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You may not be familiar with some of the
names, but they've all been influential in the sport of bodybuilding as we now
know it.
PAUL ANDERSON...The first undisputed strongest man in the world. Anderson
was never defeated in Olympic competition. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having lifted the greatest weight ever raised by a human in his 1957 backlift of 6,270 lbs.
CHARLES ATLAS...Perhaps the most famous and most recognizable name in all bodybuilding. Born Angelo Siciliano, Atlas started a mail order course with little success until 1928 when Charles P. Roman joined the company as campaign director and suggested the company advertise in comic books. The plan worked.
The Charles Atlas course of Dynamic Tension sold millions of copies and
continues to be advertised in comic books to this day. Some people feel Atlas did bodybuilding a disservice since his course didn't advocate weight training, even though Atlas would employ weights in his personal program. The Dynamic
Tension system was mostly isometrics, calisthenics, general health information
and self-empowering affirmations, making the course a precursor to today's "self-
help" books. It can be fairly stated that Charles Atlas introduced more people tobodybuilding than any other individual PROFESSOR ATTILA...The first known strength coach to employ barbell and dumbell techniques. If he only knew what he started.
RHEO BLAIR...Nutritionist who developed the original "engineered food." At a time when protein supplements were made from soy flour, Rheo experimented with a combination of milk, whey and whole egg in an effort to match the amino
acid ratio of human mother's milk. When Rheo died, his formulations were
discarded by his family. They're lost forever.
JIM CARUSO...Photographer for the Weider mags of the 60's who set a new
standard in physique portraits.
FRANCO COLUMBO...Thick, dense and seemingly as wide as he was tall,
Franco was considered one of the strongest bodybuilders of his time.
DAVE DRAPER...The personification of the Malibu "beach god" -- big, blonde
and loving life because he had a "he-man" body. (At least that's how he was
marketed.) At 6 feet, 220 pounds, the "blond bomber" was considered a giant
back in the 1960's
DAN DUCHAINE...The first person to write on the application of anabolic
enhancement for bodybuilders. ("The Underground Steroid Handbook") All
steroid information that has since been released is, in some form or another,
based on Duchaine's original findings. As Dan put it, he..."took steroid
information out of the doctor's office and placed it on the kitchen table."
CORY EVERSON...The most popular Ms. Olympia. She held the title from 1984-
1989. Muscular, defined and beautiful, Cory remains active as a model, actress,
motivational speaker and exercise instructor.
BEV FRANCIS...First woman to exhibit muscularity far beyond what was thought
possible for a female. A bright and articulate spokesperson, Bev Francis will
forever be linked with the excessive muscularity displayed by contemporary
women bodybuilders. (For better or worse, depending on your perspective.)
VINCE GIRONDA...Regarded by many to be the greatest authority on the topic
of training. Vince maintained peak condition well into his 50's when he also wrote
a column for MuscleMag Int. Entirely self taught, many of Vince's concepts were
not only ahead of their time, they are just now being fully recognized and
understood. Vince had a reputation for being surly -- he was the consummate
"know it all." In Vince's case, however, he really did.
JOE GOLD...Hollywood stuntman and owner of the famous Gold's Gym in
Venice which was featured in the movie "Pumping Iron."
JOHN GRIMEK...Considered to possess the ideal man's body in the 1940's. To
this day, he's the only bodybuilder undefeated in competition. He trained (heavy!)
until the last day of his life. He died in his sleep at the age of 88.
LEE HANEY...Successor to Arnold's string of Olympia wins with a total of eight --
the longest running hold of a major bodybuilding title to date.
BOB HOFFMAN...Early proponent of weightlifting and President of the York
Barbell Company, Hoffman published Strength and Health and Muscular
Development magazines.
ARTHUR JONES...Inventor of Nautilus equipment (the first bodybuilding
"machines"). Advocated that employing a single set to absolute failure would
produce superior results to traditional multi-set routines. Mentor to Mike Mentzer
who dubbed the training system, Heavy Duty.
GEORGE JOWETT...Published the first monthly magazine devoted to
bodybuilding entitled "Strength."
