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I have a separate entry under "Physique" where I make a differentiation between Physique (body models) and Bodybuilders. This section is devoted to legendary bodybuilders and gym rats who stayed mainly in the aesthetic Iron Game throughout their lives.
Personally, I didn't really understand "bodybuilding" or start going to a gym until I was 49 when I hired a trainer, Blake Harrison. The goal was to help me transform into the best version of myself - for my 50th birthday. Learning about bodybuilding with Blake literally changed the trajectory of my life.
Since then (2014), I have amassed a huge collection of bodybuilding autographs, books and magazines. I've also dug deeply into the history of bodybuilding, nutrition and fitness. Most importantly, I've fully embraced a life of fitness, which includes strength training. I've made long lasting friendships with guys that share my passion, and the world of the gym and fitness has allowed me to help via mentorship and also to LEARN from younger people's POV.
A big shout out to Angel H. whose shared interest in bodybuilding, fitness and philosophy has cemented an intergenerational bond and meaningful friendship that is unparalleled. All because of the gym and my initial interest in the ego-based focus of bodybuilding, hypertrophy and gym aesthetics. I'm older, wiser and have different gym goals - but my knowledge and interest in the world of bodybuilding is still keen.
I'll revisit this page later and populate it with many bodybuilder autographs and books from my collection. In the meantime, for this initial placeholder, I am including just three notable bodybuilders as the tip of the iceberg.
EUGEN SANDOW – "The Father of Modern Bodybuilding". Eugen was the FIRST to showcase the male body, not just for strength (like strong men in the circus), but as a publicly acceptable form of entertainment to simply look at a barely clothed man's physique on stage under lights. It is Eugen and HIS body which are still on the Mr. Olympia trophy. I will share a lot more about Eugen, including an authentic vintage autograph and the interesting facts that I've gleaned from the biographies on his life. Very complex and interesting. And I will also share my collection of Mr. Olympia winners; coming soon.
I’ve got autographs from every Mr. Olympia from Larry Scott (1965, 1966) through Jay Cutler (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010) and I’ve even spent 3 days with Frank Zane and visited with Chris Dickerson. My interest in Mr. Olympia wanes when the beasts started to win and I’m more a fan of the Silver and Golden Eras of Bodybuilding. I’ll build another section devoted entirely to Mr. Olympia, including autographs from the super-rare Sergio Oliva. And yes, Arnold.
In the meantime, please note that the picture of an almost entirely nude Eugen was a popular cabinet card in 1892. This nearly pornographic photo is showcased here to highlight why sports, wrestling, boxing, bodybuilding and other "macho past-times" can be considered homoerotic. You can clearly see how the very first famous bodybuilder promoted himself (in the picture that requires a double-take) and ask yourself whether this seems like something marketed purely towards women and straight men. The eye of the beholder, indeed. Eugen knew his audience.
Sandow was the VERY FIRST filmed bodybuilder doing a solo pose-down as filmed by Thomas Edison in 1894
JOHN GRIMEK - He was known as "The Monarch of Muscledom" and was one of the first mainstream models on muscle magazine covers - often featured because of his symmetry, definition and awesome posing skills. His cover photo on “Strength and Health” from the early 40’s as shown here (I’ve got an original copy) is a piece of art. That is a NATTY body. John Grimek sought out steroids as he got older in the 1950’s and he said they made his body look worse! As Bill Pearl said: “Grimek had “the greatest physique of the first half of the 20th century”. He was a specimen of male perfection. The pose has been replicated by many, but John Grimek was inimitable. You'll also see here a rare vintage autograph of Grimek. Note that time and again, I will show you how posing in the nude was a completely innocent (non-gay) norm for many bodybuilders back in the day. More on that later - but you can check out my entry on Jack LaLanne for another perspective and some pix on "nude is normal". Why there is no biography on John Grimek is beyond me. Here's a vintage clip where you can watch Grimek make his stomach wave, do the shimmy and more!
DANNY PADILLA - The Giant Killer - I am including Danny Padilla here for the simple reason that he is one of my favorites. His contribution to the golden age of Olympia is often minimized or overlooked, but Danny kicked ass with his beautiful symmetry and ultra-defined physique. He may be only 5'2", but he is iconic and he wasn't called "The Giant Killer" for nothing. Danny knew how to develop his body, pose beautifully and compete with the best of them. He has verve and I admire his tenacity overcoming the underdog label. I was lucky enough to find Danny in 2023 and, gentleman that he is, he graciously signed these (and other photos) for me. Danny Padilla is overdue for his props as one the top tier legends from the Golden Era of Bodybuilding! And his lashes in the 3/4 profile ...Kardashian envy, cuz they're really his. See this amazing footage of Danny at his peak ....
