Steve Reeves - Oakland

1959 ⁴

Steve Reeves (January 21, 1926 – May 1, 2000) was a bodybuilder and movie star. He became interested in bodybuilding while at Castlemont High School and trained at Ed Yarick's gym. His movie career set the stage for later muscular actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger. ¹

Reeves was born in Glasgow, Montana; he and his mother moved to Oakland when he was 10 years old. Other students at Castlemont remember him as a bit of a loner; Reeves says he was too busy with a part-time job doing war work. ² Following graduation, he enlisted in the Army, and served in the Philippines.

Bodybuilding

A 1959 Parade feature gives the story:

At school Steve used to handwrestle with a smaller student who constantly beat him. Steve says, "I was sure the guy had a diet of health foods so one day I followed him home from school. I found he had a gym in his garage." Two hours later Steve sought out his mother, pleaded for $25. "I want to take a course at Ed Yarick's Gym," he announced. His mother consented. From that point on Steve worked with the weights and built himself the body that today is his fortune. ⁴

A 1960 San Francisco Examiner story gives a variation on the story:

"I could beat all the guys in school in arm wrestling," claims Reeves. All except one, a smaller fellow named Joe Gambino. "I couldn't understand how that little guy could pin me every time," continues Reeves. "One day, after I finished my paper route, I went over to house to ask how he did it. Joe was in the backyard exercising. I watched a while and then I understood where the muscles came from." ²

Whether or not the part about $25 and Yarick's Gym is true, Reeves developed his interest in bodybuilding and fitness in high school.

After serving in WWII, Reeves won several bodybuilding titles:

Mr. America (1947) ³
Mr. World (1948)
Mr. Universe (1950)

Acting

His first big role was in Hercules (1958) made by Italian filmmaker Pietro Francisci. ¹ It was popular in Europe, but after producer Joseph Levine bought the picture, re-dubbed it, and promoted it in the US, Reeves became well-known here. ² It led to a series of heroic roles.

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