Muscle, Smoke, & Mirrors Volume I

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Contents

Dedication.............................................................................vAcknowledgements.......................................................................viEditor's Notes.........................................................................xForeword...............................................................................xiPreface................................................................................xiiIntroduction...........................................................................xviiPart 1 PHYSICAL CULTURE................................................................1Chapter 1 - Origins of Physical Culture................................................3Chapter 2 - 20th Century Physical Culturists...........................................25Chapter 3 - Physical Culture and the World of Health...................................42Chapter 4 - Nutrition, Disease, and the Dietary Templates..............................56Part 2 THE IRON GAME...................................................................73Chapter 5 - The Rise of the Iron Game..................................................75Chapter 6 - The Players of The 1930s...................................................102Chapter 7 - Nature's Law...............................................................120Chapter 8 - The Rise of Modern Bodybuilding............................................134Chapter 9 - Dan and Joe and the Origins of the IFBB....................................149Chapter 10 - Muscletown Nutrition......................................................169Part 3 THE 1950s.......................................................................191Chapter 11 - Hi-Protein, High-Protein, Hi-Proteen or Miracle Food?.....................193Chapter 12 - Miracle Food or Manipulation?.............................................212Chapter 13 - Diverging Philosophies....................................................224Chapter 14 - Sport or Pageant?.........................................................246Chapter 15 - Who Are Th ose Guys?......................................................265Chapter 16 - Th e Psyche of the Bodybuilder............................................280Chapter 17 - Old School Bodybuilding Nutrition.........................................292Chapter 18 - 1950s Science - The Good, the Bad & the Ugly..............................312Chapter 19 - The Pink, White & Blueand the Red.........................................326Part 4 THE 1960s.......................................................................345Chapter 20 - The Transitional 1960s....................................................347Chapter 21 - Westward Through ChicagoLand..............................................364Chapter 22 - Muscle, Pills and Powders.................................................379Chapter 23 -The Cream Rises to the Top.................................................400Chapter 24 - Muscle, Cows, and Chickens................................................419Chapter 25 - Muscle, Mind and Myths....................................................435Chapter 26 - Muscle, Blood and Glands..................................................456Chapter 27 - Eat More Lift More........................................................468Chapter 28 - Muscle, Fats and Heart Attacks!...........................................482Chapter 29 - Muscle, Brains and Brawn..................................................499Epilogue...............................................................................509References.............................................................................511Index..................................................................................528

Chapter One

With the great number of veteran bodybuilders who participated in this project, the inevitable question posed to them was, "When did they feel that the actual practice of bodybuilding began?" Not surprisingly, many responded with the view that modern bodybuilding started with the great John Grimek. He was the most prominent physique star of the 1940s and early 1950s, both in and out of competition. The size of his physique was a significant leap forward in musculature that set the bar for those who would dare to follow. His was also the era that saw the rise of the 2 most domineering factions in the industry: the Hoff man (York) and Weider organizations. For several decades, these camps would be at war with each other battling for supremacy over bodybuilding.

Weider, Hoff man, and Grimek did not create the sport, but merely picked up the slow-moving baton and ran with it towards a questionable finish line. Before these men, there were others who go back further in time to an era of strongmen and performers who developed the hardware, tools, and other attributes that helped lay the foundation for the Game.

Between the 20th century bodybuilding power players and the earlier strongmen pioneers, there was another man, a standout, a focal point, a connection between old and new. This man displayed his physique worldwide, wrote books on strength training, published a health magazine, ran what is considered to be the first major physique contest, and whose very image forms the body of the trophy for the coveted Mr. Olympia title over 100 years after its creation. This is the legendary Eugen Sandow.

Born Friederich Wilhelm Mueller (1867-1925) in Prussia, now part of Germany, Eugen Sandow is considered by many to represent the true origins of modern bodybuilding. Even though the term "bodybuilding" was allegedly first coined by a Boston YMCA instructor back in 18811, Sandow and the other men of strength and muscle flourished under the banner of "Physical Culture."

Physical What?

With some debate, 21st century modern bodybuilding still operates, categorically, as a sport. Sport, along with athletics, recreational activity, and physical education are just some of the terminologies used to express various avenues of exercise. Worldwide, there are leagues, organizations, and even charters to assure the privilege and right for all to engage in exercise through organized sports. The Oxford Dictionary defines "sport" as:

Any highly structured, goal directed physical activity governed by rules, which has a high level of commitment, takes the form of a struggle with oneself or involves competition with others but which also has some of the characteristics of play. Sports involves either vigorous physical exertion or the use of relatively complex physical skills by individuals whose participation is motivated by a combination of the intrinsic satisfaction associated with the activity itself and the external rewards earned through participation.

This may be an accurate definition of what sport used to represent. However, looking at how competition has moved to the forefront in high level amateur and professional sports, it's hard to argue against amending this definition with the addendum "and to win at all costs." Considering the antics of team owners, coaches, managers, athletes, and even the fans themselves, this would truly reflect a more complete definition of "sport."

The growing role of business, fame, fortune, national pride, and politics has long clouded the image of sport in the eyes of the visionaries and idealists. These men and women see a higher value and a...