Muscular Development, Vol 7, No 12, Page 8, December 1970

MR. WORLD - Amateur - Professional

Now THAT THE MR. WORLD competition is over, no doubt some of the contestants are wondering why they didn't win or placed higher than they did, as they usually do. However, as in any competition, someone has to win, and someone has to lose... that's the name of the game!

Of course competition in the Mr. World contest turned out to be better than was expected, particularly in the professional division. Physique entries, however, were limited in order to get men of high physical caliber. . . which they did, so competition was excellent among all the competitors.

This was the first time since 1952 that a Mr. World physique contest was held in this country, although this was the first time that such a contest for amateurs and professionals was held simultaneously. . . and both were decided in two separate height classes. All in all this contest proved to be highly successful, so much so that the Columbus committeemen are now considering holding this event annually! If they do there is no doubt that it will blossom out into something big within the next couple of years. Because, the prizes they presented to the winners and runners-up were fabulous and that alone should stimulate great interest.

It was obvious that a lot of people were interested. The venue, the Veteran's Memorial Hall, was packed to capacity-about 5,000 people. That's more than any other contest can draw. Of course the super-heavies also lifted that afternoon, and the pro-contest was to take place right after. However, since several contestants were flying from London, they were late. . . even though they had a special jet waiting for them in New York to fly them directly to Columbus. This delay caused the contest to be moved up to 9:PM instead of five as originally planned, yet most of the people who were at the afternoon session also came back that evening to see the professionals in action, and no one was disappointed either. All those having tickets for the afternoon performance could use the same tickets that night, so the postponement was not a gimmick to charge another admission. . . just circumstances.

The stage setting for the amateurs was excellent. As these men came out and lined up for the audience, they looked impressive under the subdued light. Later each man posed individually under better lights, although there still seemed to be a little too much light for some of the posers.

I was asked to arrange the lights but since I did not arrive until Friday the men from the ABC TV Wide World of Sports arranged it, although I checked it out. I couldn't find a physique man to pose for me, but Fraysher Ferguson obliged. Under the circumstances, and especially the ABC cameramen told me they can get pictures under these conditions, I make no changes. During the actual posing, however, I noticed whiter, hotter lights. . . then learned that Tinerino, interested in TV coverage removed the amber film from two of the spots, and this added light intensity flattened out some of the contestants even more. Yet in spite of this added light the TV cameramen found they did not get satisfactory pictures of the amateurs. The director then told some of us that the next day "he would flood them out!" He wasn't kidding either. The lighting for the professionals was absolutely nothing, and the worse that could be had. . . but no one objected too strongly.

Usually I enjoy a back seat during a good posing display. I find this a vantage point where the whole setting can be observed without missing a thing, but only when the lights are properly arranged. Under such conditions the contestants actually look better from this distance than they really are. But this time the rear seat view was nothing to brag about. Not only were the competitors overflooded with light, but there were lights glaring from the stage and sides into the audience that hindered one's view. Those who had sunglasses handy, used them to cut down on the glare in order to obtain a better view of posing contestants. This was done so TV cameramen could get some physique pictures. They got physique pictures all right, and those they did get looked better on TV than what we saw upon the stage that night. Still, as long as the contestants didn't gripe, since they were the ones who were placed at a disadvantage, then no one else should.

The Amateur Contest

In the amateur contest, Ken Waller, who was runner-up in the Mr. America competition, proved himself to be the top man. Those who saw him in Los Angeles said he looked better in Columbus than he did in California. Ken won his height division, with Gene Massey of Florida second, and Kent Kuehn of Michigan third. This man Kuehn looked remarkable. He stayed out of competition for a couple years and now appears greatly improved, so increases his chances in future contests.

In the short man's category, it was Curt Haywood of Pataskala, Ohio who took top honors, with Anibal Lopez of New York second, and Jim Handley of York third. No listing of the overall winners was given other than Ken Waller taking the amateur Mr. World title and presented a very huge trophy plus an electric wristwatch at ,the banquet for his victory.

Professional Event

At approximately 9:PM the professionals lined up on stage as did the amateurs the night before, but this time the stage was flooded with lights. At first some of the spectators demanded that some of the lights be lowered, but MC Bosland explained that since the TV cameramen got nothing the night before, they wanted to get some of the professionals posing. He also explained, that since these men were exceptional they didn't need lights to appear outstanding, and because they wanted to appear on TV, none objected to this light nuisance.

After the line-up, the short man's class appeared individually and posed for the audience. It was obvious that the audience enjoyed it even if they were partially blinded by the glaring lights. They applauded everyone, and almost every pose. They were a good audience, one of the best, with good sporting spirit. And when it was all over, it was the Austrian, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who beat out Sergio Oliva by a small margin, while Dave Draper finished third.

In the professional short man's class it was Herculean Franco Colombo who took first, Boyer Coe a close second, and Ladislaz Szalal of Hungary third. The overall winner in the professional contest was, of course, Schwarzenegger. The decision was accepted without any boos. And though some of the contestants looked disappointed, each accepted the decision rather gracefully. After the contest the TV cameramen photographed and interviewed both of the top winners. Some of these have already been on ABC television, and those who have seen it said it looked great. Others will appear later on.

In conclusion much credit must be given to Columbus and the committeemen headed by Jim Lorimer. Jim set up committees and delegated certain jobs for each. As a result the whole lifting contest and the physique competition ran off smoothly and promptly. To men such as Fraysher Ferguson and Dana Helmick, who sat at the head table at the banquet, they also deserve bouquets for working as hard as they did, and to see that things ran so smoothly. In fact most of the foreigners agreed that this was one of the best championships they had attended. Everything was just perfect and timed to perfection. . . so the men of Columbus have outdone themselves. And those who took the time to attend, will never forget the World W/L Championships and Mr. World contest of 1970!

PHOTO CAPTIONS

- Winners of Mr. World in the short and tall man's classes. On left is Anibal Lopez who placed second in the short man's category. Center: Curt Haywood, Mr. World, in the class up to 5 ft. 8 in. and under. And Ken Waller, Mr. World winner in the 5 ft. 8¼" and over division. The Mr. World contest was well organized.

- Winners in the tall man's divisions. Left to right: Kent Keuhn third, Gene Massey second, and Ken Waller Mr. World. Ken looked improved over his appearance in Los Angeles last June; bigger and more muscular.

- Winner of the short man's category was Curt Haywood (on left), and Jim Handley center who placed second. Bob Holden (right) competed in the tall man's division and shows good form in this fine pose. Pose on far right is of Rolando Pintoy, a former Mr. Philippines.

- Top professional winners. On left is Sergio Oliva who took second to Arnold Schwarzenegger who won the title in the tall man's class. On right is Franco Columbu, the man who won the short man's title.

- Winners in the tall man's division, left to right: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. World, Sergio Olvia second, and Dave Draper third. Contest was one of the best ever sponsored. Spectators applauded almost every pose!

- Far left: Dennis Tinerino displays his shapely physique in this excellent pose. Above: Franco Columbu took the short man's title, with Boyer Coe (center) placing second, and Ladislza Szalal of Hungary who took third.

- Jerome Currin, Indianapolis, Ind.

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