Pioneers of Bodybuilding

[NLT31]

Those guys had great shoulders, much better than todays floppy peced builds.

[RexConCueso]

pioneers of gay porn, too.

[salakerz324]

dam imagen if ron coleman was aroud back then? he would be considered a monster not a body builder lol.

[2cutthroatterrorist]

@salakerz324 He would be considered a roided out freak.

[TheLeilisa]

What's the average height for pro bodyduilders?

[andrjsh]

@TheLeilisa It varies. Of course height helps to create a generally impressive appearance, but proportionality cannot be discounted. One "short" bodybuilder is Branch Warren, who is 5'7".

[mott308]

usually bodybuilders kinda gross me out- but these guys were hot-!

[eolo120]

One of the most beautiful tribute to the pioneers of bodybuiling. Congratulations on posting...

[MrSticksb]

@eolo120 Ditto The use of the music superb combo.

[crazygeo81]

Hey - if anyone gets ther hand on any of them old dumbells !!!!!!!!!!!!! They are worth some bucks !! So look out. one of them old barbells can go up to 1,000$

[crazygeo81]

Great Video - Very well put together ! I am very old school myself - Real old school ! like 1900's old school ..lol Real men - and Real music to go along with it ! It started with these men and I believe it ended in late 70's right after arnold and all his boys ( ferigno - metzer - zane - columbo) were done. Todays " ART " of Body building is ruined. And todays art of Music is done also. They just dont make like they use to.

[vinayakumaran]

Where are the Saxon bros? no vids?

[realestatefla1]

could you imagine what people thought back than about these BB? had to believe they were considered to be "Strongman" back than. Today, millions of guys look like this and are called average... Between, vitamins, supps, new techniques and machines, a natural BB who works out daily is so much more proportioned.

[topheramazz]

@wantapie it has recently been learned that the brain preferably runs better on ketones and not glucose(sugar).

[Dissent1]

How did they make the fig leaf stay on?

[andrjsh]

@wantapie White sugar (sucrose) is a simple sugar that the body easily uses as fuel; in fact the brain runs best on it. However, what sugar the body does not use it stores as fat, in men in the belly, in women in the hips and thighs. The abs lie underneath the fat.

[edmonddantes64]

@andrjsh FINALLY someone who does know something about physiology!!! and diet.

[str94100]

the ultimate sin. Hack wasnt included

[overlevnadsoverall]

true bodybuilders, not walking pharmacys thumbs up

[superatlasman]

Might be easier to read some of the names if a colour other than white was used for the words, otherwise excellent.

[cheeco8]

these guys look like greek statues

much better than the freaks of bodybuilding nowadays

[joeburger1990]

There is only one word to describe Eugen Sandow's physique, and that is Perfection!

[bishopaz]

a 100 pct rating. great photos and beautifull music.

[mensacyclist]

That picture of John Garon @ 1:58 has always been one of my favorites.....and I believe it's from 1916!!! That body was built on food, sleep and effort. God damn Joe Weider from detroying bodybuilding.

[leahcimrac]

Just a bit of advice for us natural guys. Check out Mike Mentzers teachings and discover a new fantastic way of NATURALLY putting on muscle. Steroids increase recovery ability and speed therefore they're able to increase muscle size better and faster, but they have a range of health issues long term. Stay natural trust me it will pay off.

[hybridman]

uh, sorry to burst your bubble but both ray and mike were roided. both used steroids. bodybuilding and steroids go together like ham n eggs, pb and jelly, so I dont see what the problem is.

[leahcimrac]

Well never! lol of course they were on steroids, whats your point? Mike taught people how to train naturally. If you wanna be competitive then yes they do help alot, but i'm talking in terms of lifestyle.

[Vaginnaut]

you are fucked up in the head when u don't see the problem...u didnt undestand a shit, bodybuilding isnt about being "BIG", it's harmony of body and mind...u dont need roids to get strong and big..it's all in your head, if u dont trust enough yourself, then u need roids...and that for u are just a big stupid pussy

....love me, hate me, whatever. BITE ME

[hybridman]

@ Vaginnaut

what the hell are you talking about? why are you replying to me? I never said anything opposing what you just said. All I said in this thread was that the mentzers used steroids, this is fact, they have said it openly and its documented. And bodybuilding from the 60s onwards go together with steroids, that is a fact too.

[Vaginnaut]

Sorry man, i dint mean YOU as you, i meant all folks which dont see problem in roids...i know, i know u can take them safely and push out the side effects of roids, but still its just cheating your own self...no offence :)

[Achillesreborn]

These are the physiques we SHOULD be striving for nowadays. They should be giving the Sandow at the Olympia to guys that look like this!

[wbworkout]

When I was growing up I saw pictures of these guys, I was inspired. Some of their pictures hang on the walls of my gym. I am still working out natural at age 56.

[jacoblandes]

I work out at Loprinzi's Gym (see their video on Youtube) and the walls there are also covered with classic bodybuilders, including original photos from Grimek and Eifferman.

