Friedrich Wilhelm Müller aka Eugene Sandow, was born on 2 April 1867 in Prussia. Although his parents were of Jewish origin, they became Lutherans and wanted Eugene to become a Lutheran minister. However, Eugene became interested in bodybuilding at a very young age and in 1885, he left Prussia to avoid military service, after which he started to travel around Europe with a circus, performing as an athlete under the stage name of Eugene Sandow.
By the late 1880s, he was training with strongman Ludwig Durlacher aka Professor Attila and soon started competing and winning awards and fame.
By 1894, Eugene had become so famous that he featured in a short film by the Edison Studios, doing his characteristic poses flexing his muscles. In 1901 Eugene organised the world's first major body building competition at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The judging panel was form by himself, author Arthur Conan Doyle and sculptor Charles Lawes-Wittewronge.
Eugene travelled extensively around the wold giving exhibitions of strength and lectures on physical exercise and diet. He eventually settled down in England where he married Blanche Brookes in 1896 and opened several Institutes of Physical Culture, where he taught methods of exercise, dietary habits and weight training. His ideas on physical fitness were revolutionary at the time and became very influential. In 1898 he also started his own specialist magazine called Sandow's Magazine of Physical Culture and over time wrote several books.
From 1909 he trained aspirant recruits to the British Territorial Army and during the First World War volunteers for active service.
Eugene died on 14 October 1925 of a brain haemorrhage aged 58. It is believed that it was caused by straining himself after lifting a car out of a ditch after a road accident. Eugene Sandow is considered the father of modern bodybuilding.
Found in 7 Collections and/or Records: Films, 1894 - 1896Series
Reference code: 178D12
Scope and ContentsNitrate films made by Robert Paul and Birt Acres, showing brief scenes of topical events, popular entertainmet, family groups and fiction. These films were part of the repertoire travelled by showman George Williams around the British fairs.
Dates: 1894 - 1896
George Williams CollectionFonds
Reference code: NFA0118
Scope and ContentsCollection of early films related to the first year of film-making in America and the United Kingdom and nineteenth century magic lantern slides, letter, film catalogues and photographic plates.
Dates: c1824 - 1910
Handbills, c1786 - 1968Series — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 1: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1
Scope and ContentsHandbills for travelling shows, fairs, exhibitions and performances in London.
Dates: c1786 - 1968
John Bramwell Taylor CollectionFonds
Reference code: NFA0086
Scope and Contents The collection consists of handbills, programmes and small flyers for shows, fairs, expositions and circus performances in the nineteenth century. The circus material in the Bramwell Taylor Collection was sponsored by the Circus Friends Association of Great Britain and consists of material relating to 19th century touring circuses, individual acts and purpose built hippodromes such as Hengler’s Circus and Astley’s Amphitheatre. Additionally this collection also contains a small amount of...
Dates: c1786 - 2003
Sandow No. 2 Film, 6 March 1894Item
Reference code: 178D12.8
Scope and ContentsNitrate film by Edison [EMP 26.1]. Prod., f./ph: W. K. L. Dickson, William Heise; cast: Eugene Sandow, showing a strong man Eugene Sandow flexing his muscles in various poses.
Dates: 6 March 1894
Sandow the Monarch of Muscle Handbill, c1890 - 1899Item — Box John Barmwell Taylor Box 2: Series 178T1
Reference code: 178T1.203
Scope and ContentsEugene Sandow at The London Pavillion. Lists feats performed by famous strong man including having a horse, Roman Chariot and two persons going over a bridge on his chest.
Dates: c1890 - 1899
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