Posted by: Sergio
« on: July 13, 2019, 04:05:36 PM »Thanks to you, Tom, for posting this
Posted by: Tom Dicks
« on: July 04, 2019, 07:22:42 PM »Thanks for posting this article. I was shocked and delighted to find it. Arnold J. Hansen was my uncle. A passionate man for the sport of weightlifting. As young men he had us pumping iron with him. He built several sets of gym equipment, set up several schools with workout equipment that he built for their sports programs, and regularly used his own Olympic set of weights to work out into his 80's.
After the war he attended college in Madison Wisconsin earning a 4 year degree. He bought himself a New Harley Davidson motorcycle and an airplane. He studied hard an played hard, riding his new Harley to school or to the airport to fly his plane. Then he went to live in Santa Monica California, where he got involved with Muscle Beach and the Experimental Aircraft Association. He designed gym equipment and aircraft, and stayed actively involved most of his life.
Arnold(Bud) Hansen is sadly no longer with us. His final days were spent in the Veterans Home in King Wisconsin, and is buried in the Veterans Cemetery in Union Grove WI. He joined the Air Force and flew 64 bombing missions in WWII in a B17 fighter bomber. He was a tail gunner and radio operator. He exceeded the number of required missions 10 fold, due to the high casualty rate of many who never returned, but kept volunteering because of the reason we were at war. I heard many stories and had the utmost respect for him.
He was a great guy and a wonderful part of our family. I have his war medals displayed and think of him often. He surely was one of a kind. I miss him, and my Mom, who was his sister, and my Dad who made sure he was always welcome and included in our family. Thanks again for posting this article. Nobody would ever have know who Arnold J. Hansen was and how accomplished he was, and an important part of so many lives, as a war hero, friend, mentor, and family member. I hope this finds many to read. Thanks again, Tom Dicks.
After the war he attended college in Madison Wisconsin earning a 4 year degree. He bought himself a New Harley Davidson motorcycle and an airplane. He studied hard an played hard, riding his new Harley to school or to the airport to fly his plane. Then he went to live in Santa Monica California, where he got involved with Muscle Beach and the Experimental Aircraft Association. He designed gym equipment and aircraft, and stayed actively involved most of his life.
Arnold(Bud) Hansen is sadly no longer with us. His final days were spent in the Veterans Home in King Wisconsin, and is buried in the Veterans Cemetery in Union Grove WI. He joined the Air Force and flew 64 bombing missions in WWII in a B17 fighter bomber. He was a tail gunner and radio operator. He exceeded the number of required missions 10 fold, due to the high casualty rate of many who never returned, but kept volunteering because of the reason we were at war. I heard many stories and had the utmost respect for him.
He was a great guy and a wonderful part of our family. I have his war medals displayed and think of him often. He surely was one of a kind. I miss him, and my Mom, who was his sister, and my Dad who made sure he was always welcome and included in our family. Thanks again for posting this article. Nobody would ever have know who Arnold J. Hansen was and how accomplished he was, and an important part of so many lives, as a war hero, friend, mentor, and family member. I hope this finds many to read. Thanks again, Tom Dicks.
Posted by: Sergio
« on: November 03, 2012, 06:02:25 PM »Reg Park in muscle beach doing overhead db press.
This image and a video has been so famous that now that kind of press, with two dbs facing each other is called: "Reg Park press"
This image and a video has been so famous that now that kind of press, with two dbs facing each other is called: "Reg Park press"
Posted by: Sergio
« on: January 21, 2012, 12:18:30 AM »From http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2012/01/muscle-beach-inc-arnold-j-hansen.html
Muscle Beach Incorporated:
A New Organization of Great Promise
by Arnold J. Hansen (1959)
Muscle Beach W.C.
118 Broadway (rear)
Santa Monica, California
This story begins sometime during the nebulous past. It seems that in the late thirties or early forties someone brought their barbell to the beach. With a pleasant year-round climate, bright warm sunshine, broad blue Pacific, clean sandy beach, beautiful semi-tropical surroundings and congenial companions who were interested in health, working out on the beach was a natural.
Growth took place. More weights, more equipment, and more members. Then it happened. Someone decided that they did not want the Muscle Beach area as such longer. Through various channels and processes the club activity terminated.
