Here's the third video (of a projected six) I've put together from the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen (AOBS) dinner on October 5, 2013. If you enjoy classical bodybuilding posing from a lifetime natural athlete, this is a compilation of Russ Testo's three outstanding posing routines that night.  I wish all bodybulding routines were as entertaining!

As always, go the the Vimeo page (here) for a larger player.

Here's the second video from the 2013 Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen (AOBS) reunion dinner on October 5, 2013, presenting the speech by guest of honor Mike Katz (with introduction by Fred Yale).

Note that the video contains Mr. Katz's entire speech (and Mr. Yale's entire introduction), so it's kind of lengthy (over 22 minutes).  But for people interested in Mr. Katz, I think it's definitely worthwhile (if I do say so myself):

(This can also be viewed on YouTube here.)

More AOBS videos still on the way . . .

After falling off the face of the planet for several months shortly after videoing the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen (AOBS) dinner on October 5, 2013 (when day-job responsibilities surged), I'm finally finishing up a couple of videos of the event.

First up: "Frank's Reunion."  Here's the official description:

A short video about Frank Spellman, gold medalist in men's middleweight weightlifting at the 1948 London Olympics, who had a surprise reunion at the 2013 Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen (AOBS) dinner on October 5, 2013.

And here's the video:

(It can also be viewed on YouTube here.)

Thanks for watching!  More videos of the AOBS event, among others that are in my backlog, will (with luck) be forthcoming very shortly.

Here's a short video primer to warn women what they may be getting into when they agree to marry a bodybuilder . . . .

This was taped at the Montanari Brothers 2013 NPC Connecticut State Championships on June 22, 2013.  Thanks to the brothers for having me there.  And special thanks to Dustin Gartner (who I'd never met before) for giving me permission to make this video!

Finally, I urge everyone to go and watch this video in the large player over on the Vimeo page, so you can read the text more easily . . . but for those who want, you can also watch right here:

As always, thanks for watching!  And I value any thoughts you may have ...

I've begun work on a mini-documentary about Carlos, a fifty year old bodybuilder who competed in several contests in the early- to mid-2000s, but hasn't been onstage in over five years.  But now he's getting ready for a comeback at the 2013 NPC East Coast Cup in New Haven, CT on October 19, 2013.  We've only started filming together, but I'm excited enough to have put together this little project promo (larger viewer on Vimeo):

Carlos is a great guy, and I'm really looking forward to this project.  Stay tuned!

Here's a video of Guy and Bethany Cisternino's guest posing routines at the 2013 NPC Connecticut State Championships held in New Haven, CT on June 22, 2013.  They both put on great, high-energy displays -- big thanks to both of them!

Check out the large-player version directly on Vimeo.  And a video recap of the entire competition should be up within a week or two.

The Golden Era of Bodybuilding (2013?)
By Ric Drasin
277 pp. (Memoir)
Available at RicDrasin.com

Ric Drasin has a fascinating story to tell.  As part of the Venice Beach physique scene during the 1960s and 70s, Drasin knew and worked out with all of the era's great bodybuilders.  He was featured in countless magazines, ads and television shows.  He even designed the Gold's Gym logo.  And all that's putting aside his pro wrestling achievements, and his outstanding current work on the "Ric's Corner" YouTube interview and commentary series.  I have nothing but respect for the man.

Which is why The Golden Era of Bodybuilding is such a complete disappointment.  Even apart from the constant typos, the book is hurried, rambling, and confused, as though dictated and published with no further thought.  

Killer Body (2005)
by Tom Dolan
451 pp. (Fiction)

Given the general dearth of bodybuilding fiction, I began reading Killer Body with high hopes.  The hefty book is actually a collection of three distinct works: two novels and a collection of short stories, all about bodybuilders.  There's definitely a common style: author Tom Dolan is committed to describing every character's lats as "blocking out the sun," and all of his lead characters are essentially the same decent, laid-back guy.  But on a narrative level, the novels and stories all stand alone.

What makes something “interesting”?  My wife has a doctorate in Japanese art, so when we visit an art museum she often seeks out objects like this 17th century bowl, as used in traditional tea ceremonies:

When she looks at that, she sees history, and culture, and something beautiful.  

I see a misshapen lump of clay.  

But then there is Mike BonDurant’s muscle museum, which houses his extensive collection of antiques and curiosities related to (primarily old-time) weightlifters, bodybuilders and strongmen. 

Here's the third (and final) video in my series about the 2013 NYC Weightlifting Championships held on March 24, 2013, and promoted by Artie Drechsler.  This video covers the heavier-wieght men's classes, and talks a bit about how I involve myself in the competition even when I'm sitting on the sidelines ...

And, as always, head over to Vimeo or YouTube for a bigger viewer.