Just recently of course, the bodybuilding world realized that our dear friend and gym franchise pioneer Joe Gold has departed to the great big gym in the sky. Joe Golds contribution to bodybuilding has been extensive. He is the founder of the original Golds Gym in Venice Beach. Everyone remembers seeing Arnold and Lou and Frank Zane and all the greats of the 60s and 70s training at Joe Golds Gym. Joe also started both franchises Golds Gym and World Gym both franchises blossomed into worldwide successes. Based on these facts alone, Joe has affected many people on a large scale. However, everyone who new him could testify that Joe Golds character was as golden as his name. Joe made a valuable contribution to the life of every individual who knew him. Recently, I was flipping through a magazine and I saw an article and a series of photos of all the greats getting together to honor Joe Gold after his recent passing. I was moved to read all of the personal stories of how Joe touched peoples lives. Over and over the same theme kept coming out; Joe Gold was bodybuildings real nice guy. Joe really did see it all or done it all as far as the sport goes. Early in his career he had spent time in the May West Muscle Show, did the whole Muscle Beach scene, started a gym, trained the champions and lived the bodybuilding lifestyle. Joe has helped out almost all the greats in the sport but he also affected normal people as well. In fact one of those people was me. Joe Gold saved my life, and here is how it happened. It all started way back in my barn in rural New Brunswick. New Brunswick is a cold out of the way province, just above the Maine border. As a young lad there were no gyms around so I had to train in a makeshift gym I had constructed in a barn. I would stare at the pictures and magazines of muscular he man flexing their muscles on a sandy beach with a California sun beating down. I watched movies like Pumping Iron with Arnold, Ed Corny, Lou Ferrigno and all the greats training in Golds Gym and I dreamed that one day I too could train there. Years went by and I kept dreaming about training at Golds. My dreams were fueled by a steady stream of pictures in the bodybuilding magazines about California, Golds Gym and the way the bodybuilders live and train. After graduating from High School I went to university and studied exercise physiology at the University of New Brunswick. Upon completion of my studies, that iron bug had grown to full on obsession. I had to get to California. I knew that I had to meet Joe Gold. I had to learn the secrets of the champs and like the thousands and thousands of bodybuilderss before me, I too had to make my pilgrimage to the Mecca. So, one crisp fall day, I sold everything I had, which was not a whole lot, put a few things in a bag and boarded a plane, flew out to the west coast of Canada. I then boarded a train down to through the states of Washington and Oregon until I finally got to Los Angeles. I had made it. After a first night in Hollywood I booked myself a hostel at Venice beach. The hostel was dirt cheap and I would only be a few blocks from the Mecca, Golds Gym. The next morning, I went out to my first experience at Golds. I was mesmerized as soon as I walked in the door. I stared at the myriad of machines all over the place. Pictures of all the champions I had read about hung on the walls. The gym was a buzz with serious bodybuilders every where, I had never seen men and women so big and so ripped. I was mesmerized. I was in heaven. Being relatively nave I did not realize that Joe Gold was not at Golds anymore he had sold the Golds franchise long ago and had moved down the street to his new franchise, Worlds Gym. After my first workout at Golds, I thought well I will actually go to Worlds Gym, see what that is all about. Sure enough, the next day dawned a nice, bright, sunny day which is pretty much the usual in southern California in October. I was basking in the sunshine of excitement knowing that I was walking down the same beach that Arnold and Franco used to walk down years ago. As I made my way up the street, I saw a big sign of Worlds Gym. I went in the doorway and climbed up the stairs. As I came up to the front desk and I got the shock of my life. Behind the desk, sitting down in a chair with that bright, smiling face that you could not mistake anywhere, was the man himself. Joe Gold, I exclaimed! I cant believe it. Youre Joe Gold. He smiled that smile that seemed a thousand miles wide and he looked up and he said yeah, that is what they used to call me. Overcome with euphoria I asked, Joe can you sign my training book? I was overwhelmed. I could not believe. This was the man. This was the man that had trained Arnold. This is the man that started the gym and built the empire that thousands of bodybuilders had flocked too and here I was standing before him. I was almost speechless. Joe made his way up to the front desk. Of course his legs were not working well at the time and he hobbled over to the counter where I was standing, gladly signed my book. He looked at me and said, where you from kid? Well sir, I am from New Brunswick, Canada and I have come out here so I can be a bodybuilder. Is that right? he said. You bet. I know that all the greats have trained here and boy, I just cannot believe my luck that you are here too. I am coming here to train and be a big bodybuilding star like Arnold. Joe smiled and did not say anything for a moment. New Brunswick? Boy that is a long way from here. You got any family down here? I said, no sir. My family is back in Canada and they dont understand. They think I am crazy to get in this bodybuilding world. He looked at me with a knowing smile. I understand. Wanting to make a good impression I asked How much is it for a membership? Joe replied, First workout in the gym does not cost anything. Go in, have a look around, get yourself a workout. I will be here if you need anything. Sure enough, I went into the gym. It was not quite as spacious as the Golds, but it had a unique feel. The equipment and lay out was well thought out and it was not as noisy as the other gym. Less