Dakota
VET
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2017
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I had bookmarked this sometime ago, I thought I would get it on the board. I do not know the date of publishing.
Muscle Beach
To Remove...or To Improve ?
by Thomas Humphrey
For more than twenty-five years Santa Monica's Muscle Beach has existed as an unorganized and voluntary enterprise. It has now grown into a phenomenon that is recognized throughout the world by those who practice its particular type of physical activities. Bodybuilding, weightlifting, gymnastics and professional acrobatics are the major forms of athletics at Muscle Beach, while volleyball, table tennis and chess also have their adherents. Each of these groups have some of the nation's best performers, and in some instances, athletes of world-wide reputation. One of the newer sports at Muscle Beach is water skiing. Most of these sports have annual tournamentts or a series of summer weekend contests. The Easter, July 4th and Labor Day shows at Muscle Beach are replete with a variety of talent, and attract enourmous crowds. Although bodybuilding and weightlifting represent but two of the types of athletes practiced at Muscle Beach, they do constitute the only well organized activities.
The "Muscle Beach Weightlifting Club" was formed in 1955 at the insistence of the Santa Monica City Recreation Commission. A panel of officers was elected, a constitution drawn up and by-laws adopted. With part of the funds derived from the annual membership fees an accident insurance policy was set up to protect the members. The Santa Monica City Council was asked to assist with funds in order to improve the beach facilities, and since 1955 the City has allocated approximately $10,000.00 to Muscle Beach. The club membership program proved to be a great success, with almost five hundred dues paying members the first year. With these funds the club has purchased 3800 pounds of YORK Olympic lifting sets and 2300 pounds of dumbells. Separate bodybuilding and weightlifting platforms, soundly built and covered with 3/4", 3' by 5' "neoprene" rubber sheets were installed, while storage boxes, dumbell racks, benches and other accessories were also added. The area was then completely inclosed and neatly painted.
In the early summer of 1957 the City officials announced that Muscle Beach was to be moved. Weightlifters, bodybuilders, gymnasts and other enthusiasts descended en masse on the City officials and overwhelmed them with persuasive arguments supporting their desire to keep Muscle Beach at its present location. Some of the following points were brought out:
A. Against re-location
Muscle Beach is warmer than other Santa Monica beach areas due to protection from the sind afforded by the nearby pier.
Muscle Beach is widely known at its present location.
The area proposed for re-locationis much too small to allow the present equipment to be safely used.
There was no just reason for moving Muscle Beach in the first place.
B. Other suggestions
With the $160,000.00 assigned to be used for Muscle Beach re-location, improve the facilities and provide more beach directors.
Provide a beach master plan that will include consideration and approval of the Muscle Beach group.
The Muscle Beach group desires complete City administration, for without the City's supervision, in the past, a vicious cycle has been established. Overtaxed facilities became run-down, undesirable elements of society, "beach bums", were attracted and the general public blamed Muscle Beach for conditions that were brought about by a lack of City support. With cooperation from the local press misunderstandings of this type can be eliminated, in time, by public education.
Santa Monica is a tennis town, and the City supports this program by helping to send outstanding tennis players to tNational and World championsihps. Yet Santa Monica is a beach town too, and they have many more outstanding athletes in weightlifting, gymnastics and volleyball than in tennis. There are also more spectators and participants in these beach sports than in tennis or any other City supported athletics. When the City Recreation Commision was made aware of these facts, they admitted their ignorance of the situation, but with true democratic action they appointed a committee to make a more thorough study of the needs of Muscle Beach.
It is difficult for us not to be over-enthusiastic and over-persuasive about the good features of Muscle Beach. What is needed to insure the futer of Muscle Beach, however, is an intelligent, diplomatic presentation to the public of the benefits that can be derived from Muscle Beach's particular type of recreation and athletics, and a cooperative attidtude to the press. In addition every beach participant is encouraged to present better than average decorum, and to this end the "Muscle Beach Weightlifting Club" excludes members who prove to be a liability.
The Muscle Beach weighlifting team has taken one team trophy and placed third as a team at the Jr. Nationals. A member of the MBWC (Dave Ashman) captured the Super-heavyweight title at the national championsihps this year. Many weightlifting and odd lift contests have been scheduled and the AAU's cooperation and suggestions have been solicted. With Olympic stars and other prominent veterans providing voluntary instruction, encouragement and inspiration to younger, less experienced athletes, the developement of an outstanding lifting tieam seems very probable.
The fate of Muscle Beach hangs in balance, but with the expected civic support, improved public understanding and increased participant interest, Muscle Beach will become a real national force in athletics and a symbol of physical fitness and improvement. Keep your eye on the NEW Muscle Beach for you will hear more about it.
