Mr. 1949 Contest and Professional Championships

by M L Kirchner

Here it is, a first hand report of the First Professional Strongman Championships and the "Mr. 1949" contest. We were fortunate in obtaining a large number of photos of the entire show and so we use several more pages than usual to bring you a lot of these interesting photos of great lifters and bodybuilders.

IN June 25 and 26 of 1949, America had its first official professional weight lifting championships and record trials as well as a "Mr. 1949" physique contest.

Your Editor and his wife had made the trip out to Los Angeles a week early so that they could help in the preparations for the big meet. Walt Marcyan and Peary Rader had been working together in sponsoring the meet and convention of the Association. When they arrived, Walt had so much of the work done that there was little left for them to do. They therefore decided that Peary would devote all his time to the Convention matters while Walt went ahead with the show preparations.

Recent shows on the West Coast had been drawing rather small crowds with one feature show bringing in only 300 people. You can imagine how they felt since over 3,000 had been invested in the show and convention. To have such a small turnout would have been disastrous. It may amaze most readers to know that such an amount can be spent on such a show. You won't believe it until you try to put on such a show with only one thought in mind, not the making of money, but the presenting of the very best possible show regardless of cost. The hall costs considerable. Then you have to hire ushers, ticket sales, electricians, carpenters, truckers, and a number of other specialists. Then your advertising usually runs several hundred to a $1,000. You spend another $1,000 on prize money, then several hundred more for trophies, then each act you put on runs from a hundred to several hundred. There is special equipment to be bought or built. A posing cabinet to build and then a hundred smaller hidden expenses that bring your total up remarkably fast. So it is very seldom that much money is made on such shows. As a general rule most fellows feel lucky if they break even.

The summer season was against a large crowd coming out so everyone concerned was pleased when on show night, the auditorium was reasonably well filled with about 1200 people. Even so the show lost about $900. However, we don't believe there were any regrets because the show and convention were put on for one purpose only, that of drawing the professionals together so that they could organize their Professional Association. In this they were highly successful, even more than they expected.

Quite a number of the professionals had been training for the lifting. However, many of them had not done lifting for a number of years and went at it too heavy at first in preparing for this contest and some of them suffered pulled muscles that hindered their lifting. Some of them dropped out. Others found it impossible to attend because of their work. Both Boone and Richards, two of the greatest jerkers in the world-both of them capable of over 400 pounds, were unable to attend on this account. John Grimek had promised to be there and had been training very hard to make some world records in the Cont. and Press where he intended to try for 375 and over 400 in the jerk. Then try for a world record in the one arm swing. He was in top shape and ready to make the trip with his family when his wife became quite ill and he had to cancel the trip. He continued to hope that it might be possible to make the trip, as it was one of his life's ambitions to make these records, but on the last day before the show had to send a wire with his regrets that he could not make it. This was a great disappointment to everyone as well as to John. However, circumstances often prevent us from doing just what we want to do. So due to these circumstances the entry for the lifting was smaller than anticipated and the lifts were not as great as hoped for, but next year it will be a different story as all the men will know what to expect and can train all year for the lifting.

The show was held in the Embassy Auditorium which is ideally suited for such shows. The seating arrangement is such that everyone has almost a ring-side seat. Most of the West Coast shows are held here. As the people began to gather, the organist began playing and in a few minutes the show was ready to start.

The first act was some singing by Lee Wintner, an opera singer who sang some popular songs. Lee is also a barbell man and certainly gave the show a good start.

Then Pudgy Stockton and one of her beautifully built pupils, Ruth Gesch, gave a very impressive demonstration in unison of the exercises they use at the studio for contouring the ladies. Ruth helps "Pudgy" in her studio now. And by the way, "Pudgy" has one of the most beautiful little studios we have ever seen. She is doing a great work here and is to be congratulated. Why they still call her "Pudgy" is something I can't understand as she has one of the most beautiful bodies we have ever seen on a woman. A day or so before the show she and several of the others had been putting on television shows to advertise the show and Pudgy was a sensation wherever she went. Her beautiful figure and sparkling eyes were ample evidence of the perfect health she enjoys.

The next act presented some of the finest lifting it has been my pleasure to witness. Edith Roeder, one of the strongest women in the world, gave a superb exhibition of lifting skill and strength. This young lady is very well built. Rather tall and perfectly proportioned, she is beautiful of face and figure with a very pleasing personality and though rather retiring, she is very popular. She was rather nervous as this was the first time she had lifted before such a large audience so she was not able to do as well as she might have otherwise, and also she had no competition to force her to greater lifts. Her lifting style is perfect. She lifts with the same precision and effortless style we used to enjoy in Johnny Terpak. She made a nice press of 95 but couldn't quite make 105. This is her weak lift though she usually is capable of more. She then went on to make perfect snatches of 116 and 125 just failing with 131. Then she made a nice 150 clean and jerk, then failed with 165, but made it on a third attempt. She then tried 175 for a 4th attempt but it was a little too much for this night. She had planned on making a 400 total but had to be satisfied with 385. Her snatch and Clean and Jerk, it is believed, were new world records. She will probably make a 200 clean and jerk one of these days.

