Bill Keyes' Best Bodybuilding Contest Memory

1975. I saw probably the best show I've ever seen in September of that year in San Francisco at the California Hall on Polk Street (now the California Culinary Academy!).

The event was the first big time bodybuilding show in Northern California since the 50s. My wife and best friend and I arrived at the Hall two hours before showtime with our tickets. The line extended for three blocks and was three and four people wide. Once they opened the doors it was a complete mob scene to get inside, just a mad rush. Got separated from my buddy and we didn't see each other again 'til the show was over.

The venue was absolutely packed — no room to sit down as everyone was standing the entire show. The wild thing was that no one cared about being squished up against the person next to them. The crowd energy was incredibly high.

Some of the posing exhibitions were included in the film "Pumping Iron." The shots from this venue were from behind the posers looking out into the crowd who were literally hanging from the rafters. It was an old style hall with huge balconies and mezzanines.

I think the contest itself was the Western America but it really didn't make any difference. It was 6 weeks out from the '75 Olympia. Guest posers were Arnold, Franco, Frank Zane, Ken Waller, and Ed Corney — all in outstanding shape. Arnold and Franco posed individually then came back for a dual posing routine that was truly magnificent. Zane's routine was great but 'soft.' The guy who truly brought the house down, though, was Ed Corney. Best shape of his life and an 'out of this world' poser — elegant but 'strong', if you know what I mean. Much of what you see in contests today came from Ed.

At the conclusion of the show you just felt this 'lightness of being' inside. As everyone streamed outside there was no pushing or shoving. The entire crowd was in a great mood —on a high from what they had just seen.

On the sidewalk my buddy found us and his eyes were literally glowing. Ken was a guy who had done nothing athletic in his life except a little swimming in high school until that summer when he asked me to prepare a routine for him just to 'shape up.' That night at our late dinner, he had me prepare a real routine for him and he's been lifting ever since.

Bill K.

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