Tanny Wins Mr. U.S.A. Title

by Dr. L Arnold Pike

BEFORE a large crowd in Los Angeles' Embassy Auditorium, Armand Tanny was chosen as the "Mr. U.S.A. - 1950" on July 3rd. The event was the exciting climax to three days of pre-holiday physical culture, physique contests, weight-lifting, acrobatics and varied strength performances which marked the 1950 Mr. and Miss U.S.A. Contests.

While previous shows had been cosponsored by Vic Tanny and Bert Goodrich, this third annual show was presented by Goodrich alone. Needless to say he produced a fine affair as he had done in the past. Never before did any physique contest receive as much splendid newspaper, radio and television publicity as did this show. Goodrich took quite a chance in breaking even with his 1950 Mr. and Miss U.S.A. contests since he presented the show in three successive nights instead of just one evening as in the past.

But in spite of the affair being held just before the Fourth of July - on July 1, 2 and 3 - large crowds attended each evening's events and promoter Goodrich managed to have plenty of interesting acts, entertainment and contests each night to please everyone. The popular Hollywood gym owner succeeded in his desire to produce a contest which ran three days so that all who were interested could be present at least one evening.

Though the heat was on in Los Angeles on opening night - July 1, all loyal strength and health fans were on hand to greet Terry Robinson as he opened the show promptly at 8:30 PM to the accompaniment of Wally Webb's orchestra. Murray Parker, well-known theatrical entertainer, then took over as master of ceremonies and gave forth with some comical gab.

The Johnson Brothers, a comedy juggling team, were the first act on Saturday's program and they proved amusing, exciting and diverting with their Indian cubs and straw hat tricks. Juggling Indian clubs soon gave way to at least 30 curvacious blondes, brunettes and redheads as they pretty lassies lined the platforms on the stage for the Miss U.S.A. contest.

Accompanied by whistles and howls, each young lady moved down from here platform position and ankled across the stage as her name was called. The 30 contestants postured themselves through interesting poses for the benefit of the crowd and judges - actors Gene Roth, Ted Cooper, television personality Slick Slavin, dramatic coach Emory Houger, director Hal Yates and stage actor Leonard Buote. After all the gals posed, they later re-posed backstage for the judges and 15 were selected for the semi-finals for Sunday evening.

Terry Robinson, himself a former physique contestant and now quite active in west coast strength and health activities, then took over as master of ceremonies as he had done at previous Mr. U.S.A. contests. It was his honor to introduce the World's Heavyweight Lifting Champion Johnny Davis who appeared on the stage to a terrific applause. This great Olympic champ soon proved why he is such an outstanding weight lifter. He military pressed 300 and 320 with ease and then to the delight of all - he did 340. In the snatch, Johnny pulled 280, 300 and 310. Robinson remarked at this pint, that Davis was going to lift up the auditorium on his next lift and he might have at that. In the clean and jerk Davis did 355 but failed to clean 385 off the floor. We soon learned that he wasn't use to the wide bar that was being used. He had his York Olympic Barbell the next night and really amazed us. Nevertheless his performance that first night was very impressive.

The bench press contest was next on the program and Len Platt, Sam Griffiths, Danny Villanueva and Marty Orloff proved sturdy opponents. However, 175 lb. Villanueva's 18 bench press repetitions of 250 pounds was too much for his rivals. This Danny has natural strength and should make some new lifting marks in the future if he continues to progress.

Handsome Jack LaLanne, the V-shaped gym owner from Northern California, then assumed the emcee chores to introduce the big event of the evening - the A.A.U. sanctioned Mr. Western America Contest . There were 21 men of bronze and brawn in this contest which was judged by Walt Marcyan, Dave Maltin, Orbie Cleghorn, Maury Ostrove and Milton McAleece of the S.P. A.A.U.

This contest was judged on a point basis with 6 pts. for muscular development, 6 pts - symmetry, 1 pt. - posing, 1 pt. - face and skin and 1 for general appearance. The Mr. Western America contestants were lined up on platforms across the long stage when the curtains parted. As each man's name was called he walked to the center platform and went thru several poses under a bright top light. The number of poses were not restricted in this contest as it has been in the past. Quite a few of the contestants would have done better if they knew a few more pointers on how to pose properly. In any event it was a close contest as the judges' results later proved.

