown us that if you claim big things for Him, you’ll get them. That’s the reason for the ‘God Is Big’ sign on the wall. God isn’t limited in His thinking. We shouldn’t be either. Everything we have in the gym is big. It’s a means of bringing people in to hear the gospel—a conversation piece and a fun place as well.”

The Zuvers don’t push religion down the throats of their members. If the Lord leads, He’ll open the way to speak His Word, they believe. Many people come into the gym out of curiosity.

One curious man saw the ‘Christ is the Answer’ sign, which is located at the end of the room. (It’s 12 feet long!) He saw the ‘Gospel Barrel’ which holds tracts and devotional material. Bob spoke to him briefly about the Lord. But it was a year and a half later when the man came knocking on the Zuvers’ door at home. “I remember the things you told me,” he said to Bob, “and I’m ready now to accept the Lord.”

The same sign has been instrumental in other decision for Christ. One man who came to the Zuvers’ door early on a Sunday evening asked to see the gym. He didn’t see much more of the gym that the sign, though. “I’ve been running from God,” he said to Bob, “and I believe He sent me here to talk to you.”

The Zuvers work most frequently with youngsters. The police and probation officers send many kids to the gym. As a result, many of these have found Jesus Christ, including several gang members in Costa Mesa. Others come from Calvary Chapel, Melody Christian Center, and other churches located throughout the county that work with young people for physical rehabilitation. Bob helps rebuild their bodies, which many times have been wasted from drug addiction. And he encourages young converts to grow in grace at the same time.

Jean works with the ladies on Tuesdays and Thursdays in weight reduction and fitness programs.

Many have confided in her their special problems, and she has often been able to point them to the one answer, God’s Son. “A lady came in one day with a load of troubles,” she recalled. “She’d been coming in quite regularly, but I was waiting on the Lord before I approached her. When everyone else left, I was able to lead her to Christ. Now He is carrying her burdens.”

Zuver’s Gym has a young man named Mike who works out with the men on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and a half day on Saturday. He told me he had barely made it through high school. He had done time in jail for three counts of burglary, and he had taken drugs. God dealt with him through Campus Crusade, and at the age of 21, he accepted the Savior at a Billy Graham Crusade in Anaheim. When he first visited the gym, he was a longhaired new Christian.

“I was probably the first longhair Bob ever allowed in the gym,” he said with a smile as he pointed to the posted list of gym rules. “He’s pretty strict with the rules, be he bent them a bit that day! Finally I learned to cut my hair and clean up!”

Mike felt the Lord leading him into the gym business, but he had his doubts. “How can you have a ministry in a gym, I thought, with all those muscleheads running around?”

But he went to Bible college in preparation, and Bob gave him a job.

“I had a lot of learn about God’s ways, “Mike declared. “He’s so big and powerful that we can’t box Him in. The gym is not just a physical thing. We’re here to win souls. Nobody in the gym business has ever sprung forth in this way for God, to my knowledge.”

It’s the prayer of the Zuvers that other Christians interested in the business will catch the spirit and open Christ-oriented gyms throughout the country.

“We’d like to see a Christian gym in every major city,” they said fervently. “We believe that Christ is the answer for everyone, and we’re willing to help any church or Christian couple by teaching them how to run a gym and by setting up the gym at near cost. Something is needed to replace the non-Christian health clubs, and this is a fantastic means of winning people to the Lord!”

And this brings us right back to Bob’s statement earlier that “weightlifters need Christ, too!” And it’s a wide-open ministry.

The Gospel Herald, July 1, 1972

A Zuver’s Memory

The Pistol Packin’ Wife
Jean Zuver, late 1970s

It was 9PM, almost closing time at Zuver’s Gym in Costa Mesa, Ca. Ordained minister and muscleman Bob Zuver was about to lock up the gym and send every one home. I was waiting for Bob to come inside for his late dinner when I heard a woman’s voice yelling and cursing loudly at someone still inside the gym. “Come out here, you little cock roach or I ‘ll come in there to shoot you!” she yelled while swinging her hand gun in the air. She was yelling at her husband, who was still inside the gym.

Hearing the commotion, Bob stopped the angry woman at the door.  “Hold on, lady. You are not going to shoot your husband in MY Gym…tonight or any other night!” Then after he took the gun away from her, Bob brought her and the gun into our living room and sat her down on the couch.   After I made about my 100th pot of coffee  for the day, I sat down with her in the living room. After a few sips of the strong coffee, Bob said to her, “Okay, now let’s talk.”

After hearing her berate her husband, he learned they were a very violent couple, with drugs and booze being the main cause. Bob had been counseling the husband in the gym now for many months and he had mellowed out for the better. And this had angered his wife even more. She had truly intended to kill her husband that night.

Long story short: Bob and I were both able to quiet her down that night in our living room.  And she finally found peace  from our Spiritual counseling.  Later on the couple moved from Costa mesa to a new town to start a new life, and we worried they might slip back into drugs and booze again.  But many months later the wife called me on the phone to tell me all was well and they would not return to their old lifestyle. They told me they loved their new Christian lifestyle, found a great little home church and had even found a good little gym to work out at.

