EXPLORE BODYBUILDING HISTORY
EXPLORE BODYBUILDING HISTORY
Despite being a turbulent and frightening decade, the 1940s was a turning point for bodybuilding. The sport’s competitive foundation began to take shape, thanks to a new title which would become bodybuilding's premiere title for the following decades.
Not to mention, a new wave of new bodybuilding stars emerged, like John Grimek, Alan Stephan, Abbye Stockton and most notably of all, Steve Reeves.
In this film I examine all aspects of 1940s bodybuilding, including the competitive landscape, the training, the diets and even the supplements!
Featuring the expert insights of…
Conor Heffernan (Historian and Lecturer in the Sociology of Sport)
Eric Helms (Coach, WNBF Pro, Researcher and Educator)
Featuring bodybuilders like
Steve Reeves, Alan Stephan, John Grimek, Abbye Stockton, George Eiferman, Melvin Wells, Jules Bacon, Jack Delinger, Edna Rivers and many more.
Music
Luba Hilman - Shifting Ground
Moins Le Quarte - The Olive Branch
Christian Andersen - Incendiary Treasures
Christian Andersen - Flickering Torches
Mary Riddle - Grizzlies
Lennon Hutton - DOX
Ritchie Everett - Snooty Fox
Damma Beatz - Beast of a Trade
Mary Riddle - Golden Era
Krithi - The Abyssal Charm
Out To The World - Bulletin World
Lennon Hutton - Unfinished Stories
John Abbot - City Phases
Mary Riddle - Bulls
Martin Landström - Revving
Martin Landström - Doze Off
Matt Large - EZ Target
Golden Age Radio - Like I Said
Ritchie Everett - Snap Happy
Martin Landstrom - Kick Start
Megan Wofford - Autumn Blue
Roy Edwin Williams - Tall Boy Blues
Wendy Marcini - Homemade Style
Wendy Marcini - Creamy Cheesecake
Harry Edvino - Hotel Lalo
Golden Age Radio - Ain't Nothing to Worry About
Lennon Hutton - Mindscape
Sources
Daily Worker, 28 May 1940 : Coverage of the 1940 AAU Mr America contest by Bill Newton.
The Atlanta Constitution, 14 October 1940 : Promotion of 1940 AAU Mr America winner John Grimek appearing at the New York World's Fair.
The Atlanta Constitution, 22 October 1940 : Promotion of John Grimek appearing at the Georgia Tech gymnasium.
The Atlanta Constitution, 23 October 1940 : Further coverage of Grimek's appearance at Georgia Tech.
The Washington Daily News, 27 May 1940 : Contemporary coverage of John Grimek's victory at the 1940 AAU Mr America contest.
The Tacoma Times, 15 October 1942 : Discussion and illustration of John Grimek's physique.
The Peterborough Examiner, August 1948 : Coverage of John Grimek's victory at the 1948 Mr Universe.
Dixon Evening Telegraph, 7 August 1946 : Coverage of Alan Stephan's victory at the 1946 AAU Mr America contest.
The Waterbury Democrat, 15 July 1946 : Coverage of Alan Stephan's victory at the 1946 AAU Mr America contest.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 21 July 1946 : Further coverage of Alan Stephan's 1946 Mr America victory.
Daily News (Los Angeles), 23 July 1946 : Further coverage of Alan Stephan's 1946 Mr America victory.
Eastern Connecticut News, 2 September 1946 : Further coverage of Alan Stephan's 1946 Mr America victory.
East Liverpool Review, 4 December 1947 : Coverage of Steve Reeves' victory at the 1947 AAU Mr America contest.
The Daily Alaska Empire, 14 July 1947 : Coverage of Steve Reeves' victory at the 1947 AAU Mr America contest.
Life, 14 July 1947 : Coverage of Steve Reeves' 1947 Mr America victory, p. 42.
Esporte Ilustrado, August 1948 : Feature on Mr America and Mr Universe winner Steve Stanko.
New Castle News, 4 September 1947 : Coverage of Vivian Crockett winning the 1947 Miss Muscle Beach contest.
Sports Illustrated, 3 August 1959 : Retrospective discussion of the bodybuilding movement, including Muscle Beach, Vic Tanny and Charles Atlas.
Popular Mechanics, January 1947 : Advertisement for Alan Stephan's training course.
Popular Mechanics, March 1947 : Advertisement for Alan Stephan's training course.
Popular Science, March 1947 : Advertisement for Alan Stephan's training course.
Popular Mechanics, May 1947 : Advertisement for Alan Stephan's training course.
Popular Mechanics, June 1947 : Advertisement for Alan Stephan's training course.
Black Hood Comics 17, 1945 : Advertisements for Bob Hoffman's and Charles Atlas's training products.
