It happened at Caesars Palace in December 1983. Fifteen women competed in a bodybuilding contest that did not really exist. It was conjured up for a film crew, mixed professionals with amateurs in flat contravention of the sport’s own rules, and sitting on the judging panel, scoring them, was one of the men who wrote… Continue reading The Explorer Who Became a Judge: On The Life Of Charles Gaines
The Competitive Bodybuilder Few people in bodybuilding ever have to ask: Should I compete? When you reach that advanced stage, you will know it. In fact, if you are as motivated as I was, nothing could prevent you from stepping into the ranks of the professional bodybuilder. Competitive bodybuilders are the elite in the field… Continue reading Lou Ferrigno’s Secrets for Competitive Bodybuilding
Name a more iconic duo than Franco and Arnold. Within the sport of bodybuilding, the relationship between Franco Columbu and Arnold Schwarzenegger was of the most enduring and impactful the sport has ever seen. From Pumping Iron to controversial Olympia wins, they did it all! Okay, that last line was tongue in cheek but, more… Continue reading How Franco and Arnold Changed Hollywood Forever
I loved this movie. That's it. Review done. Watch it here. More seriously, Marc Martinez has created a documentary about bodybuilding's Golden Age that manages to do what so many Iron Game documentaries struggle with - he captures the wonder of bodybuilding. This is a movie centred on California and bodybuilding from the late 1940s… Continue reading Movie Review: Dream Big (Marc Martinez, 2022)
In 1965, former bodybuilder and US Marine, Joe Gold opened up a gym in Venice California as a place for himself and his friends to train. Charging $60 a year, Joe kept costs down by making his own gym equipment, skimping on the heating and recruiting every bodybuilder worth his salt as a member. Unbeknownst… Continue reading Why Did Gold’s Gym Become So Popular?
In 1965, former bodybuilder and US Marine, Joe Gold opened up a gym in Venice California as a place for himself and his friends to train. Charging $60 a year, Joe kept costs down by making his own gym equipment, skimping on the heating and recruiting every bodybuilder worth his salt as a member. Unbeknownst… Continue reading The History of Gold’s Gym
