Crystal Pier Bodybuilding Photo Shoot

Last Sunday I had a photo shoot at Crystal Pier. It was a bit overcast and cloudy, which wouldn't seem like an ideal situation to take photos, but in truth, it worked out just fine.



Since it was early, Pacific Beach was pretty quiet with most of the people I saw either surfing or getting coffee and breakfast at Kono's, the local hot spot.



My subject was bodybuilder David Anthony Tassin, who just the night before had earned the NPC National Physique Athlete Runner-up in the Los Angeles Championships Physique Tall Class. Here he is prepping for his photos. He looked pretty ripped even before the pushups.



The back of a champion.



I don't think I've ever had a waist that small.



I had to laugh a little when he said he was going to do some sit-ups to make his abs stand out. Wow.



Doing his show routine:



His idea of shooting under the pier worked out well; really love this shot.



Elsewhere in PB, you can see what Crystal Pier looked like back in the day with this hand painted mural:



Pulling back, here's the entire mural:



Just down the street, you can also find John Lennon advertising Five Guys restaurant. Wouldn't Four Guys have been more appropriate?



Tonight, David competes in Las Vegas to hopefully get his pro-card at the USA Championships. I can't imagine him not succeeding.

See more Daveland photos at my main website.

Furor over Fury

This vintage color image is of a bodybuilding contest in Southern California (I believe it might be Long Beach). I don't know the date, don't know the specific contest (am guessing it is Mr. Muscle Beach), but I DO know that the bodybuilder second from right is Ed Fury, one of the many musclemen who eventually went to Italy to make sword and sandal films. 1947's Mr. America, Steve Reeves, was the first to do so with "Hercules." For the Mr. Muscle Beach contests, Fury won third place in 1951 and achieved second place in 1953, but based on photos I've seen of those two contests, this shot appears to be from another year.



This is another photo from the same contest (Fury doesn't appear to be in the frame) with some of the other competitors waiting to go on stage.



Fury is also known as a model for famous photographer Bob Mizer, who shot semi-clad men for physique culture magazines such as "Physique Pictorial." Fury also worked with the Athletic Model Guild and photographer Bruce of LA.



After the release of "Ursus in the Land of Fire (1963)," Fury's film career fizzled as the sword and sandal films fell from favor. He became a semi-frequent bit player on television, acting in episodes of "Fantasy Island," "Cannon," "Medical Center," "Columbo,", "Barnaby Jones," and "The Odd Couple."



His most recent film was the 1996 semi-cult classic, "Dinosaur Valley Girls." Starring Oscar nominee Karen Black and Emmy Award winner William ("Blacula") Marshall, you can be sure it is a classic for the ages.

See more vintage Ed Fury photos on my Movie Star/Celebrity web page.