Thread: The most famous bodybuilder in the early days of the sport

FRAFRANZ SAUERER

In Victorian time, bodybuilders often became the popular idols for women and men. Not unlike the movie stars of today, their faces were almost as marketable as their physiques and feats of strength.

The incredible mustache was highly prized by Victorian men and to have such facial hair was a symbol of "manliness", to have it so meticulously groomed was an indication that you were also "a gentleman", Franz was no exception. This photograph was mass produced and sold to adoring fans as a "cabinet" photograph.

ARTHUR SAXON
(Arthur Henning)

Saxon was a strongman performing in Europe in the 1890's. On February 26, 1898, he appeared on stage performing his feat of lifting a huge barbell with one arm (as seen in the photo below) and announced that "...even the Great Sandow would not be able to lift it!








Unknown to Saxon, Sandow was in the audience. Sandow stood up and accepted the challenge and came onstage. Saxon lifted the barbell first, then stepped back to give Sandow his turn. Sandow, in his haste, did not balance the bar properly and the barbell toppled. Sandow demanded another try, and this time, he balanced the bar, lifting it overhead without effort. Sandow was not immediately declared the winner, however. It took 4 years for the debate to be settled.

It wasn't until 1902 that Sandow was finally declared the official winner and strongest of the two. Saxon wrote a book in 1910 entitled "The Textbook of Weight-Lifting". Saxon was very strong. His record lifts were - bent press: 370 lbs.* - snatch: 195 lbs. - military press: 252 lbs. - two hands anyhow (powerlift): 448 lbs.

Saxon served in World War I and apparently suffered greatly from malnutrition during the conflict. He attempted to carry on his strongman act at the end of the war, but this was almost impossible in his weakened condition. He never really recovered from the deprivations of the war, and grew weaker with unsuspected tuberculosis. It was because of this that he became an easy prey to pneumonia. Arthur Saxon eventually died from complications on August 6, 1921. He was only 43 years of age.

*There are reports that Saxon actually performed the bent press with 385 lbs. before witnesses.

All of this stuff, except the strands link i added, is from the sandow museum link.

THE STORY OF THE
MR. OLYMPIA TROPHY

ARE YOU A BODYBUILDER?

The men seen in these galleries built their physiques with very hard work, dedication, and a goal firmly set in their mind. They had no muscle-building supplements, drugs, or even modern musclebuilding techniques. They often had to invent the exercises and devices until they found something that they found worked for them. Their photographs are old fashioned, but their courage was not. There are countless men today who are building their physiques in basements, bedrooms, and home town gyms around the world. Many will never compete, but they are bodybuilders just the same. They come from every age group, economic background and profession. If you are one of these men, be proud and understand when you look at the numerous images on the Sandow website that you carry on a great and noble tradition in the sport of bodybuilding!

A body big, brawny, rugged like a lordly oak...

Sounds like Ron Burgundy

how come they dont look as jacked and big as the people in the sport now? even as cut up as people like Terrel owens?

Drugs, enhances in training methodology, advances in nearly every aspect of nutrition and understanding of the human body.

how did they workout back then?

Originally Posted by Little Wing

Nerves of steel,
Muscles like Iron,
And a thong that rides like nobody's business

Originally Posted by danny81

how did they workout back then?

They most likely overtrained, like the BB's of the 70's and 80's.
Spending hours lifting weights, or doing the same movements over and over.

thats waht I used to do lol around 7 excercises for a bodypart. i spent lik 4 hrs a day at the gym. thank god it only lasted for about 2 weeks.

Originally Posted by Brachiisaurus

They most likely overtrained, like the BB's of the 70's and 80's.
Spending hours lifting weights, or doing the same movements over and over.

Don't forget they ate their Wheaties too.

i'm sorry the links i put up before no longer work but this does

Eugen Sandow & The Golden Age of Iron Men

Originally Posted by danny81

how did they workout back then?

Originally Posted by Brachiisaurus

They most likely overtrained, like the BB's of the 70's and 80's.
Spending hours lifting weights, or doing the same movements over and over.

Originally Posted by danny81

thats waht I used to do lol around 7 excercises for a bodypart. i spent lik 4 hrs a day at the gym. thank god it only lasted for about 2 weeks.

Go look up Brooks Kubik and his Dinosaur training. Some interesting stuff there, and he mentions a few of these guys. He's got a few books out and has a monthly newsletter.

My favorite old school bodybuilder: Bill Pearl.










.

Always thought Pearl had a great physique,too. Some very interesting ideas about training and diet as well. Tremendous upper body.

Great thread, Little Wing!

i love the old pictures. guys should still pose with the whole fig leaf theme.

He was my grandfather. He was born i Italy 1890 and died in Feb 1975 here in Buffalo New York. He was a legion and still talked about highly in my family. Sad to say I never met him but my grandmother Lorraine(His wife) is still alive to this day going on 96 years old and tells me all the wonderful stories of my grandfather Clevio and how his intelligence and courage was just as strong as his body! If anyone has any information on his book Modern Hercules or where I can get a copy of it, I'd love to hear from you! send me a message!..Thanks, Marissa

Awesome thread that pearl guy looks phernominal what era was he in? did they have drugs then?

Originally Posted by Little Wing

i love the old pictures. guys should still pose with the whole fig leaf theme.

lawl. why not?

Originally Posted by M1CH43L

Awesome thread that pearl guy looks phernominal what era was he in? did they have drugs then?

yes , pearl used gear, but, not to the degree they use today. LW, THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE PHOTOS, THOSE GUYS WERE AWESOME. BY THE WAY, CHARLES ATLAS WAS HOW I GOT STARTED INTO BBING. I SENT FOR HIS MONTHLTY 4 WEEK training cycles. it came to my house with weeks 1-4 and so on until 12 weeks were up. then i joined a gym. he had great ways of training me. supersets, yes supersets he told me to do in wk 7. it was great. i gained alot of knowledge from that man. i couldnt wait to have it come in the mail and wonder wat he was going to have me do next. boy memories.