I thank God He led them to us so we could be a part of this happy ending.  God is still Strong. He is still Great and He certainly is STILL GOD!

Jean Zuver, 2012

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, 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.

Bob Zuver died August 22, 2008 in Lake Forest, California after a battle with cancer. Rest in peace, Bob; we thank you for the great memories.

Bob Zuver
Sportscope Magazine, 1977

Over 10,000 people have come through the doors of my gym in Costa Mesa at various stages of the elusive quest for physical fitness. Now, after 17 years of being the in the business of fitness, if there is any one principle I would communicate to an individual engaged in that pursuit, it would be this: moderation and balance.

Contrary to what may seem obvious, one of the greatest hindrances to the development of physical fitness is overzealousness. It leads a person to make impossible demands on the body. One day someone much like yourself decides it is time to shape up and shape up right now. You enroll in a health club, work out vigorously five or six times a week and even go on a diet of lettuce leaves and bird seed!

What happens to our fitness zealot (and I have seen it countless numbers of times)—you burn yourself out in no time at all physically, emotionally and psychologically. Training soon becomes a drudgery and in no time at all you are back, further back, than when you started: shackled, burdened and guilty.

Forget about trimming down and shaping up on thirty days or bust. Instead of being a burden requiring strict discipline, becoming physically fit can be and should be fun.

How? By being moderate and being consistent. Consider exercising in terms of a regular and lifetime investment, not as a short term all-out blitz. Fun and enjoyment comes from seeing results and improvement and continuing that way to get the most life has to offer in good health and good shape.

Then there is balance. Without emotional and psychological harmony, a person cannot be considered to be in a state of physical fitness. For 17 years I have had the opportunity to share that concept, the importance of the spiritual aspect of life.

As a minister, it was always me desire to have a church to have a positive effect on people’s lives. But instead, the Lord led me to a ministry of fitness, combining the development of the body and the spirit—development mentally, spiritually and physically, or total fitness.

When a person comes to my gym or my gym equipment center, they can experience three things: big, fun attractions, a serious program of physical development and the availability of spiritual counseling.

In keeping with my belief that total fitness is for everyone, Zuver’s Fitness Center is in the business of offering the finest and most durable gym and exercise equipment available…to churches, recreation centers, schools, institutions, homes and businesses. The line ranges from the original heavy duty Circle Gym weight training equipment to the lighter exercise equipment to meet the needs of anyone and everyone.

Zuver’s Fitness Center also offers complete training for anyone interested in owning and operating his own fitness and health center. We have a complete service to fully equip a gym, teach weight training, exercise and nutrition tot eh gym owner, as well as train him in the management of the new business.

It is a rewarding pursuit for me to offer this opportunity so that with a minimal investment, an individual can not only own his own business, but also be in the business of making total fitness—health and happiness—available to others.

Bob Zuver was clearly a man before his time—this was written in 1977!

Click here to enjoy our wonderful Zuver’s collection of photos and memories.

Zuver’s Fitness Center
Fitness is Fun
Orange County Chamber of Commerce, March 1977

Bob Zuver finds “The Blob”

Almost two decades of commitment to an ideal has benefited Orange Countians with the opportunity for a better way of life, Bob Zuver, owner and president of Zuver’s Fitness Center Inc, started out in a simple garage in Costa Mesa 17 years ago with the belief that men and women have the right to enjoy life to its fullest. He dedicated himself and his business to fulfilling that right in the lives of hundreds and thousands through the years with the concept that to live right is to be fit, and that fitness is fun.

Today, over 1,000 of the highest quality items of exercise and gym equipment in the nation can be found in Zuver’s Costa Mesa factory showroom.

Zuver’s inspiration and motivation is sustained by the conviction that his business is not just for his own profit, but for the profit of the lives of others. Bob says, “I’ve seen so many men fight and scratch to get ahead in the business works, and when they make headway or approach retirement, they are two wasted to enjoy it because they didn’t take the time or have the discipline to invest in their health and fitness along the way.”

Beyond a doubt, the business man is a prime target for high blood pressure and heart attack. With a small investment, says Zuver, a business establishment can have the equipment necessary to build and maintain fitness and even the very life of its executives and sales representatives. In fact, all across the country more and more firms are setting up small fitness rooms for their employees. It has even shown to improve actual business performance.

Zuver’s Fitness Center is totally unique in the field of weight and gym equipment manufacturing. There are the only firm in the nation to—

• Stock a complete line of highest quality equipment form light duty selectorized equipment to the country’s very best free weight equipment, used by the LA Rams for over four years now);

• Custom build any piece of equipment;

• Staff experts in weight training programs and nutritional guidance;

• Offer free and complete training for individuals interested in setting up, owning and operating their own gym business.

