The Mr. America Contest For 1953
by Jules Bacon
Pearl Proves Outstanding Winner
THIS year's Mr. America contest was held in conjunction with the national weightlifting championships, as has been the regular practice since 1940.
It was open to any amateur athlete. For months district physique contests had been staged and the very cream of the crop was entered in America's greatest physique contest.
A Mr. America contest is always a thrilling spectacle, one filled with surprises, satisfactions and disappointments. The success or failure of the contestants is entirely in the hand of the judges, so it is imperative that the best officials be selected. A full page of suggested names was offered and then it was the work of the National A.A.U. Weightlifting Committee, of which Clarence Johnson is chairman and Bob Hoffman vice-chairman, to make the final selections. Those chosen to serve were Al Roy, of Baton Rouge, La., Olympic trainer and weightlifting chairman in his district; Herb Lucy of Boston, New England weightlifting chairman; Bob Hise, a member of the Southern California weightlifting committee; Larry Barnholth, of Akron, Northern Ohio weightlifting chairman; Harry Paschall, noted writer and former lifting champion from Pompano Beach, Florida; Peary Rader, editor of Iron Man magazine; George Greenfield, vice-chairman from the Virginia district; Charles Smith, a member of the Metropolitan New York weightlifting committee, and Bob Hoffman, chairman of the Middle Atlantic committee.
Prior to the Mr. America judging, the officials got together and Bob Hoffman was given the task of telling the sort of man that should be picked for Mr. America. Although the basis for judging is six points for muscular development, six for muscular proportions and three for skin, hair, teeth and face, posing ability, carriage and posing ability [sic], it was mentioned that we want a man as Mr. America that all Americans can be proud of. The winner should have good character, reasonable intelligence, athletic ability and personality, as well as muscles and pleasing appearance. Bob asked the judges to be impartial and to examine the contestants closely to see that they had no hidden defects. Occasionally a man with some imbalance such as knock-knees or bow-legs can pose so that the defect is not noticed. The judges were reminded that they had a very difficult task and that there were at least a dozen men in the contest who would make worthy winners.
Each contestant was given a full opportunity to show himself to best advantage, a front, back, and optional pose, 45 seconds in all was allowed. The lights were excellent arranged by the master himself, John Grimek. John had driven his new Packard to Indianapolis with son Bobbie, Reg Ireland and his wife, and contestant Bill pearl, who had visited York briefly for a last minute workout and to put final touches on his posing routine. The twin spotlights John arranged caused the contestants to show up well.
Leading contenders proved to be Bill Pearl, of Leo Stern's San Diego gym; Irvin Koszewski, of Tanny's gym; Steve Klisanin, of Albuquerque; George Paine, of the Apollon Club at the Harlem Y.M.C.A.; Vic Seipke, of Detroit; Tim Leong, of Honolulu; Tim Sweeney, of the Air Force; Mickey Hargitay, of Higgins Indianapolis gym; George Jones, of Fritshe's Philadelphia gym; Malcolm Brenner, of Los Angeles; Harry Johnson, of Karo Whitfield's Atlanta gym; Dom Juliano and Dick DuBois, of York and Tony Silipini, of Rochester.
When emcee Jack Libertore, of the Apollo Health Club in Columbus, Ohio, called out contestant number four, Bill Pearl, it was evident from the terrific round of applause he received that he was a popular favorite. man after man was called and the spectators were overwhelmed at such a display of muscular impressiveness.
After all the preparation, and years of training by the contestants, the entire display did not take more than 20 minutes. Each judge completed his score and then the judges retired to another room where Clarence Johnson, whose vocation is that of a certified public accountant, compiled the figures with lightning-like efficiency. The score sheets of the nine officials were placed side by side and the highest and lowest score for each contestant was scratched out. It was soon evident that Bill Pearl, of Stern's gym and the U.S. Navy, was the winner. Bob Hoffman walked quickly to Bill and told him that he'd won, and we weren't sure whether Bill was bout to laugh, cry or pray. He went over to a corner for a moment and apparently did all three. he was simply overwhelmed to have gained so high an honor. Bill is not the kind of man to think so highly of himself as to feel sure of winning. He entered with the attitude that he had trained hard and would do the best that could be expected of a "dark horse".
