Bernarr MacFadden, "Father of Physical Culture"
by Thom Van Vleck
If you know who Bernarr MacFadden is then you truly are a student of Iron History. MacFadden was born in 1868 and died in 1955. He became internationally famous and a millionaire (when a million meant something!) promoting Physical Culture. I have heard that Bob Hoffman was called “The Father of American Weightlifting”, but before Bob, Bernarr was the “Father of Physical Culture”. MacFadden not only promoted exercise, he promoted all around physical fitness, all natural foods (he disliked processed foods) , natural treatment of disease (he hated “pill pusher Doctors”), and inspired people to live healthy lives. Vim, Vigor, and Virility are terms you often heard him say. He directly influence many greats that you will know like Charles Atlas.
He was also at times branded a charlatan and was arrested on obscenity charges (his books were often very frank in there subject matter, but he was NOT arrested for what we would call pornography today). He often rubbed the medical establishment the wrong way, at least the M.D.’s but not the D.O.’s…..I’ll explain more later. He made his millions promoting his books and developed properties that had schools, resorts, and all things that in some way related to physical culture and health. His empire rose and fell and rose and fell. Personally, I think had he died or retired at a younger age his legacy would likely be more secure in the weightlifting world. But some of his later dealings, eccentric tendencies, a damaging book by and ex-wife perhaps unfairly tarnished his early work and unfortunately what you do last is often remembered most.
McFadden’s long and colorful life could fill many volumes and I would encourage anyone interested in Iron History to ready up on him. There is a website dedicated to his life at www.bernarrmacfadden.com.
My connection to MacFadden is as a boy my grandfather, who was born in 1913 and grew up when McFadden was truly at his peak, often quoted and spoke of McFadden and taught me many of his valuable principles and in that way had a major influence on the JWC. I learned later he also filtered out many of McFadden’s teachings that were probably built on faulty logic and social norms of the day….but you wonder how people will someday look back on us! I also work at A.T. Still University, founded in 1892 by Andrew Taylor Still and the founding school of Osteopathic Medicine. A Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) has the same medical training and credentialing of a Medical Doctor (M.D.) PLUS they have to learn Still’s Osteopathic teachings. Again, volumes could be written on Osteopathy but I will just point out that Still believed in natural cures, healthy living, was against “pill pushing” as a doctor, thought exercise was essential to health (back when many M.D’s thought exercise was actually bad for you!!!!) and finally was a pioneer in whole person health. Dr. Still was probably the kind of doctor Bernarr MacFadden would have liked! I’m researching that right now!
At any rate, our library has a huge collection of rare books. They often surplus out extra copies and sell them. When they go unsold, they are given away. I was checking through a bin of “free” books and when I came across a first edition copy of Bernarr MacFadden’s “Manhood and Marriage” published in 1916. It had an old style library card in the back and the last time it was checked out was 1963! Previous to that, 1957! Kind of hard to believe this book has been on a shelf here my whole life (I was born in 1964) and now I have it. It is not surprising to me this book was here as the type of people attracted to being a D.O. are the types that believe in whole person health, exercise, healthy living and natural cures. Don’t get me wrong, they prescribe medication, do surgery and EVERYTHING an M.D. would do but if you see a D.O. you can expect a lecture on healthy living along with your antibiotics!
I am enjoying reading the book. It is really outdated in many ways, but there is no doubt MacFadden really believed in the healthy lifestyle even if the basis of many of his tenants of healthy living have since been proven otherwise by research. At least he set a standard which others could then prove right or wrong and if I had to guess, he was more “right”! Check his story out some time….he’s a real character of the Iron Game!
