Straight out of Rochester!

[Curt James]

Padilla is from Rochester and I think still trains at the same gym. Back in the day it was Samsons and is called something else now. We could do a whole thread on the guys that came out of Rochester NY back in the day.

Peter Grymkowski was Mr. Rochester 1968.

Grymkowski was one of the largest bodybuilders of his era competing at over 240 pounds. After winning the Rochester title in 1968 Pete went on win the 1972 AAU Junior Mr. USA. In 1977 as a pro Pete won the Pro Mr. World title. After retiring from competition Pete bought and transformed Gold’s Gym into a worldwide empire of gyms. His vision took bodybuilding gyms into the mainstream of the fitness industry.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ocbeyhI2C_4/TyYqqwiiU7I/AAAAAAAAMCA/FzJVf4ZkiAg/s512/grym.jpg

[Curt James]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlHltaOGfP8&feature=related

[Curt James]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhYwOSIx_Yc&feature=related

[Curt James]

Other bodybuilders from Rochester, New York? Name 'em!

[joe293]

Pete Grymkowski....

[Jordan Coburn]

Curt's BFF Bob Chic is from Rochester I believe...

[njmuscle66]

Shane Dimora
Won the teen, juniors and his class at the nationals (earning a pro card) all in the same year.

[Dominick Cardone]

137541137542


My friend Jerry Scalesse. Former mr. universe....

[Big Barry]

This thread is so funny! Curt was asking about Rochester bodybuilders, then it was mentioned that his arch-nemesis Bob Chic was from Rochester, Curt vanished and never came back!!! LOL

[Curt James]

This thread is so funny! Curt was asking about Rochester bodybuilders, then it was mentioned that his arch-nemesis Bob Chic was from Rochester, Curt vanished and never came back!!! LOL

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UKVcOZFgmjE/T5x3BLytqxI/AAAAAAAAPEA/772CV0A2Xb8/s18/thinking.gif How long can I play this pneumonia card?


I love how curt is paid to just post random threads and keep the boards interesting.

I get paid? Barry gets a car and an assistant...

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O48Fcr_LWF4/ULBMqBqk67I/AAAAAAAAV_M/jWYwxfTTF_o/s424/barry-assistant.jpg

Me? Sally mentioned something about free Post-it notes. :-/


But when someone posts something legitimate about why Jeff was fired or Aarons relationship, it gets deleted..."

How is it legitimate to ask about a former employee? Would you want your work history posted on a message board?

[Curt James]

And while I'm here...


Shane Dimora
Won the teen, juniors and his class at the nationals (earning a pro card) all in the same year.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9dYb8O12gQ8/ULBQh1SznTI/AAAAAAAAWAc/zUae0Pv5HHQ/s512/shane-dimora1.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rAMxagMuxJM/ULBQkiy_2UI/AAAAAAAAWAk/7TUGmkznwvY/s400/shane-dimora2.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Yc0V55PBYnk/ULBQnrNxJ4I/AAAAAAAAWAs/FX51D9wTuWI/s512/shane-dimora3.jpg

[Curt James]

Curt's BFF Bob Chic is from Rochester I believe...

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hDxVVDPFKZ8/TRQjb0TdzEI/AAAAAAAABs8/s3V9PAy98gs/s350/bigbarry-merryxmas-bobby.gif

Okay, okay, seriously...

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R02pho-KH5s/ULBSwhaWb5I/AAAAAAAAWBM/QB5QqM7vMxk/s449/chick3.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dhIPJQI_PY0/ULBStssaAoI/AAAAAAAAWA8/RtbdPlBMQyk/s500/chick2.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3JU99cR92sQ/ULBSqiXKWZI/AAAAAAAAWA0/d51ke0w5Xz8/s512/chick1.jpg

[Curt James]

Pete Grymkowski....