Bob Zuver describes himself as a man of deep person conviction who “will never compromise service or quality” for the sake of profit. “My business is to give others the best life has to offer.”

And now, here’s an article you’ll enjoy: Ken Leistner’s memories of Zuver’s.

Book Excerpt: The Bill Pearl Tribute from
Brother Iron, Sister Steel
by Dave Draper

It was the weekend before the Mr. America contest in 1965. My training was going well, as far as I could tell. Truth was I didn’t yet know how to tell. I looked okay, but compared to what or whom? I was working hard, eating hard, braced with hard discipline and felt hard. My first months at Muscle Beach were a crash course and I established training methods I would follow forever; but I learned the essentials quickly and settled into private, unmitigated early-morning workouts. They were silent, undistracted and unrelenting: no compromise and no competition. How sweet it is.

Two years of isolated training and I wasn’t sure who I had become. I moved with three different training partners at different stages and the reinforcement and friendship were priceless. They knew the Mr. A was on my mind and stood by my side; they were too close, however, to offer the critique and subjective counsel I now sought. Only an outsider could provide an evaluation and dare to place it in my hands. Who could I trust? I needed to know if I was ready for the competition in New York City only eight days away. I also needed a pair of posing trunks. Did I mention—procrastination was one of my specialties, followed by irresponsibility and dimwittedness? Nobody’s perfect.

If you got on Washington Boulevard and followed it east for five miles you’d find yourself in East Los Angeles and standing in front of Bill Pearl’s Gym. If you walked in the front door at 6 p.m. you’d find Bill, forearms pouring out of a cut-off sweatshirt, sitting behind a wood desk, chair tilted against the wall. If you arrived at 6 a.m. Bill Pearl was under a bar, bench pressing or squatting some absurd weight for a lot of reps. His training partners would be exuding energy, zeal and perspiration. For my first visit I chose the evening hour after a gentlemanly phone call to assure he would be there. Didn’t need to go to East Los Angeles if he wasn’t. Bill was the man I could and would trust with the deed of critical analysis; thumbs up or … er … thumbs down.

A legend at thirty-five, Mr. America, Mr. Universe — twice, served in the Navy, built and owned several gyms over the years, the man was known for his incredible power and ability to bend coins and tear license plates and phone books in half. “Hi, I’m Dave. Can you tell me if I have muscles? I don’t know.” “Sure, Dave. Why don’t you come here tomorrow morning at six when my huge partners and I can stand you under the skylight and take a good look. Bring your posing trunks.”

Me and my mouth. How could I say, “Never mind” or “I don’t have posing trunks?” There are the tough times, Buster, when you can’t go forward and you can’t go back and you can’t lie. The only thing left was the truth. I was right on time, my big grin and my big gym bag and my big feet. I found the skylight on my own but couldn’t find my posing trunks. No problemo, Big D, you can borrow mine. Bill’s generosity is also overwhelming. I didn’t ask for music. Silence was loud enough.

I hit a few shots like Joe Weider, The Master Blaster, had taught me. Joe could pose a molting ostrich and he’d win “the overall” and “most muscular” hands down at any pro show on the globe. The gold metallic trunks offered by Bill fit perfectly and I felt pumped by the end of my routine. The guys were excited and full of suggestions, which further warmed me up and put the disabling self-consciousness to rest.

A few more run-throughs with additions and deletions, a change in timing and tempo, posture, facial expression and attitude adjustments and I was a different animal. You can win this thing, Draper. I’m tellin’ ya.

Click here to buy this book — $24.95

Click here to read another excerpt

Click here to read an excerpt from Bill Pearl’s Beyond the Universe

Click here to read an excerpt of Dick Tyler’s West Coast Bodybuilding Scene

Dave Yarnell
Excerpts, reprinted with permission of Dave Yarnell

When I was recently asked about potentially doing a podcast about the original Westside Barbell crew, I thought it would be a great opportunity and agreed after learning a few details. I did a bit of research on these guys and wrote about them in my most recent book, “King Squat, Rise to Power”. I thought it would be a good idea to bone up and learn everything I could find about Bill West and his associates, and how they influenced the strength game in their time and are still an influence on the power game right to this very day.

All of us in the game are deeply indebted to the original Westside crew for all of the foundations that they laid in paving the way for what has become powerlifting and strength training doctrine.

While Bill West is a name that is familiar to many, even most lifters these days, not many know many details about the original Culver City California version of Westside Barbell or the many tremendous lifters and even bodybuilders that were associated with this crew in some way. A cursory search via any of the standard internet search tools will turn up a few tidbits, but a lot more work was required to gather all the information which I will present here.

My initial efforts left me somewhat frustrated, and if you have been wondering why there is not  much stuff out there, or at least why it is so hard to dig up.

