The Muscle Beach scene was in full swing by 1948, and something approaching
"muscle mania" became an almost worldwide phenomenon. Above we have (l-r)
Steve Reeves, John Grimek, and Andre Drapp at a London competition.
The 1948 Olympic heavyweight lifters are shown above. John Davis (USA) took gold, Norb Schemansky (USA) won silver, and Dutchman Abraham Charite" took silver.
And what a lovely lineup of bulges showing through the singlets!
Here's another group with a bunch of big trophies and John Grimek on a throne.
Flanking him are Steve Reeves and George Eiferman.
Andre Drapp looks fantastic in the first shot, and I have always liked George Eiferman.
ReplyDeleteI have collections of both those guys' photos.
DeleteDrapp was wearing VERY brief posers for 1948 - naughty !
DeleteLast photo Mr USA 1949 held at the Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles.
ReplyDeleteMany felt that Steve Reeves deserved the title as he had a better physique than Grimek….:)
Thanks for the location.
DeleteMr. Charite, the weightlifter on the right, seems to be wearing his uniform backwards.
ReplyDeleteWell, he was French, so there's that.
Delete