Deserves a few additional images.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9wQc63UGQFI/TyYq9Satx6I/AAAAAAAAMC4/Lq5ZuIS0YEA/s512/grym7.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-brY0mTs_5dg/TyYqyYkLAwI/AAAAAAAAMCY/xVBka3BYMEQ/s512/grym3.jpg

[Curt James]

HE TRAINS at jim rockells gym in down town rochester. powerhouse.

bob chick
george farah
hazal nelson

all train or started at that gym

George Farah and Hazal Nelson...

http://gallery.rxmuscle.com/newgallery/DSC_0146_YDXWKURJJX.jpg
George Farah placing 7th at the 2010 IFBB Europa Battle Of Champions

http://gallery.rxmuscle.com/newgallery/DSC_1904_GQGCNPAJVD.jpg
Hazal Nelson placing 5th in Figure at the 2010 IFBB Europa Battle Of Champions

[Jaredmus]

danny is still there I have seen him there multiple times, jim rockells powerhouse is a sick gym the downstairs is a throwback into the 70's with all of the great equipment

[MattyH7688]

Phil Hernon is from the area!!

[Curt James]

Phil Hernon is from the area!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uut4zYmCl64

[Big Barry]

...and the list goes on!

Must be something in the tap water.

[tammyp]

i miss matt crane. what a great guy. when i first started he spent so much time teaching me the ropes of judging.

[SZona]

Shane Dimora, Danny Padilla, Bob Cicherillo, George Farah, Jim Rockell, Pete Grymkowski, Anthony Finnociaro, Hazel Nelson, Chandra Coffey, Chris Pryzybla, Mark Natalie, Tony Natalie, Bob Good, John Dimartino....Rochester has quite a bodybuilding legacy and I am happy to have just been a very small part of it. Im sure I forgot some names also. Samsons is still the only gym I will train at.

SZ

[Big Barry]

Shane Dimora, Danny Padilla, Bob Cicherillo, George Farah, Jim Rockell, Pete Grymkowski, Anthony Finnociaro, Hazel Nelson, Chandra Coffey, Chris Pryzybla, Mark Natalie, Tony Natalie, Bob Good, John Dimartino....Rochester has quite a bodybuilding legacy and I am happy to have just been a very small part of it. Im sure I forgot some names also. Samsons is still the only gym I will train at.

SZ

Who's Bob Good? He's impossible to google... it keeps popping up with benevolent guys called Bob!

[SZona]

Bob won the AAU Mr. USA years ago. Cant remember what year. Big dude!

SZ

[SZona]

1987 AAU Mr. USA Overall Winner

[HangingLegRaise]

Padilla is so underrated... I would kill to be a white guy with muscle bellies like that.

[Big Barry]

1987 AAU Mr. USA Overall Winner



<tbody>
Bob Good






1985
Junior USA - NPC (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Junior+USA+-+NPC&y=1985), HeavyWeight, 4th

1987
Junior Mr America - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Junior+Mr+America+-+AAU&y=1987), Tall, 2nd
Mr USA - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Mr+USA+-+AAU&y=1987), Tall, 1st
Mr USA - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Mr+USA+-+AAU&y=1987), Overall Winner

1988
Mr America - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Mr+America+-+AAU&y=1988), Tall, 5th
Collegiate Mr America - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Collegiate+Mr+America+-+AAU&y=1988), Tall, 4th
Universe - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Universe+-+AAU&y=1988), HeavyWeight, 4th
Mr World - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Mr+World+-+AAU&y=1988), Tall, 3rd


</tbody>

[Big Barry]

Would be 'Good' to see a pic of Bob. lol

[Big Barry]

Padilla is so underrated... I would kill to be a white guy with muscle bellies like that.

Agreed...I always preferred Padilla to Franco.

[SZona]

Danny is one of the best of all time tall or short. Most complete I have ever seen. Feel fortunate to call him a friend.

SZ

[tammyp]

Chris Pryzybla is a new pro as of the north americans...as one of my BFFs....he is in syracuse now, but from rochester originally. i feel bad i left him out!