~Dave Yarnell

Here is an excerpt from the Bill West section

The tremendous success of Bill and his friends and their revolutionary techniques did not go unnoticed. The famous bodybuilding entrepreneur, Joe Weider, realized Bill’s genius and from 1965 to approximately 1971, Bill wrote a series of articles in Joe’s magazine outlining the techniques that he popularized and that would later be used by virtually every powerlifter from then until the present day. Here is the impressive list of articles which revolutionized powerlifting—

1.) Dec. 1965 – Muscle Builder Magazine, “The Touch System”
Bill told of how the touching of the hands on the lifter in all three powerlifts helps him psychologically and physically get used to heavier weights.

In 1966 Bill wrote the following articles in Muscle Builder Magazine—

2.) The Bench Squat: How to make attempts feel lighter by squatting on a high bench or box

3.) Triceps Power Cheats: How to cheat on the triceps extension to produce higher poundage

4.) Powerlifting Aids: This was the first written account on wrist wraps, elbow wraps, knee wraps, flat shoes for the squat an deadlift, wide part of the belt in front for the squat and sponge rubber pads on the chest for benching

5.) Incline Power Rack Presses: How to properly use the power rack and incline press to isolate middle sticking points in the bench press

6.) The Extended Deadlift: How to provide a greater range of motion in the deadlift by placing blocks under the feet

7.) The Touch System in Bench Pressing: How to place the hands on the bench press bar which one’s partner is using to assist in a sticking point. This is now called forced reps.

8.) Using the Touch System in the Deadlift: How to make one’s deadlift feel lighter by using a physical assist from one’s partner

9.) Lockout Prones for Power: How to increase one’s bench press using the power rack

10.) Build Power with These Rack Deadlifts: How to increase one’s deadlifting using the rack

11.) 775-lb. Deadlift: How I Did It: The deadlift training philosophy of Bill West and George Frenn

Note that most of these articles were actually written by others, most often Armand Tanny, though the concepts were strictly those of Mr. West & crew.

Peanuts West, deadlifting from blocks

*Joe DiMarco told me that these blocks were solid planks, 9 inches thick, 12 inches wide and 3 feet long, with a 5/8 inch rubber mat on top, and that these served their purpose for about 20 years or more! He said most of the crew had the bar just around the bottom of the Kneecap at the bottom, and these were often done along with stiff legged deadlifts.*

This author defies any powerlifter to say he has never used at least one of these techniques at one time during his career. Practically all powerlifters today use a routine or power aid that was popularized by the great Bill West, Joe DiMarco and George Frenn. The Original Westside crew’s genuine and unselfish interest in helping others has created a science that has lasted and prevailed even unto the present day, and a lengthy list of records by male and female lifters who have used his techniques. On behalf of every powerlifter who has ever broken record, personal or otherwise, using techniques whose origins were unknown until now, this author would like to extend thanks to Bill “Peanuts” West.

Author’s Note: It is unfortunate that the author of the above article seems to have completely overlooked one of the key guys in the Culver City equation, Joe DiMarco, but his input will not go on unrecognized if I can help it.  Bill was a great personal trainer, and was thrilled when anyone made a gain, as if it was his own gain. While Bill was a great motivator and was the “sparkplug” that fired up as many as a dozen other lifters during a training session, he was not big on writing down programs or any sort of deep analysis of a program, which was more Joe’s role early on, and then as Frenn became more educated he began to analyze why their system was working as well as it did (this was around 1965, according to DiMarco).

A bit of the section on George Frenn

“It was then, almost as an afterthought that he held out his hand. “I’m George Frenn,” he said, still very quiet and polite, with no hint of expectation that I’d even remotely recognize the name. I later told some friends that I had done a squat workout with George Frenn, but I neglected to mention that I took 3 plates a side and then bowed out.”

Deadlifting Theories of George Frenn
by Ron Fernando (1981)

As older followers of Powerlifting will recall, PL in the early 60’s was popularized by George Frenn of North Hollywood, Ca. Frenn has always been outspoken regarding his theories and their application. Indeed, he has every reason to be, since his 2100 lb total (853 [actual weight] – 520 – 740) was years ahead of his time. There are some who may argue that there were excessive wraps – even ‘bed sheet technology’, used in the squat and that the depth was not what it should have been, and in the bench press the use of elbow wraps (a legality in those days) might give a rather distorted view of his total. Regardless of these arguments, few can voice any doubt as to the authenticity of Frenn’s deadlifting and back power. The 775 he pulled was a record, and in addition, Frenn exhibited awesome displays of back power in Olympic lifting movements which enabled him to be a success in that field as well. Oh, and let’s not forget that he was a bonafide Olympian, who for a time was the ranking hammer thrower in the United States and one of the tops in the world. Reliable sources indicate to me that he still has the ability to throw better than 225 feet in the hammer and 42 plus in the weight throw (an event in which he still holds the world record!). His powerful back has enabled him to successfully bridge the three rather diverse worlds of powerlifting, Olympic lifting and weight throwing. I had a chance to speak with George at length about back training and here are some of the pertinent points of the interview.

