- Muscle Beach
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For the short documentary film, see Muscle Beach (film).
Muscle Beach, Venice
Muscle Beach refers to either Muscle Beach Venice, an area in Venice, California, on Ocean Front Walk two blocks north of Venice Boulevard or to Original Muscle Beach, two miles north of Venice, south of the Santa Monica Pier. These are named due the presence, at one time or another, of bodybuilding equipment at those places.
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Original Muscle Beach
Original Muscle Beach signFrom the 1930s till the present the original Muscle Beach is located (34°00′30″N 118°29′41″W / 34.0084425°N 118.494603°W) in Santa Monica immediately south of the Santa Monica Pier. Popular gymnastic and acrobatic exhibitions were routinely held there on city-provided equipment.
The site of Muscle Beach Venice has inherited the modern fame and attention that was initially generated by the original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, as the tumbling platform from this earlier facility had been removed by the City of Santa Monica due to difficulties in the day-to-day maintenance and supervision of the original Muscle Beach site in 1959. Yet the original regulars of Muscle Beach in Santa Monica continued to congregate at the world-famous setting with an emphasis on gymnastics events, acrobatics and adagio training and performances.
In 1989, the City of Santa Monica officially rededicated the original Muscle Beach and today it serves gymnasts, acrobats and youth with an extensive gymnastics training area. Meanwhile, the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department has continued the primary barbell, weightlifting and bodybuilding aspects and events of the original Muscle Beach fame at the Venice weight pen. In 1987, the City of Los Angeles officially dedicated "Muscle Beach Venice" with the added word of 'Venice' in the title to distinguish it from the original "Muscle Beach" in Santa Monica.
Muscle Beach Venice
After the closing of the original Muscle Beach, bodybuilding attention shifted south to the somewhat lesser-known Venice Beach Weight Pen, operated by the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department. A small, spartan weight pen was built near Windward in 1952, later replaced by the large current facility (33°59′08″N 118°28′21″W / 33.9854557°N 118.4725901°W) during a complete renovation and Muscle Beach Venice redevelopment effort in 1990, which sports a huge concrete barbell on the roof and bleachers for spectators.
Today it is an open playground with a gated area that encloses weight lifting equipment, the second area is a sand box with gymnastic, rope climbing, and acrobatic bars.
By extension, it refers also to a high concentration of weightlifting and fitness businesses in the area.
Dave Draper, Larry Scott, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Trejo and Crips Co-founder Stanley Tookie Williams used to be regulars, among many famous bodybuilders and actors who have trained there. In fiction, Hulk Hogan appeared training there in an episode of TV show Baywatch.
See also
- Physical culture
- Joe Weider, body builder
- Max Yavno, photographer
External links
Categories:- Beaches of Southern California
- Bodybuilding
- History of Los Angeles, California
- History of Santa Monica, California
- History of Los Angeles County, California
- Landmarks in Los Angeles, California
- Parks in Los Angeles, California
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