Armand Tanny now took the stage for his one arm clean attempt. Armand was suffering from a badly pulled biceps muscle caused by making first attempts in the one arm clean with 250 pounds with no warm up. He did not want to attempt anything but was finally persuaded to do what his arm would allow. He started with 200 pounds. This weight went up so easy it could hardly have been a warm up. He then asked for 250. After getting set with a good hook grip on the straight international lifting bar, he gave a tremendous pull and the weight went up like a feather. It looked as though he couldn't have cleaned 100 pounds any easier. With the ease with which he lifted this, 300 will be easy when his biceps gets in shape again. The barbell was overweight so this actually weighed 256.

Leo Stern and Bob McCune next came on the stage for a contest in the bench press. Surely no one expected to see such great weights lifted as these men pushed up. Bob weighed 214 and Leo 202, having imbibed a lot of water to get into the over 200 pound class for the Cont. and Jerk lifting. They both started out with 330 which they pressed easily, having warmed up with several reps with 250. They both jumped to 350 which also went well. Then Bob called for 365. Since the barbell was 6 pounds overweight, this was actually 371 and a new world record for professionals if he made it. The men were lifting on a rather high bench. Bob gave a tremendous shove and slowly the weight went the arms' length although for a time it looked like it might stop. The lift was perfect. There was not the slightest sign of a back arch. This man has terrific pectorals and arms. He looked much more massive than at the "Mr. U.S.A." contest. Leo, looking the best he ever had, then took the same weight and after a terrific fight he got it to arms' length but in doing so, he allowed his back to arch slightly so Bob was adjudged the winner.

The next event on the program was to be the Continental and Jerk in the three classes. George Wilcut was acting as Master of Ceremonies and doing a superb job. He gave an exhibition mimicking the routine a physique contestant goes through in preparation for a perfect man contest. This was about the best such act we had seen and it had the audience howling. George now explained the contest and the lifts and at once the men began lifting. Norman Fay, weighing 165 and Tony Terlazzo, weighing 148, were lifting for the middleweight title. Both of them started with 275. Norman had trouble with this but Tony made it easily. Tony had not trained for this lifting at all. In fact, had done no lifting for a year or more. He had intended to train hard for it but had been suffering from an infection in his left calf probably picked up at the beach. This had prevented him from training. In fact he had a hard time hardly being able to walk. Even during the contest it bothered him. Norman again tried the 275 while Tony went on to make 300 but 310 proved too much for him on this occasion. Tony, as you know has made a 340 clean and jerk as a light weight.

Leo Stern and Walt Marcyan both started at 310. Leo had been training very hard for this lift but the supine press had taken a lot out of his push so that he had trouble holding his jerks even though they were pulled in very easy to the shoulders. Walt had been training but had pulled a muscle in his thigh which handicapped him some. Leo made his 310 easy but found himself unable to go any higher, although he tried various other weights up to 350. He then went on to continental 380 to the shoulders easy and just failed with 400. Too bad his jerk was spoiled by his supine pressing. Walt then took 330 with which he failed twice. In the mean while his competitor, Harold Zinkin who weighed 178 to Walt's 190 (Leo was lifting by himself at 202 bodyweight in the over 200 class) started with 315 which went very easy. He then succeeded with 330 then with 345. Walt, after failing with 330, decided to make an all out try with 345. Amazing as it may sound, he made it. He decided to try no more but Zinkin, who is one of the best all round athletes on the coast, went on to make 350 but failed with 365. Thus ended the Continental and Jerk contest. Terlazzo won the 165 pound class with Fay second. Zinkin won the 200 pound class with Marcyan second. Stern won the over 200 pound class. Remember that all these poundages given should be 6 pounds more so the 350 of Zinkin's would actually be 356 and all other poundages likewise.

After the Continental and Jerk contest, Walt and Roberta Marcyan gave their magnificent act. This is one of the smoothest and most beautiful acts in the country and always very popular with the audience. Roberta is very beautiful and has a magnificent figure. Walt, with his fine physique and great strength, is able to handle her with ease and a smooth grace that adds much to the act. Both are great showmen. It is a great act and we wish we could see it more often.

Peary then presented the trophies for the lifting. These were very nice and the men were pleased. Usually it is the habit to give fine trophies to the physique contestants and either medals or very small trophies to the lifters. Edith Roeder was also presented with a fine trophy. Of course all lifters received the listed cash prizes as well as the trophies.