[Curt James]

<tbody>
Bob Good






1985
Junior USA - NPC (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Junior+USA+-+NPC&y=1985), HeavyWeight, 4th

1987
Junior Mr America - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Junior+Mr+America+-+AAU&y=1987), Tall, 2nd
Mr USA - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Mr+USA+-+AAU&y=1987), Tall, 1st
Mr USA - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Mr+USA+-+AAU&y=1987), Overall Winner

1988
Mr America - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Mr+America+-+AAU&y=1988), Tall, 5th
Collegiate Mr America - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Collegiate+Mr+America+-+AAU&y=1988), Tall, 4th
Universe - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Universe+-+AAU&y=1988), HeavyWeight, 4th
Mr World - AAU (http://musclememory.com/show.php?c=Mr+World+-+AAU&y=1988), Tall, 3rd


</tbody>

Someone else uses Tim Fogarty's site, MuscleMemory.com! He runs that site all by himself. An excellent resource.

[Big Barry]

Someone else uses Tim Fogarty's site, MuscleMemory.com! He runs that site all by himself. An excellent resource.

Great site. Their magazine cover archive is ridiculously huge!

[Curt James]

Chris Pryzbyla is a new pro as of the north americans...as one of my BFFs....he is in syracuse now, but from rochester originally. i feel bad i left him out!

http://gallery.rxmuscle.com/newgallery/DSC_5202_NKPWMMQWBJ.jpg

Chris Pryzbyla, Lightheavyweight champion, 2012 IFBB North American

[Buckeye Fan]

Blair Mone is from Syracuse

[Curt James]

Shane Dimora, Danny Padilla, Bob Cicherillo, George Farah, Jim Rockell, Pete Grymkowski, Anthony Finocchiaro, Hazal Nelson, Chandra Coffey, Chris Pryzybla, Mark Natalie, Tony Natalie, Bob Good, John Dimartino....Rochester has quite a bodybuilding legacy and I am happy to have just been a very small part of it. Im sure I forgot some names also. Samsons is still the only gym I will train at.

SZ

http://gallery.rxmuscle.com/newgallery/DSC_0498.png

Anthony Finocchiaro competing in the 202 Class at the 2010 IFBB Jacksonville Pro


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEVgnZAuaaE
Mark Natalie

[Curt James]

Blair Mone is from Syracuse

Well, that's about 90 miles...

Close enough?

http://gallery.rxmuscle.com/newgallery/DER_6218_XATZIPDHQT.jpg

Blair Mone competing in the Superheavyweight class at the 2012 NPC Nationals

[Buckeye Fan]

Blair is gonna be dangerous at USA's

[SZona]

I forgot Sandra DelVecchio IFBB Figure Pro

[SZona]

All good friends and on top of that GREAT people!

[joe293]

I had talked to Blair Moen last year about the NY area because I was born in Rochester. He said he spent some time there and talked about Padilla still being around and training. How much time he spent in Rochester I'm not sure but he did say he was from Syracuse. I believe he also won the Mr. Rochester a few years ago.

[tammyp]

blair won his class, not the overall. i have judged that show since 06.

[SZona]

Pretty sure Danny is at least 40 in the second pic.

[Big Barry]

Still bringing it at 61...


http://www.dannypadilla.com/photos/DanToday.jpg

[LookinFit75]

This thread is so funny! Curt was asking about Rochester bodybuilders, then it was mentioned that his arch-nemesis Bob Chic was from Rochester, Curt vanished and never came back!!! LOL
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Big Barry again.

[Curt James]

^^^^ You and Barry are aaaaaaaaaaa*******! lol

Back to Rochester, here's a name some in the younger set may not be familiar with: Tim Kimber!

Tim Kimber, like most suburban kids growing-up in the "Baby Boomer" generation, was protected and inspired to believe he could rise to any accomplishment. Like many in Rochester, New York, his father worked at Kodak, as did he following high school, but Tim wanted something different out of life. So he began to build his body and train at Sampson's Gym in Rochester. His hard work paid-off quickly, and he placed 3rd in Mr. Rochester in the winter of 1976 and won Mr. Empire State the following fall. The world of bodybuilding would be the opening salvo to his career.

