Dick Tyler Gossip Roundup

Muscle Builder Gossip Roundup
Dick Tyler on the West Coast, March 1970

It's sunny and warm here in my backyard in North Hollywood. September and New York seems awfully far away and yet as you read this the Mr. Olympia contest is just about to be written into the record. Even now the "Olympia" fever is beginning to make my massive biceps twitch with anticipation. Joe Weider didn’t help any when he called to tell me of the latest happenings. First of all, I started to tell Joe about how incredible Schwarzenegger looked lately, but before I could finish Joe was telling me that the IFBB director from Belgium, Julian Blommaert had a sensational discovery that would make Arnold look like a child. I cleared my throat.

"W-what did you say, Joe?" I said, "Maybe we have a bad connection. I thought I heard you say that some creature would make big Arnold look like a kid."

"You heard correctly," said Joe with a laugh. " According to Blommaert this guy is 6' 3” and weighs 260 lbs. and is built like a mountain with all the jagged ridges to go with a man who should be the greatest bodybuilder in the world."

The whole conversation left me doubting my sanity. I remember when it was said that no one would ever be as great as John Grimek (and in some ways I believe this is still so). In more recent times it was Reg Park, then Bill Pearl, then Harold Poole, then Larry Scott, Dave Draper, Chuck Sipes, Sergio Oliva, Arnold Schwarzenegger and now a new one. Each of the aforementioned men has, at one time, been considered the greatest in the world. At the present, this year's Mr. Olympia contest might very well decide who the greatest in the world is. Now I hear about this new guy who'll also be at the contest and I don't know what to think. Just when I reconcile my thinking to the fact that I know all the answers along comes the startling info about a bodybuilder better than all the rest. I'd better stop trying to set limits on physical standards. After all, if God had wanted men to fly he'd have given him wings, wouldn't he?

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Here's another award presented by the Tyler Foundation for Ignominious Events. Unfortunately for us, but fortunately for him, we don't know the recipient's name. The award is for having "The Most Guts of the Year." It might be some time before someone more deserving comes along. The award goes to the person or persons who stole Arnold Schwarzenegger's wallet at the beach. It seems that Arnold left his blanket with the wallet on it for a few moments. The thief saw the giant walking away and promptly dashed over to do his dastardly deed. Right now the "Oak" is a little lighter on one hip and a lot madder than he’s been in a long time. Now doesn't that take courage to see someone like Arnold and still risk life and limb for a couple of bucks? This same person is in line for another award if Arnold ever catches him. It's the "Jogging for Health" award which is obviously earned by "jogging" as fast as you can in the opposite direction from the big man.

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The other day the former IFBB Mr. Western America Dan Mackey dropped by the office. I knew it was him the moment I pulled into the parking lot. Not just by the muscles he wears but by the roses. No, he doesn't hold one between his teeth or wear one in his hair -- he wears them on his eyes. Let me explain before you think I've had mental atrophy. You see, Dan wears sun glasses that are rose colored. At first I thought it was pretty dumb -- that is before I put them on myself. You know a view of the world through rose colored glasses ain't bad. I almost hated to give them back and look at a three color globe again. Soon Dave Draper came out of the office. In a few minutes Art Aeller drove up with his wife Josie and Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was getting crowded. Finally Bill McArdle arrived and I thought we might hold a convention. Bill showed us some paintings he had done for his mother. They were really something. I'm not an art critic but I sure know what I like. I don't know if Bill ever plans to sell some of his work but I'd sure be in the market if he does. I'm also in the market for rose colored glasses but the people in the stores think I'm selling a philosophy instead of trying to buy product.

***

I was talking with my good friend, Dr. Ken Sommer, the other day. Not only is he one of the better chiropractors in town but he's also one of the finer lifters and AAU officials in the Los Angeles area. During our conversation we got to talking about physique competition (what else?) .He gave me a very interesting bit of news which I'll pass on to those eagerly reading these lines. It concerns Chuck Fautz in particular but what is more important, it might concern the future of amateur bodybuilding. As you know by now, Chuck won the IFBB Mr. Southern California title earlier this year. Though he received no money for the title, the AAU can be quite arbitrary about what it considers "amateur." Just walking out of step is sometimes enough to make a man a pro. Not long ago some AAU officials moved to try to reinstate Chuck so that he could enter the AAU Mr. California contest. They succeeded, only to have the rug pulled from under them when others, including some contestants, caused an uproar. The fact that he wasn't allowed to compete isn't the important thing. The fact that some of the AAU officials tried and nearly succeeded in reinstating him is. Let's be realistic about the situation. Amateurism is impossible to enforce. Just trying to breeds deceit and hypocrisy. Let's have open meets like they have in golf. Those who want to be called amateurs can refuse money and let those who like the long green be the pros. Someday I predict this will happen and then we can all relax.