music, less distractions I thought. Kind of like the throw back to the old days when they did not even have music in the gym. I went through the gym and savored my workout for then next few hours. When I finished up, I passed by the front desk on my way out and I said, Gee, Mr. Gold. Thank you so much! Dont call me Mr. Gold. Everyone just calls me Joe. Okay Joe, I will be back tomorrow Los Angeles was a big shock for a small town young. Joe Gold and Worlds gym felt a lot friendlier with less distractions than the bustling Golds Gym down the street. I was eager to come back the next day and I was so excited that I had actually met the man. Over the next few weeks, I would come in the gym and Joe Gold would be there. I would ask Joe how much for a membership and he always said, no worries son Ill cut you some slack until you get settled. I could not believe that this guy was not charging me anything. I mean I heard of these big cities were tough and people would cut corners and no one really cared about you. I knew it was $20 bucks to train at the other gyms around town and I knew that my meager finances would not last me long. I had to figure out what I was going to do, how I was going to get a job, how I was going to support myself, so I could become that bodybuilding star that I dreamed of. The reality of the situation started to get more and more intense as the days went by. Joe Gold always pleasantly smiled at me as I came in and often times he would take time to chat with me, briefly. One day I had just finished one of my workouts and Joe pulled me aside. Son, I want to talk to you for a minute I looked at Joe nervously, and I thought okay, I probably have to pay for my membership now. He looked at me intently. What are you doing down here in Los Angeles? I told you Joe, I am working out here and I am going to become a bodybuilding star just like all the greats before me. He said do you got any money? Well not much. I said, but I think I can get a job as a waiter and right now I am just working at the hostel to pay my rent until I figure out what I am going to do. This time he looked at me and he really looked deep into my eyes and there was a look of compassion and seriousness all rolled up into one look. He said kid, I am going to give you some advice. I have seen thousands of young guys like you come through here and I will tell you something, this city eats them up. It breaks my heart. I mean, I could tell you story after story of young guys that come out here full of hopes and dreams much like yourself and in a few years, they get caught in all sorts of things you would not imagine. It is really sad to see how that drive to succeed gets turned inside out and destroys people and you know, I would hate to see it happen to someone like you. I think you ought to go back up to Canada. Get yourself a good employment situation and make some money. After a few years, you can come back down here. You do not have to be training in Los Angles to become a professional bodybuilding champion. As a matter of fact, the way things are going now, I think it is easier to become a pro builder somewhere else. This scene is too much for guys like you. I thought intensely about what he said and I had a mix of emotions, Joe sensing that he had hit some points continued on. You really should go back up to Canada, save your money and then come down in a few years. You will be much better prepared to do well down here and you wont get up in any of that stupid stuff bodybuilders are mixed up with these days. I thought about it. I said, thanks a lot Joe. I will really do some thinking about that. Later that night, I went out to Venice Beach. The sun shined down in a multi hued colorful sunset. I saw the jets streaming across the sky almost like a mini highway. The sound of the waves crashing on the shore and the din of the vendors on Venice Beach filled the air. I thought to myself about why is Joe Gold is talking to me. Joe Gold has been here for 50 years of so. He has seen it all. He has seen the whole rise of bodybuilding. He has seen the Muscle Beach days. He has been in the movies. He has seen everything. He has taken the time out of his life to give me some advice. You know, if anybody knows what they are doing, it has got to be Joe Gold. I vowed right then, Joe is probably right. I went back to the hostel and and booked a plane ticket out for the next day. I went back to Worlds one last time to tell Joe before I went to the airport, that I was taking his advice and I was going back up to Canada. I would come back down on my next visit to visit him and would definitely be paying for a membership that time. Unfortunately, when I went there, Joe was not there that day and I never got a chance to say thanks. I flew back up to Canada and built myself a successful training business and over the years I won several natural bodybuilding shows. After a few years I was able to come back down to visit the gyms at Venice Beach at least once a year. The ironic thing is that every time I came to LA, I never got to see Joe again to thank him. Looking back, it is kind of funny. Joe never really knew how much he really affected my life. If I had of stayed in LA, I probably could have gotten mixed up in the darker side of the sport or spent years trying to make ends meet like so many other aspiring bodybuilders and wound up ruining my life. I like to think that Joe Gold knew that. He saw that I probably did not have the super genetics for bodybuilding that are necessary to have the potential to become an Arnold or a Ronnie Coleman or any of the other greats. You know, Joe probably knew the score from the day I walked in the door. But you know, Joe was not motivated by money. Joe was motivated by love. He loved bodybuilding and he loved people. Even though he did not know me, he gave me some sage advice. It saved my life. And I know one day, when I finally get to that great big gym in the sky and I walk up to the front desk, I know Joe Gold is going to be standing there with that big smile and only then, will I be able to look at him and say, thanks a lot, Joe. Thanks for everything! |