Shortly before winning Mr. Empire State, Tim met life-long friend, Pete Grymkowski. Pete was on the verge of becoming a major player in the world of bodybuilding, and asked Tim to partner with him in rebuilding the famed Gold's Gym in Venice Beach. During the years of their partnership, 1979 - 2000, Gold's grew to become one the world's most iconic and successful business enterprises in the 20th century.

Beginning with a single gym in 1979, under the leadership of partners Pete, Tim and Ed Connors, Gold's became the largest fitness center chain in the world with 540 gyms in 42 states and 30 countries. Today, gym memberships have grown to over 3.5 million members. Owing to the fact that Gold's was the first gym in America to open its doors to female fitness, membership today is evenly divided between male and female members.

Creating merchandising and marketing tactics that are today textbook business strategies the world-over, Tim and the Gold's team led the way in the development of private label apparel and sports equipment. The Gold's logo appeared on everything from key chains to dumbbells, and is today one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. Tim has also authored along with his partners five bodybuilding books which are now considered foundational classics -- The Gold's Gym Training Encyclopedia, Solid Gold: Training the Gold's Gym Way, The Gold's Gym Nutrition Bible, Mass Building: Training and Nutrition Systems and The Gold's Gym Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding.

Since selling his interests in Gold's in 1999, Tim has supported the business interests of wife, Jenny, and pursued his lifelong passion of music and songwriting. One of his songs that he co-wrote with three time Grammy winner, Keb Mo', Victim's of Comfort, went gold on Keb Mo's first self-titled album for Sony in 1994.

From http://www.webhappy.net/about.html

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SbY-I-gR2iE/ULraA8dgqWI/AAAAAAAAWWQ/t1koIx9d0fY/s800/golds.jpg


unknown
Pete Grymkowski
Danny Padilla
Ed Corney
Larry Jackson (?)
unknown
unknown
unkown
Andreas Cahling
Tim Kimber
Samir Bannout
Jusup Wilkosz
Steve Davis
unkown
Bill Grant
Ken Kuehn
Ken Waller
Tom Platz
Mike Mentzer


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-or4Swx1RN30/ULrW-GZzDSI/AAAAAAAAWVw/5i1w9G2y-Lg/s482/timkimber.jpg

Tim Kimber in more recent years.

[joe293]

I remember Tim. He also did a low budget movie where he was a bodybuilder living out of his van and trying to make it in California. Can't remember the name of it.

[Curt James]

I remember Tim. He also did a low budget movie where he was a bodybuilder living out of his van and trying to make it in California. Can't remember the name of it.

"Hustler of Venice Beach" or "Hustler of Muscle Beach"? Just heard him mention it on Ric Drasin's interview show "Ric's Corner".

DrEz9ajylYs

lkzDDAHuaQw

[joe293]

Curt....you're the MAN.

[Curt James]

^^^^ I was the boy when these guys were building the history of the sport. Love hearing their stories. Ric mentioned a possible interview with Larry Scott. Not sure that will happen now. :-(

John Grimek gave me hell at an early Arnold Classic. The Sharpie marker I handed him for an autograph was on its last legs and that seemed to tick him off. I was thrilled to catch an earful from a legend. :-)

[Gregzs]

138123

[Curt James]

I love this thread!

Vic Tanny was born Victor Tannidinardo in Rochester, New York on February 18, 1912. He would become a pivotal figure in the history of bodybuilding.

Vic's father, a tailor, and the rest of the family, changed their last name to Tanny sometime in the late thirties or early forties due to anti-Italian sentiment at that time.

Vic Tanny, who had always been interested in physical strength and conditioning, opened his first gym in his parents' garage in 1935. Eventually, he would move to a larger building in Rochester but was disappointed with his volume of members.

Vic had always admired the early American pioneers and their struggle to move west so, in 1940 with $700 in savings, he moved to Santa Monica, California.

Tanny's first attempts at operating a gym were a struggle, especially during the war years. Many of his potential customers joined or were drafted to defend the nation.

The prosperity that followed the end of the war saw Vic's gyms skyrocket in popularity. With chrome plated weights, his brightly lighted, colorfully painted establishments welcomed women and men to an almost country club atmosphere. Tanny's gyms were clean and bright as opposed to the dimly lit, smoky and dirty boxing gyms he had visited as a youth.

