Muscletown USA: Bob Hoffman and the Manly Culture of York Barbell

by John D. Fair

From the 1930s to the 1980s, the capital of weightlifting in America was York, Pennsylvania, the home of the York Barbell Company. Bob Hoffman, the founder of York Barbell, propagated an ideology of success for Americans seeking physical improvement. Often called the "Father of World Weightlifting," Hoffman was a pioneer in marketing barbells and health foods. He popularized weight training and inaugurated a golden age of American weightlifting. Muscletown USA ―part biography, part business history, and part sports history―chronicles how Hoffman made York the mecca of manly culture for millions of followers worldwide. Hoffman created his so-called muscle empire out of an oil-burner business that he started in the early 1920s. Within a decade, his passion for sport exceeded his need to produce oil burners and by the outset of the Depression he began manufacturing barbells at the factory. He soon discovered a willing public of aspiring weightlifters like himself who would buy not only barbells but also health and fitness products. Hoffman soon recruited a remarkable group of athletes, whom he tagged his "York Gang." He gave these men jobs in the factory, where they trained for national and international meets. Gradually, Hoffman emerged as one of the most prominent muscle peddlers in America, using his fame and fortune to promote competitive weightlifting, bodybuilding, and powerlifting. Muscletown USA reveals other innovations in which Hoffman played a major role, including weight training for athletes, health foods, bottled spring water, isometrics, and women's weightlifting. Even anabolic steroids, first used by weightlifters in the early 1960s, were a direct outgrowth of the fitness culture spawned by Hoffman. Meticulously researched and engagingly written, Fair's book will appeal to a wide range of readers, including anyone fascinated by American sports history and the iron game.

Genres: Nonfiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1999

Reviews

[Migs Fiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an achievement this book is! It is extensively researched and easy to read. I read this book 24 years after it got published, but I still think it's an important book for fans of the iron sports.

Bob Hoffman was a likable narcissist, who gave a lot to weightlifting. Despite how ridiculous he could get at times, he is still a source of inspiration, given the height of his achievements and contributions.

I started reading this book because I am actually a bodybuilding fan, which Bob abhorred, and now I know a little more about how the two sports collided back in the mid-20th century. It was surprising to know how much drama and corruption went into the history of Olympic weightlifting, bodybuilding, and powerlifting, which are supposed to be very simple sports.

The only thing I do not like about the book: John D. Fair seems to be one of those old-fashioned writers who tries to avoid discussing homosexuality, or even saying the words gay and homosexuality whenever he could. He's usually conscientious with details and different angles to a particular anecdote, but he did a lot of erasure when it came to the athletes' sexualities.

You may think this is irrelevant, but history and biographical books on the iron sports are incomplete without a discussion of homosexuality, given that it is a significant part of the athletes' lives and careers. The author openly discussed racism and he was even transparent with the things (money, books, equipment) that York members stole, but he erased homosexuality as if it would tarnish the men's reputations even more than theft, recreational drug use, and wife swapping, which the athletes also practiced. Also consider the tactful wording in this sentence from page 297:

"Stories circulated about York lifters engaging in sex with eleven-year-old girls, acts of sodomy with teenage boys, and picture parties with baby-sitters."

I usually dislike it when angry feminists nitpick books that were written by and for men, but these "acts of sodomy" are really just sex, Mr. John D. Fair. The athletes engaged in homosexuality. You also mentioned Chris Dickerson a lot in the book, and even said something about him and Diane Chapman being a "fitness couple" for a magazine cover, but there's nothing in the book about Chris actually being gay? If you can say something about him (and other athletes) being black, then I don't see why you can't say anything about him being gay.

The author also withheld the athletes' names when discussing some sexual debaucheries. It was odd for Mr. Fair to do this, because like I said he was usually open with the details. But! This book is still an important read. It is also worth noting that he co-wrote another muscle book with David L. Chapman, an openly queer writer.

[Oliver Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tremendous biography that doubles as a splendid history of weightlifting in America. Strength training dilettante and megalomaniac (and Pittsburgh native! and World War I hero!) Bob Hoffman is one of those astonishing "only in America" characters. And Fair, who has a solid background in competitive weightlifting, does an excellent job of telling his story. Highly recommended.

[Pat Dugan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was raised by a father that was a product of Bob Hoffman's weight training programs and the York Barbell Club. In memory of my dad, Charles D. Dugan, I decided to read this book for Father's Day. I loved my Dad and I loved being raised in the York Barbell Club Culture.