Later, I’ll build out this section to include so many others from the Golden Era that are in my collection. Forthcoming is Tom Platz (The Quadfather), Bob Paris, Robby Robinson, Kevin Levrone, Bill Pearl, Boyer Coe, Flex Wheeler, Shawn Ray, Lou Ferrigno, Serge Nubret and so many more …
Meanwhile, for those who are interested in unfettered, factual, and insightful books on the history of bodybuilding I suggest: “Muscle, Smoke and Mirrors” by Randy Roach (all 3 volumes – HIGHLY comprehensive!) and “Muscle Wars” by insightful, intelligent, and outstanding bodybuilder Rick Wayne (frequent writer/contributor to Joe Weider publications).
Or if you want the salacious roman a clef with dirt (although the names - Arnold and Franco/Frank? have been changed), you can read “Bodybuilders, Drugs and Sex” by Thomas Minichiello or "The Iron Game" (Ken Sprague aka Dakota?) by Dave Carter. Both of these books are expensive collectibles and hard to find. The former can be had for $100 or less, but "The Iron Game" is NEVER to be found. Usually it is sold at auctions. There must be a limited number of printed copies. Mine is actually autographed by the author on the back cover. I found it for $100 Buy It Now on eBay during the pandemic. Jumped on that!
Let’s close out with a thorough documentary on The Father of Bodybuilding: "Rogue Legends: Eugen Sandow"
SERGE NUBRET AUTOGRAPH
Serge was known as “The Black Panther” – From France; born in 1938 died in 2011 at the age of 72 after falling into a pancreatic-related hypoglycemic coma. His family kept him on life support in a vegetative state for TWO YEARS!
BILL PEARL AUTOGRAPHS
“World’s Best Built Man of the Century” – Bill Pearl was an iconic legend! These photos were purchased from his website. His autograph is pretty easy to find since he was a prolific signer. My gratitude to Bill Pearl forever because he led me to find Mr. Olympia 1982, Chris Dickerson, who I visited in person. Details to follow under the upcoming Mr. Olympia section.
MIKE KATZ AUTOGRAPH
Mike Katz is 81 as of 2026 and is still active in the fitness world. He played for the New York Jets in the 60’s and was such a beast he was nicknamed “Superhuman”. The moniker carried over with him into the bodybuilding world and his appearance in “Pumping Iron”.
RICH GASPARI AUTOGRAPH
It. Must. Be. The. Ass! “The Dragonslayer”, Rich Gaspari, was the first bodybuilder to reveal fully striated, cross-feathered glutes on stage in 1985’s Night of the Champions. He was also the first to tuck the sides of his posing trunks so tightly as to expose the entire gluteus maximus. Sisqo was inspired. TBH I didn’t know anything about the ass thing until just now. The reason I purchased his autograph is that he was probably the most recognized (and one of the handsomest) cover model to me when I first noticed muscle magazines in the mid 80’s. Now that I’ve seen pix of the striated Gaspari butt, I think of Lisa Kudrow’s famous line from Season 1 of “The Comeback”.
TOM PLATZ AUTOGRAPH
“The Quadfather” – Handsome Tom Platz is known for his legendary legs, but I decided to pair one of his checks with an early photo of him BEFORE he built those massive quads. I also find it amusing that the check is made out to Muskrat Clothing. Makes me think of “Muskrat Love” by Captain & Tenille – I’m random. Check out my store if you want to purchase a Tom Platz check!
LEE PRIEST AUTOGRAPH
“The Blonde Myth” is active on social media where he cuts through “bro science” and actively calls out the current flood of stupid/useless influencer trends. Just lift the damn weights: you don’t need to twist your pinky outward, hold your wrist at 38-degree angle and slightly bend your knees while balancing on a BOSU ball.
BOYER COE AUTOGRAPH
Boyer Coe aka “The Ragin’ Cajun” from the Golden Age of Bodybuilding is a fantastic autograph signer! He’s also completely transparent and witty. I will share more of my autographs with him later and discuss his involvement with the 1980 Mr. Olympia (and who he thought REALLY should have – NO ARNOLD). He was so furious with the 1980 Mr. Olympia decision that he led a boycott of the 1981 Olympia. He’s not the only one who thought it was the wrong winner, that’s for sure!
