Editorial...Joe Weider and Me
by Bob Hoffman
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So much has been said, written and inferred about my connection with the Weider concern, that I feel it is my rightful duty to enlighten physical culturists throughout the world as to my relationship with it, which is as follows: - It is interesting to note that he claims me as being his star pupil for 1953 and 1954, but I have not seen him since December, 1951, nor have I had any business correspondence with him for 2 years . In short all my relations with the above concern ceased in 1952. He has me down as an editor for one of his magazines but I have no connection with him or his magazines, nor for that matter do I wish to have any. Furthermore, articles continue to appear in his magazines under my name, which I did not write. In these articles he shows me illustrating exercises which are suppose to be my favorite exercises when I rarely perform them - as anyone who has trained with me or seen me train can vouch for. The same applies to his goods; he has photographs of me tied up with his food stuffs - and whilst no name is given, he infers that I partake of same. Unfortunately, it is not a simple matter to straighten out these things as international laws and currency come into play and there is also the terrific financial costs to be dealt with. These are the true facts and I leave it to you to draw your own conclusion. |
A Statement by George Eiferman:
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To The Editors
Dear Sirs: I want it to be publicly known that I don not and have not recommended any wieght resistance exercise or weight lifting equipment other than that of the York Barbell Company. I do not and have not recommended training methods other than in accord with the York training principles, which I have followed and have demonstrated in nearly every state in the United States. Any printed matter which states I recommend or did recommend any equipment or methods other than York is untrue and Published against my wishes. Very truly yours,
George Eiferman
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The editorial and statement printed above are published at the request of Reg Park and George Eiferman, who are among prominent men in the physical culture world who claim they are being victimized and exploited by Joe Weider and his "ghost writing" organization. Unable to retaliate with lawsuits, because of the time and expense involved, they have asked that the pages of Strength & Health be used to publicize their predicament. This request has been granted as a service to readers who may have been misled by the distortions, half-truths and downright falsehoods published elsewhere.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
- Reg Park, Britain's most famous physique star, won the Mr. Universe contest in 1951. Probably the most phenomenal strength feat of this 6'1", 218-pound superman is his press on the bench of 500 pounds. A great believer in heavy weight training exercises, he has also made two repetition squats with 550 pounds and has pressed a pair of 130-pound dumbells. He now heads his own organization, the Reg Park Company, Ltd., and publishes the British magazine The Reg Park Journal .
- George Eiferman, Mr. America of 1948, is one of the most popular peronsalities in the iron game. George has demonstrated the York basic courses in more than 2,000 schools to over 3,000,000 teenagers throughout the United States. At the present time George and his protege Dick DuBois are members of the touring Mae West "beefcake" troupe.
Strength & Health, July 1955, page 36
The following appeared in the British publication THE REG PARK JOURNAL in a signed editorial by Great Britain's most famous bodybuilder, Reg Park: "Recently in an American Physical Culture Magazine there appeared an article about getting massive ? written by Weider. In it he refers to a conversation which he asserts took place between a "cop' and myself about 'my massive shoulders and chest'. As an exercise in imagination the article deserves full marks. This conversation only took place in Weider's mind. Readers, it never really happened! Later in the article Weider refers to me as his Pupil More fiction! I was never his pupil and Weider knows it. Believe me, I had 'wide shoulders and a mighty chest' long before I ever clapped my eyes on the 'imaginative Joe'. He proceeds to tell how he helped me to win the 'Mr. Universe' title, and that he flew over a week prior to the contest in order to help me complete my training. Another flight of fancy! I did not see him until the night before the contest and then only for a very short time. I much preferred to go to bed early to be ready for the great day that lay ahead. Come off it, Weider. Play the game! But perhaps you don't understand the meaning of this latter expression." The title of the foregoing editorial is "Joe Weider Get Off My Back." As can be deduced from the remaining material on these pages, Weider is riding rather hard on a number of broad backs which are able, but unwilling, to stand the strain. Weider, of course, will discount the evidence presented for everyone to see and will claim that it just isn't so, that these men are all his dear friends and grateful pupils. We leave it to the intelligence of our readers to make a choice as to who is telling the truth. Reg Park, pictured above, is a product of heavy weight training. he holds British professional lifting records in addition to his best-built-man titles.
The "Bodybuilders - Abused By Weider" file grows and grows. Parts of a letter from Lou Degni to Bob Hoffman follow:
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Dear Bob, In the November issue of "Muscle Power" magazine, a Weider publication, an article was written on me which I had not been interviewed for. In this article it had several pictures of me under which it stated that I use Weider methods. Enclosed are the pictures to give you a clear view of what I mean. Now Bob, I certainly never gave him permission or signed any contract giving him the right to use my pictures endorsing any of his methods. I am pretty sore about it and wonder if you would give me any advice on what to do about it... My brother Sam sends you his best regards and thanks you for the card from Europe. My best to all the staff. Sorry I couldn't make the picnic this year. I was in California at the time. Your friend, Lou (Degni) |
We hesitate to bring this letter, one of many on file, to the attention of readers, for we realize it will probably prompt Weider to drive his No. 1 Spook (and World's Greatest Something-or-other), the over-worked Charlie Smith, to pound out more reams of vilification. We cannot let the below-the-belt blasts go unanswered, unfortunately, for to many readers an uncontested attack is considered to be true, no matter how puerile it may be. The photo of Lou Degni, who is a leading Mr. America candidate, was taken by Don Young.
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March 27, 1955 To Whom It May Concern: I, Richard DuBois, wish to make it known that Weider publications have taken the liberty of exploiting me by releasing articles without my consent. Not only was the text of these articles unauthorized but in a number of instances imparted distortions. There appears to be an obvious link here with Weider's commercial interests. Weider's magazines have also been guilty of releasing publicity of a slanderous nature. Incidently, I am not the only "Mr. America" winner to be the victim of Weider's unethical tactics. I sincerely hope that this public protest will call a halt to these abuses. Signed: Richard DuBois P.S. I. Geroge Eiferman, wish to substantiate this protest against Weider's unethical tactics. Like Richard DuBois, I have also been abused in a similar manner by Wieder's exploitation. Signed: George Eiferman |
The signed statement above adds weight to the evidence presented against Weider. Since America has been the home of splendidly developed weight trained athletes for more than twice the years Weider has favored us with his miraculous methods, it would seem that some of the claims and counter-claims being bandied about are not true. The evidence on these pages indicates clearly that little value can be attached to Weider's claims. (Dick DuBois, photographed by Cecil Charles, is shown above. George Eiferman, photo by Bruce, is at the right. Both have won the Mr. America crown.)