Armand Tanny was a Muscle Beach

Muscle Beach

Muscle Beach refers to either Muscle Beach Venice, an area in Venice, California, on Ocean Front Walk two blocks north of Venice Boulevard or to Original Muscle Beach, two miles north of Venice, south of the Santa Monica Pier...

 bodybuilder. He won national titles in 1949 and 1950.

After attending Rochester University, he moved to Los Angeles, transferring to UCLA. He enlisted in the Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

 in World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, serving until discharge due to injury. He completed his degree in physical therapy

Physical therapy

Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...

.

Tanny, the younger brother of fitness entrepreneur Vic Tanny

Vic Tanny

Victor "Vic" Tanny was a pioneer in the creation of the modern health club.In 1935 he opened his first club in his hometown of Rochester, New York. In 1939 he sold the club and opened a new one in Santa Monica, California...

, was a weightlifter prior to becoming a bodybuilder. He placed first in both the 1949 Pro. Mr. America

Pro. Mr. America

Pro. Mr. America was a bodybuilding contest that was first held between 1946 and 1954. Between 1967 and 1980 the contest was sponsored by the World Bodybuilding Guild .-Pro. Mr. America :1946  Clarence Ross...

 and the 1950 Mr. USA competitions..

Later, as one of a group of bodybuilders in Mae West's

Mae West

Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....

nightclub act, he organized a strike when West attempted to reduce pay of the group.

He spent much of his career writing about fitness, and was featured in numerous bodybuilding magazines.