[PW] 19th century bodybuilder?

[Dennis Lien]

At 02:05 PM 1/28/2007, you wrote:
>Hi,
>
>    I am trying to write an article on a strange character named Leonide
>Keating, who was born in England around 1855 and came to the US ten years 
>later. In
>1900, he was living in Niles, Michigan, but he also worked in Chicago.
>
>   He wrote an odd book in 1901, called 'Man In the Infinite Universe,' which
>was rather "far out", but also contained an illustrated section on his method
>of body building ("think rigid") - he looked like the Arnold S. of his time,
>and did quite well financially. At one point (ca 1905), he owned a large
>country farm with a "40-ton icehouse."
>
>   Can anyone recommend a good book on the history of US body building, which
>hopefully might mention him? I don't know when he died...
>
>Much thanks!
>
>Allen


I'd take a look at biographies of Bernarr MacFadden, who popularized the
whole thing by publishing a bunch of "physical culture" magazines in the
US during that period.  Here's a couple of recent studies:

Author          Ernst, Robert, 1915-
Title           Weakness is a crime : the life of Bernarr Macfadden / 
Robert Ernst.
Edition         1st ed.
Published       Syracuse, NY : Syracuse University Press, c1991.
Description     xiv, 278 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
Availability    TC Wilson Library GV333.M3 E76 1991 Regular Loan

Note    Includes bibliographical references and index.
Subject LC   Macfadden, Bernarr, 1868-1955,
Subject LC   Physical fitness -- United States.


Author           Hunt, William R.
Title           Body love : the amazing career of Bernarr Macfadden / 
William R. Hunt.
Published       Bowling Green, Ohio : Bowling Green State University 
Popular Press, c1989.
Description     223 p. : ill., facsims., ports. ; 24 cm.
Availability    TC Wilson Library GV333.M3 H84x 1989 Regular Loan

Note    Includes index.
Note    Bibliography: p. 213-218.
Subject LC      Macfadden, Bernarr, 1868-1955,
Subject LC      Physical education and training -- Biography.
         Naturopaths -- Biography.


Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // d-lien at umn.edu