Joe Gold
Encyclopedia
Joe Gold was the founder of Gold's Gym
and World Gym
. He has been credited with being the father of the bodybuilding
and fitness craze that swept the US.
http://www.nndb.com/people/760/000052604/.
Joe Gold began his interest in bodybuilding at the age of 12, when he saw his sister-in-law's design for strengthening her arms. She had attached a filled bucket to each end of a broom handle and was using them as lifts. Joe and his brother, Robert Gold, got the idea for building their own equipment from scrap obtained from Roberts scrap yard.
As a teenager he headed for Muscle Beach
in Santa Monica
.
A machinist, he served in the United States Merchant Marine
s during World War II
where he was injured in a torpedo attack as well as serving in the Korean War
.
As a professional bodybuilder, he auditioned for Mae West
with a group of musclemen. West approved, "I'll take all of you." Joe Gold toured the country in her revue
. He also appeared as an extra in two epic movies: The Ten Commandments and Around the World in 80 Days, both in 1956.
for local bodybuilders despite the dirty fixtures of its first incarnation. Joe Gold was known for the personal encouragement he gave trainers, although delivered in sarcastic jabs at their faults.
Among Joe Gold's many devotees was Arnold Schwarzenegger
, who began working out at the gym in 1968 soon after arriving in the US. In a statement, the former Governor of California called Joe Gold "a trusted friend and father figure."
Joe Gold opened new gyms and designed the equipment for them. His innovations revolutionized the sport, enabling people to exercise more easily with machines. He sold the Gold's Gym chain in 1970. In 1977 he launched World Gym
in Santa Monica (later in Marina del Rey), which he owned and operated until his death at age 82.
Gold's Gym
Gold's Gym International, Inc. is an international chain of co-ed fitness centers originally started in California by Joe Gold. Each gym features a wide array of exercise equipment, group exercise classes and personal trainers to assist clients...
and World Gym
World Gym
World Gym was founded in 1976 by Joe Gold during the glory days of “Muscle Beach” in Venice, California. Since that time, World Gym has evolved into an internationally recognized brand....
. He has been credited with being the father of the bodybuilding
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
and fitness craze that swept the US.
Early life
Joe Gold was the son of Max and Jennie Gold, a Russian Jewish family residing in Boyle Heights, Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
http://www.nndb.com/people/760/000052604/.
Joe Gold began his interest in bodybuilding at the age of 12, when he saw his sister-in-law's design for strengthening her arms. She had attached a filled bucket to each end of a broom handle and was using them as lifts. Joe and his brother, Robert Gold, got the idea for building their own equipment from scrap obtained from Roberts scrap yard.
As a teenager he headed for 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...
in Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
.
A machinist, he served in the United States Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine is...
s during 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...
where he was injured in a torpedo attack as well as serving in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
As a professional bodybuilder, he auditioned for Mae West
Mae West
Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
with a group of musclemen. West approved, "I'll take all of you." Joe Gold toured the country in her revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
. He also appeared as an extra in two epic movies: The Ten Commandments and Around the World in 80 Days, both in 1956.
Business, life, and death
In 1965 Joe Gold opened the first Gold's Gym in Venice, California. It quickly became a landmarkLandmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
for local bodybuilders despite the dirty fixtures of its first incarnation. Joe Gold was known for the personal encouragement he gave trainers, although delivered in sarcastic jabs at their faults.
Among Joe Gold's many devotees was Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
, who began working out at the gym in 1968 soon after arriving in the US. In a statement, the former Governor of California called Joe Gold "a trusted friend and father figure."
Joe Gold opened new gyms and designed the equipment for them. His innovations revolutionized the sport, enabling people to exercise more easily with machines. He sold the Gold's Gym chain in 1970. In 1977 he launched World Gym
World Gym
World Gym was founded in 1976 by Joe Gold during the glory days of “Muscle Beach” in Venice, California. Since that time, World Gym has evolved into an internationally recognized brand....
in Santa Monica (later in Marina del Rey), which he owned and operated until his death at age 82.
External links
- Gold's Gym Official website
- World Gym Official website