LEE LABRADA AUTOGRAPH
“The Mass with Class” They all have nicknames! Labrada has a pretty drama-free reputation within the bodybuilding community, hence his nickname. But he did have to pay a $625,000 class action loss suit over his fat-burner supplements promoted on The Dr. Oz Show … you know because they didn’t work. Pre-Ozempic, everybody believed in magic pills. Lee also doesn’t believe in magic injections. He was the only person that tested drug free for the 1990 Mr. Olympia and actually BEAT reigning champion Lee Haney in the pre-judging. But Haney rallied and won. Lee is still an advocate for rigorous drug testing to focus on symmetry over sheer mass. I agree with him that the classic physiques are better than the beasts IMHO.
FLEX WHEELER AUTOGRAPH
“Flex” came about as a nickname because of his days in martial arts and his ability to do the splits. Later, he was sometimes referred to as “The Sultan of Symmetry”. Unfortunately, Flex has been victim of some serious injuries. He crashed his Benz at the peak of his career, fracturing his neck and narrowly escaping paralysis. Kidney disease forced his retirement in the 2000’s and he got a kidney transplant in 2004. Then after decades of circulatory issues, he had to have his right leg amputated below the knee. Flex is remarkably candid about his extreme use of steroids and PED’s for over 18 years and how they definitely acknowledged that the usage of said substances was the connection to his serious health issues. Kudos to truth tellers! Young social media influencers who think they’re immortal should pay attention.
KEVIN LEVRONE AUTOGRAPH
“The Maryland Muscle Machine” is known for quite a few things. Losing both of his parents to cancer when he was young, he poured his grief into bodybuilding. He was legendary for his training technique of losing 20-30 pounds off-season and then getting into top shape within 12-16 weeks before a contest. He also has the distinction of being called “The Uncrowned King of Mr. Olympia, having come in 2nd place FOUR times (1992, 1995, 2000 and 2002)
Check out his lead vocals in his group Fullblown singing “Pressure”
CORY EVERSON AUTOGRAPH
And let’s not forget the most legendary female bodybuilder. Cory Everson was the first to promote bodybuilding for women wherein femininity and musculature could co-exist. The UNDEFEATED six-time winner of the Miss Olympia (1984-1989), Cory was smart and retired from competitive bodybuilding while at the top of her game. Now THAT is a great final bow!
DAVE DRAPER AUTOGRAPH
“The Blonde Bomber” – Dave Draper was a young, blonde, handsome bodybuilding force of nature. The ideal California blonde stud, he was part of Joe Weider’s stable in Santa Monica, working for the Weider Barbell company and being featured in Joe’s magazines. Dave was also a natural for TV and movies – including “Don’t Make Waves” with Sharon Tate & Tony Curtis, “The Beverly Hillbillies” and even “The Monkees” (inset photo with his book shown here.)
I got a copy of Dave’s book “Iron on My Mind” on December 4th, 2021, for $28. His wife Laree sent me a message saying it was one of the last things he signed (he died the week previous on November 30th). His unique style of writing is fun and addictive, so I purchased “A Glimpse in the Rear View” in July 2026 for $15 signed by both him and Laree. RIP to Uncle Slick – Dave was truly one-of-a-kind.
ROBBY ROBINSON AUTOGRAPH
“The Black Prince” – Robby Robinson was (and still is) an amazing bodybuilder with spectacular proportions who has never gotten the FULL attention he deserved as an outstanding member of the Golden Age of Bodybuilding. I ordered his biography for $30 in February of 2022, which came to me with a great inscription and a hand-addressed envelope from Robby.
His biography is an honest, to-the-point, inspiring story of coming from one of 14 children raised in poverty, overcoming many obstacles and racism, and ultimately competing and winning many bodybuilding awards. Including Masters Mr. Olympia over-50 twice.
After reading his book, I sent him $75 in October 2022 and he graciously replied – having signed all 4 of the photos I sent him, sent me one of his own, a DVD and a handwritten letter with his phone number offering a free 30 minute over the phone consultation. (I’m still not sure WHY I didn’t take him up on that?!?!)
JOE WEIDER APPROPRIATES ROBBY ROBINSON’S BODY AS HIS OWN
One of the main stories of injustice in his book (and one of the many stories in bodybuilding that highlights the low morals of Joe Weider) is how Joe invited Robby and his wife for the unveiling of a bronze bust of Robby’s upper body. What they unveiled was indeed a bronze bust of Robby’s upper body … WITH JOE WEIDER’S HEAD. You can see from the autographed magazine cover here that Robby’s body was used and then Joe used that pose with his own head to put on the cover of a subsequent magazine. That picture of Joe on the cover (in the inset) became the “brand” photo Weider used for years. Keen-eyed bodybuilding fans knew; but Joe didn’t care. Robby was understandably disgusted. But a lot of people know that Weider’s ethics were … ummm … non-existent?