At this time and at the present time the club was and is composed mainly of a group of individuals of a high caliber. Our vocational range includes the following: postmen, chemist, furniture movers, physician, mechanical engineers, machinists, chiropractor, electrician, draftsman, physical therapist, wrestlers, factory workers, assemblers, mathematicians - one of whom also teaches chemistry, certified public accountant, a factory owner, author, movie actor, lawyer, college students, geologist, high school science teacher, elementary school teacher, gym managers, police officers, supermarket operator, and many more.
A very fine gentleman, now retired, offered to store the weights in his basement until the time arrived when they could again be used. We owe him a debt of gratitude. At that time also, a small group of weight men donated their services and hauled the weights to the basement for storage.
During the months of September and October of this year certain men put their heads together and decided that, for the present at least, it would be a good idea to house the weights somewhere indoors. Club meetings were held, heated discussions took place during the latter part of October, and finally our new location opened early in November for the serious business of training. We are training.
During the period when the weights were stored, a number of small garage-type gyms served some of our members very well. Some have joined us and others will still train, at least partially, in their home gyms.
Our Muscle Beach Weightlifting Club is directed mainly by a dedicated nucleus of interested individuals. This group is composed of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and five councilmen. They are all working-type officers -- chair-warmers and dead wood have no place in our club. Our time and patience leaves no room for the "popularity poll" type of officer nor the "executive type" -- there is work to be done. Regular members also have the opportunity to take full part in the proceedings of our regular Saturday afternoon meetings.
We had very little money and there are expenses such as rent, lights, etc.; therefore, we made much of our equipment out of used material. For the various jobs to be done we have depended on the talent of the members. Also, some loaned their cars, tools, pickup truck, and other equipment of various types. A radio was given for the gym itself and a T.V. was given for the office/lounge; the so-called office/lounge was formerly the bake oven for the automobiles that were painted here. More about the building later. One of our members is a house-wrecker; we received a good supply of much needed used lumber for platform building, squat racks, long lat pull, dip bars, bench platforms, power rack, etc. A coat of paint gave the final touch.
We are incorporated. Again, one of our members, a lawyer, came to the rescue with his specialty. Our mission statement is: "The Promotion of Weightlifting and Bodybuilding." We have the usual police permit and building license.
A word about the building. It is an industrial type, 50' x 85' formerly used as an automobile paint shop. The walls and ceiling are not beautiful, there is no wall-to-wall carpet, our legs seem to care little for such luxuries when straining under a heavy squat; also, our prones seem to go better when looking high into the rugged rafters. The bake oven lends itself well with the office/lounge. Frankly, we find it adequate, paint test-spots and all. Rough and rugged.
We rented it from a lady who is a retired osteopathic surgeon. She feels the youth of the nation are weak and therefore was very happy to rent the place to us for this purpose.
Our members cover a wide age range. One of our members is 50 years of age and improving steadily. He prones 370 pounds and military presses 269; he has done 270 in rough form.
Our oldest member is 84 and still works out. Tell that to the youth of the nation.
Already, with a booming membership of real huskies, it is evident that there will be many fine records made here; several are bench pressing over 400 and rising steadily.
This may possibly be the most functional gym this side of the Iron Curtain. A club of this sort can be a reality in towns throughout this nation. A number of gyms of this type could mean the difference between success and failure in our upcoming Olympic games. A dedicated group can make a start.
The most phenomenal aspect of our situation was the fact that once the move was started cooperation came from all directions. Dwell on the positive, start the thing, and keep it rolling with hard work which is, after all, the true secret of success in any field.
The gym is operated by the members, many of whom have keys to the regular lock. A master lock is put on at 10 at night and taken off at nine in the morning; the president has the only key to this lock. The big brother form of instruction is in force as there is no regular instructor. Our four officers and five councilmen reserve the right to terminate the membership of any member who seriously hinders the club objectives.
The sands of Muscle Beach are now peaceful and relatively quiet. We are happy in our new location. May all live in peace and contentment for a time but not forever as that would put an end to progress.
Muscle Beach Incorporated:
A New Organization of Great Promise
by Arnold J. Hansen (1959)
Muscle Beach W.C.
118 Broadway (rear)
Santa Monica, California
This story begins sometime during the nebulous past. It seems that in the late thirties or early forties someone brought their barbell to the beach. With a pleasant year-round climate, bright warm sunshine, broad blue Pacific, clean sandy beach, beautiful semi-tropical surroundings and congenial companions who were interested in health, working out on the beach was a natural.
