Jim Haislop - 1968 Mr. America today

[John Hansen]

I got to meet Jim Haislop, 1968 AAU Mr. America and 1969 Nabba Mr. Universe winner at the NPC Tampa Bay Classic last night. Great guy and still a very big man. Jim was called the Modern Day Steve Reeves in his day because of his small waist and super wide shoulders.

[AVBG]

Awesome structure! If he was in another time he'd STILL be a front runner - for sure.

[ebfitness]

Damn, still huge!

[John Hansen]

Here's Jim with Arnold and Franco at the 1969 Nabba Universe in London

[Waylon]

122133

[AVBG]

Here's Jim with Arnold and Franco at the 1969 Nabba Universe in London

Jim's quads in that pic were arguably better than what Arnold's were his entire career


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rocco1943]

Jim is and always was one of the friendliest, nicest guys you could meet. A lot of really good body builders from Tampa came out of Dick Fudge's gym back in the day.

[sam the man]

great

[John Hansen]

Too bad Jim didn't compete in the Olympia after this show in '69. I would have loved to have seen him against Arnold and Sergio.

[Curt James]

Here's Jim with Arnold and Franco at the 1969 Nabba Universe in London

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cwNupdkkWKc/T9bAdwvfJWI/AAAAAAAAQjM/l6Y_EdwtT5w/s640/franco-arnold-jim_haislop.jpg

Had never seen this shot before. Haislop was always one of my favorites competitors.


Jim's quads in that pic were arguably better than what Arnold's were his entire career

Would like Arnold to turn his legs to the front for a direct comparison with Jim.


Too bad Jim didn't compete in the Olympia after this show in '69. I would have loved to have seen him against Arnold and Sergio.

This!

And more Haislop:

http://musclememory.com/images/vintage/HaislopJim_65.jpg

http://musclememory.com/magCovers/mti/mti022.jpg

http://musclememory.com/magCovers/md/md0509.jpg

Jim Haislop's Contest Record

1965

Mr Florida - AAU, Winner
Mr USA - AAU, 3rd

1966

Mr America - AAU, 5th
Mr North America - AAU, Winner
Mr USA - AAU, Most Muscular, 5th
Mr USA - AAU, 3rd

1967

Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 3rd
Mr America - AAU, 2nd
Mr Southern States - AAU, Winner
Mr USA - AAU, Most Muscular, 2nd
Mr USA - AAU, Winner

1968

Mr America - AAU, Winner
Junior Mr America - AAU, Winner
Mr Universe - NABBA, Tall, 2nd

1969

Mr Universe - NABBA, Tall, 1st

[HeavyDutyGuy]

Better structure than Arnold. His arms looked like a weak point, but everything was pretty balanced.

[chris250]

If he came in harder he could do well to this day...great structure, and overall balance

[John Hansen]

Another pic of the line-up at the 1969 Nabba Universe.

[mickeycapone]

If Jim had had a good Hollywood agent, I think he could have had Arnold's career. Better looking by far. He had a tremendous natural structure with wider shoulders, smaller waist and better legs than Arnold. With more focus on arms, they could have gone to 20" easy!

[Curt James]

If Jim had had a good Hollywood agent, I think he could have had Arnold's career. Better looking by far. He had a tremendous natural structure with wider shoulders, smaller waist and better legs than Arnold. With more focus on arms, they could have gone to 20" easy!

I'm curious about that. Yes, Arnold had the best agent at the time -- Josef E. "Joe" Weider -- but no one seems to have had the drive that Schwarzenegger possessed. Haislop's career only continued a few years.

Was Haislop not motivated or did he, more likely, just see that the money was not there and so moved on to greener or more lucrative pastures?

But I agree with what you said, Haislop would have done very well with a Hollywood agent.

http://musclememory.com/magCovers/md/md0412.jpg

[Beregond54]

Haislop is the man who really got me into bodybuilding. His magazine covers knocked the wind out of me! He really set the template for the kind of physique I have always admired, and which has sadly disappeared from the sport today: tiny waist, broad shoulders. And no one was better-looking, with the exception of Reeves.

[Richster]

I agree with you. Jim was a very handsome Mr. America and should have been offered some movie or TV roles. It's possible that he just didn't want to do any entertainment stuff. He had a good, secure job with the phone company. He did do a Lestoil commercial in 1970, which ran for two years. You can see it on You Tube.