The Three Muscleteers

Way back in 1965, Joe Gold opened his first gym in Venice, California. Joe and George Pipasik custom-made all of the equipment including the barbells and dumbells which many people say were the best they ever used. Most pieces were made of solid steel and painted black. The gym was only small by today's standards but there weren't many serious bodybuilders around back in those days. In fact, Los Angeles with a massive population of seven million people had only 4 gyms!In 1968 Arnold Schwarzenegger used Gold's Gym to train during his visits to the USA when he was preparing for the Mr Olympia contest. During this period bodybuilding was rising to infamous fame and fortune, especially in 1977, when the best-selling film Pumping Iron was photographed at Gold's itself.After the film came out Gold's became the Mecca for hardcore bodybuilders and it soon became the most famous gym in the world. Everyone around the world wanted to train at Gold's Gym!Two years before this former Mr World Pete Grymkowski and his training partner Tim Kimber got word that Gold's was up for sale. Pete wasted no time in calling Ed Connors an Architecture who lived in LA. Ed had really helped Pete out during his training preparations for the Mr World contest.With no knowledge of the gym business whatsoever, Ed said that he did not hesitate and told Pete that he was 'in'. Ed, Pete and another investor Denny Doyle scraped up $50,000 between them and then took out a bank loan for another $50,000 and bought the gym outright.Later on, Tim replaced Denny and became the third investor.In Ed's own words, "We really struggled during those first few years, but then things started to improve in a big way." First, they moved to a larger building which overlooked the entrance to the Santa Monica shopping mall. But it was only when they moved back to Venice and into Hampton Drive, that the real Mecca was born. Three huge rooms consisting of every piece of training equipment that you could possibly think of.And it wasn't only hardcore bodybuilders who trained at Gold's Gym. Top-class WWE wrestlers could be seen working next to movie stars and TV personalities as well as world-class footballers and baseball champs. You name it. They were there.Joe Weider used Gold's Gym almost exclusively for the photos that graced the pages of his magazines.The Three Muscleteers is a true account of one of the most historic and successful periods in bodybuilding. It is also a jolly good read.

A great read on the history of bodybuilding beginning in the 1970s when Ed Connors became one the owners of Gold's. If the latest Schwarzenegger documentary on Netflix has made you curious about how Gold's Gym became the Mecca of bodybuilding, read this book.

The Three Muscleteers was the most comprehensive book I've ever read on the history of fitness and bodybuilding. Mr. Connors creates a clear vision of how Gold's Gym and these three pioneers escalated fitness, bodybuilding and the gym industry to the highest level with their brilliant minds, hard work and passion for our industry. Connors, Kimber & Grymkowski possessed the most important trait in building a business that serves the public...THEY CARED!This book brought me back to a time and a place that I will always hold in my heart...The early Gold's Gym in Venice and an atmosphere that was epic and exciting!I trained there when I visited and stayed with Ed Connors and I was photographed for magazines like Muscle & Fitness and FLEX magazine there.Mr. Ed Connors was the greatest host and his generosity will be remembered forever!Tim Kimber was the hardest worker I know and always gave 100% to every patron of the gym!Big Pete Grymkowski was larger than life with a smile a mile wide that highlighted his personality!This book is a MUST READ for anyone involved in fitness or bodybuilding and also for inquiring minds about the beginning of the greatest moments in our industry.John DeFendisMr. USAFitness Hall of Fame InducteePersonal Training Hall of Fame Inductee

Great walk down memory lane. Ed probably could have written a book four times as long as he’s been there and around for so many years. I enjoyed the stories of all the bb Ed helped along the way but the most beneficial part of the book for me was Ed’s risk taking and vision. He could have played it safe and remained in architecture but he pursued something totally different. Anyone who ever visited Golds in Venice in its hey day when Ed was the owner knows that place was remarkably special and unique and one of those “ there will never be another like it” type things

Have you ever wondered how some people achieve the accomplishments they do in life? It’s apparent that most people can go so much farther when there is help along the way. I would be surprised if you read this book and didn’t realize who the real legend is behind the fitness industry. It was a man who often was behind the scenes in a local gym office, wearing a suit and spending his life investing in people. He found a way to inspire others and help them realize their greatest potential. Oh yeah, and somehow he found a way to catapult the fitness industry into the future and open a “few” gyms along the way. Amazing!Perhaps the next reader could be inspired to do something similar in their own chosen endeavor!