Muscle Beach
To Remove...or To Improve ?
by Thomas Humphrey
For more than twenty-five years Santa Monica's Muscle Beach has existed as an unorganized and voluntary enterprise. It has now grown into a phenomenon that is recognized throughout the world by those who practice its particular type of physical activities. Bodybuilding, weightlifting, gymnastics and professional acrobatics are the major forms of athletics at Muscle Beach, while volleyball, table tennis and chess also have their adherents. Each of these groups have some of the nation's best performers, and in some instances, athletes of world-wide reputation. One of the newer sports at Muscle Beach is water skiing. Most of these sports have annual tournamentts or a series of summer weekend contests. The Easter, July 4th and Labor Day shows at Muscle Beach are replete with a variety of talent, and attract enourmous crowds. Although bodybuilding and weightlifting represent but two of the types of athletes practiced at Muscle Beach, they do constitute the only well organized activities.
The "Muscle Beach Weightlifting Club" was formed in 1955 at the insistence of the Santa Monica City Recreation Commission. A panel of officers was elected, a constitution drawn up and by-laws adopted. With part of the funds derived from the annual membership fees an accident insurance policy was set up to protect the members. The Santa Monica City Council was asked to assist with funds in order to improve the beach facilities, and since 1955 the City has allocated approximately $10,000.00 to Muscle Beach. The club membership program proved to be a great success, with almost five hundred dues paying members the first year. With these funds the club has purchased 3800 pounds of YORK Olympic lifting sets and 2300 pounds of dumbells. Separate bodybuilding and weightlifting platforms, soundly built and covered with 3/4", 3' by 5' "neoprene" rubber sheets were installed, while storage boxes, dumbell racks, benches and other accessories were also added. The area was then completely inclosed and neatly painted.
In the early summer of 1957 the City officials announced that Muscle Beach was to be moved. Weightlifters, bodybuilders, gymnasts and other enthusiasts descended en masse on the City officials and overwhelmed them with persuasive arguments supporting their desire to keep Muscle Beach at its present location. Some of the following points were brought out:
A. Against re-location
Muscle Beach is warmer than other Santa Monica beach areas due to protection from the sind afforded by the nearby pier.
Muscle Beach is widely known at its present location.
The area proposed for re-locationis much too small to allow the present equipment to be safely used.
There was no just reason for moving Muscle Beach in the first place.
B. Other suggestions
With the $160,000.00 assigned to be used for Muscle Beach re-location, improve the facilities and provide more beach directors.
Provide a beach master plan that will include consideration and approval of the Muscle Beach group.
The Muscle Beach group desires complete City administration, for without the City's supervision, in the past, a vicious cycle has been established. Overtaxed facilities became run-down, undesirable elements of society, "beach bums", were attracted and the general public blamed Muscle Beach for conditions that were brought about by a lack of City support. With cooperation from the local press misunderstandings of this type can be eliminated, in time, by public education.
Santa Monica is a tennis town, and the City supports this program by helping to send outstanding tennis players to tNational and World championsihps. Yet Santa Monica is a beach town too, and they have many more outstanding athletes in weightlifting, gymnastics and volleyball than in tennis. There are also more spectators and participants in these beach sports than in tennis or any other City supported athletics. When the City Recreation Commision was made aware of these facts, they admitted their ignorance of the situation, but with true democratic action they appointed a committee to make a more thorough study of the needs of Muscle Beach.
It is difficult for us not to be over-enthusiastic and over-persuasive about the good features of Muscle Beach. What is needed to insure the futer of Muscle Beach, however, is an intelligent, diplomatic presentation to the public of the benefits that can be derived from Muscle Beach's particular type of recreation and athletics, and a cooperative attidtude to the press. In addition every beach participant is encouraged to present better than average decorum, and to this end the "Muscle Beach Weightlifting Club" excludes members who prove to be a liability.
The Muscle Beach weighlifting team has taken one team trophy and placed third as a team at the Jr. Nationals. A member of the MBWC (Dave Ashman) captured the Super-heavyweight title at the national championsihps this year. Many weightlifting and odd lift contests have been scheduled and the AAU's cooperation and suggestions have been solicted. With Olympic stars and other prominent veterans providing voluntary instruction, encouragement and inspiration to younger, less experienced athletes, the developement of an outstanding lifting tieam seems very probable.
The fate of Muscle Beach hangs in balance, but with the expected civic support, improved public understanding and increased participant interest, Muscle Beach will become a real national force in athletics and a symbol of physical fitness and improvement. Keep your eye on the NEW Muscle Beach for you will hear more about it.
