Oldtime Strongman Blog II

John Garan

2008-09-09T16:46:00.004-04:00

John Garan

New York born John Garan began serious physical training after meeting Abe Boshes and went on to buid one of the most incredible physique of all time. But Garan wasn't just all show, at a bodyweight of only 155 pounds he could regularly squat with over 300 and was an excellent wrestler. He regularly trained at Sig Klein's Gym and was featured in his "Klein's Bell" publication.

Ironman Magazine #1

2008-07-02T12:27:00.000-04:00

Who could have ever thought that a man who found a mimeograph machine in the trash would go on to establish one of the most beloved strength magazines of all time? That's exactly what Peary Rader did back in 1936.

He and his wife Mabel printed, owned and ran Ironman Magazine for five decades before they eventually sold it.

This was Peary's very first attempt at a magazine, called "Super Physique" and featured John Grimek on the cover. There were only about 50 of these printed. If you own one, consider yourself lucky.

Ironman Magazine #1

The Saxon trio

2008-06-14T11:56:00.001-04:00

The Saxon trio

The famous Saxon Trio - Hermann, Kurt and Arthur - as they appeared in their prime. The three debuted in Sheffield on February 21st, 1898 and went on to perform their unique strength acts in several circuses throughout Europe and the U.S.

This act consisted of many amazing feats but the grand finally was for Kurt and Arthur to support a bridge while a car and passengers drove over. It was estimated that the bridge, car and passengers weighed over 6600 pounds.

Louis Cyr: The Canadian Hercules

2008-05-11T10:58:00.000-04:00

Louis Cyr: The Canadian Hercules

Louis Cyr won his first strongman contest at the age of seventeen by lifting a horse -- and went on to become one of the greatest strongmen who ever lived. His other impressive feats include backlifting over two tons, bent-pressing 273 pounds (beating Sandow's record and resisting the pull of four draught horses (two strapped to each arm) in the human chain feat.

Sig Klein

2008-04-11T15:23:00.000-04:00

Sig Klein
Sig Klein was one of the all time greats and easily one of the most photographed of all the classical strongmen. Klein began training at 15 years old after reading Bernarr MacFadden's "Physical Culture" Magazine.

He became incredibly talented at a variety of strength disciplines - muscle control, hand balancing, artistic posing, classical strongman feats and weight lifting.

In 1927, Sig Klein moved to New York City and married Professor Attila's daughter and took over his gym, which he ran successfully for the next four decades.

Bob Peoples - The Tennessee Hercules

2008-03-24T01:04:00.003-04:00

Bob Peoples - The Tennessee Hercules
Bob Peoples was one of the greatest strength athletes of all time, and someone you can learn a lot from - he deadlifted over 700 pounds back in the 1940's.

Here's Bob Peoples shown lifting in his basement gym, nicknamed "The Dungeon" by Paul Anderson, it was literally carved out of rock. Other than a few barbells, dumbbells and kettlebells, Peoples made all his own equipment.

Note the early Power Rack in the background.

Peoples did not invent the Power Rack, but he certainly pioneered its use in engineeering his incredible deadliting prowess.

Barrel Lifting With Hermann Goerner

2008-03-19T23:04:00.003-04:00

Barrel Lifting With Hermann Goerner
The great German Strongman Hermann Goerner regularly performed many unusual strength feats as he traveled the world with the circus.

Here's a feat you don't see every day, Goerner supports over a 1000 pounds on his back consisting of four gentlemen on a special bar made to hold a couple beer-filled barrels.

This particular feat was performed in South Africa as part of his act during his 1935 tour.

Earle E. Liederman's Books

2008-03-19T17:10:00.003-04:00

Earle E. Liederman's Books
Earle E. Liederman was a very well-known vaudeville strongman and a highly successful mail-order strength author. Here's a look at his strength bibliography:

The Science of Wrestling and The Art of Jiu-Jitsu (1923)

Muscle Building (1924)

Secrets of Strength (1925)

Endurance (1926)

Muscular Development (1928)

Here's Health (1929)
Muscle Building, circa 1924, several of Liederman's books had a very distinctive embossed cover

Liederman was also the editor of "Muscle Power" Magazine for a number of years.

Louis Durlacher - "Professor Attila"

2008-03-17T23:48:00.004-04:00

Louis Durlacher - "Professor Attila"
The man who originated globe barbells, the Roman Chair, the art of tearing playing cards and who discovered Eugen Sandow was Louis Durlacher, also known professionally as "Professor Attila."

Attila essentially "invented" the bent-press and became the first man to perform the lift with over 200 pounds. His student, Eugen Sandow, went on to bent-press 271 pounds.

In 1894, he came to America and established his famous Health Studio in New York City. In addition to Sandow, Attila's list of other students reads like a "Who's Who" of All-Time Strength greats: Warren Lincoln Travis, Lionel Strongfort, G.W. Rolandow, Henry Titus, Professor Anthony Barker, Bobby Pandour, Louis Cyr, Horrace Barre, Arthur Dandurand, and Adolph Nordquest.

