Glenn Sundby Venice, California "Muscle Beach" Hall of Fame Induction of Glenn M. Sundby 29 May, 2006, 2006a
Ode to Muscle Beach
Just a speck on the sands of history, a little flower born in the years of the depression,
that blossomed for a brief time.
It played a part in many a life, both great and small. But like a soldier in battle was
cut down before its time.
We can remember well this Camelot of our youth, the joy of innocence past that
molded many a life.
They came from across the nation and worldly places, from '34 to '59 to see and
partake of this oasis,
To an acre of sand on the ocean Pacific, and to their life a memory terrific.
There was Pudgy, Les & Bruce with balance & grace . . . the every ready Moe to build a pyramid base . . . super Reha & brother Paul . . . Johnny Collins, Kornoff, Robinson & Cook . . . of Starkey, Jimmy & Kay, you took a good look . . . Bros. Ratner & Ferrar were up to par . . . with Tesloff & Taylor adagio on ice . . . Louie & Carol Lee also did nice . . . Eddie & Justus, a balance delight . . . the Fergis family 5 did it all right . . . Thompson & Hill flipped and twisted like monkeys in a tree . . . and Wayne, Whitey & Dolores were three . . . Howie & Lyle were also there . . . and Babe & Lucille were a juggling pair . . . sisters Roselie & Paula & Betsey & Kitty were tossed around . . . and the Saunders Russ, Ray & Audry were upward bound . . . there was Zinkin the strong with little DeWayne . . . and who can forget Marcy & Jack LaLanne . . . bodybuilding brothers Armand & Vic, plus Eiferman & Reeves on hand with a flair . . . with Waterfield & Russel it was a beautiful pair . . . Wally & Dodie were part of the gang . . . as were Pattys Taylor, O'Keefe, McCormick & Tanny . . . with Betty & Evelyn named Smith as strong as could be . . . and Renald & Rudy, Marco's & the Glenn's were something to see . . . Walt the baker was great on the bars . . . and Janos the Chimp was one of the stars . . . Little Lynwood, Bill & Billy, the Knox Trio-two boys & a girl-the Hardys-Chuck & daughters 3-a great show and all for free . . . we can't forget Franke, Rex, Larry, Al, Jack, Bob, Vince, Vern, Freddie, Don, Gil who were all a part . . . and Hollingsworth and Timmy who were there from the start . . . and the Baron gave out the awards to the beauties on hand and Beverly, Mim, Barbara and McCulla were far from bland . . . there was Barney and Cecil with eye to the camera and so many more we can't remember . . . the Hollywood actors, the Circus greats, Vaudeville pros all took part in the tumbling, tossing and balancing to develop new skills . . . from lads to seniors it was always a big thrill . . . the moms and dads along with the friends that sat with the cheering crowds all were a part, especially Mrs. Williams, bless her big heart.
A happy handstand, a flip in the air, a swing on the rings, a fly over the bars . . . the beauty and brawn . . . the memory will always be ours.
In time the sea may wash it all away, for nothing is ever here to stay;
But to lives that were changed as for new goals they did reach,
"There will always be a Muscle Beach."
From Muscle Beach Alumni Association Newletter (MBAA Newsletter), no. 1, v. 1
Ode to Muscle Beach (Including more of the names, thanks to Larry Mace, 2006)
Just a speck on the sands of history, a little flower born in the years of the depression,
that blossomed for a brief time.
It played a part in many a life, both great and small. But like a soldier in battle was
cut down before its time.
We can remember well this Camelot of our youth, the joy of innocence past that
molded many a life.
They came from across the nation and worldly places, from '34 to '59 to see and
partake of this oasis,
To an acre of sand on the ocean Pacific, and to their life a memory terrific.
There was Pudgy (Stockton), Les (Stockton) & Bruce (Conner) with balance & grace . . . the every ready Moe (Most) to build a pyramid base . . . super Reha & brother Paul . . . Johnny Collins, Kornoff, (Johnny) Robinson & (Johnny) Cook . . . of Starkey, Jimmy (Starkey) & Kay (Starkey), you took a good look . . . Bros. (Eliot, Irving) Ratner & Ferrar were up to par . . . with Tesloff & Taylor adagio on ice . . . Louie & Carol Lee also did nice . . . Eddie (Motter) & Justus (Motter), a balance delight . . . the Fergis family 5 (Father: Ron, Mother: Alice, Son: Daryl, Daughter: Carol) did it all right . . . Thompson & Hill flipped and twisted like monkeys in a tree . . . and Wayne (Long), Whitey ( Glen Sundby) & Dolores (Sundby) were three . . . Howie & Lyle were also there . . . and Babe (Westerlund) & Lucille (Westerlund) were a juggling pair . . . sisters Roselie (Boelsems) & Paula (Boelsems) & Betsey (Boelsems) & Kitty (Boelsems) were tossed around . . . and the Saunders Russ (Saunders), Ray (Saunders) & Audry (Saunders) were upward bound . . . there was (Harold) Zinkin the strong with little DeWayne (Zinkin) . . . and who can forget Marcy (LaLanne) & Jack LaLanne . . . bodybuilding brothers Armand (Tanny) & Vic (Tanny), plus (George) Eiferman & (Steve) Reeves on hand with a flair . . . with Waterfield & Russel it was a beautiful pair . . . Wally & Dodie were part of the gang . . . as were Pattys (Patty)Taylor, (Patty) O'Keefe, (Patty) McCormick & (Patty) Tanny . . . with Betty (Smith) & Evelyn (Smith) named Smith as strong as could be . . . and Renald & Rudy, Marco's & the Glenn's were something to see . . . Walt the baker was great on the bars . . . and Janos the Chimp was one of the stars . . . Little Lynwood, Bill & Billy, the Knox Trio-two boys & a girl-the Hardys-Chuck (Hardy) & daughters 3-a great show and all for free . . . we can't forget Franke Vincent), Rex (Waggoner), Larry (Mace), (Stan Turner) Al, Jack, Bob (Gordon), Vince (Bonofelio), Vern, Freddie (Kimble), Don, Gil who were all a part . . . and Hollingsworth and Timmy who were there from the start . . . and the Baron (Leone) gave out the awards to the beauties on hand and Beverly (Jochner), Mim (Sharlock), Barbara and McCulla were far from bland . . . there was Barney (Fry) and Cecil with eye to the camera and so many more we can't remember . . . the Hollywood actors, the Circus greats, Vaudeville pros all took part in the tumbling, tossing and balancing to develop new skills . . . from lads to seniors it was always a big thrill . . . the moms and dads along with the friends that sat with the cheering crowds all were a part, especially Mrs. Williams, bless her big heart.
A happy handstand, a flip in the air, a swing on the rings, a fly over the bars . . . the beauty and brawn . . . the memory will always be ours.
In time the sea may wash it all away, for nothing is ever here to stay;
But to lives that were changed as for new goals they did reach,
"There will always be a Muscle Beach."