Pep Comics, March 1946 : Advertisement for Bob Hoffman's training products.
The Chicago Star, 22 February 1947 : Newspaper coverage of Alan Stephan's marriage to beauty queen Grace Pomazal.
LA Evening Citizen News, 13 March 1948 : Steve Reeves and Alan Stephan promoted ahead of their appearance at the Mr USA contest.
Gettysburg Times, 26 September 1947 : Alan Stephan promotes Vitamin D Milk.
Steel, 22 August 1949 : Alan Stephan promotes Scotch Filament Tape.
Lincoln Star, 20 January 1958 : American Health Studios, a gym associated with Alan Stephan.
Handwriting Analysis, M. N. Bunker, 1959 (Requires Borrow), pp. 113–114 : Brief discussion of Alan Stephan's physique and character.
The Tacoma Times, 8 December 1939 : Article on experiments involving testosterone and canaries.
The Key West Citizen, 17 October 1938 : Discussion of possible testosterone use by women, referencing experiments at Cornell University Medical College.
The Lancet, 23 May 1942 : CIBA Pharmaceuticals product list including testosterone preparations.
The Springfield Weekly Republican, 31 May 1945 : Harry M. Davis discusses Paul de Kruif's The Male Hormone and its reported benefits of testosterone.
The Waterbury Democrat, 18 December 1945 : Large article discussing the reported benefits of testosterone for World War II veterans.
The Lancet, 25 May 1946 : CIBA Pharmaceuticals product list including testosterone preparations.
The Evening Star, 25 March 1946 : Dr Henry H. Turner discusses the benefits of testosterone for older populations.
The Atlanta Constitution, 6 June 1946 : Advertisement for Testilon, a vitamin and hormone product.
The Henderson Daily Dispatch, 30 December 1946 : Dr Herman N. Bundesen discusses test results suggesting testosterone ointment could improve skin health.
The Westside Enterprise, 1 August 1947 : Advertisement for testosterone associated with Prof. Leopold Ruzicka and Collins Drugs.
The Atlanta Constitution, 18 December 1948 : Article discussing testosterone and oestrogen therapies and their proposed use in treating conditions ranging from severe migraines to angina and cancer.
The Lancet, 28 May 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone tablets.
Physical Culture, December 1948 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone featured in Bernarr Macfadden's Physical Culture magazine.
Daily News (Los Angeles), 21 November 1947 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
LA Evening Citizen News, 28 November 1945 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
LA Evening Citizen News, 7 December 1945 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
Daily News (Los Angeles), 18 February 1948 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
Los Angeles Mirror, 24 November 1948 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Montana Farmer-Stockman, 15 November 1948 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Atlanta Daily World, 20 October 1948 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Atlanta Daily World, 10 November 1948 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Guardian (Boston), 19 March 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone, promoted as a sexual enhancer.
The Guardian (Boston), 23 April 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone, promoted as a sexual enhancer.
The Arkansas State Press, 1 April 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone, promoted as a sexual enhancer.
San Bernardino Sun, 13 February 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
Daily News (Los Angeles), 29 March 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone, with specific reference to age: “Over 40?”
The Chicago World, 16 April 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Chicago World, 30 April 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Chicago World, 25 June 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Chicago World, 2 July 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Chicago World, 1 October 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Chicago World, 29 October 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Chicago World, 5 November 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Chicago World, 12 November 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
The Harlem News, 2 September 1949 : Advertisement for methyltestosterone.
Simplified System of Barbell Training, Bob Hoffman, 1943 : Hoffman's approach to barbell training.
The Science of Exercise Specialization, George Jowett, 1938 : Early discussion of specialised exercise methods.
Bodybuilding: A Scientific Approach, Frederick Hatfield(Requires Rental): Hatfield looks back at the origins of modern bodybuilding and highlights the 1940s AAU Mr America winners as among the era's most important figures.
Muscle Control Instruction, Walt Baptiste, 1949 : Advertisement for four types of incline exercise bench.
Getting Stronger, Bill Pearl (Requires Rental): Pearl discusses steroid use in the late 1950s.
The Bombay Chronicle, 13 October 1940 : Advertisement for Kruschen Salts.
Chatelaine, July 1941 : Advertisement for Kruschen Salts.
The Detroit Evening Times, 12 November 1941 : Advertisement for daily vitamins.
Santa Ana Register, 12 November 1941 : Advertisement for Vitamin B-1 tablets.
The Washington Daily News, 8 November 1944 : Full-page advertisement for a variety of vitamin products.
The Washington Daily News, 19 October 1944 : Advertisement for vitamin supplements, including prices.
The Detroit Evening Times, 13 May 1945 : Advertisement for Ovaltine food supplement.
The Evening Star, 31 May 1945 : Contemporary food advertising, including homogenised milk.
