CHARLES
ATLAS
"The
97 pound weakling who became
the worlds most perfectly developed man"
As
a boy Angelo Charles Siciliano was a pale, thin, and picked-on
youth. He truly was the "97-Pound Weakling" he would
later describe himself to be in his advertising. He was physically
abused by the larger kids in grade school. One day, while
lying on the beach at Coney Island in New York with his girlfriend,
a bully walked up and kicked sand in his face. His girlfriend
walked away after the attack and never was seen again. This
incident began the catalist that compelled the young man to
search for a way to build up his thin body in a rapid way
in the privacy of his room at home. It is said he observed
the great cats at the zoo flexing their muscular bodies against
the cage bars, thus keeping themselves strong with the resistance.
Atlas developed his own system based on these observations
called "Dynamic
TensionTM".
©
Charles Atlas, Ltd.-All rights Reserved
www.CharlesAtlas.com
Sicilano
was to build one of the finest physiques in his day. he
soon changed his name to "Charles Atlas",
and in his later teen age years he toured with the legendary
Earle Liederman in an Orpheum-circuit stongman stage show.
The two men worked out a strength and muscle display pageant
that drew big crowds across the United States.
©
Charles Atlas, Ltd.-All rights Reserved
www.CharlesAtlas.com
In
1921, Atlas heard that Bernarr McFadden, the publisher of
"Physical Culture" magazine, would sponsor a bodybuilding
competition entitled "The World's Most Perfectly Developed
Man". The pageant was held at Madison Square Garden in New
York City. Charles Atlas won the contest that year, and again
when it was held in 1922. McFadden did not promote a 1923
version, because he knew Atlas would win and there was really
no competition at all. After his two time win, Charles Atlas's
advertising trademark, "The
World's Most Perfectly Developed Man", became
one
of the most successful and enduring mail order businesses
of all time.
Many
fine sculptures in America from early in the last century
are actually images of Atlas. He posed for them. He was heavily
sought after for his "perfectly porportioned physique".
His physical porportions were considered to be the most aesthetic
of anyone at that time. He even modelled for a statue of Abraham
Lincoln at one point, such was his popularity.
The
company is still thriving to this day, and recently, he was
the subject of his own "A&E Biography" television
show. The show, which features perhaps the most famous muscle
champion of our times, the great Arnold
Scharzenegger, airs quite often. Stay tuned!
Charles
Atlas Facts;
Charles
won "Most Perfectly Developed Man" contest in 1922.
He
is part or whole of over 75 statues across the globe, including
the Alexander Hamilton statue that is outside of the United
State Treasury Building in Washington D.C. and the George
Washington statue in Washington Square in New York City..
Revolutionized
body sculpting with his "Dynamic TensionTM"
work out plan.
Charles
Atlas, Ltd. is a hugely successful company with offices
all over the world.
In 1921 and 1922, he won the "WorldÕs Most Perfectly Developed
Man" Contest.
His
most famous pupils was the legendary
Rocky Marciano,
Robert Ripley (of "Believe
it or Notband Joe Dimaggio.
In
1950, the American Medical Association approved of and enthusiastically
endorsed his course in "Dynamic TensionTM."
The
co-creator of the world famous cartoon, "The Insult That
Made a Man Out of Mac.", otherwise known as "The Bully
That Kicked Sand in My Face".
Thanks to Mr. Jeffrey C. Hogue, President of Charles Atlas,
Ltd. for the information for this story, and also sincere
thanks to David L. Chapman for sharing these photos from his
collection.
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