The Early Days of Fitness Gyms in California


There are fitness gyms all over the United States these days, but it did not always used to be that way. Believe it or not, there was a time when the number of gyms in the United States was fairly limited. In fact, the bulk of the gyms were present in one area: Southern California. In fact, the fitness gyms in California were the origination point of the sport of bodybuilding which yielded the expansive fitness gym business that exists today. This is why when you visit any gym in any part of the United States (or the world for that matter) you will see classic photographs from 30 or 40 years ago providing a snapshot in time image of Venice Beach and fitness gyms in California.

The Most Famous of all Fitness Gyms in California

Probably the most famous of all the fitness gyms in California was (is) Golds Gym. The gym was the brainchild of Joe Gold and he opened the doors to the gym in 1965. Within a short period of time, Golds gym began to attract a significant number of individuals to its premises to train for and compete in the (then) misunderstood professional sport of bodybuilding. The talent that was attracted to Golds Gym easily eclipsed the other fitness gyms in California. Although Joe Gold ended up selling the gym and the rights to the name in 1970, the gym continued to be successful and eventually became a franchise. While it was considered a hardcore gym in the early days, it now holds the status of a mainstream gym accessible to people of all ages and walks of life. The popularity of the gym is so expansive that there are several hundred Golds Gyms located all over the world.

The Special Aspect of Fitness Gyms in California

Because Golds Gym embodies a certain mythic quality, the fitness gyms 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 erroneous notion that the images reflected in photographs from this time period are indicative of a simpler and more innocent time in American history. While that clich 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 fitness gyms in California became overly commercialized, there was the lone Golds Gym, a harbinger of a new industry to come.