Physique Photography That Is Distinctively Different
by The Editor
This is the second of a series of stories about the men who provide us with such magnificent photographs for our inspiration and instruction. If our readers like we will continue with this series along with showings of some of their best work.
AL URBAN'S magnificent physique shots have been an inspiration for the past eight years to those seeking to obtain a beautifully developed body. His uncanny wizardry with the camera and beautiful lighting effects achieved by this great artist are known to thousands of admirers all over the world. We are glad to reproduce a few of his best known prints in this issue for the pleasure and inspiration of readers of Iron Man. We will show many new and amazing photos by Mr. Urban in future issues. His great photography will help make Iron Man the outstanding pictorial physique magazine in the world.
Al's place at 2387 San Clemente, Laguna Beach, California is like the Falcon's Lair, located atop Laguna's towering cliffs and commanding a sweeping million dollar view of the blue Pacific. The ever changing beauty of the sunsets as seen from Urban's view windows make an inspiring sight for any artist.
Al has the record of four cover shots in one month. A record approached by no other photographer and this after only four months as a photographer and with no previous training. He had complete charge of lighting arrangements at the "Mr. America" Shows held in Madison Square Garden, Amsterdam, and Chicago. He was a judge for the '42 "Mr. Philadelphia" show, and the '46 and '47 "Mr. Chicago" shows. Also a judge in the '48 "Professional Mr. America" show in San Francisco and the '48 "Mr. America" show in Los Angeles.
July 16th, 1948, he appeared on a special "Human Interest in the News" television show with Al Stephan and Frank Kay.
Here are only a few of the outstanding physiques that have appeared before Urban's camera. Dave Asnis, Dan Lurie, Gene Jantzen, Bert Goodrich (who, encouraged by Al entered and won the first "Mr. America" contest as well as the "Mr. New York" title the same year of 1939), Jack Gallagher, George Kuchier, Itsuo Yamaguchi, Yas Kuzuhara, Ken Pendleton, Farbotnik, Zinkin, Renald and Ruby, Bousa, Stanlee, Bacon, Shusterich, Abele, Davis and many others.
Besides being an outstanding photographer, he, unlike so many physique photographers, is an outstanding athlete himself. While a student at St. Benedict's Prep School in Newark, N. J. he played on the school's championship basketball team. This school is nationally famous for its outstanding teams in all sports. The World Famous Original Passaic Wonders Basketball team who made the record of 159 victories in 5 years (a record that still stands) and who could average close to 100 points per game, were defeated twice by Al's team from St. Benedict's.
Before enrolling in this school Al was a member of the St. Mary's Casino All Stars, a grammar school team who won two championships in a row and even defeated the St. Benedict's Prep. School second team. Al was the captain of this outstanding team. He also excels at bowling, averaging a 200. Of course he goes in for barbell work, mostly bodybuilding and has a fine physique and has performed the following lifts at about middleweight bodyweight. Press and snatch 170, clean and jerk 220, dead lift 400. He has performed a perfect bent press with both right and left arm of 139 pounds. On one occasion when giving an exhibition with Grimek, he duplicated Grimek's one arm get up with a 132 pound man but performed it with both the right and left arms to the amazement of Grimek.
Al also goes in for gymnastics, rope climbing, fencing, boxing, wrestling, football, swimming, roller skating and is an accomplished dancer. His pet hobby is the collecting of Original Dime Novels on the Missouri Robin Hood of the Border, Jesse James. He has traveled far and wide collecting material on this famous character. He has one of the largest and most valuable collections of Original Dime Novels in existence published from 1882 to 1902. He is much famed for this collection.
Three years ago while in Hollywood, he was the guest of William S. Hart at his famous show place in Newhall. They had a grand time talking over the escapades of the James boys and others. While walking over the great ranch, Mr. Hart exclaimed, "Yes sir, I'm in pretty good shape, feel my arm, it's a good 15 inches". Whereupon Al took hold of his arm and sure enough it was about 15 inches. A very good arm for a man of 80 years of age.
They viewed and discussed Hart's famous collection of guns and had a great time together.
Al is also a member of the Chicago Rocket Society who believe that in the near future rockets will travel to the moon. He is interested in astronomy and plans to build a 12 inch telescope to view the heavens.
He promoted the first "Mr. Hawaii" contest which has become a regular annual event. When Al first arrived in Hollywood, he met Greg McClure who played John L. Sullivan on the screen. Greg was instrumental in arranging for the purchase of the Emile Bonnet gym in Hollywood for Al where he personally trained a number of screen stars. He has now returned to the West Coast to open a photographic studio where he will be available to all supermen who want the best in physique photography.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
- The photo of HAROLD ZINKIN at left is one of the finest physique photos ever seen.
- AL URBAN is shown here posed with a part of his famous collection of "dime novels", including his valuable collection of Jesse James stories.