The Three Muscleteers

A great read on the history of bodybuilding beginning in the 1970s when Ed Connors became one the owners of Gold's. If the latest Schwarzenegger documentary on Netflix has made you curious about how Gold's Gym became the Mecca of bodybuilding, read this book.

What an entertaining feast of a book by Ed Connors!Gold's Gym began as a small gym for local bodybuilders in Santa Monica, California, and grew into the most famous gym in the world. Bodybuilding and fitness enthusiasts flocked to Gold's Gym along with celebrities and sports figures.Ed Connors, the author of this book and one of the three owners of Gold's Gym from 1979 to 1999, takes us along a unique insider's journey. Ed gives us deep insight into the strategy used to grow Gold's Gym from a single location to 534 locations worldwide. Gold's Gym became a household name.The breadth of Connors's knowledge of his subject matter is astounding, and his ability to recall names, dates, and events is incredible. There is so much history and entertainment in this book that you'll want to read it again and again.Ed played host to and helped launch the careers of hundreds of bodybuilders and wrestlers such as Lee Priest, John Cena, Jay Cutler, Flex Wheeler, Berry DeMey, Jim "The Ultimate Warrior" Hellwig, Mike Matarazzo, Bob Paris, Dennis Wolf, and hundreds more. There are a lot of stories about Ed's houseguests that will keep you entertained.If you’re a bodybuilder, weight lifter, or fitness enthusiast, this is a must-have book. Drop a hint now that you want it for Christmas, or maybe just go ahead and get yourself a copy right now.

The Three Muscleteers was the most comprehensive book I've ever read on the history of fitness and bodybuilding. Mr. Connors creates a clear vision of how Gold's Gym and these three pioneers escalated fitness, bodybuilding and the gym industry to the highest level with their brilliant minds, hard work and passion for our industry. Connors, Kimber & Grymkowski possessed the most important trait in building a business that serves the public...THEY CARED!This book brought me back to a time and a place that I will always hold in my heart...The early Gold's Gym in Venice and an atmosphere that was epic and exciting!I trained there when I visited and stayed with Ed Connors and I was photographed for magazines like Muscle & Fitness and FLEX magazine there.Mr. Ed Connors was the greatest host and his generosity will be remembered forever!Tim Kimber was the hardest worker I know and always gave 100% to every patron of the gym!Big Pete Grymkowski was larger than life with a smile a mile wide that highlighted his personality!This book is a MUST READ for anyone involved in fitness or bodybuilding and also for inquiring minds about the beginning of the greatest moments in our industry.John DeFendisMr. USAFitness Hall of Fame InducteePersonal Training Hall of Fame Inductee

Great walk down memory lane. Ed probably could have written a book four times as long as he’s been there and around for so many years. I enjoyed the stories of all the bb Ed helped along the way but the most beneficial part of the book for me was Ed’s risk taking and vision. He could have played it safe and remained in architecture but he pursued something totally different. Anyone who ever visited Golds in Venice in its hey day when Ed was the owner knows that place was remarkably special and unique and one of those “ there will never be another like it” type things

Have you ever wondered how some people achieve the accomplishments they do in life? It’s apparent that most people can go so much farther when there is help along the way. I would be surprised if you read this book and didn’t realize who the real legend is behind the fitness industry. It was a man who often was behind the scenes in a local gym office, wearing a suit and spending his life investing in people. He found a way to inspire others and help them realize their greatest potential. Oh yeah, and somehow he found a way to catapult the fitness industry into the future and open a “few” gyms along the way. Amazing!Perhaps the next reader could be inspired to do something similar in their own chosen endeavor!

The Three Muscleteers is a book written by my friend, Ed Connors, who along with Pete Grymkowski, and Tim Kimber purchased Gold’s Gym "the Mecca" and turned it into the largest gym chain in the world. Thanks to my friends, the Three Muscleteers, established Golds as an iconic global brand, with approximately 700 clubs in 29 countries around the World. What fascinated me about the book was the hundreds of success stories of his visitors to his home, just blocks away from the “Mecca,” Golds Gym. Visitors he believed were destined for greatness. Fore example, John Cena, The Ultimate Warrior and hundreds of bodybuilders, both male and female were visitors at his home. I was one of the first bodybuilders to stay with Ed. I highly recommend, The Three Muscleteers to anybody who is interested in fitness. Once I started reading the book, I couldn’t put it down. I am giving it a five-star review.

