Mr. Universe, 1955

Hargitay, Robert win title
complete official summary

WITH A REVERSAL of previous successes by Mr. America winners entered in the international Mr. Universe contest, two men who had won the U.S. competition previously were placed second at London's Scala Theatre June 10 and 11. The winners were unheralded and underrated Mickey Hargitay, of Higgin's Gym in Indianapolis, and Leo Robert, of Montreal, Canada. The former Mr. Americas who placed second were Dick DuBois and Clarence Ross.

An explanation of the British system of judging perhaps makes clear the reason lesser known men emerged victorious. In England, all judging takes place backstage under natural conditions - no posing and no unusual lighting. This type of scoring proved especially advantageous to Hargitay, whose appearance is superb under everyday conditions, but who is not especially renowned as a poser.

Ross had been highly-touted with extravagant advance publicity which tended to make the man in person, despite his excellent muscular development, seem anti-climatic. In this case exaggerated praise for Ross proved a handicap when the heavily muscled Robert was able to more than live up to his reputation.

Hargitay became the sixth American to win the coveted Mr. Universe trophy, following such greats of the physique world as Steve Stanko, John Grimek, Steve Reeves, Bill Pearl, and Jim Park. Robert, also from the North American continent, was the first Canadian to win top honors.

Both winners outscored tough competition, with DuBois, John Penman, Paul An, John Lees and Mahmound Namdjou trailing Hargitay. Penman won the medium height class, while An, Jim Stevens, Khurshid Ahmed, and Reuben Govender all rated ahead of the highly-regarded Namdjou in the short class. In addition to Ross, Robert had to rand ahead of Monohar Aich, Jim Saunders, Arnold Dyson, Reuben Martin and James Mathe to win.

Special subdivisions were held in the amateur contest, with John Lees winning Best Back and Best Chest. Hargitay won Best Legs, Ted White won Best Abdominals, and the former world bantamweight lifting champion Namdjou won best Arms.

Robert, who operates his own gymnasium in Montreal, is 5'7" tall and weighs 180 pounds. Hargitay stands an imposing 6'1" tall and weighs a symmetrical 220 pounds. A former Central European speed skating champion from Hungary before becoming an American citizen, Hargitay is very powerful; he has pressed 280 pounds and has cleaned 310 pounds without splitting (all-the-way-up pull).

A complete summary of the contest, organized by the National Amateur Bodybuilders' Association of Great Britain, follows, compiled by NABBA secretary Laurie Webb:

Professional Mr. Universe Contest

Also competed: Stanley Howlett (England), Jean Long (France)

Professional Mr. Universe - Leo Robert

Amateur Mr. Universe Contest

Also competed: R. Campiglia (France), Gerry Crampton (England), Derek Gibbons (England), Mahmoud Samawi (Syria), Len Shires (England), Ron Thomas (Englad), and Hubert Thomas (Wales).

Also Competed: G. Hi-Yi-Fu (Hong Kong), Bernard Lewis (India), Erik Sven Lilja (Sweden), V. Osthaphan (Siam), J. Winton (Scotland), M. Stringer (England), Bill Miller (Wales), V. Crawford (Jamaica), E Martinson (England).

Also Competed: R. Armstong (England), B. Boulogne (France), Ken Restall (England), Albert Sapetti (France), Nicolas Kemp (Belgium).

Amateur Mr Universe - Mickey Hargitay

Judges: Dr. I. J. MacQueen, Oscan Heidenstam, George Kirkley, Emlyn Jenkins, David Webster, Norman Guest, and Peter Seldon. All NABBA International Judges.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

- Mutual congratulations are in order for Leo Robert (left) and Mickey Hargitay, professional and amateur Mr. Universe contest winners for 1955. Robert is 5'7" tall, weighs 180. Hargitay is 6'1 1/2" tall, and weighs 220 pounds.

- Smiling happily, Mickey Hargitay acknowledges the plaudits of the audience in Scala Theatre, London, after being named Mr. Universe (amateur) for 1955. At left is John Penman, New Zealand, winner of the medium height class, and at right is Paul An, Vietnam, short class winner.

- While John Penman applauds at left, former Mr. America Dick DuBois congratulates Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay. DuBois placed second to Hargitay in the tall men's class of the international contest.

- Clarence Ross (left), former Mr. America and runner-up in the Mr. Universe (professional) contest, congratulates Professional Mr. Universe Leo Robert, of Canada. (All photos courtesy D.G. Johnson, Health and Strength magazine, London).

- Above judges of the Mr. Universe contest, left to right, were Dr. Ian MacQueen, Oscar Heidenstam, Norman Guest, David Webster, Peter Seldon, George Kirkley and Emlyn Jenkins. Laurie Webb is standing between Kirkley and Jenkins. The other photo below shows the British judging system in action, as the contestants line up before the officials under normal conditions. (Arax photos).

- (Center) although he is seldom publicized, Laurie Webb carried out the lion's share of the work in organizing and promoting the Mr. Universe contests. He is official secretary of England's National Amateur Body-Builders' Association. (right) Concentration on heavy pressing and a variety of dumbell raising movements brought about improvement in the deltoid development of Mickey Hargitay, as can be seen in this photo. Hargitay has exceptionally broad shoulders.