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New York City circa 1908. "Sam Kramer." Bodybuilder and wrestler. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size.
you did the best you could with workout clothes. That's why his briefs are baggy as well.
It is cool that Sam was able to get that kind of upper body development with primitive exercise equipment and without chemical enhancement. Well developed delts and some pretty big forearms. But those have to be the worst work-out pants ever.
His legs are fine -- those are tights. And of course you can get muscle without steroids. This fellow shows good proportion and realistic musculature.
My dad was a skinny youth serving with the Army Air Corps in Iceland. Bored out of his skull pulling guard duty, he decided to take the Charles Atlas course. Not only did the other G.I.'s stop kicking snow in his face but he remained a pleasantly muscular fellow for the rest of his life.
Most people at my gym today still ignore leg work. Lazy!
that you could get to this condition before the steroid era? As an added bonus, this clued us to a website called Oldtime Strongman.
The sound of another walnut falling prey to the crushing glutes of Sam Kramer.
Sam needs to work on his lower body. He seems to have some issues with those chicken legs!
At least back in those days "physical culture" devotees we considered fringe wackos. If only it were so today!
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