Add this to your favoritesThe Early Days of Physical Fitness Gymnasiums in California
There are physical fitness gymnasiums all over the U.S. these days, but it did not always used to be that way. Believe it or not, there was a time when the number of gymnasiums in the U.S. was fairly limited. In fact, the bulk of the gymnasiums were present in one area: Southern California. In fact, the physical fitness gymnasiums in California were the origination point of the sport of muscle building which yielded the expansive physical fitness gymnasium business that exists today. This is why when you visit any gymnasium in any part of the U.S. (or the world for that matter) you will see classic photos from 30 or 40 years ago providing a snapshot in time image of Venice Beach and physical fitness gymnasiums in California.
The Most Famous of all Physical Fitness Gymnasiums in California
Probably the most famous of all the physical fitness gymnasiums in California was (is) Gold’s gymnasium. The gymnasium was the brainchild of Joe Gold and he opened the doors to the gymnasium in 1965. Within a short period of time, Gold’s gymnasium began to attract a significant number of people to its premises to train for and compete in the (then) misunderstood professional sport of bodybuilding. The talent that was attracted to Gold’s gymnasium easily eclipsed the other physical fitness gymnasiums in California. Although Joe Gold ended up selling the gymnasium and the rights to the name in 1970, the gymnasium continued to be successful and eventually became a franchise. While it was considered a ‘hardcore’ gymnasium in the early days, it now holds the status of a mainstream gymnasium accessible to people of all ages and walks of life. The popularity of the gymnasium is so expansive that there are several hundred Gold’s gymnasiums located all over the world.
The Special Aspect of Physical Fitness Gymnasiums in California
Because Gold’s gymnasium embodies a certain mythic quality, the physical fitness gymnasiums in California develop a certain mystique about them. Since this mystique is rooted in pop cultural history it takes on certain dimensions that resonate with American culture. That is to say, there will always be a somewhat inaccurate notion that the images reflected in photos from this time period are indicative of a “simpler and more innocent time in American” history. While that cliché is often thrown about in a manner so as to create a fonder memory of a time period, there is also a certain ring of truth to it. Long before the good shape gymnasiums in California became overly commercialized, there was the lone Gold’s gymnasium, a harbinger of a new industry to come.