[Legato91]

blancanieves song?

[plavska]

this is for everybody possible and without steroids

[laserbyte]

wheres bruce lee?

[leahcimrac]

He wasn't born during the periods dipicted here.

[laserbyte]

what about the legends of bodybuilding then?

[leahcimrac]

Good point. He wasn't a pro bodybuilder tho. Even though he could easilly have been one of the best.

[leahcimrac]

Franz Sauerer looks like Freddy Mercery.

[laserbyte]

haha.

[leahcimrac]

Why has bodybuilding gone downhill. these guys are true bodybuilders.

Think about it. What supps, drugs and technology did they have back then.

To anyone who accuses people of taking steroids when they haven't look at this vid.

[yancur]

Yeah, but they were called freaks at their times. Arnold was called freak at his times and now he is considered the symbol of bodybuilding.

And maybe 50 years from now, average BB will be 200kg contest weight.. But who knows?

[jensohjens]

Look at what a big change from these bodybuilders to todays bodybuilders like Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler :S

[Sparagas]

well actaly whese old days bodybuilders look great, big and defined. Ronie and Jay are great bodybuilders, but they are big because of steroids. Back in that days, were where no steroids.

[RTRJA]

Bravissimo

[gloys1]

white text on white background...??

[Gonzalo79]

why did sandow have a big waist, i mean he's ripped and lean but his waist is big.

[lazur1]

Genetics.

[leahcimrac]

It could simply be undigested food. Alot of bodybuilders these days have the same.thing. He wasn't really a bodybuilder more of a strong man with a bodybuilders look.

[eyedentifeye]

Beautifully-put video. The music was very tasteful, and it synched perfectly with the B+W pics of these true pioneers.  First class all the way

[BUFNITIASPULANGAT]

i noticed they all had an underdeveloped chest in comparison to the rest of their body. was that the trend back then or the bench press wasn't yet invented? they all seem to be training in various overhead lifts and other functional strength exercises. i'm quite curious which of the now used strength training exercises were used back then as well if any

[andrjsh]

The bench press was not in use at this time (before WW II) and there was much more emphasis on generalized workouts, kettle balls, gymnastics, etc.

[musjeu]

and the shoulder press was the macho movement at the time!;)

[jonmarek]

@BUFNITIASPULANGAT Actually there "Chests" where more developed than people now. You mean Pectorals, not chest, chest is you rib cage which these guys knew how to develop. People did bench press back then, I have read some of their programs however having big man tits wasnt a balanced functional approach to getting stronger. Also no steroids =)

[wtfwtfwtf777]

@BUFNITIASPULANGAT @andrjsh thats a great point, I think it's just modern athletes (esp. bb-ers) do have an overdeveloped chest - which is one of the "mirror" muscles. Yet if one trains in functional manner he wouldn't develop "huge" pecs -because people just don't need them (even if you fight you use pec/shld/tric combo). to look at this from diff angle - very wide grip in press is not functional either- as opposed to a "push-up" grip. Who needs big tits but our girlfriends?)

[bratkotenka]

eugene sandow has the most well proportioned bodybuilding physique in his time.

[4766462]

sandow's idea was to look like a greek god, so yeah eugene sandow was the first body builder and his body is still today one of the best ever...

[zeppafloyd]

great collestion of photos. very inspiring.

[sweeperstore]

Great video. Thanks so much for including the names.

[Wojtas454]

No George Hackenshmidt? Great video! :)

[Steriodsarewin]

Respect for these guys back in the years, without any sups

[lazur1]

Before steroids, there was variety in physiques: Small-framed, large-framed & physiques in between retained their original unique nature along with added muscle. Boys got a realistic idea what exercise could do for them. Now we have guys 5'6", 240 lbs & more, who are called small. A skinny kid used to put on 10-15 lbs of muscle & feel like Mr Universe. Now he has to put on 100! Bodybuilders,  once heroic, are now monstrous. Athletic bodies have been replaced by cattle.

[soskieherk]

@lazur1

steroids have been around forever, its just as time goes on they get better

[lazur1]

@soskieherk Steroids were already quite good by the '50s,but go back further & you'll find 'best built' winners who were 6 feet-plus tall, & weighed 190..no steroids there, I assure you :-)

[KingofDVD]

*This is how we -must- do it*

[vosmeconoces]

Te felicito, muy buen video. Son hombres admirables realmente

[KingofDVD]

to add past & future up in an Ali G way : Respect, make it real again !

[yameconoces]

si no fuera por esta gente quizas el fisiculturismo no existiria en la manera que lo es hoy, asi que gracias gracias gracias

[Radiounderground]

Some of them look amazing considering the limited resources they had to get that way.

[razzleigh]

The guy on 1.22 is Alan P. Mead my brother

[serbakovmarci]

This is the real bodybuilding, what bodybuilding meant to be.

[julianvada]

Can anybody catch the last name on 1:22? Thanks.

[dapoetmaster]

Amaaaaaazing physiques, the sport certainly has gone to hell since then (since the late 70's actually).