Now came the great Mac Batchelor, whom many had heard about but few had seen in action. He first gave an exhibition of the hip lift. Mac had only trained on these lifts for about three weeks and then on a lever apparatus. This was his first effort with real weight. He used a huge wide leather belt that was chained to a large "I" beam. The illustrations show this better than I can explain it. Men from the audience sat upon this beam. It was found to be almost impossible to balance this properly so both ends would come off at once. However Mac made 1155 and 1500 easily then loaded it to 2050 pounds and the belt stretched so much that Mac's legs were straight but the weight did not come up. Since no more slack could be taken up this was all the hip lifts he could do. Next the back lift platform was brought out and loaded up to 1500. This he lifted high and made it. Then he made 2000 easy. Then 2500 likewise. The platform was then loaded to 3,000 and although Mac lifted this he was never able to get all four corners off at the same time as it was impossible to balance the human weight perfectly enough for this purpose. Mac lifted it several times but always one corner was still touching. Hereafter to do justice to the lifter, iron weight for poundage or else a pair of scales should be used. Mac had been doing 20 or more reps in training with 2800 so this 3000 would have been easy for him. He had intended to make 3500 at least in this lift. We are confident that he could have done this with a well balanced load. Mac was the lightest he has been for many years weighing but 275. His usual weight is about 315. He is one of the most popular strong men on the coast.

Now Del and Darnelle (Harold Zinkin and partner) presented their great act, said to be the best of its kind in the country. Harold is very strong and has perfect timing and reflexes. His partner, who has a fine figure, is also strong. It is unbelievable the way Harold tosses this young lady high in the air, spinning around like a top and then catches her in different positions and often on his feet. It seems like it would break every bone in her body but she is always caught in a certain precise and graceful pose. Harold and his partner, Bruce Couners, have one of the finest and most progressive studios in the country. Iron Man will carry a complete story about it in a future issue.

Now the big event of the evening for most people, the "Mr. 1949" contest. Many of the top men in the game had stated they were retiring from further competition and others did not care to enter so this left the field to many fellows who had been getting second and third places before. However, they had been training hard with the expectation that the former champions would be in there against them, so consequently they were in the best condition of their lives and I doubt if the final outcome would have been much different if some of the other top men had entered. Armand Tanny who won was in the finest condition of his life. Walt Baptiste was magnificent and would be hard to beat anywhere if he were a little taller. Bob McCune who took third was greatly improved. In fact we doubt if we have ever seen anyone who looked so muscularly massive before. He is terrific.

The method of judging this contest was quite different from any ever used before in that they used an applause meter behind the curtain and allowed the audience to select their choice for the different places. This might not always work satisfactorily, but in this instance it did. The audience was pleased at the opportunity to select the man they thought best fitted for the title and there were no unfavorable comments.

Three men were assigned to check the applause meter, Don DeMarce (the new secretary of the professional association) George Redpath (who, with his wife, Peggy, is opening one of the coast's most elaborate and finest studios) and Peary Rader, President of the new association. They found it quite easy and simple to follow the meter and it was highly accurate. As each man appeared on the platform he went through his routine then as he stood at attention after his posing, the MC asked for applause for this man. The audience was warned against whistling, shouting etc. and they cooperated admirably. In fact they did as fine a job of judging as could have been asked for.

Walt had a very fine posing cabinet built for this event that presents contestants as beautifully as any we have ever seen. The cabinet framed the figure of the poser as if he were a framed picture. The lighting was superb when the man stood in the proper position. This was a beautiful posing show. The curtains were drawn upon the posing cabinet's sides so that all back stage activity was cut off from the audience allowing nothing to disturb the beautiful work of the contestant. This is one of the things we hope the new professional association will continue, the improved presentation of physique shows and contests. You will see a portion of the posing cabinet in some of the photos with this article. Such things cost much but they are well worth the extra expense.

All the contestants were presented on the stage under normal lighting first so the audience could make comparisons. Then they were each allowed their turn in the posing cabinet. This gave the first vote according to the applause meter. The results follow: Tanny 8 1/2, McCune 6 1/2, Baptiste 6, Gironda 5, Stern and Terlazzo each 3 1/2, Essmaker 1, and Thompson 1/2. From this listing the top 4 men were again called on to pose again. This time the results were Tanny 8 1/2, Baptiste 6 1/2, McCune 5 1/2, and Gironda 5. After this the two top men, Tanny and Baptiste, were again called to the cabinet to fight it out for first place. These boys now had an opportunity to work for this title and they really did. This last contest resulted in Tanny being the winner with a meter reading of 8 1/2 and Baptiste creeping up with a final reading of 7 1/2.

