Muscle Builder, Vol 9, No 9, Page 32, April, 1968
Most often I start writing contest reports on my way home from them. This time things were different. Joe had asked me to not only watch the contest, but to act as one of the judges. Oridnarily that's no hassle but I would be the only judge on a panel of ten who was from the west coast. I got the feeling that all eyes would be on me when it came to voting for the contestants who entered from the Muscle Beach area. It was like being under a microscope. I didn't want to vote for certain men because they were my friends. At the same time, I didn't want to vote against anyone for the same reason. Even up to the day of the contest I tried to pull up the stakes of my tent and silently steal away. The gears were already meshed, however, so I had to accept my fate. As I winged my way to New York I wondered how I could write about my friends winning or losing, much less judging them.
Before I go any further let me say that this account of the contest is just one man's opinion. I hope that my thoughts come out on papter just the way I have them stored in my head. The most important thing to remember is that the judging was an honest representation of the opinions of the judges who held them. Sure, emotions for or against someone can unconsciously sway opinons but I had the feeling when I met them, that this was a group of men too dedicated to the sport of bodybuilding to taint any decision with personal feelings. We were all there to judge the physiques of the contestants and nothing more.
When we arrived at the Brooklyn Academy of Music it was still early in the afternoon. One of the greatest things to see is the enthusiasm of the fans in the East. Already a crowd had gathered in front of the hall and at the stage door. They were waiting to catch a glimpse of the stars as they arrived for the pre-judging. Everywhere I went people ran up asking for autographs. Not mine, but Elliott's who had come to the show with me. You can spot that shiny dome and waxed spikes he wears on his upper lib a mile away.
At last we were seated on the stage. The lighting was flat and cold as one by one the contestants filed out in front of use to be judged by height division. The first group was the short class of the Mr. America contest. I won't attempt to give you all the contestants who competed, for that would take up too much space. Right away it was apparent that it would be a two-way contest between Joe Nista and Rock Stonewall. Joe Nista, our current Mr. Western America, had trained harder than he ever had for this contest -- and it showed. He was a razor blade's dream. But it was Rock Stonewall who seemed to be the "class" of the division. He not only had definition but the size and shape to go with it. Another thing which is often overlooked is muscle balance. He seemed perfectly proportioned. His upper body seemed to match his legs. He was blanced from top to bottom. A Harmonious blend of quanity and quality that made him the unanimous choice of the short man's class.
The next class was the medium height. Again some men just stuck out like sore biceps. This time it was Zabo Koszewski and Frank Zane. Zabo looked incredible. There he stood with 45-year-old muscle hanging on his bones and looking more muscular and fit than men who weren't even boren when he had already started training. Mouths drop open when you see the guy. It's almost unbelievable. As for Zane I can run out of adjectives. He has undoubtedly the best of everything. He is one of that handful of men who can truly be considered a Mr. America in every sense of the word. At this point you whished that there wasn't a tall man's class. After all the choice was hard wnough as it was. But sure enough there was a tall man's class and after I saw Don Howorth I knew who Mr. America had to be. One of the judges leaned across to me and said that Howorth looked better than he had ever seen him look before and that he was literally amzing. This made me feel good because I didn't want to be accused of favoritism.
The judges adjourned to the side of the stage to ballot. To my suprise the voting favored Rock Stonewall as the winner. Rock is excellent but I felth that Howorth was better. Then the arguments started. We all gave out reasons for our picks. It was stimulating to hear the opinions, as diverse as they may have been. Here were some of the leading bodybuilders and bodybuilding authorities of our time discussing the pros and cons of what they had seen. It was likel being allowed to observe a session of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As it turned out everyone stuck to their guns and going into the show that night -- if things remained as they were -- Rock Stonewall would be the new Mr. America.
At promptly 8:00 the National Anthem was played and the "greatest show on earth" -- bar none -- began. After Ben Weider gave his welcome to the standing-room-only house, we wee treated to some rock 'n' roll singing by Rick Wayne. That's right. That heaving mass of muscle also heaves a great song which had him doing encores. Next on the program was Ed Jubinville who spent the next ten minutes providing to everyone why he is considered the greatest muscle controll artiist in the world today. Some of his controls are unbelievable. I like ot think that I know something about anatomy but I saw Jubinville more muscles that just aren't there. he should be captured and placed somewhere so that science can study this phenomenon.
Other acts came and went but we were all waiting for the Mr. America contest. At last the stage darkened as the murmur of excitement plassed through the crowd. The music begain to play as the contestants look their place one by one upon the lighted dias. For sheer excitement, nothing beats the feeling generated by a New York audience. They just about climb on the posing platform. I was backstage at the time, organizing the coming arms wrestlying event when a loud roar was heard. I ran to thw wings to see what had happened. It was Zabo Koszewski that happened. He brought down the house with the first ovation of the night. I went back to the arm wrestling when once again the frenzied screaming of the fans brought me to the side for a look. The yelling wouldn't stop. Then I saw why. Howorth was standing on the dias. Just standing. He hadn't even done a single pose. They just kep cheering. It reminded me of the ovations given to Larry Scott. Finally a surprised Don Howorth waved his thanks to the fans. Only then did he start to pose. It was a moment I won't soon forget. It weemed such a short time ago that I saw Don walking down the hall after losing to Chet Yorton, the previous year. He was the picture of a man alone. But Don had the stuff that champions are made of. For a solid year he dedicated everything he had to sinning the coveted Mr. America crown. how the question was would he?
As soon as the last man had posed, the judges went under the stage for a conference on what they had just seen -- which had been plenty. Once again we balloted. This time the voteing turned to Howorth who was selected the winner. Stonewall won his class and the Most Muscular award; Zane won his class - but Howorth won the overall title. he also took the "Best Arms" trophy; Stonewall got "Best Back"; Zane "Best Legs"; and IFBB newcomer Mike Katz, "Best Chest"; and Zabo "Best Abs" - of course. And so another Mr. America event had passed and Don Woworth held firm to the title.
The first half of the show came to a dramatic close with the posing routine of the incomparable Jack Delinger. That would have been enough show for anyone but this was the greatest muscle show on earth and the best was yet to come. If the audience could last that long. You'll find out about it next month -- in Muscle Builder!
- THE WINNER Dazed by his win - IFBB 1967 MR. AMERICA Don Howorth. It was clear to everyone that the title would be his. IFBB Chief Joe Weider calls his attention to the beautiful torphy - nearly 6' tall.
- CLASS WINNERS Howorth had to first win his height class (Tall) in the MR. AMERICA contest before becoming eligible for the overall win. His closest rivals were Rock Stonewall, left (Short Class winner) and Frank Zane
- 2ND PLACE WINNERS The No. 2 men in the MR. AMERICA linup were, left to right, Zabo Koszewski (Medium Class); Ken McCOrd (Tall Class); and Joe Nista, Jr. (Short Class). This was McCord's first IFBB contest...
- BODYPART WINNERS MR. AMERICA Best Bodypart awards went to, left to right: Rock Stonewall (Best Back, also Most Muscular); Michael Katz (Best Chest); Don Howorth (Best Arms); and Frank Zane (Best Legs). Missing is Zabo Koszewski, who won Best Abs.
- MISS AMERICANA WINNERS 1967 IFBB MISS AMERICANA - the lovely Christine Harris. Johnnie Lee of California won her height class and placed 2nd, and Janis Eshleman of Maryland was 3rd, Christine is from Florida - and just recently married Frank Zane.
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