BOB KENNEDY...Photographer, writer and muscle building authority who ia also
the publisher of MuscleMag International, which is the longest running
bodybuilding magazine to date. Bob still maintains his enthusiasm for new and
interesting theories that will more effectively help people reach their bodybuilding
goals. He's also the originator of the "Pre-Exhaust" principle of training which is a
staple of many a successful bodybuilder's routine.
SIG KLEIN...An early proponent of weight training and thought to be the first
person to refer to bodybuilding not as a sport but an art form. His motto was;
"Exercise for shape--and strength will follow." Klein owned the first bodybuilding
gym in New York City where he designed most of the equipment himself.
IRVIN "ZABO" KOSZEWSKI...At a time when best bodypart awards were
presented at bodybuilding competitions, Zabo never lost the "best abdominals"
category. He also may have won more overall contests than any other
bodybuilder. In an 1997 interview, Zabo was asked how long he needed to alter
his diet for a show. His answer: "Three days."
JACK LALANNE... The man who refuses to age! Jack was perhaps the most
successful of the early fitness pioneers. His exercise television show was one of
the longest running programs in history spanning over 20 years. To celebrate his
birthday each year, he would swim across the San Fransico Bay to Alcatraz
pulling a tugboat! And he'd do it handcuffed! Finally, at the age of 71, the ritual stopped. "I wanted to do it," says Jack. "But my wife wouldn't let me." At age 80, Jack trains two hours a day and can still perform 1000 pushups!
DAN LURIE...TV strongman turned bodybuilding entrepreneur. From 1950 to
1980, a boy's first 110 pound weight set purchased at the local department store
was more than likely the Dan Lurie brand. As a teenager, Dan was diagnosed
with having a heart murmur--a condition he reversed through exercise. That
experience was the inspiration for his lifelong motto; "Health is Your Greatest
Wealth."
RACHEL MCLISH...The first Ms. Olympia. Rachel personified the ultimate
woman bodybuilder -- pretty, shapely, muscular yet feminine. The ideal didn't last
long.
names, but they've all been influential in the sport of bodybuilding as we now
know it.
PAUL ANDERSON...The first undisputed strongest man in the world. Anderson
was never defeated in Olympic competition. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having lifted the greatest weight ever raised by a human in his 1957 backlift of 6,270 lbs.
CHARLES ATLAS...Perhaps the most famous and most recognizable name in all bodybuilding. Born Angelo Siciliano, Atlas started a mail order course with little success until 1928 when Charles P. Roman joined the company as campaign director and suggested the company advertise in comic books. The plan worked.
The Charles Atlas course of Dynamic Tension sold millions of copies and
continues to be advertised in comic books to this day. Some people feel Atlas did bodybuilding a disservice since his course didn't advocate weight training, even though Atlas would employ weights in his personal program. The Dynamic
Tension system was mostly isometrics, calisthenics, general health information
and self-empowering affirmations, making the course a precursor to today's "self-
help" books. It can be fairly stated that Charles Atlas introduced more people tobodybuilding than any other individual PROFESSOR ATTILA...The first known strength coach to employ barbell and dumbell techniques. If he only knew what he started.
RHEO BLAIR...Nutritionist who developed the original "engineered food." At a time when protein supplements were made from soy flour, Rheo experimented with a combination of milk, whey and whole egg in an effort to match the amino
acid ratio of human mother's milk. When Rheo died, his formulations were
discarded by his family. They're lost forever.
JIM CARUSO...Photographer for the Weider mags of the 60's who set a new
standard in physique portraits.
FRANCO COLUMBO...Thick, dense and seemingly as wide as he was tall,
Franco was considered one of the strongest bodybuilders of his time.
DAVE DRAPER...The personification of the Malibu "beach god" -- big, blonde
and loving life because he had a "he-man" body. (At least that's how he was
marketed.) At 6 feet, 220 pounds, the "blond bomber" was considered a giant
back in the 1960's
DAN DUCHAINE...The first person to write on the application of anabolic
enhancement for bodybuilders. ("The Underground Steroid Handbook") All
steroid information that has since been released is, in some form or another,
based on Duchaine's original findings. As Dan put it, he..."took steroid
information out of the doctor's office and placed it on the kitchen table."