Between 1950 and 1959 Tanny went from one gym to over 60 nationwide with 650 employees and hundreds of thousands of members.

Vic Tanny's gym motto was Take it off, build it up and make it firm. This was accomplished by lifting weights but every member was cautioned against overstraining and grunting and groaning. Members were put on an initial 3 day a week program of 30 minute duration which included 24 Tanny approved exercises.

Memberships were $60 per year on the west coast and $125 per year in New York due to higher costs there. A lifetime membership could be purchased for $339.

Vic Tanny was not the creator of the popularity of exercising at that time. There were over 750 "reducing" salons nationwide in 1958 with such names as "Silhouette" and "Slenderella", but he was one of the leaders of the movement.

Vic accumulated quite a fortune from his gyms. In 1958 he and his family lived in a $220,000 mansion with 12 phones! Vic Tanny's name became synonymous with gyms, muscle building and fitness.

A parody of his gym is seen in the 1963 movie "The Nutty Professor" with Jerry Lewis. Don Rickles plays a trainer of bodybuilders, "Jack Fanny", in the movie "Muscle Beach Party" and "Mad" magazine has even parodied Vic in their "Vic Tinny" issue.

Vic Tanny dreamed big and achieved even bigger! His dream was to spread his gyms all over the world. Tanny may have dreamed a bit too big. Eventually, Tanny's business fell into bankruptcy due to "over-expansion, poor management and lack of capital" according to those in the know.

Vic retired to Florida and many of his gyms became part of the Bally gym chain.

Many of Vic's family were also interested in the heath and fitness industry.

Vic's mother, Angela Tanny, was a lifelong health advocate. She followed her son to California and worked out regularly at his Santa Monica club. It worked well for her. She lived to be 94 years old, passing in January of 1986.

Armand Tanny was Vic's younger brother. Armand competed in weightlifting early in his career but later turned to bodybuilding and wrestling. He had a career of writing for the Weider publications.

Armand appeared in 2 films in 1944,"Lady in the Dark" with Ginger Rogers and "Frenchman's Creek" with Basil Rathbone. Armand died on April 4, 2009. He was 90 years of age.

Vic Tanny Jr. was a successful Iron Age bodybuilder in the seventies.

Mandy Tanny, Vic's niece, wrote for Joe Weider's "Muscle and Fitness" magazine for 10 years and penned 2 health food cookbooks. She and her husband developed a chain of gyms between 1990 and 2003. Sadly, Mandy passed away from breast cancer in April of 2010. She was 60 years old.

Vic Tanny, the young immigrant boy who grew a bodybuilding empire, died of heart failure on June 11, 1985. In spite of how his empire may have ended, he will always be remembered for his contribution to the health and fitness industry and the Iron Age era of bodybuilding.

Rest in peace Vic Tanny.

From http://www.iron-age-classic-bodybuilding.com/vic_tanny.html

[Curt James]

Anyone else have Rochester stories?

And are all our New Yorkers safe? There was a train derailed today. :-( Four dead and many injured.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRgQknt-pAA

[Todd Lincoln]

Padilla had one of the greatest physiques ever in my opinion. Often ripped off on contest placings because of his height.

[tammyp]

this was Poughkeepsie curt, far from Rochester.

[joe293]

I don't think he's from Rochester but he won a Mr Rochester.

[tammyp]

he did. I remember judging him, prob 4 years ago?

[Poker face Ace]

This train station was one I always went to when going to the city to visit fam. Thank god I wasn't on it.. Dat be dat scurry shhh

[Curt James]

Todd Lincoln,

Believe Padilla will be in attendance at the Rochester show!


Padilla had one of the greatest physiques ever in my opinion. Often ripped off on contest placings because of his height.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MKl9vOeMfM

[Todd Lincoln]

Todd Lincoln,

Believe Padilla will be in attendance at the Rochester show!




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MKl9vOeMfM

Awesome! Will be interesting to see what he looks like these days. I'd like to meet him and Zane.