PLUSA (Powerlifting USA magazine): George, from the years of experience that you  have described, would you give your views on the deadlift.

FRENN: Basically, there should be one main philosophy behind deadlifting, something that I have shown countless times and that many of the other great lifters have shown. That is, the willingness to continually lift heavy weights. You have to mentally, emotionally train yourself to pull those big numbers, regardless of the time of year it is.

A good analogy would be that you cannot train yourself to throw a 16-lb ball 230 feet until you can throw a 14 lb 230 feet. Peter Karpovich was very succinct in his theories – in order to get stronger, you have to lift progressively heavier weights.

PLUSA: Well, what about cycling – that seems to be the most logical approach towards peaking out and avoiding overtraining.

FRENN: From what I know about cycling, I personally don’t believe in it per se. Yes, of course, I realize that one cannot (especially in the beginning stages of his career) lift max 100% weights every session – however, even a beginner can respond well to utilizing 85% of max for a certain number of reps. Cycling is fallacious to me because it seems that the environment controls the lifter – you have to control the environment. By building up a physical ‘bank’ of strength and emotion by simply doing the lift with heavier and heavier weights, one can always ‘peak’ for any given meet. For example, I entered (and won) the YMCA Nationals in 1976. Prior to the meet the very best that I had pulled in the deadlift was 585×5 reps. Yet by drawing on these reserves in my ‘bank’ I was able to pull a 765 that day.

A little of the section on Pat Casey

I’m Going to Bench Press 600 Pounds!
by Pat Casey, as told to Bill Pearl (1964)

Strength is something that has fascinated me ever since I was old enough to realize that some people are stronger than others. Even as a young boy I can remember trying to pick up heavy objects just to see if I could do it. This is probably a normal thing to do because most youngsters admire strength. Yet, this is something that I have never seemed to outgrow. I still admire strong men and have always trained with the intention of becoming stronger than anyone right from my first workout, which was over eight years ago. I started training when I was 15 years old and weighed around 180 pounds at the time. While in high school my goal was to do a bench press of 400 pounds or more before I graduated. During my senior year at Washington High School in Los Angeles, at the age of 17, I was approximately 40 pounds heavier in bodyweight and was able to do a strict bench press with 420 pounds and this with a two-second pause at the chest. Previously I felt that if I could do a 400 pound bench press I would be well satisfied. But now I find myself changing my goals and striving for higher poundage.

Pat Casey

I wanted to bench press 500 pounds before I was 20 years old. Again I reached this goal. In my mind I hoped that someday I could become the world’s champion bench presser, and this is the goal I’m working towards now. During my career I have collected much material on the exceptionally strong men in the weight field and have studied and pondered their training programs in an effort to extract anything that I felt would benefit me.

In this category were Marvin Eder, John Grimek, Buster McShane, Doug Hepburn and Paul Anderson, just to name a few, all of whom have been a great deal of help to me in reaching my goal. Personally I feel that Marvin Eder was one of the strongest men, pound for pound, I had ever heard about for overall strength. In fact I tried to fashion my early training after his. Also, I always admired Doug Hepburn, who actually was not a big man at the beginning of his weight lifting career (weighing  approximately 160 pounds), nor was he any stronger than the average person. But because of his tremendous drive he was able to add well over 100 pounds of bodyweight to his frame and became one of the strongest men in the world. Anyone who can take 500 pounds off the rack and press it overhead has to be strong! Buster McShane, a lifter from Belfast, Ireland, has been the British Empire 165 pound weightlifting champion a number of times. He also has done an official bench press of 450 pounds at this bodyweight.

We corresponded for several years; passing information back and forth that we felt would benefit one another in improving our bench press. Little has to be said as to why I admire John Grimek. I don’t know of any bodybuilder who has not had Grimek as his idol. Here is a man who has held numerous weightlifting titles and a physique that is ideal. He not only has the physique that is Herculean in appearance but has the basic power to back it. I have talked to many of the top physique stars and they all seem to agree that John has done more for bodybuilding than any other person, and has set many of the standards that we follow today. Paul Anderson has always been admired by me because of his exceptional strength and the way he can toy with such tremendous weights. This always amazed me. I find it hard to believe that anyone can do a full squat with 1100 pounds, when my back nearly breaks under 600 pounds. He has given all of us power lifters many goals to shoot towards.

Last July I set an unofficial world’s record in the bench press with 541 pounds at San Pedro, California. My official world record was 530 pounds. This was made in Pasadena, California during 1963. My goals have changed again, however. I am now shooting for a 600 pound bench press and I am confident that I can do it with the training program I am following. In the past few years I have changed my training program many times with the idea of finding ways to increase my power in this lift. Lately I have confined most of my training to four different exercises, and these four seem to help me more than all the others I used to employ in the past. These exercises are: (1) the incline press with dumbbells, (2) parallel bar dips, (3) triceps press on a flat bench, and (4) the regular bench press. I have achieved maximum gains in the bench press while using these exercises. In my own case I use very heavy weights, low repetitions and repeat each exercise in several sets.