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The Red Coats are coming. This time by air instead of land or sea. The last time England sent us a great bodybuilder it was packaged in the form of Reg Park. Now it might be Art Peacock's turn. Art isn't in the class of a Reg Park yet but he has the potential to be one of the best around. It took just about nine months of serious training to place Peacock in the muscle orbit. One of those who encouraged him the most was Art Zeller . For a long time he just trained to keep in shape. Then Art convinced him that he could become a champion. He started off by winning the Jr. Mr. Los Angeles Most Muscular title. Just a few nights ago he won the Most Muscular Man in California title. It's always good to have muscles for England --"alive, alive, oh!" I'll get a story on him soon.

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The other day I was getting an interview with a bodybuilder when Art Zeller starts to kibitz or is that Kibutz. This is nothing new for Art. He's not content just taking his snapshots (that remark should drive him nuts). He also likes to manage the talk part as well. He finally reached a new height in nerve at the interview when he started suggesting to the bodybuilder what answers should be forthcoming to my questions. It really got bad when he suggested what I ask. The final straw came when he told me that I should take down the funny things he said. I told him I would if he ever did. The sacrifices I make for some crummy tintypes. Too bad he's the best there is.

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I end this month with a happy little quiz. I like quizzing you every once in a while to see if you really remember or care about bodybuilding's bloody (just a figure of speech) past. Question: Only one foreigner ever won the AAU Mr. America title. Who was it and what was the year? No, it wasn't Ringo Starr in 1967. Give up? Roy Hilligan in 1951. If you knew the answer you win the satisfaction of knowing you is smart -- or you looked ahead.

***

My good friend Vince Gironda has just installed a health foods restaurant in his famous gym in North Hollywood. Should go great. Decorative, too. ... Dave Draper built the furniture in his home workshop. More: Don Howorth painted the murals on the walls. And while on the subject of Vince, Brad Harris, the muscleman movie star, is now tossing the caber with him… they both plan to enter competitions in Scotland.

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John Grimek just celebrated his 60th birthday; Congratulations! Franco Columbu is now training under Joe Weider, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger, in California. He should be something really great in short order if he responds as quickly to Joe's guidance as Arnold has (Arnold is really a "new man" just after a year's hard training under Joe's watchful eye. ..everyone is going to be shocked when they see him and compare at this year's Mr. Olympia competition). They're still casting for the new movie, "Hercules in New York," and as I write this it looks as if Arnold will get the lead. Watch for news in your daily paper.

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Gene Dubuque (Mr. New York City), the famous wrestler, recently appeared on TV's "Dating Game." Lots of laughs. Gene trains at Tom Minichiello's Mid-City Health Club when in New York. More news from the Mid-City: A new superstar is rising there, Mike Rico, from Italy -- he comes from the same town as Bruno Sammartino, also a Mid-City member .The kid is only 17 and can already bench press 470 at a 162 bodyweight. Must eat protein spaghetti ...keep your eye on him. Jack DeAngelis and Juan Sabater are two more names to remember. Mid-City member Gordon Press just beat out Dennis Tinerino and Mark Tendler for a TV commercial. John Laboy, former Mid-City instructor, in great shape, plans to enter Ed Jubinville's Mr. Over 40 contest next Spring.
Talking about Ed Jubinville, don't forget that his great new 1970 Muscleman Calendar is now ready for shipment. They're only $1 each -- great inspiration for your gym wall or office, and great as gifts to friends. Each of 12 pages (one for each month) features one of your favorite champs. To order, send $1 for every calendar you want to: Ed Jubinville, P.0. Box 662, Holyoke, Mass.

That's it this month. ..more gossip next time around.

Stay tuned for the next installment...