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Charles Atlas Body Builder

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Angelo Siciliano - Charles Atlas Body Builder

I came across an article that influenced me to want to know more about the man, Charles Atlas (Angelo Siciliano ). I remember people talking about him when I was a kid. I even remember seeing his ads in comics. My brother would sometimes imitate the man by holding up his arm as if he had muscles. My brother was very short, small in stature and probably resembled the "old" Angelo Siciliano before he became the "Charles Atlas" Angelo. We would just laugh not thinking much of it.

I am sure my folks saw him on the famous TV show, What's My Line. My folks loved that show. I was always fascinated with his story. He immigrated to this country from Italy with his family. He had a very small frame and apparently took a lot of verbal and physical abuse because of it. He was determine to fix the problem and did just that. What I found interesting was the controversy of whether or not he used weights . There is some recorded documentation that states he never used weights. There are family stories, neighbors who know him, a physician who knew him who state that he never used weights or any kind of exercise equipment. However, during my research, other stories indicated that he build his muscle body up by using various forms of exercise initially, using weights, pulley-style resistance, and gymnastic style calisthenics. He may have tried weight but decided against them. As the story goes, he did indicate that this type of exercise wasn't giving him the results he was looking for.

By observation of animals at a zoo, Charles Atlas came to the conclusion that these great cats developed their strength and muscle by pitting muscle against muscle (stretching) (Dynamic Tension).

CHARLES ATLAS "Most Perfectly Developed Man"

charles atlas2Photo credit: www.britannica.com

TROPHY CONTEST

Still going strong as of September 2010

"Remember that the trophy contest is a contest that is not geared toward how much bulk you have put on. The trophy contest deals with the overall progress a person has made and their achievements from the time they started the course till the time they submitted their information. Also please note that there were a number of individuals that did not follow the directions on what to provide for the trophy contest."

Men, boys - check it out! CREDIT: contest

MOST PERFECTLY DEVELOPED MAN

Atlas won a "Most Perfectly Developed Man" contest at Madison Square Garden in 1922, and continued to use the title the rest of his life..

Charles Atlas

By Wikipedia

Charles Atlas, born Angelo Siciliano (October 30, 1892[1], Acri, Italy - December 23, 1972, Long Beach, New York[2]) was the developer of a bodybuilding method and its associated exercise program, most well-known for a landmark advertising campaign featuring his name and likeness, which has been described as one of the most lasting and memorable ad campaigns of all time.[3]

According to Atlas, he trained himself to develop his body from that of a "scrawny weakling", eventually becoming the most popular muscleman of his day. He took the name "Charles Atlas" after a friend told him he resembled the statue of Atlas on top of a hotel in Coney Island,[2] and legally changed his name in 1922. His company, Charles Atlas Ltd., was founded in 1929 and, as of 2009, continues marketing a fitness program for the "97-pound weakling." The company is now owned by Jeffrey C. Hogue.

Born Angelo Siciliano (also called Angelino) in Acri, in Calabria, Italy in 1892, he moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1905, took the name Charles, and became a leather worker. Siciliano worked hard to develop his physique; he tried many forms of exercise initially, using weights, pulley-style resistance, and gymnastic style calisthenics. Atlas claimed they did not build his body but obviously it is unlikely that his body would not respond to external resistance. Atlas was inspired by other fitness and health advocates who preceded him. World-renowned strongman Eugene Sandow, and Bernarr MacFadden, creator of "Physical Culture," both set the stage for Atlas.

After being bullied, the young Siciliano joined the YMCA, and began to do numerous exercise routines. He became obsessed with strength. According to several stories/claims, Siciliano allegedly watched a tiger stretching in the zoo, and asked himself, "How does Mr. Tiger keep in physical condition? Did you ever see a tiger with a barbell?"[citation needed] He concluded that lions and tigers became strong by pitting muscle against muscle.[4]

Charles Atlas

Comics-Enhanced Advertising Strategy

Charles Roman's comics-enhanced advertising strategy caused Atlas' body-building program to become, periodic doldrums aside, one of the most successful long-term mail-order businesses in history.

Charles Roman helped put Charles Atlas on the map.

Charles Atlas Greek God

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What's My Line

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“A friend remarked, "You look like that statue of Atlas on top of the Atlas Hotel at Coney Island.”

Coney Island Bell

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ATLAS

Iron Works made in the USA

Once again, through my research, I found a very unique and fun site. This is a must for the art lover. Just click on at the photo credit ATLAS.

atlas man
Photo credit: Atlas

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I Challenge You To A Duel

Is the Jury still out? Did Charles Atlas lift weights to develop his physique. Or, did he build his body like many claim...by using his own system, Dynamic Tension.