To order securely, go here, please. To see Dave Yarnell’s other books, go here.

The Association of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen (AOBS), an iron enthusiast group going strong since Vic Boff started it in 1982, awarded Dave its Vic Boff Achievement Award in 2007. We had a wonderful Jersey weekend with the group, the noise level increasing hour by hour, until car by car the camaraderie drifted back toward its origins. Now that was a weekend to remember, which I did right here.

Happily, the AOBS dinner is not one of those nostalgic “remember when” reminiscences—oh, no, these guys get this thing ramped up annually. In fact, your sweet memories, your big guns, your hefty deadlift, your might grip can be a part of this year’s camaraderie during which Olympian Frank Capsouras, thinking-man’s Mr. Universe Bob Gajda and everyone’s favorite Eugen Sandow will be honored.

You’ll need to preregister first, then get yourself over to Jersey, Newark, to be exact, Saturday, September 17th. Plan to spend the day—you may even find the daytime more exciting than the dinner event—and if you can, hang around for breakfast Sunday, because you’re really going to have a hard time saying goodbye as Saturday turns into Sunday.

Scheduled events include a collector’s historical meeting (those guys tell tall tales), followed by an Olympic Lifting Made Easy seminar, then come the cool kids: Oldetime Strongman Feats. Seriously, you don’t want to miss a minute—the memories start rolling before the sun sets on Friday.

Here are the rest of the details (not that you’d need more—just go sign up!): AOBS Reunion Dinner.

by Dave Draper

Hollywood isn’t just around the corner. It’s a convoluted place where “stars” are born and celebrities of film and television, rock n’ roll work, congregate, celebrate, live n’ play. Hollywood is famous and infamous, a stretch of boulevards that sparkle at night and attract the weirdest creatures known to man. It is alluring hillsides, scrappy and steep upon which stilted houses perch and shaded hideaways snuggle. Privacy, secrecy, mystery and the unknown reside as an odd family in need of no one but each other.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls and you muscle worshipers. Welcome to David the Gladiator. Tonight’s presentation?…” The words roll off my tongue as if I were again before the camera on Saturday night in 1963. “Tonight’s presentation stars Reg Park, Steve Reeves and Brad Harris in…”

I had seen half a dozen movies and watched less than fifty fidgety hours of TV before I left the swampy shores of Secaucus, New Jersey, for the emerald and gold of Santa Monica, California. I was clueless, penniless, green as unpicked apples and dumb. I was also quiet and in my silence people thought I was, perhaps, cool. Wrong, but it got me through the first months during which time I grew wider and like a chameleon took on the colors of my surroundings.

I discovered something soon after my Muscle Beach arrival: acceptance and indoctrination. Nobody worked. Wes, the lovable gym keeper, responsibly delivered mail for the postal service. Mighty Merle was a manager at Sears and Ronnie “Lead-us” taught geometry at Venice High. The rest of the guys were dutiful members of the Screen Extras Guild. Their chosen profession required that they call the SEG hotline late each morning to inquire of possible “extra work” for the following day. Extra work constituted the presence of any background person needed to complete a scene being filmed for either motion picture or television. You know the roll?—?the soldier on the battlefield, the audience at the opera or the man and lady chatting on the street corner. If work prevails, they spend the day on the set playing cards and gabbing until their services are needed. This activity provided a neat day’s pay and life was good. On an outstanding day you picked up a bit part, which calls for some action or speaking. “When the Captain arrives on the scene, get out of the police car and hand him the gun. Say to him, ‘I found it in the bushes, Sir.’?” Lights, camera, action. Heightened the fun and the wage considerably.

Bad days meant no work and you filed for unemployment and hung?out at the beach and lifted weights. Some guys hung out the whole summer as filming typically slowed to a crawl. Nice work if you can get it.

These guys and gals had a trim network going and when work was coming up in the future they were tuned in. The prosperous seasons were a gift from heaven; an ongoing extra part on a TV series that ran for many seasons was diamond-studded and came only to the honored, privileged and blessed. Everybody I knew was a soldier on the ’60s favorite, Combat. I think Zabo was a chief, my training partner was a spy and a few big blond dudes were enemy officers. I thought they had substantial occupations, Hollywood and all, and hoped I’d visit the place, and Disneyland, too, one day. Can’t do everything at once. I gotta get huge. I gotta get a car.

Six months in sunny California and New Jersey faded to gray. One of my most-prized possessions is my East Coast history. You don’t know the West unless you know the East. If you haven’t spent time in New York City, you’re simply guessing about the rest of the world. Who said that?

Anyway, one ordinary day word circulated through the gyms that the popular Los Angeles television station KHJ on Melrose in Hollywood was looking for a character to play the host of their upcoming Saturday prime-time evening show. The producers purchased a year’s supply of male-hero films from the past?—?Victor Mature, Errol Flynn, Steve Reeves, those guys?—?and needed someone to introduce the flicks and visit with the audience at breaks throughout the presentation.