CORY EVERSON...The most popular Ms. Olympia. She held the title from 1984-
1989. Muscular, defined and beautiful, Cory remains active as a model, actress,
motivational speaker and exercise instructor.
BEV FRANCIS...First woman to exhibit muscularity far beyond what was thought
possible for a female. A bright and articulate spokesperson, Bev Francis will
forever be linked with the excessive muscularity displayed by contemporary
women bodybuilders. (For better or worse, depending on your perspective.)
VINCE GIRONDA...Regarded by many to be the greatest authority on the topic
of training. Vince maintained peak condition well into his 50's when he also wrote
a column for MuscleMag Int. Entirely self taught, many of Vince's concepts were
not only ahead of their time, they are just now being fully recognized and
understood. Vince had a reputation for being surly -- he was the consummate
"know it all." In Vince's case, however, he really did.
JOE GOLD...Hollywood stuntman and owner of the famous Gold's Gym in
Venice which was featured in the movie "Pumping Iron."
JOHN GRIMEK...Considered to possess the ideal man's body in the 1940's. To
this day, he's the only bodybuilder undefeated in competition. He trained (heavy!)
until the last day of his life. He died in his sleep at the age of 88.
LEE HANEY...Successor to Arnold's string of Olympia wins with a total of eight --
the longest running hold of a major bodybuilding title to date.
BOB HOFFMAN...Early proponent of weightlifting and President of the York
Barbell Company, Hoffman published Strength and Health and Muscular
Development magazines.
ARTHUR JONES...Inventor of Nautilus equipment (the first bodybuilding
"machines"). Advocated that employing a single set to absolute failure would
produce superior results to traditional multi-set routines. Mentor to Mike Mentzer
who dubbed the training system, Heavy Duty.
GEORGE JOWETT...Published the first monthly magazine devoted to
bodybuilding entitled "Strength."
BOB KENNEDY...Photographer, writer and muscle building authority who ia also
the publisher of MuscleMag International, which is the longest running
bodybuilding magazine to date. Bob still maintains his enthusiasm for new and
interesting theories that will more effectively help people reach their bodybuilding
goals. He's also the originator of the "Pre-Exhaust" principle of training which is a
staple of many a successful bodybuilder's routine.
SIG KLEIN...An early proponent of weight training and thought to be the first
person to refer to bodybuilding not as a sport but an art form. His motto was;
"Exercise for shape--and strength will follow." Klein owned the first bodybuilding
gym in New York City where he designed most of the equipment himself.
IRVIN "ZABO" KOSZEWSKI...At a time when best bodypart awards were
presented at bodybuilding competitions, Zabo never lost the "best abdominals"
category. He also may have won more overall contests than any other
bodybuilder. In an 1997 interview, Zabo was asked how long he needed to alter
his diet for a show. His answer: "Three days."
JACK LALANNE... The man who refuses to age! Jack was perhaps the most
successful of the early fitness pioneers. His exercise television show was one of
the longest running programs in history spanning over 20 years. To celebrate his
birthday each year, he would swim across the San Fransico Bay to Alcatraz
pulling a tugboat! And he'd do it handcuffed! Finally, at the age of 71, the ritual stopped. "I wanted to do it," says Jack. "But my wife wouldn't let me." At age 80, Jack trains two hours a day and can still perform 1000 pushups!
DAN LURIE...TV strongman turned bodybuilding entrepreneur. From 1950 to
1980, a boy's first 110 pound weight set purchased at the local department store
was more than likely the Dan Lurie brand. As a teenager, Dan was diagnosed
with having a heart murmur--a condition he reversed through exercise. That
experience was the inspiration for his lifelong motto; "Health is Your Greatest
Wealth."
RACHEL MCLISH...The first Ms. Olympia. Rachel personified the ultimate
woman bodybuilder -- pretty, shapely, muscular yet feminine. The ideal didn't last
long.