Did Charles Atlas lift weights? I say No!

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Yes, I am sure of it. It is the only way to "buff" up.

No, just dynamic tension. That's why he became so famous.

blue22d says:

Thanks for your visit and comments. I believe you are right about how he maintained his body and it is interesting he was older during the height of his career. It seems now days that keeping in shape, especially as pushed on TV, is geared around equipment and selling equipment. I believe his training was highly mental and self control was emphasized more in his day than body builders of today? I compare him with a "Jack LaLanne".

CliveAnderson says:

Having done some bodybuilding myself and having closely looked at his overall physic I would say he did not attain his look from using weights. It is of course amazing that he had most of his publicity as an older man.

Oosquid says:

No reason to disbelieve all those years of the advertising campaign.

blue22d says:

I say he did it without weights. Dynamic tension does work if you work it.

 

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Charles Atlas Hall of Fame - 10 Memorable Comic Book Ads
Comic book ads have taken a dramatic shift over the past several years. Gone are the days of ads for TV star posters, bubble gum and various and sundry gimmick products. Most ads in comic books today are for video games, cartoons, other comic book titles or film adaptations of comics. If you find yourself pining for the days of offers promising an exciting product in exchange for a couple of dollars or products that were advertised in comics that would cause alarm today, take a stroll with us down memory lane and examine these ten classic products from comic books of the past, in no particular order.

Continue article: click on above
The World of Charles Atlas
Their company (Charles Atlas LTD) did so well, that when the stock market crashed on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929 (instantly rendering countless other millionaires paupers) they were both unaffected by it.
Charles Atlas Fitness
One day he decided to change his life and transformed himself into Charles Atlas.
Charles Atlas LTD
"Ripley's Believe It Or Not," once wrote about Mr. Atlas, saying he was in fact an amazing man. Ripley actually witnessed Charles Atlas save a group of individuals by swimming out to sea in rough weather and pulling their boat which was out of control to shore.
Hogan's Alley
On-line magazine of the Cartoon Arts
SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE
Many wonderful stories, including on on Charles Atlas

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Isometric Exercises

Isometric exercises is a form of resistance training in which the participant uses the muscles of the body to exert a force either against an immovable object or to hold the muscle in a fixed position for a set duration of time. In this type of exercise, the muscle is contracted but does not change length during the exertion of force. Additionally the joint most closely associated with the effort remains static throughout the exercise.

Note: Check with your doctor before preforming any new exercises.
  • The Plank:

    Start out by lying flat on the floor.
    Slowly raise the body so you are resting on your toes and forearms.
    Keep the back flat and the abdominal muscles taut.
    Hold the position for 10-30 seconds.
    Repeat the exercise 2-3 times.

    Isometric Shoulder Raises - for shoulder improvement:

    Stand with the feet shoulder-width apart and the knees slightly bent.
    Grasp a dumbell in each hand and raise the weight out towards your side until it is at shoulder length and your arm is parallel to the ground.
    Hold the weight in this position for 10-30 seconds.
    Repeat the exercise 2-3 times.

    continue: Isometric Exercises

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  • Alex Jul 6, 2011 @ 8:05 pm | delete
    Hey Sandy

    Great read, Its amazing how far along we came in the area of fitness and bodybuilding. It would be pretty amazing if he built up his frame without the use of weights. Maybe if he had a strong diet and did some form of exercise. Thanks for sharing

    Regards

    -Alex-

    P.S. If you do any weight lifting or exercise yourself check out my website
    http://topworkoutsongs.net
  • blue22d Jan 12, 2011 @ 10:45 am | delete
    Thanks again for stopping by and taking time to share your thoughts.
  • CliveAnderson Jan 12, 2011 @ 1:33 am | delete
    A truly great lens, it is amazing how things have moved on, even though 1922 was not really that long ago and although he had what appears to be a good shaped body for a man his age back then, in today's society he would just be a fairly well shaped older man. The bodybuilders and strongmen of today are mountains in comparison... Thanks for sharing this great subject.
    Warm Regards,
    Clive
  • Oosquid Jan 11, 2011 @ 2:02 am | delete
    I fondly remember those ads - you don't want to get sand kicked in your face! :0) Very interesting lens.
  • Tipi Sep 29, 2010 @ 8:48 am | delete
    I really enjoyed this lens. Well done!
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Sandy Davison (Blue22d) here. I have been a Squidoo lover for over four years. My loves are granddaughters, nature, animals, antiques, collectibles, marbles,... more »

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