Victor Nicoletti was chosen Mr. Western America - 1950 with a total of 67 points. He edged second place Monte Wolford by just one point as the latter received 66 points. Third place honors went to Peper Gomez who garnered 64 points in the voting.

Later in the evening after the show was over I managed to get in a few words with the winners in spite of the crowds of bathing beauties, barrel-shaped lads, weight training enthusiasts et al. Nicoletti, deeply tanned, was proud of his Helms Foundation trophy which he received in winning the Mr. Western America title. This year he has made a clean sweep of titles on the west coast. He was chosen Mr. California in 1949 and more recently the 1950 Mr. Pacific Coast and Mr. Southwest.

I asked Vic whether his measurements had increased since last year when he won the Mr. Collegiate title. "Well, I've been concentrating on my arms and calves," he admitted. "I've been training hard in my backyard and at the Hollywood Gym." His efforts have now produced for him a 50 inch chest, 31 1/2 waist, 17 1/2 biceps and 24 2/3 thighs. So you see Nicoletti fits his frame rather well. And he's not content with just training because in 1951 he will receive his physical education degree.

Second place Monte Wolford got much applause when he posed during the contest with his physique presentation. His poses were neatly done and showed his muscularity to best advantage. Wolford who was Mr. Southwest in 1949 and the 1950 Mr. Dallas weighs but 170, has a 46 inch chest, 17 inch biceps, a 28 waist, 24 thighs and 16 1/2 in. calves. Meanwhile third place Pepper Gomez though a bit disappointed at not winning plans to be in the 1951 Mr. America contest. He claims a 17 1/2 in. biceps, 47 in. chest, 26 in. thighs, 31 in. waist for his 5 ft. 9, 193 pounds.

Returning to Saturday's evening show, after the Mr. Western America contest - Clarence Ross, the 1945 Mr. America - presented his muscle posing routine. The crowd god a kick out of his muscle control and especially his double pectoral roll which must be seen to be appreciated. Ross, who was the 1948 Mr. U.S.A., now weighs 204 and admits he's training harder and eating more these days.

The Titans, acclaimed by many as the most accomplished hand to hand team, then took the spotlight and delighted all of us with their performance. Al Beck and Cliff McNatt, who now comprise the Titans, have been teamed for many years. One of their standout accomplishments is their shootout flag. Top man Beck scales 147 pounds while bottom man McNatt weights 165 pounds. Recently they have performed on the touring Bob Hope show.

Saturday's program came to a grand closing when the winners of the Mr. Western America contest were presented with their awards by sponsor Bert Goodrich and the semi-finalists in the Miss U.S.A. contest gave the enthusiastic audience another glimpse at their curvacious figures.

Backstage was a mad affair after the curtains rang down and yours truly didn't know whether to ogle the lovely bathing-suited beauties or the physique boys. However, nobody remained backstage too long as the lads like Terry Robinson, George Eiferman, Frank Dorio and others got their girl friends and exited for steaks and other nourishment.

Sunday, July 2, was a hot sunny day in Los Angeles so practically everyone at the Embassy Auditorium that eve had a read or deeply tanned countenance. Backstage was dead in contrast to the evening before when so many beauties and body builders were running around. Tonight there were only 15 girls left in the semi-finals for Miss U.S.A. and but a quartet of contestants for the sub-division in the Mr. U.S.A. battle.

The show started promptly at 8:30 P.M. as genial Terry Robinson brought on humorous Murray Parker as m.c. There were many new faces in the crowd to laugh at his corn. His antics gave way to the more interesting performance by cyclists Paul Gordon. His unique comique cycling was one of the most diverting bicycle acts this reporter has ever seen. Gordon has created several unusual bikes from a midget one with doughnut sized wheels to an elevated high bike atop of which he did a hand stand while it was rolling along the stage.

