TheArnoldFans.com: News

RIC DRASIN & ARNOLD RECALL JOE GOLD!
Ric Drasin tells TAFs the REAL JOE!
Reported By: TheARNOLDFANS.com Staff
Wednesday, July 14, 2003

Founder of Gold's Gym, Joe Gold, center, died on Sunday, July 11, 2004, at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 82. Gold, a Los Angeles native, founded his first gym in 1965 in the Venice area but sold the gym in 1970 and returned to the merchant marine, which he had joined after serving in the Navy in World War II.

Before becoming an actor and politician, Schwarzenegger's appearance in the 1977 movie 'Pumping Iron' helped make Gold's Gym a destination for bodybuilders.

Ric Drasin, bodybuilder, wrestler and friend of TheArnoldFans.com, breaks the news of his good friend's passing.

For those of you that don't know the Icon, 'JOE GOLD' originator of the famous Gold' Gym has passed away yesterday. Joe was a good friend of mine and helped Arnold when he first came to this country. There was a group of us who trained and hung out together - from the late 60's, to now, that would get together for gatherings each and every time one of our buddies passed on. Arnold was always there as well, even up to a few months ago. Joe had no family as we were his closest friends and considered us his family.

It's sad to see someone like Joe pass on, as every Gold's gym and World's gym that he developed later on will be his contribution to this country. He put it on the map. Joe had bought tons of beach property in Santa Monica and Venice in the late 1940's for next to nothing. Between all of his real estate and gym franchise he is considered mega millionaire but you would have never known that as he lived just like one of the guys at the beach and very modestly. It is said that he left a good amount to all of his friends in his will.

I did the World's Gym and Gold's Gym logos for Joe way back in the early 70's and he has always treated me so well because of it. Once you were his friend, you were his friend for life. I truly will miss him.

There will be a memorial coming up this next week for Joe and all of us will be there along with our Governor. Also on NBC channel 4 they did a tribute to Joe, and ran a photo of Myself with Mae West from a film I did with her. Joe was one of the original Mae West people on tour long before me.

Schwarzenegger issued a statement on Monday saying he was "deeply saddened" by Gold's death. "Joe was a trusted friend and a father figure and was instrumental in my training during my days as a bodybuilder," Schwarzenegger said. "Gold's Gym was not only a training facility, but it became a home to me.

"In 1968, when I came to America, Gold's Gym was the gym where I first went to work out. Joe looked after me and encouraged me and his dry sense of humor was a daily feature of the gym," he said.

"All of us at Gold's Gym are saddened about the passing of Joe Gold," Gold's Gym International Chief Executive Gene LaMott said in a statement. "He was an icon in the bodybuilding and fitness industry and we will never forget his contributions."

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TheARNOLDFANS.com Staff