Dick Tyler Gossip Roundup

Mr. America, 1965
Dick Tyler, Mr. America Magazine, March 1966

The Blond Bomber Emerges Victorious
In a Hotly Contested Event

By Dick Tyler
(West Coast Editor)

The pilot has just announced that we are now 35,000 feet above the surface of the earth winging our way back to California. Looking through the window, I can see below the gold of the setting sun shining on the almost glassy smooth surface of the clouds. Every now and then this serene plain is broken up by dramatic formations that seem to erupt into billowing puffs and cones. All of this is splashed with hues of gold and contrasting lines of shadow. It is a scene that could be a setting for the golden chariots of Die Walkure or a playground for the gods of Mt. Olympus. To complement this visual grandeur, the airlines supply a stereophonic sound system through headphones that complete a dazzling assault upon the senses.

With my eyes lingering on these scenes, my mind tugs on my memory and lets me know that I must get to the task to which I have been assigned, that of relating to you the events of the evening before. This is not difficult, for the memory of last night illuminates the shadows of forgetfulness and turns my hand to the joyful retelling of a great event.

It was only a few days earlier that I arrived in New York, a little lonely but anxious to see the big IFBB show for which I had traveled some 3,000 miles to witness. It wasn't long, however, before this loneliness was swept away with the activities on the contest.

At the New Jersey Headquarters everyone was scurrying about the happy confusion that comes from anticipation. One of the favorite topics of conversation was Dave Draper. Since no one on the East coast has seen Dave for several years, their curiosity quite naturally was high.

"I know he looks great in the pictures, but film is one thing, flesh is another. To me, he's still just big smooth Dave Draper." This seemed to be the general consensus. All liked Dave for the nice guy he is, but he was always just big and smooth, he'd never have any cuts. Most just seemed to wonder why Joe Weider has 'stuck his neck out' for a guy who had only won the title of Mr. New Jersey a few years ago. Since that time Joe has publicized Dave as one of the coming greats of the bodybuilding world.

Even I wondered why Joe would go so far. Covers almost every other month and a steady flow of articles that made big Dave famous without even being seen by a vast majority of the bodybuilding public. Joe explained it to me that he felt that when he first met Dave he had the potential to become a great champion.

"He possessed a great bone structure and splendid muscle shape and size. The only thing lacking was muscle separation and definition. At one time there might have been little hope for someone like Dave but with the modern methods I have developed over the years, my continually improving equipment, and new nutritional aids like CRASH CUT, I felt I could do for Dave what others wouldn't even begin to try. You also have to have dedication and bomb your body every day. Dave has this quality, that's one of the reasons I felt he should reach the top. Dick, I'm staking a great deal of my reputation as a trainer on whether Draper makes a good showing."

Joe's eyes were narrowed and his jaw was set. I could tell how much this meant to him.

One evening before the contest we had dinner with two of the foreign contestants. On several occasions they would make remarks about "fat" Dave Draper. To these men Draper was a joke. On leaving the restaurant they accidentally bumped into a fat man who was entering. "Oh, hello Dave," they said laughingly.

"Just wait till you see." I snapped back at them. "You're all in for a big surprise. You'll eat your words before the night of the contest is over." They paid no attention. Joe just looked at me in a resigned way as if he had been through this before many times.

Now came the day of the big show. This was not a place for weak hearts. It takes courage to stand up for your beliefs when all about you think you are wrong. No one was about to back down. I was standing at the stage door as the entrants began to arrive. You can always tell the California boys by their great tans. There was Nista looking better than ever followed by Zabo Koszewski and Chet Yorton.

When Dave Draper arrived he came over to me and said, "Well, Dick, I guess this is it." He looked like he was on his way to an execution. He opened his traveling bag and took out a beautiful pair of light blue trunks that were interwoven with silver. "Bill Pearl gave me this pair of trunks for the contest. He said it was the only time he had ever done that." I told Joe about it. All he would say was "Great, now if he has the muscle to stuff into them he might do well."

During the pre-judging you could see that it was going to be close. Nista looked in top shape, Koszewski was in the best shape of his life. Mike Ferraro was sensational and a host of others looked like they could take the title. When Draper posed you could see the looks of surprise on everyone's face. Chet Yorton, with blood in his eye, looked like one of the very best. I did feel that he looked a little heavy. Time would tell. After the pre-judging was over all that was left to do was to wait until the band started to play and the curtains parted.

At exactly 8:15 P.M., the strains of the Star Spangled Banner filled the huge Brooklyn Academy of Music. It was standing room only. The balconies were filled as were the boxes. People were even standing in the aisles. The tension was terrific, like we were all waiting for something great to happen.

Things started off just right with the Miss Americana contest. That, my friends, is a stimulating way to begin any evening. The title was won by Vera Ann Schultz. What a beautiful face, figure and skin she has. She seemed to have a lovely personality to go with it all. Hope her body doesn't go to her head. In second place was Priscilla Paquette while third went to Suzanne Karter.

Now, it was time for the Mr. America contest. Bud Parker went to the microphone and the curtains parted again. One by one of the greatest physiques in America took their place on the posing dias. Bernie Booth, while not tall had such excellent proportions that his physique would have worn well at any height. My good friend, Zabo Koszewski delighted the huge crowd by giving one of the best displays of the night. "Now, that shows what a real pro can do." said Joe Weider who was sitting in the next seat.

On they came. Some of the best built men I have ever seen under any roof. Johnny Maldonado was another of the smaller fellows with muscles that he knows just what to do with. Mike Ferraro was a surprise entry. With a little more work on his deltoids and arms Mike will be unbeatable. His lats erupt like two giant crescents of muscle from the rib cage. His pecs balloon out like two enormous fists. His legs are powerful and shapely. While his arm and deltoids have spendid separation and shape, all they lack is size. Mike's going to be a real world beater soon.

Joe Nista, Jr. won the short man's class. Joe has perfect proportions. The only thing that Joe has chiseled in his life is the muscles onto his body. His great muscles, personality and that great California tan make him a winner every time.

By now the audience was getting "muscle logged" with the great array they had seen. On they came. Finally, Bud Parker announced the name Chet Yorton. Pandemonium broke loose. Whatever my doubts might have been during the pre-judging, they vanished as Chet started his routine. For Herculean mass, Chet is second to none. With each pose he looked better until I thought those assembled to watch would go wild. Clearly he was the one to beat.

Finally, after a few more contestants, out came big David Draper. When his name was announced the crowd let loose with a burst of cheers. As he stepped under the posing light another cheer went up for before them they saw a bronzed colossus the likes of which they hadn't thought possible. Words alone cannot do justice to Dave's physique. His is probably one of the most dramatic combinations of size, shape and definition I have ever seen.

"I want him!" yelled the beautiful girl sitting behind us. "Who me?" I said hopefully. "No, stupid, that blond giant on the stage." "Oh." I said.

Win, loose or draw, Joe had proven his point. Weider methods had won again, and in such a magnificent way. Since only the judges knew the decision until the winners were announced, Joe had to sit there biting his nails along with all the rest of us.

The emcee stepped once again to the microphone. The winner of Best Arms- Dave Draper; Best Chest - Tommy Aybar; Best Back - Chet Yorton; Best Abdominals - you guessed it, the abdominal sandman from Venice Beach Zabo Koszewski; and Best Legs - Chet Yorton. The winner of the title the Most Muscular Man in America was Chet Yorton.

All right! Who won the Mr. America title? The emcee stepped to the microphone. The winner of the title Mr. America for 1965 is... Dave Draper. What a wild scene followed.

And folks, the evening had just begun.

Stay tuned for another installment...