Growth took place. More weights, more equipment, and more members. Then it happened. Someone decided that they did not want the Muscle Beach area as such longer. Through various channels and processes the club activity terminated.
At this time and at the present time the club was and is composed mainly of a group of individuals of a high caliber. Our vocational range includes the following: postmen, chemist, furniture movers, physician, mechanical engineers, machinists, chiropractor, electrician, draftsman, physical therapist, wrestlers, factory workers, assemblers, mathematicians - one of whom also teaches chemistry, certified public accountant, a factory owner, author, movie actor, lawyer, college students, geologist, high school science teacher, elementary school teacher, gym managers, police officers, supermarket operator, and many more.
A very fine gentleman, now retired, offered to store the weights in his basement until the time arrived when they could again be used. We owe him a debt of gratitude. At that time also, a small group of weight men donated their services and hauled the weights to the basement for storage.
During the months of September and October of this year certain men put their heads together and decided that, for the present at least, it would be a good idea to house the weights somewhere indoors. Club meetings were held, heated discussions took place during the latter part of October, and finally our new location opened early in November for the serious business of training. We are training.
During the period when the weights were stored, a number of small garage-type gyms served some of our members very well. Some have joined us and others will still train, at least partially, in their home gyms.
Our Muscle Beach Weightlifting Club is directed mainly by a dedicated nucleus of interested individuals. This group is composed of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and five councilmen. They are all working-type officers -- chair-warmers and dead wood have no place in our club. Our time and patience leaves no room for the "popularity poll" type of officer nor the "executive type" -- there is work to be done. Regular members also have the opportunity to take full part in the proceedings of our regular Saturday afternoon meetings.
We had very little money and there are expenses such as rent, lights, etc.; therefore, we made much of our equipment out of used material. For the various jobs to be done we have depended on the talent of the members. Also, some loaned their cars, tools, pickup truck, and other equipment of various types. A radio was given for the gym itself and a T.V. was given for the office/lounge; the so-called office/lounge was formerly the bake oven for the automobiles that were painted here. More about the building later. One of our members is a house-wrecker; we received a good supply of much needed used lumber for platform building, squat racks, long lat pull, dip bars, bench platforms, power rack, etc. A coat of paint gave the final touch.
We are incorporated. Again, one of our members, a lawyer, came to the rescue with his specialty. Our mission statement is: "The Promotion of Weightlifting and Bodybuilding." We have the usual police permit and building license.
A word about the building. It is an industrial type, 50' x 85' formerly used as an automobile paint shop. The walls and ceiling are not beautiful, there is no wall-to-wall carpet, our legs seem to care little for such luxuries when straining under a heavy squat; also, our prones seem to go better when looking high into the rugged rafters. The bake oven lends itself well with the office/lounge. Frankly, we find it adequate, paint test-spots and all. Rough and rugged.
We rented it from a lady who is a retired osteopathic surgeon. She feels the youth of the nation are weak and therefore was very happy to rent the place to us for this purpose.
Our members cover a wide age range. One of our members is 50 years of age and improving steadily. He prones 370 pounds and military presses 269; he has done 270 in rough form.
Our oldest member is 84 and still works out. Tell that to the youth of the nation.
Already, with a booming membership of real huskies, it is evident that there will be many fine records made here; several are bench pressing over 400 and rising steadily.
This may possibly be the most functional gym this side of the Iron Curtain. A club of this sort can be a reality in towns throughout this nation. A number of gyms of this type could mean the difference between success and failure in our upcoming Olympic games. A dedicated group can make a start.
The most phenomenal aspect of our situation was the fact that once the move was started cooperation came from all directions. Dwell on the positive, start the thing, and keep it rolling with hard work which is, after all, the true secret of success in any field.
The gym is operated by the members, many of whom have keys to the regular lock. A master lock is put on at 10 at night and taken off at nine in the morning; the president has the only key to this lock. The big brother form of instruction is in force as there is no regular instructor. Our four officers and five councilmen reserve the right to terminate the membership of any member who seriously hinders the club objectives.
The sands of Muscle Beach are now peaceful and relatively quiet. We are happy in our new location. May all live in peace and contentment for a time but not forever as that would put an end to progress.