What ensued was a common Hollywood peculiarity, a cattle call, where everyone who in any way resembled the sought-after player shows up in flipflops and jeans carrying lunch in a paper bag. One by one you’re sorted out by an assistant and his assistant until only a handful are surviving. I couldn’t resist joining in the action.

Vince Gironda was sitting on a curb in front of the studio drinking a cup of coffee. He was called before the camera for a screen test while I milled about the remaining short list like a stray dog. Is that Reg Lewis over there with Ray Rutledge and Dick Sweet, my training partner? My name was announced and I was ushered onto a sound stage, placed before a marker and asked to read a handheld teleprompter that said, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and you muscle worshippers. Welcome to The Gladiator. Tonight men with swords and shields will capture your hearts.”

It must have been my New Joisey accent. You ever hear a frightened bodybuilder from Secaucus pronounce “girls” or “worshippers”? They drop the R’s and kick ’em around da flaw. I got the part and they called the show David The Gladiator. Highest Saturday night ratings. I got me a car.

As you read in Dave’s column or saw in the forum or elsewhere on the internet, Zabo (real name Irwin) Koszweski died over the weekend. His death came suddenly; Dave talked with him about three, maybe four weeks ago, and he was fine, at home in Venice. A couple weeks later, he spent a few days in an LA hospital with pneumonia, was released to and went east to his daughter’s where he died about a week later.

Named by Dick Tyler in 1969 as most muscular man he’d ever seen, Zabo was always known as the world’s all-time best ab man.

In the caption for this photo in West Coast Bodybuilding Scene, Dave wrote, “I can tell by the smile this is Zabo, also known as the “Chief.” He answers to Irwin Koszewski, but only if it’s time to eat. I call him Zabe.

More than anyone I know, Zabe epitomizes Muscle Beach with his natural lifestyle, Zen attitude and peaceful philosophy.  After leaving the army in the mid-’40s, he’s seldom been more than a mile from the Muscle Beach sand and allure.

For some inexplicable reason he’s famed for his abdominal development. Go figure.”

Writes Dick Tyler, also in West Coast Bodybuilding Scene,

I was talking to Zabo the other day at Joe Gold’s muscle pit in Venice. We were on the subject of strength stunts when Zabo looks at me and sez, “Dick, see if you can hold this broom parallel to the floor with your arm at your side.”

I looked at the broom for it moment. It was a long one all right and all you could use to keep the broom parallel was the strength of your wrist. I took hold of the handle of the broom and seemed to have no trouble in holding it level to the ground.

Zabo just smiled, “No, Dick, not yet—I mean with a two-and-a-half-pound plate on the end.”

I checked myself in the mirror. Gosh, your forearms look powerful, Dick ole boy, I was thinking. A minute or so passed.

“Go ahead, Dick, try it,” said Zabo.

He didn’t know it (or maybe he did), but for that last minute I had been straining my guts out. The blasted thing hadn’t moved an inch off the floor. I strained again, but the end of the broom lay there like a rock. Zabo said, “Here, I’ll show you what I mean.” And proceeded to lift the thing off the floor and parallel.

“Ah, ha,” I said like a big rear end, “you had your elbow bent a little.”

“Uh, yeah,” was Zabo’s only reply as he handed the broom back to me. Well, to end this little drama, let me just say try as I might, I couldn’t lift that broom with its plate weight so much as an inch off the ground. I left the gym a pretty disgruntled guy.

And later, we find:

Have you ever had one of those days when you felt stronger than usual? Most of us have. You know, you feel you can tear apart a piece of wet tissue without working up a sweat. Well, I felt that way a few days ago. To make things better we had a pretty easy day of it here at the Weider West Coast office. It was time to go home and the summer sun was still shining.

“I feel unbeatable,” I said to myself as I started to get into my car. That, good buddies, is as far as I should have gone. “I know,” I continued, “I’ll drop by Joe Gold’s muscle market and see if I can buy a contest with Zabo.”

You see, a week or so earlier Zabo had done a strength stunt I was unable to duplicate. This bugged me. Now that I was feeling mighty, it was time for revenge. Besides, maybe I could catch him when he was sick or something. So a few minutes later I walked into the gym. There was Zabo in the middle of the floor, instructing. He looked discouragingly healthy as usual.

Undaunted, I went up to him and said, “Zabe, babe, what’s new?”

“Okay, Dick, try this one,” he answered as we went over to the thigh curl bench. (He seems to know what I’m thinking all the time.) The bench was very high. Zabo stood beside it for a second. He leaped up and landed on top with both feet.

“Can you do that?” he asked. “A lot of guys are afraid they’ll break a leg trying.”

I looked at the bench and then at Zabo. Without saying another word I walked out of the gym. Driving home I was thinking I could at least kick my dog when I got to the house. After all, why waste all that power?

What a character! What a pair of characters, in fact — Dick and Zabo must have been a riot together.