The Baptist Record, 23 August 1945 : Advertisement for Crazy Water Crystals.
The Evening Star, 11 October 1946 : Advertisement for Brer Rabbit Molasses.
The St. Croix Avis, 12 July 1949 : Advertisement for Borden's Hemo Vitamin Drink.
Benzedrine advertisement, 1938 : Advertisement for Benzedrine tablets.
The Washington Daily News, 4 March 1944 : Article covering the use of Benzedrine by US pilots to combat fatigue.
Monroe Morning World, 2 November 1941 : Frank Carey discusses Dr Sam Bassett's findings on amphetamines and their use in preventing nausea during flying.
The Springfield Weekly Republican, 23 October 1941 : Dr Gordon Alles discusses German Army use of amphetamines, noting their benefits while seeking a safer form.
Health and Hygiene, Vol. 3, No. 4, 1936 : Carl Malmberg discusses the dangers of Dilex-Redusols, a weight-loss product containing 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP).
Song Hit Folio, October 1935 : Further material concerning Dilex-Redusols and its use as a weight-loss product.
Hollywood, August 1935 : Further material concerning Dilex-Redusols.
Radio Stars, October 1935 : Further material concerning Dilex-Redusols.
Screenland, November 1949 : Advertisement for AYDS weight-loss supplement endorsed by Maureen O'Sullivan.
Siskiyou News, 27 November 1946 : Article on the rise of women weightlifters, including Loretta Zygowicz and the Barbelles group associated with Abbye Stockton.
Roanoke Rapids Herald, 4 October 1945 : Coverage of Bess Myerson's victory at the 1945 Miss America contest.
UCLA Library Digital Collections : Bert Goodrich and Alan Stephan : Bert Goodrich, 1939 Mr America, shaking hands with 1946 Mr America Alan Stephan.
UCLA Library Digital Collections : Abbye Stockton : Abbye Stockton lifting for an audience.
UCLA Library Digital Collections : Steve Reeves and Alan Stephan : Steve Reeves and Alan Stephan flexing before a mirror at a gym in Los Angeles.
UCLA Library Digital Collections : Muscle Beach : Mr Muscles contestant performing an acrobatic move as a crowd watches at Muscle Beach, Santa Monica, 1948.
UCLA Library Digital Collections: Arnold Schwarzenegger Portrait, 1985
National Archives : Camp Dealey : Sailors undertaking weight training at Camp Dealey.
Life, 14 July 1947 : Contemporary photographic coverage of Steve Reeves' 1947 Mr America victory.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wartime Food Purchases, Bulletin No. 838 (1945), p. 4–10.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Retail Prices of Food, 1944 and 1945, p. 15–19
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Inflation calculation performed with $8.91 / July 1945 to $165 / May 2026
Mr. America: The Tragic History of a Bodybuilding Icon, John D Fair, P. 59-100, physical copy within the creator’s collection.
Strength and Health Magazine - Various physical copies from 1940-1950 within the creator’s collection.
Muscle Power Publication - Various physical copies from 1940-1950 within the creator’s collection.
Iron Man Publication - Various physical copies from 1940-1950 within the creator’s collection.
Your Physique Publication - Various physical copies from 1940-1950 within the creator’s collection.
Big Arms: How to Develop Them by Bob Hoffman (1939) In creator’s collection - digital copy available on Internet Archive.
The Big Chest Book by Bob Hoffman (1941) In creator’s collection - digital copy available on Internet Archive.
Competitions for the Amsterdam Weightlifting Championship, 1939 : Footage of the Amsterdam weightlifting championships.
Competitions for the Amsterdam Weightlifting Championship, 1945 : Footage of the Brada 6-City Weightlifting Competition.
Pond5 : 1955 NABBA Mr Universe Contest : Archival footage of the 1955 Mr Universe contest in London.
WNBF 2025 Championship Footage Courtesy of Brandon Wells.
Pill Peddlers, 1952 : Documentary concerning the promotion and use of supplements.
Shutterstock : 1940s Los Angeles gym footage : Stock footage used to represent George Eiferman exercising in a gym.
Shutterstock : 1940s Los Angeles bodybuilder footage : Stock footage used to represent George Eiferman posing.
Shutterstock : 1940s Los Angeles bodybuilder footage : Stock footage used to represent George Eiferman posing alongside another bodybuilder.
Daily News (Los Angeles), 8 December 1949 : Promotion for Abbye Stockton's appearance at the Los Angeles Downtown YMCA.
Peterborough Examiner 9 June 1947 : Short piece and accompanying photo on Abbye Stockton
The Daily Tar Heel 10 April 1948: Abbye Stockton gets front page coverage, as the paper notes she’s the recipient of the Miss Physical Culture Venus Award, netting her $1000.
