VARIETY SHOWS
Professional "Mr. America" Contest a Farce??
Reports that have reached us concerning the so-called Professional "Mr. America" affair was unsatisfactory. The criticism of this event warrants an "airing" because the sponsor of this contest has conducted other physique events where the management was faulty. With the hope of bringing a halt to such unsatisfactory management of shows of this kind we are releasing the pertinent portions of one of the letters of criticism we recently received. It reads as follows:
"There were about 12 or 14 contestants in Walt Baptiste's "Professional Mr. America" contest. The show was scheduled to start at 8 P. M. and it was not until 8:30 that the doors were opened. This started the show off to a bad start. Walt made the capacity crowd wait another 45 minutes after they were inside. When the curtain finally went up there was no introduction. He had a fellow on a pedestal, and they fooled around with the lighting for another 20 minutes. He should have taken care of the lighting before the people came in. Next he ran off the "Mr. San Francisco" contest, and after another 15 minute intermission he ran off the "Miss San Francisco" contest. Another 15 minute intermission and the "Professional Mr. America" contest began. He announced the winners; 1st place Norman Marks, 2nd place Jim Payne, 3rd place Floyd Page. Floyd Page works for Walt!
"Baptiste wanted a recount of the votes. After anohter intermission of at least 15 minutes the winners for the second time were announced. 1st place Norman Marks, 2nd place Floyd Page (he graduated from 3rd), 3rd place Jim Payne. This decision was greeted with boos and hisses. That was the end of the show and nearly everyone went home. There were exactly 17 people in the Auditorium when Baptiste said, he wanted to check over the results once more. A friend of mine counted the 17 people left. Walt proceeded to gather the judges' papers and with one judge retired to the privacy of a dressing room. After about 15 minutes Baptiste came back and said Marks loses, page wins!!! Floyd Page is a swell fellow and felt quite bad. By this time it was after one o'clock and being disgusted and tired I went home. His show did more harm to the game around this area than can be imagined."
Photo Caption on page 24 and 25
- Walt Baptiste's 1948 "Professional Mr. America" contest was held in San Francisco on 31st of January. It is regrettable that this event was marred by the unsatisfactory and irregular manner in which the outcome of the contest was decided. NORMAN MARKS of Oakland, California, who is at the right, was twice announced as the winner when the scores of the judges were counted for the third and final time. FLOYD PAGE, who is in the center, was declared the winner of this contest. In this first counting of the votes he was in third position and when the votes were recounted for the first time he rated second place. Jim Payne, who is at the left was shifted from second place to third in this mix-up. He operates a body building gym with NORMAN MARKS at Oakland, California, Photo by Tommy Simpson of San Jose, Calif.
- FLOYD PAGE was selected as the 1948 "Professional Mr. America" title holder. In the recent "Mr. U.S.A." contest at Los Angeles this impressively developed athlete placed fifth. He is the director of a body building studio at Palo Alto, California and is affiliated with Walt Baptiste in this project. The attractive gal posing with Floyd Page is MARY McDOWELL, the winner of the "Miss Northern California" contest. Photo by Tommy Simpson of San Jose, Calif.