Next on the program, Terry Robinson again brought out champion Johnny Davis. The weight lifting champ is one of the best liked iron game athletes and he got a fine reception when he appeared on stage to again dazzle the audience with his terrific lifting. Tonight we all got a kick out of Johnny's 125 pound warmup right hand military press. He then did 135 with ease and wound up a sensational 145 lb. barbell one arm press. The Olympic Champ then proved that he is tops at other weight lifting feats besides the three Olympic lifts. First he curled 175 pounds rather simply, then he did 190 with as much ease. Veteran iron game supporters Willis Reed and Peary Rader shook their heads with disbelief as they watched Davis's performance. The latter ended his curling with a mere 205 pounds on the bar. Try that for size. The m.c. cut in at this time to wisecrack that the film "The Big Lift" had been named in honor of Johnny Davis. The World's Heavyweight Lifting King wound up his splendid lifting with repetitions of 350 and 375 pounds in the two hand clean and jerk.

The Glenns were next on the program and they turned out to be an acrobatic act that was entertainingly different. Bob, Wally and Marie, who make up the Glenns, combined ballroom dancing with rhythmical hand to hand stunts. One of their eye appealing tricks was a human roman chair in which Marie supported her male partners and another was a stunt in which she did a backbend atop the shoulders of the bottom man while top mounter Bob performed a hand stand on Marie's trim hips.

Telescopes and field glasses then appeared in the hands of the enthusiastic audience as the 15 semi-finalists in the Miss U.S.A. contest displayed their figures and charm again before the curtain went down.

(continued the following month)

Strength & Health, October 1950, page 28

THE excitement and enthusiasm had heightened around and in the Embassy Auditorium on Monday night - July 3 as the Mr. U.S.A. contest neared and Miss U.S.A. was about to be finally picked. Wally Webb's musical crew overtured at 8:30 and once more emcee Murray Parker pepped up the crowd with his gab.

Joe Russell was the first act on the program and his juggling got many laughs and applause. Terry Robinson then introduced Danny Villanueva and genial George Eiferman for their repetition bench press contest. George had won that contest at the 1949 Mr. U.S.A. show. He took first turn under the 250 pound barbell and pressed it 18 times with ease. He hesitated slightly as he pressed for his 19th repetition. The crowd pleaded with him to succeed and he did. Now it was Villanueva's turn. The young 175 pound lifter had done 250 pounds 18 times the night before - could he do better tonight we all wondered. Using a wide grip it seemed as though Villanueva would best Eiferman as he did his first ten repetitions so simply. And when he reached his eighteenth count and tried for his nineteenth repetition we all held our breath. He got it up half way but that was all and George Eiferman was the winner of the bench press contest again.

The amazing John Davis lifted again for the crowd's pleasure for the third night in a row. He cleaned and jerked 340 twice. Then the loaders helped him clean 380 to his shoulders and Davis then jerked the weight overhead. Finally he tried 400 and jerked it overhead with just as much apparent ease. Johnny then brought us out of our seats with his sensational squats. With the aid of that tough weightlifting competitor Frank Dorio of Goodrich's gym and good natured George Eiferman, Davis lifted the heavy poundage of 425 pounds behind his neck and did a low squat. That was enough we though but no - the champ wasn't content with that. Davis then took 480 on the bar and squatted with that without any trouble. "I feel tops tonight" muttered Johnny on the stage and he told the boys to load 530 pounds on the bar! "Oh's" were heard throughout the auditorium as the 530 pound barbell was placed behind the champ's neck and this great strongman squatted successfully with this terrific poundage. He got a great ovation from the crowd and before he left the stage - Davis thanked the audience for their warm reception and hoped to be able to come back to Southern California to stay. I don't blame him.

Clarence Ross repeated his posing and muscle control of Saturday night and seemed to put on a better muscle show before the larger audience. This time the platform on the stage was decked with black drapes which was of more advantage to the poser. It was a very warm summer night so Ross must have really perspired under the bright top lights.

Male muscles gave way to soft curves as the five finalists in the Miss U.S.A. contest ankled behind the floodlights before the new judges - newspaper photographers Ben White, Hollywood correspondent Virginia McPherson, N.B.C. television emcee Bill Welch and Bert Simms of the L.A. Examiner. Originally there were seven girls picked for the finals but two of them didn't appear. Two blonds and three brunettes made it tough on the judges to come to a decision. As it turned out blond Evelyn Lovequist was chosen as the third Miss U.S.A. Lovely brunettish Hazel Shaw was second and cute blond Lynn Robuck placed third.