Employing the usual practice of calling the fifth place man first, and so on to the winner, the place winners were called in turn: George Paine, Steve Klisanin (the 1953 Jr. Mr. America), Irvin Koszewski, DIck DuBois and the new Mr. America - Bill Pearl. The crowd cheered for each man, with the loudest cheers reserved for the winner. There was not a dissenting voice. It was almost unanimously agreed that one of the greatest physiques of all time had come to the forefront.
Of course, there were those present who may have preferred the physique of Dick DuBois, runner-up in his first year of major competition, or Irvin Koszewski, perennial high place winner, but Pearl was decidedly a popular winner. DuBois, only 19, served notice that he will be hard to beat in the future. It is interesting to note the youth of the first and second-place men; Pearl is only 22.
To "Zabo" Koszewski it was an old story. He won the Best Abdominals trophy for the fourth time in a Mr. America contest. Each year he had improved his position somewhat, and this year to place third was a great triumph in this great competition.
Steve Klisanin, the Junior Mr. America of 1953, and George Paine, Junior Mr. America of 1951, had exactly the same score. The judges voted again, and Klisanin was given the fourth position.
Tony Silipini, of Niagara Falls, has a great physique and just missed the charmed circle of the first five. He won the special awards for Best Chest and Best Legs. Tim Sweeney looked wonderful; handsome and shapely, and was placed high. Tim Leong was phenomenal and there were quite a few who thought he might be the ultimate winner. Leong won the Best Back award.
Dom Juliano, another sensational 19-year-old, doubtless felt disappointed to finish ninth, for he had been third in the Junior contest, but he should have received some satisfaction to be placed ahead of such men as Malcolm Brenner, the 1952 Junior Mr. America. Brenner won the Best Arms trophy this year.
Vic Seipke, a Mr. Michigan winner and Strength and Health coverman, had plenty of everything, looked wonderful and was not too far behind the leaders in scoring. Mickey Hargitay, of Higgins gym, was rated high by the judges. He is a big, powerful, athletic fellow who shaped up well and was not far back in the scoring. Harry Johnson, of Atlanta, was another who had fine development in every department, but it is impossible to rate everyone at the top, so he had to be contest with a lesser position.
The following are the places won by the 12 leaders:
- Bill Pearl, Stern's Gym in San Diego
- Dick DuBois, York Barbell Club
- Irvin Koszewski, Tanny's Gym
- Steve Klisanin, Albuguergue Y.M.C.A.
- George Paine, Apollon Barbell Club
- Tony Silipini, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
- Tim Sweeney, San Antonio, Texas
- Tim Leong, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Dom Juliano, York Barbell Club
- Malcolm Brenner, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Vic Seipke, Detroit, Michigan
- Harry Johnson, Atlanta, Georgia
The five special awards for body parts were picked on the first day of the championship, Most Muscular on the second day. Brenner won Best Arms, four votes to three over Paine. Silipini won Best Chest, with Klisanin and Juliano receiving votes. Best Back went to Leong, with Juliano and Paine rating some of the judges' attention. Koszewski won Best Abdominals by four to three over Paine. Paine had fine abdominals, but lacked the oblique development of Koszewski. Competition was keen for Best Legs. Paine had won Best Legs last year and had amazingly muscular thighs, but his calves did not match them in development. Pearl had wonderfully developed thighs and calves, the result of weight training, sprinting and football playing. Silipini was the ultimate winner of Best Legs for his powerful underpinning, so became the only man in the contest to win two subdivisions.
George Paine could not be blamed if he had felt a little discouraged not to have won a special award to this point, but his turn was to come. He came through with a bang to win the Most Muscular title, the most important sub-title of all, second only in prestige to Mr. America in many bodybuilder's opinions. Pearl, Koszewski, Sweeney and Silipini also received votes for Most Muscular.
And thus ended one of the greatest Mr. America contests ever. I could appreciate how the competitors felt, having been on both the losing and winning end in past contests. I'll have all the thrills and excitement, and perhaps the disappointment, again in July, when I enter the Mr. Universe contest in England.