Bodybuilders Through the Ages
Over the past 150 years, bodybuilders have gone from circus sideshows to celebrities, imparting fitness lessons along the way
- By Jesse Rhodes
- Smithsonian.com, July 20, 2009
«« Previous | 7 of 11
| Next »»
(UCLA Charles E. Young Research Library Department of Special Collections)
Abbye “Pudgy” Stockton (1917-2006)
Introduced to weightlifting by her husband, Stockton became a regular at California’s Muscle Beach. This 5-foot-1, 115-pound bodybuilder later opened the Salon of Figure Development—a women’s-only gym—and wrote the column “Barbelles” for Strength and Health magazine in which she encouraged women to lift weights for the sake of figure contouring and athletic prowess. Although generations of strongwomen preceded her, Abbye Stockton took the image of muscular women out of the sideshow and into the local gym.
«« Previous | 7 of 11
| Next »»
Comments (27)
+ View All Comments
I think that bodybuilding as practiced nowadays might probably be unhealthy. It's unbalanced IMO.
Posted by pov on May 27,2013 | 02:15 PM
One man was missed. His name was Joe Rollino and was considered to be one of the strongest man for his size. He once moved 3200 pounds and he weighted only 130 pounds. He died at the age of 104 after being hit by mini-van. During his birthday party at 103, he bent a quarter in half.
Posted by c s on February 24,2013 | 11:16 PM
It would be great to see this story continued, showing some of the enormous bodybuilders of today. Ronnie Coleman etc
Posted by Plumleywalker on February 1,2013 | 03:02 PM
Charles Atlas and Joe Weider should be on the list for their impact on millions of young men wanting great bodies. And when I was growing up, Dave Draper was the bodybuilding idol for many guys.
Posted by Pusser on January 31,2013 | 10:44 AM
Charles Atlas, Dave Draper, Joe Weider, etc. should also be on the list, IMHO.
Posted by on January 31,2013 | 10:42 AM
I note that other than Jack, most of these athletes didn't live a very long life. Hmmmm. Maybe all that exercise isn't the path to longevity. Don't get me wrong I'm an exercise nut but lately it feels like I'm just wearing my body out.
Posted by Bill Stegall on January 30,2013 | 01:07 AM
No doubt Jack LaLanne was a great bodybuilder and he played football with my dad at Berkeley High School in the 1930s. My dad was 6' 2"+ but surprise Jack was 5'6". I only saw them together a few times, but Jack looked small! They were great friends. Great choice for this list.
Posted by bob kurtz on January 22,2013 | 03:50 AM
Charles Atlas? He was such a big part of my childhood reading comic books.
Posted by Mari on December 7,2012 | 10:19 PM
Vince Gironda had a far greater impact on body building than most of the people in this story and a better body as well.
Posted by Chris on December 7,2012 | 12:48 PM
Jay Cutler should be on this list no one works as hard as The Cut. He has changed the look like of bodybuilders like all of this people. Good list and I you should make more about bodybuilding.
Regards
Posted by Brian B on February 10,2011 | 07:53 PM
Interesting that you choose to end with Arnold, a very respectable face of the sport who has not competed since the 1980's. I am disappointed that the Smithsonian falls short of recognizing any of us male and female Pro physique competitors who compete today or any one of the many amazing athletes over the past 30 years. The sport lives on, yet you are cutting our proud history short.
Posted by Kayde on January 26,2011 | 08:35 AM
It can be very confusing, who played what. George Reeves played Superman on TV. Steve Reeves played Hercules in the movies. Christopher Reeve (no 's') played Superman in the movies.
Posted by Lorraine on January 24,2011 | 10:38 AM
If Jack LaLanne's exercise show on KGO-TV in San Francisco in the '50s wasn't the first fitness program on television, it was certain one of the first. R.I.P. Jack LaLanne, Broadcast Legend and Pioneer.
Posted by Robert Matheson on January 23,2011 | 11:29 PM
I wish I knew how much weight that Stocton gal is one arm shoulder pressing. I can't even do that! I'll bet it is a York barbell made in America, not China> Hosew were vey well constructed barbells. I've seen how they were made. I used to lift at a gym in Dayton, OH and one fell out of a third story window and split apart. Other than that, you could not break them.
Posted by Michael Ponzani on December 1,2010 | 06:29 PM
+ View All Comments