George Jowett's Anvil

2008-03-14T15:50:00.004-04:00

George Jowett's Anvil

"In the old days, anvils were made in various sizes, and in a smithy shop you could always find three or four of different weights. A light anvil would be about seventy-five or eighty pounds and used for straightening nails, or light riveting.

The others averaged around one hundred forty pounds to one hundred sixty-eight pounds.

Where heavy forging was done, anvils much heavier were used, but the last two named seemed to be the regular thing. If any new comer wanted to try his strength they would ask him if he could lift an anvil with one hand. This was done by standing the anvil on end with the horn pointing upwards. The horn is a very thick conical affair that runs abruptly to a point.

You were supposed to take hold of the horn with the hand and raise it off the floor.

I have seen several raise the seventy-five or eighty pound anvil high off the floor, but I only saw two ever lift the one hundred forty pounds anvil; while on three occasions I successfully raised the anvil of one hundred and sixty-eight pounds.

It is a very severe arm test, and if a man had the grip to raise any of these anvils in this manner, he always had the forearm to make it possible and the wrist to sustain both."

- From The Key to Might & Muscle - Chapter 8 - Thickening the Wrist by Strengthening the Grip By George F. Jowett

Eugen Sandow

2008-03-14T13:19:00.005-04:00

Eugen Sandow
"Sandow, the Magnificent," as he was known, was the first Strength Star. He was equal part Strongman and physique star, and performed his unique act all over the world, most notably as a part of the famed Ziegfeld Follies.

As far as strength feats, Sandow could bent-press 271 pounds (later broken by George Hackenschmidt)but in his act often used a "dumbbell" composed of two huge baskets (in which a person sat) which impressed audiences even more than a similar lift in "real weight."

He also broke chains by chest expansion and even lifted a horse overhead with one hand and walked across the stage .

What went over even better than his incredible strength feats were Sandow's Muscle Control act. Audiences had never seen anything like it - Sandow looked like a Greek statue brought to life.

Fred Rollon

2008-03-13T01:23:00.004-04:00

Fred Rollon
There's more to building super strength than just slingin' iron...

The great German Strongman Fred Rollon, known as "The Human Anatomy Chart" developed his incredible condition primarily through training with chest expanders and rubber cables.

Rollon was undefeated at strand-pulling feats. It was reported that the strands which Rollon used in his workouts were so strong that they could resist the pull of horses.

The Russian Lion, George Hackenschmidt

2008-03-12T00:15:00.006-04:00

The Russian Lion, George Hackenschmidt
George Karl Julius Hackenschmidt (aka the Russian Lion) was born August 2nd, 1878 in the small town of Dorpat in Estonia.

He went on to become one of the greatest wrestlers and strongmen that the world has ever known. Between 1889 and 1908, it is estimated that Hackenschmidt won over 3000 matches over some very tough competition.

His match with American Champion Frank Gotch in 1908 is widely regarded as the greatest wrestling match of all time (Gotch eventually won after over 2 hours of grappling.)

As far as his strength prowess, Hackenschmidt established several impressive records, including a "Crucifix" hold with a pair of 90-pound dumbbells, a wrestler's bridge pullover-and-press with 311 pounds, and a bent-press of 279 pounds (besting Eugen Sandow's previous record.)

Read more about George Hackenschmidt and his training methods in his classic training book The Way to Live (1908)

John Grimek

2008-03-11T02:20:00.002-04:00

John Grimek strikes a classical pose on the cover of the December 1941 Issue of Strength and Health Magazine.

Grimek won the AAU Mr. America Bodybuilding title in 1940 and in 1941, the only man to win it twice (and judging by this cover, it's not hard to see why.)

In addition to his two Mr. America wins, John Grimek also won the 1939 York Perfect Man Contest, the 1946 Most Muscular Man In America contest, the 1948 Mr. Universe contest and the 1949 Mr. USA contest.

John Grimek

Young Thomas Inch

2008-03-10T02:47:00.000-04:00

The Great British Strongman Thomas Inch, as he looked when he won the title of "World's Junior Champion Weightlifter" circa 1901.

Inch went on to become the World's Middleweight Champion as well as the first to hold the title of Britain's Strongest Man.

Some of his best marks:

Two Hands Anyhow: 356-1/2 Pounds
Two-Dumbbell Jerk: 276 Pounds
One-Arm Push: 201 Pounds
Back Press with 30-Strand Chest Expander

Thomas Inch was most well-known though for his famous Challenge Dumbbell and other feats of grip strength,(Which we will cover on another occasion.)

Young Thomas Inch

John Grunn Marx: The Luxembourg Hercules

2008-03-10T02:26:00.001-04:00

John Grunn Marx: The Luxembourg Hercules
At an exhbition in Paris in the year 1905, John Grunn Marx, (aka The Luxembourg Hercules) broke three horseshoes in a span of 2 minutes and 15 seconds, an unbelievable feat of grip and forearm strength.

Speaking of Grip Strength, note Marx's incredible forearm-tendon development which is evident in this picture.