Gold's Venice

**Aaron Singerman** · 08-21-2009, 03:19 PM

Sad article.

**John Romano** · 08-22-2009, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by LAFitness

lol..i think that was Karl List-
Karl List Gold's Gym

Carl is an awesome trainer and has been there for ages. i know him back in the day when he used to train with Hannie Van Aken - a chick who could do incline benches with 315 for reps.

**Sledge** · 08-22-2009, 12:57 AM

I trained there in 2008 after the arnold. Was a well equiped gym for sure but nothing special. I also tracked down the original one from pumping iron movies. You can still read the sign on the front.

**This Is War** · 08-22-2009, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by Sledge

I also tracked down the original one from pumping iron movies. You can still read the sign on the front.

I'm trying to take a photo of it that i took last September but it won't let me!

**Colin K** · 08-22-2009, 07:29 AM

Here is my one

GOLDS.jpg

**McFlex** · 08-22-2009, 08:46 AM

On my summer vacation 96 travelled down to Golds (You have to). Paid $10 and trained there, bought the T-Shirt (as you do) and saw guys like Christian, Flex, Cromier, Pearce, Glass, Quinn all training and a few others that atomosphere was electric, there was a real buzz about the place even after I finished training I just hang around for a while to watch everybody train, I saw Arnold's pictures and the rest of the olympians on the walls. After we left Gold's we went over to Rose Cafe and had a great meal and drove back to where I was staying at Huntington Beach.
It sadden's me to read that all has changed and the place is not the same but at least I can say I trained there in the good old days and those memorys will stay with me for ever.

Might go back next year just to see what everybody is talking about.

**Salami 1** · 08-23-2009, 06:25 PM

88-07 Part time from Orange County,and the Valley.Full time 2000-2002,when I lived on Vernon.We would reserve weekends for leg day,just to feel the magic!Remember when you could have a membership in another Gold's and it didn't matter.Then the 10 buck "other Gold's" rule.Tom,behind the counter was cool.Good to see Mickey Rourke,Ray Liotta,stars from other sports,like my hero Wallid Ismael.Got my belt signed by Paul DeMayo.TONS of Bodybuilding Gods!Then of course Firehouse,Max Muscle,Koo Ka Roos.Ahhhh Romano,I know what you mean!

**SoreButtCheeks** · 08-24-2009, 07:57 AM

Bought a Gold's sweat shirt and tanktop, sadly there was nobody working out at the time let alone anyone famous there.

**GUNNER** · 08-24-2009, 12:36 PM

it's hit or miss. I train there every couple months and sometimes it's a freak show, sometimes it's dead... but it's still a damn cool atmosphere compared to most gyms.

**newgoal300** · 08-24-2009, 01:03 PM

summer of 94', went for a 2 wk vacation, stayed for 8 months, it was a dream come true for me at the time. all i cared about was myself and training. no where else in the world suited me better at the time

**Steve_Colescott** · 08-24-2009, 11:52 PM

When I first went to Venice, one of my friends who won the Ohio and Collegiate Nats gave me a message to give Paul DeMayo if ran into him. I passed Paul as I was walking into the gym and he was mid-workout and told him I had a message to pass on and would look for him when he was done training.

Paul said, "No, no... I'm between bodyparts. Pull up a bench if you have a few minutes." We sat and talked awhile and then met up for food afterwards. I was just a kid running a gym in the midwest and he was a top contender for a pro card. I was sad how things turned out for him. The sport is dimmer for his absense.

On my second trip out there I was doing more writing at the time and knew some people because of it. I was having lunch at the Firehouse with Gunter Schlierkamp back when he had not been here long and wasn't getting much notice yet. Craig Titus popped his head in the door and yelled, "The food is better a Koo Koo Roos, across the street." It was funny because his voice cracked as he said it.

Gunter smiled and said, "He's been kicked out of here again."

The sport is less intersting but better with Titus' incarceration. [End gratuitious name-dropping]

**GUNNER** · 09-10-2009, 04:32 PM

trained there last night and besides big Will H., I was probably the 2nd biggest guy in there.. that's not good, I'm not big.

although in another 2 weeks I'm sure it'll be packed, before the O

**Wade** · 09-10-2009, 04:39 PM

I trained there a few months ago when we brought GASP gear to the Ironman Expo in LA. You're going to always see "someone" in there... and if you're a fan of bodybuilding... it's the best. I saw more people I know there than in my own gym back home... awesome.

Fit Gear Republic
www.FitGR.com
877-200-6154

**body opus** · 09-10-2010, 12:37 AM

Year-old thread, but I lived in LA from 2005-2006 and trained at Gold's Venice! Knowing my new job would be near Gold's practically sold me on moving up to West LA, off of Venice Blvd.

Will Harris was training there, and Tito Raymond. I've also seen Gary Strydom (awesome shape), Mike Ergas (on and OFF season LOL), other IFBB pros, etc.

Good experience! Even though you start taking the atmosphere for granted. Everyone in good condition.

**meatheadio** · 09-10-2010, 12:47 AM

Im an Aussie and was travelling in the states last year and luckily had time to get down to Santa Monica and check out the peir, venice beach and golds. It was a good gym with some great equipment,but it didny quite live up to the hype. It had the feeling of it was once something great, but the $20 casual pass and the barbie dolls training there (more plastic than skin) made the place feel a bit try hard, not hardcore.
Did get to meet Tom Prince,Jerome Furgerson and Bob Chic who were all real nice guys.
Glad Ive been there,but couldnt imagine training there on a regular basis.