[bskandelicious]

1:22 hahaha

[Joesharpish]

fantastic bodies these guys have. Makes you think are gyms over rated? should we just go hunt some wild boar. Good effort to them all.

[maxguydave1]

wow 1:23 and no drugs, incredible

[spikeyspike79]

I salute them all

[xxxsmokey]

only if they were aloud to see what we did with bodybuilding today

[KaseyAkira]

God those mustaches back then looked gay!

[AggiedeLampedusa]

Hmm, you're right. Imagine the weight of a few of them on your back - heaven! But what would make someone put their names in white over a black and white picture so they cannot be read?

[biggieskywave23]

lol why pavarotti?

anyway they look great for the time

[Gonzalo79]

pavarotti singin here makes me cry with the images really moving and inspiring

[eugenesandow83]

I rather look like them, than one of today "bodybuilder" who remind me some mutant.

Sandow and the rest of oldtime bodybuilders look like real human not like freak of nature-Coleman or Cutler.

[trumpet5432]

Today, people want Mr. Olympia to be bigger than life. If Mr. O looked like a regular guy who works out, nobody would care. That's the way it is.

[julianvada]

When did people start taking anabolic steroids for bodybuilding? I know the Nazi German soldiers were given steroids during WWII but for muscle building?

[mensacyclist]

"When did people start taking anabolic steroids for bodybuilding?"....

From what I've read, somewhere between 1960-1962. Russian Olympic lifters were the first to take them (late 50's) and US olympic athletes followed suit a few years later. By the time of the first Mr. Olympia, Dianabol was taken by all "pros". Too bad because guys like Clarence Ross, Grimek, Eiferman, looked awesome. Bodybuilding today is a pathetic joke. Joe Weider should be executed.

[Stevcho91]

Excelent post! And accurate too.

[Farshad86]

Early 1940's. In the 50's a number of different countries started conducting state sponsored doping programs for their athletes - most notoriously USA, USSR and East Germany. And by early - and mid 60's Steroids were "common knowledge" amongst body builders & athletes in various fields. 85% of all Steroids users are gymrats - theyre not affiliated with any sport, they just simply want to look better. Only 15% of all users compete in sports, they are looking for an edge in performance.

[silicon2001]

Sad but none of those guys would win a teenage Mr Kentucy show!

[julianvada]

That's so true. But sports need to start somewhere. I'm sure back then they didn't have the science of supplementation, nutrition, and training like we do today. They were all about brute strength with no help whatsoever of chemicals. 100% natural.

[pescador1]

Isnt it funny tho that all of them would rip these new modern "strong men" head clean off!!!

[MylesAngus]

No George Jowett? Otherwise, great!

[Gablefan89]

Many of my favorites there, especially Edward Aston. You can't ever forget the iron master Arthur Saxon or the Muscle Control master Maxick. All these guys are inspiration on my training

[writermead]

These are the real strongmans...nowaday evrybody take steroid!!!

[louthebody]

You forgot Alxander Zass. A POW who broke out of a Russian prision by litterally bending the bars of his prison cell, back in the early 20th century. The old time body builders were not very big but they all looked like they were carved out of granet and they were as strong as hell. Those guys didn't use roids either.

[simo77zanka]

PAVAROTTI!!!RESPECT!!

[bordeauxdogge]

pure power, not one useles muscle, all from functional strengthtraining.

Their training aimed for strength. fuck nowadays steroide monsters...

[Calisthenics101]

Too true, any qualified Fitness Trainer will know (Or should do, I specialise in Nutrition and even I know lol) that training for Muscle Size(Hypertrophy) and training for Pure Strength(Maximal Strength)require too entirely different training Programs.

[norskog1]

the abs of these bodybuilders is actually better than the todays bodybuilder got.

[andrjsh]

They had much less white sugar.

[perry5560]

less sugar and excuses to stay in lol

[NickyD52]

I love opera and bodybuilding. What a great video!

[andrjsh]

Also two of my favorites.

[bgibb101]

Absoultely brilliant video andrjsh! The bodybuilder on the cover of the magazine at the very beginning was Clevio Massimo. Both he and Tony Sansone started out as Charles Atlas students. I knew his son, Charles Atlas Jr for several years. A really nice man who answered all my questions and even send me an unpublished photo of his father!

[Calisthenics101]

Wow, Atlas was my hero and IS the sole reason why I took up exercise in the first place. What got me about him was he really was so incredibly strong! He might not be as huge as todays Body Builders he'd still give them a run for their money when it came to brute strength! Do you know if the story I heard about him saving a group of people on a boat by tying some sort rope around his waist and swimming them to safety was true?

[louthebody]

Atlas was on of my heros too. Yes he was strong as hell and then some

[BigFatHero]

Great to see, who where those people, who foundet the base of this wonderful sport!

[GavSF]

see? they used kettlebells back then too!

[timrain]

Great Video

[andrjsh]

Thanks a lot. I should have another video out next weekend.