BARBELLS AND BICEPS FEATURED
AT “MUSCLE BEACH PARTY”
Written by
Irene L. Hause and Mike Armstrong
Hi-Lites, March 1977
Newsletter of the Bob Hope USO Club in Hollywood, California
“Beach Party Weekend” at the Bob Hope USO was off to a roaring start with Muscle Beach Party, a display of brawn and might sponsored by world famous Gold’s Gym. Gold’s Gym owners, Ken and Maryon Sprague, plus promoter John Askem, two weightlifters, and four bodybuilders, donated their time and talents to provide information about and foster interest in weightlifting and bodybuilding among Southern California-based servicemen. Mike Armstrong coordinated the January 21, 1977, event.
Brenda Stark, a Junior Volunteer, was the hostess for the exhibition. She is a member of Team 4, which was in charge of the weekend program. Commentary for the weightlifting portion of the show was provided by John Askem, promoter of many weightlifting and bodybuilding contests.
Pete Galle, the weightlifter who represented Fullerton Junior College, “saved his strength” for a hammer throwing competition the next day by doing a 350 pound “clean and jerk” instead of his usual 370. When asked what had spurred him into weightlifting, he replied, “Not being able to do ten pull-ups to qualify for the football team when I was 14!”
The star of the evening turned out to be Bill Cavalier. The wiry 5-91⁄2”, 146 pound machinist from Sunland astounded the audience who had been wondering what a man of his relatively small size planned to do with all those barbells. They found out soon enough. Bill holds a record in his weight class for deadlifting 555 pounds.
The second half of the show featured group and individual posing by four outstanding bodybuilders. Irene L. Hause, a Senior Volunteer, acted as MC for this part of the program.
Tony Pearson, winner in the teenage division of the Gold’s Classic two months previously, appeared first. He was followed by Andreas Cahling, a native of Sweden who is noted for his outstanding calf development. Next came Bill Pettis with his famous arms.
Dave DuPre was last to appear on stage. He was so anxious to “spread the good word” to the servicemen that he sandwiched his appearance in between his daytime acting job in Mae West’s new movie Sextette and his nighttime job at Motown Record Corporation.
After the exhibition, the six performers were showered with questions by enthusiasts who had waited for them outside the dressing room. Some of the servicemen did a little weightlifting of their own by putting the chairs back into storage.
Later, several members of the audience were questioned at random to get their impressions of the show. Surprisingly, all those interviewed had enjoyed the weightlifting more than the posing.
Susan Rice and Teresa Braat, Team 4 Junior Volunteers who attend Cypress Junior College, said they could see some practical reasons why a man would want to develop his muscular strength to a certain degree. But bulging biceps are out with them—Susan said all those muscles gross her out, and Teresa voiced the popular notion that all bodybuilders are narcissistic egomaniacs.
Senior Volunteers Bill Yates and Bob Littler had their opinions too. Bill termed the evening “a learning experience,” and Bob remarked that it was “a deadly serious business that needed a bit of comic relief.”
One unidentified serviceman announced that muscle builders are only for girls to look at!
S/Sgt. Wally Ross of Edwards Air Force Base, a former college wrestler who had also participated in weightlifting and bodybuilding, was asked why he felt so many men were biased against bodybuilders. He answered, “I think it’s prejudice based on jealousy.”
Navy Fireman Jerry Emmons and Fireman’s Apprentice John Kunhart, stationed at Long Beach, thought that muscles that big would get in the way of doing a good day’s work. The most positive aspect, they felt, would be the potential earning power of a muscle star.
One serviceman who went away inspired was Pvt. Jeff Holland, a Marine scheduled to leave for Okinawa. He said the whole show made him want to get back to weightlifting, which he’d abandoned when he joined the service.
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