As compared with previous Mr. U.S.A. contests, this year's had the smallest entry list. Of course, there could not be as great a contest as last year when Grimek appeared to challenge Ross, Reeves, Eiferman et al. Nevertheless the 1950 Mr. U.S.A. contest still had outstanding competitors and much excitement. Norman Marks, Vince Gironda, George Eiferman, Armand Tanny, Walt Baptiste, Bob Mucci, and Floyd Page posed in that order.

After all the outstanding contestants had posed I had the five ballots in my hands. It was very close. In the first four ballots I found Eiferman had two first places and two seconds as did Tanny. So the deciding vote was the very last ballot. I wondered which way it would be. Then I took a look. It was Tanny 1st place, Eiferman 22nd with Page 3rd. So it was Armand Tanny who was chosen "Mr. U.S.A. - 1950" by a vote of 3 to 2 over George Eiferman. Page received 5 votes for third place.

Meanwhile George Eiferman and Floyd page were called back on stage for a run-off on the "most muscular physique" from the night before. After the two had again posed, Eiferman was selected by a vote of 4 to 1. So though Mr. America of 1948 didn't win the Mr. U.S.A. title he did receive the most trophies for the "best chest", "best back" and "most muscular".

Each girl was then called out on the stage as the winners of the Miss U.S.A. contest were announced. Lynn Robuck, Hazel Shaw and winner Evelyn Lovequist were called out in that order and were presented with trophies and other gifts. Mario Lanza helped in the presentation. Then a hush came over the audience as the winners of the Mr. U.S.A. were to be announced. As I mentioned before 3rd place went to Floyd Page but as Terry Robinson announced "2nd place - George Eiferman" a boo went up from the crowd and as he added further "1st place - Armand Tanny" there was applause but some booing from the audience.

Needless to say Tanny was very happy with his handsome trophy and $1000 check which was presented to him by Bert Goodrich. Eiferman received a fine trophy and 4250 for second place while Page got $100 and a nice torphy.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

- Meet the 1950 "Mr. and Miss U.S.A.", EVELYN LOVEQUIST and ARMAND TANNY. Convincing reasons for their success in the recently conducted contests sponsored by Bert Goodrich at Los Angeles are very much in evidence here. (All photos illustrating this article were taken especially for Strength & Health by Cecil Charles of West Los Angeles.)

- Dr. L. ARNOLD PIKE, the author, is in the center of this photo showing ARMAND TANNY and GEORGE EIFERMAN shaking hands. Good sportsmanship predominated among the athletes in the events at the "Mr. U.S.A." show.

- JACK LALANNE had plenty of backstage inspiration. The belles are HAZEL SHAW, the second place winner in the "Miss U.S.A.", at the right and LYNN ROBUCK who rated third in this contest. LALANNE's balancing act was one of the high spots on the program of this big show.

- These three supermen won top physique honors in the "Mr. U.S.A." contest show this July. GEORGE EIFERMAN, at the left, was rated "Most Muscular Man" in the professional competition and also won "Best Back" and "Best Chest". The bit $1,000 cash award for being selected "Mr. U.S.A." was won by Armand Tanny, in the center of this trio. VICTOR NICOLETTI, at the right, was victorious in the "Mr. Western America" event confined to amateur athletes.

- No feature proved more outstanding than JOHN DAVIS did at the "Mr. U.S.A." contest show. His enormous strength astounded West Coast fans. Did prodigious lifting feats at every one of the three performances of this extensive show. This full squat with more than a quarter of a ton is a sample of one of the herculean feats he performed.

- ARMAND TANNY and EVELYN LOVEQUIST, "Mr. and Miss U.S.A. of 1950", won top honors in the big competition sponsored by Bert Goodrich at Los Angeles in July.

- A Bevy of belles surround Victor Nicoletti, the winner of the "Mr. Western America" crown, backstage at the Embassy Auditorium. These beauties were contestants in the "Miss U.S.A." event. Blonde EVELYN LOVEQUIST, the winner, is in the foreground at the right.