I met Ed in 1993 in Venice at his beachside mansion where he hosted, sponsored, guided the best of the best Bodybuilders, strongmen, powerlifters, and highland games competitors in the world. I was so fortunate to meet and befriend these world class athletes and professional sports figures that were legends in their time, and I became friends with many of them. These experiences were the best times of my life, and it was because of Ed. Along with him I traveled the world to strength events, cultural events, and just plain fun stuff. His friendship and tutelage greatly changed my life in so many positive ways. If that wasn't enough, he moved into my home in Houston when I was very sick and very near to death, and took care of me for 3 years. He saved my life. I can never thank him enough. He is the greatest of men.

Way back in 1965, Joe Gold opened his first gym in Venice, California. Joe and George Pipasik custom-made all of the equipment including the barbells and dumbells which many people say were the best they ever used. Most pieces were made of solid steel and painted black. The gym was only small by today's standards but there weren't many serious bodybuilders around back in those days. In fact, Los Angeles with a massive population of seven million people had only 4 gyms!In 1968 Arnold Schwarzenegger used Gold's Gym to train during his visits to the USA when he was preparing for the Mr Olympia contest. During this period bodybuilding was rising to infamous fame and fortune, especially in 1977, when the best-selling film Pumping Iron was photographed at Gold's itself.After the film came out Gold's became the Mecca for hardcore bodybuilders and it soon became the most famous gym in the world. Everyone around the world wanted to train at Gold's Gym!Two years before this former Mr World Pete Grymkowski and his training partner Tim Kimber got word that Gold's was up for sale. Pete wasted no time in calling Ed Connors an Architecture who lived in LA. Ed had really helped Pete out during his training preparations for the Mr World contest.With no knowledge of the gym business whatsoever, Ed said that he did not hesitate and told Pete that he was 'in'. Ed, Pete and another investor Denny Doyle scraped up $50,000 between them and then took out a bank loan for another $50,000 and bought the gym outright.Later on, Tim replaced Denny and became the third investor.In Ed's own words, "We really struggled during those first few years, but then things started to improve in a big way." First, they moved to a larger building which overlooked the entrance to the Santa Monica shopping mall. But it was only when they moved back to Venice and into Hampton Drive, that the real Mecca was born. Three huge rooms consisting of every piece of training equipment that you could possibly think of.And it wasn't only hardcore bodybuilders who trained at Gold's Gym. Top-class WWE wrestlers could be seen working next to movie stars and TV personalities as well as world-class footballers and baseball champs. You name it. They were there.Joe Weider used Gold's Gym almost exclusively for the photos that graced the pages of his magazines.The Three Muscleteers is a true account of one of the most historic and successful periods in bodybuilding. It is also a jolly good read.

This book brings back so many wonderful memories of the Golden era of bodybuilding. Such an easy read with many interesting stories of familiar names and stars of the screen and bodybuilding. Ed shares so many tales of business deals, the ups and downs of the fitness industry and business in general.The birth of the fitness industry worldwide as we know it commenced with the Mecca - GOLDS gym in California and it's array of characters. The growth of the Gold's Gym franchise definitely paved the way for the current players worldwide. The fitness and wellness industry owes Ed and his business partners a BIG thank you. Anyone interested in fitness or bodybuilding should grab a copy.

I am sorry, but I fail to see how this book is getting so many glowing 5 star reviews. As a 40 odd year veteran of the iron game I have always had an interest in all stories and stars that emanated from the original Gold’s Gym. Thinking a book from one of owners the famous gym would surely worth reading I purchased a copy with high hopes of the real inside story. What I got was a very dull account of running the gym and by this I mean how many square feet, what type of lighting…..zzzzz Yes, he had quite few house guest as he calls them, but if you are looking for some insights to these characters then look elsewhere. The books lists so many of them and is such scant detail that you get the feeling Ed Connors doesn’t want to offend anyone. This and the constant telling the reader than he is an architect only adds to the sense of disappointment in this book. My advice is seek out the interviews with Connors on a well know video hoisting site. They are much more interesting and more importantly they are free to view.

Ed Connors provides a fantastic history of the legendary Gold's Gym from it's start at a single location to a global fitness powerhouse.Connors gives the reader an in depth but easy to understand history and analysis of the fitness industry from its beginnings to present day.Pure joy from cover to cover!

Fans of bodybuilding have to get this book for the inside scoop on how the culture came to be and the crazy stories from the Golden Era.