Many of the fellows were so good it was difficult to choose between them. Vince Gironda, who operates a fine health studio out there, has a very fine build. Not quite as heavily developed as some of the others, but he has very broad shoulders and good separation with excellent shape and contour. Leo Stern looked better than ever and is developing a ruggedness from his recent lifting activities that many physique contestants lack. If all contestants added heavy lifting to their training programs they would greatly benefit from it. Tony Terlazzo, who is almost an old timer at the game now, looked great. Most of his training is rather sketchy as he has little time since his studio keeps him very busy, but he looked better than ever. As you may remember, Tony took second place in the first "Mr. America" in 1939. Roland Essmaker, the first "Mr. America" in 1939, looked better than ever. He is much lighter in muscularity than most contestants, but had beautiful separation and very excellent shape and contour. He doubtless could place much better if he added more bodyweight as most of our present day audiences are brought up on the theory that only the man with the biggest muscles is the best built. Roland does not care to become any larger, however. He is one of the best built men in the world in the slender class of physique. Thompson has a nice physique and posing ability but much too slender for the competition this night. Thompson is a college coach and Physiotherapist in Manhattan, Kansas and a hard worker for our game.

Walt Marcyan now presented the trophies and checks to the winners. Then the new "Mr. America", Jack Dellinger, gave a fine posing exhibition to close the show.

The audience seemed to have been well pleased with the show and many of them said it was the best they had ever seen.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

- WALT BAPTISTE was a close second for the "Mr. 1949" title and has one of the finest physiques in the world. He worked hard for this contest and was in beautiful condition. Walt is also very strong. Photo by Ath. Mod. Guild.

- PHOTOS ON OPPOSITE PAGE-Upper left, Tanny and Baptiste standing. Gironda and McCune seated. Upper Right, Gironda and Baptiste. Lower left, Roberta and Walt Marcyan. Lower right Del & Darnelle, (Harold Zinkin and partner) Photos by Ath. Model Guild.

- Photo at top of page, ROLAND ESSMAKER, former "Mr. America" (1939) and one of the finest built men in the world of the "slender" type. Photo below, LEO STERN, one of America's best built professionals as well as one of the strongest. Leo is a hard and conscientious worker for the game. Photo by At. Md. Gld.

- Photo above, VINCE GIRONDA who operates a fine health studio on the west coast. He is quite progressive in his methods. Photo below is of BOB MC CUNE a west coast superman who is continually improving. He is one of the most massively developed men we have seen. He is also very strong and at present holds the prof. bench press (world) record at 371 lbs. Photos by Athletic Model Guild.

- This latest photo of IAN "Mac" BATCHELOR shows him at a light bodyweight of 275. His usual bodyweight is around 315. Mac did some great lifting but had some bad luck with a badly balanced load and a new belt that stretched in the hip lift. Photo by At. Md. Gld.

- We paid Mac a visit at the tavern where he presides to discuss his coming lifting. Here is a snap of Walt Marcyan and Mrs. Peary Rader discussing coming events with Mac outside the door of the place. Photo by Rader.

- Mac Batchelor making his great back lift. The judges were very strict with Mac and as you can see watched all four corners very carefully. Mac lifted over 3,000 lbs. several times and probably would have done 3500 but the platform and load could not be well enough balanced, and one corner always persisted in staying down. That's a famous lot of manpower standing on the platform. Most of the supermen appearing on the show climbed on. You can see Jules Bacon, Roy Hilligen, Les Stockton, Gene Jantzen, Jack Delinger and many others. Iron Man Photo

- Mac shown doing his hip lift. The huge belt he is using stretched so far it was useless when he attempted 2050 lbs. Iron Man Photo.

- WALT MARCYAN making his 351 Cont. and Jerk. Iron Man Photo.

- HAROLD ZINKIN weighing 178 makes a Cont. and Jerk of 356. Iron Man Photo.

- Left to Right-VINCE GIRONDA 4th place, BOB MC CUNE 3rd place, WALT BAPTISTE 2nd place and ARMAND TANNY the new "Mr. 1949". Iron Man Photo.

- BOB MC CUNE making a new world record (professional) bench press with 371 lbs. Iron Man Photo.

- EDITH ROEDER a very attractive young lady and one of the strongest if not the strongest in the world for her bodyweight. She made a 385 total and just failed narrowly to make 30 pounds more. She is here shown snatching 125 and clean and jerking 165. Iron Man photo

- ARMAND TANNY, winner of the "Mr. 1949" contest. Armand Tanny the new "Mr. 1949" is a man of mighty power as well as beautiful physique. Weighing 210 lbs. he has made a 270 press, 280 snatch, 360 clean and jerk and a 280 one hand clean. He has wrestled professionally and is a graduate of the University of California and also a physiotherapist. He continues to improve and if he cared to apply himself could create world lifting records that would stand for a long time. All photos on these pages were taken at the "Mr. 1949" contest by Athletic Model Guild except the back pose which shows that he can show a terrific back even in a flashlight shot such as this Iron Man photo.