We’re going to miss that guy. Zabo was 84.

as reported by Wayne Gallasch

September, 1970, I had the pleasure to be present at this very famous contest. Why was it so special? It was very special for two reasons.

The first was historical – it was Arnold’s last contest appearance in the British NABBA Universe. This was the contest which started in England in 1948 and where the first three winners were John Grimek, Steve Reeves and Reg Park. All legends of the sport of bodybuilding.

The second reason was personal. It was the first ever Universe contest I had attended on what was my first ever visit to England. I had heard that this would be Arnold’s last appearance in this event as he attempted to win his 4th NABBA Universe title. It seemed to be a perfect time to make the pilgrimage to London.

The Prejudging was held on Friday, 18th September in the Ballroom of the old Royal Hotel in London. It has since been demolished and rebuilt.

I arrived at the Prejudging and found that the audience mostly had to stand behind the judges as only a few chairs were provided. As I am not tall I found a chair to stand on, along with many others. A photo of the audience taken from behind Dave, Reg Park and Arnold appears on this site.

After the Amateur classes’ prejudging it finally got to the Professional Tall Class. To my pleasant amazement the class also included Dave Draper from USA, and 3 times former winner Reg Park. Reg was absolutely idolised by the British audience and even today is probably the all-time most popular British bodybuilder along with Dorian Yates.

As the class came out in front of the Judges, lead by a very confident Arnold, it was obvious that one man was missing. The contest organizer Oscar Heidenstam called for Dave Draper to please come out onto the judging stage area. Still no Dave. Then came a second call for Dave to please appear “immediately”. Finally a third and very testy final call for Dave to come out immediately or the judging would commence without him. Oscar said that Dave would be disqualified from the contest, and I was feeling worried for Dave. At the very last moment he came running out onto the stage to the great relief of everyone. The story I heard later was that Dave was left in the pump-up area a long way from the stage, and didn’t hear the subsequent calls that it was time to come out for the Prejudging. I believe there was only one call that Dave heard so I look forward to hearing Dave’s side of the story.

Dave was in superb shape and it seemed to be a battle primarily between Arnold and Dave for first and second. Dave Draper was the big, blonde, all-American guy; Arnold was the unbeatable champion and Reg Park was a great bodybuilder who first won the Mr. Universe in 1951. Reg was in his 40′s and past his peak and I noted from the Prejudging that most attention seemed to be focussed on Arnold versus Reg. Dave was hanging right in there too, but the audience cheered loudest for Reg.

Dave’s arms were absolutely outstanding with full round bicep peaks and nice balance in his triceps. Arnold’s arms in comparison were always great in their size and bicep shape but the complimentary triceps hang did not match the total shape of Dave’s arms. Chest was a close thing between Dave’s huge pecs with their deep, wide flair and Arnold’s thickness and shape. Dave clearly had the best back and lats in the whole competition and his lat spread had the rather conservative British fans whistling and screaming for more. A clear win for Dave in this compulsory pose. Abs and legs were both fine and in good proportion to the rest of the physique and certainly not a problem. Posing was a series of Dave’s trademark poses which were loved by the fans and his whole routine seemed to be over too quickly. Dave certainly left the fans begging for more.

The Prejudging came to an end with Arnold clearly the certain winner and in my opinion Dave in second place from Reg in 3rd place. The next day was the actual show, held at 1.40 p.m. at the famous Victoria Palace Theatre, London. To my amazement at the end of a wonderful show, Reg Park was announced 2nd and Dave placed 3rd. Boyer Coe won the short Professional Class with Arnold taking out the overall Professional title. Frank Zane won the overall Amateur Mr. Universe title.

I felt that if Dave had gone back to the Universe again the next year then victory in this class would certainly have been his. With his golden tan and shy good looks Dave was a hit with everyone.

There is an interesting side story to this event. I discovered at the Prejudging that cameras, both photo and movie, were not allowed. I was also warned that no filming was allowed at the show to be held at the Victoria Palace theatre the next day.

I duly arrived at the theatre with my super 8 film camera hidden in a brown paper bag with my sandwich! With ushers continually patrolling the aisles of the theatre looking for illegal cameras and unofficial photographers, I filmed what I could with my movie camera hidden inside the paper bag. Naturally the film is a bit jerky being shot from half way back in the theatre and with me hiding it when ever I saw an usher out of the corner of my eye. But a rare and classic piece of history was saved for posterity. As one of our local politicians said, “bad rules and regulations are meant to be broken”! This footage now on video constitutes the first contest video I ever produced and I am pleased to say it is now something of a classic (V-108). It also captures an image of Dave which although brief, is now a part of bodybuilding history.

Kind regards,
Wayne Gallasch, GMV Bodybuilding

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, 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.

Edited September 2008: Bob Zuver died August 22, 2008 in Lake Forest, California after a battle with cancer. Rest in peace, Bob; we thank you for the great memories.

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.

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