Valley Oak
12-18-2008, 11:29 PM
When I was 15 (circa 1976) I went with my mom to see the promotion of a movie, 'Pumping Iron' in Mill Valley, California (where there are many valley oaks by the way, or at least used to be). The promotion was being spearheaded by the speaker of this local event, Arnold Schwarzenegger, because the movie (which later became what is called a 'sleeper') had a lackluster debut in theaters.
When we entered the room, which was well attended, we searched and found a couple of seats to sit in. The event begins with Schwarzenegger walking in through the same door as everyone else had, all the way to the front to address the audience. He speaks for a while and people asked him questions like what his last name means in German, to which he responds 'black plow puller.' And so on.
Eventually, the film is shown, which I had found very entertaining. After the film, there is more Q & A. Schwarzenegger explains that since his retirement from bodybuilding, he had lost 20 pounds of muscle from lack of training and diet. There is more interaction with the fans and the event ends. Arnold hangs around afterwards schmoozing extensively with the crowd. Everyone wants to speak with him, including my mother and I.
I was an active high school athlete (wrestling, football, weightlifting, etc) and Schwarzenegger was an idol at that time (he no longer is, now that I'm older, have better judgment, and voted against him in the recall and governor's race). And, of course, universal knowledge of his use of steroids was undeniable (this was decades before he got into politics). Now our turn had come and we could both speak with the bodybuilding champion, whose acting career was in its infancy and no one yet knew that he would also be so successful in cinema.
My mother interrupts me in a panic and tells Schwarzenegger that I'm only 15, that I want to take steroids, and to please tell me not to do so! Geeez. So Schwarzenegger humors my mom and tells me how many inches in width his arms were without steroids. Now, I finally get to speak.
I casually and confidently point out to Mr. Schwarzenegger that he had used steroids and asked him why. To my surprise, he hypocritically justifies himself by saying, 'I didn't have any choice. I was number one.'
Interesting. I guess back then he already had exactly what it takes to be a Republican politician.
Edward
When we entered the room, which was well attended, we searched and found a couple of seats to sit in. The event begins with Schwarzenegger walking in through the same door as everyone else had, all the way to the front to address the audience. He speaks for a while and people asked him questions like what his last name means in German, to which he responds 'black plow puller.' And so on.
Eventually, the film is shown, which I had found very entertaining. After the film, there is more Q & A. Schwarzenegger explains that since his retirement from bodybuilding, he had lost 20 pounds of muscle from lack of training and diet. There is more interaction with the fans and the event ends. Arnold hangs around afterwards schmoozing extensively with the crowd. Everyone wants to speak with him, including my mother and I.
I was an active high school athlete (wrestling, football, weightlifting, etc) and Schwarzenegger was an idol at that time (he no longer is, now that I'm older, have better judgment, and voted against him in the recall and governor's race). And, of course, universal knowledge of his use of steroids was undeniable (this was decades before he got into politics). Now our turn had come and we could both speak with the bodybuilding champion, whose acting career was in its infancy and no one yet knew that he would also be so successful in cinema.
My mother interrupts me in a panic and tells Schwarzenegger that I'm only 15, that I want to take steroids, and to please tell me not to do so! Geeez. So Schwarzenegger humors my mom and tells me how many inches in width his arms were without steroids. Now, I finally get to speak.
I casually and confidently point out to Mr. Schwarzenegger that he had used steroids and asked him why. To my surprise, he hypocritically justifies himself by saying, 'I didn't have any choice. I was number one.'
Interesting. I guess back then he already had exactly what it takes to be a Republican politician.
Edward