Harry Gelbfarb: Forerunner of Bodybuilding in Germany

Seven men and women founded in 1959 the first German  bodybuilding association. Had Gelbfarb not layed the foundations for bodybuilding in Germany, young Arnold Schwarzenegger would not have gotten the chance to prepare for his international career in Munich.

This website is about Harry's contribution to this development.  

 

Harry Gelbfarb led an impressive life. As a child he hardly survived the holocaust in Vienna, emigrated to the USA, came to Germany and married the love of his life. He founded Germany's first bodybuilding gym and the first Geman association for this sport. Arnold Schwarzenegger became a friend for decades. In his later years, Gelbfarb ran a gym in California.

 

 

 "If Jahn had not created Turnen; if Turnen had nof embraced weightlifting; if Sig Klein had not become a Turnverein member and then a gym owner; and if Harry Gelbfarb had not wandered into Klein's gym one day and begun to learn about bodybuilding; then Gelbfarb might never have returned to the Fatherland and launched the modern era of this sport in Germany."

Jürgen Giessing/Jan Todd: The origins of German bodybuilding: 1790 bis 1970     

 

 

 Harry Gelbfarb poses at Muscle Beach,
circa 1954. (Photo: Estate Gelbfarb)

Here is an overview of Gelbfarb's life: 

1930	Born on October 5th in Vienna/Austria to a Jewish Mother and a Christian Father. The mother gives him away to a foster home.
1934	Gelbfarb ist accomodated by foster parents.
1938-1945	His foster parents are deported to concentration camps. Gelbfarb is accomodated in a Jewish foster home at Vienna. He survives the war with malnutrition, tuberculosis and heart problems.
1947	Gelbfarb and his stepmother, who survived the concentration camps, emigrate to the USA.
1949	In New York, Gelbfarb begins with bodybuilding.
	Actor and bodybuilder Ralf Moeller (m., in the background) and Harry Gelbfarb (l.) in Santa Monica in 1998. Bodybuilder Ali Malla is on the right.  (Photo: Estate Gelbfarb).
1951-1953	Gelbfarb is drafted in the US Army and stationed in Schweinfurt/Germany. There he falls in love with is later wife Elly, a sports teacher.
1954	He works as a trainer and physiotherapist at the famous Beverly Hills Health Club in West Hollywood/California.
1956	In Schweinfurt, Gelbfarb opens up his bodybuilding gym, the first one in Germany ever.
1956	Marriage of Elly and Harry Gelbfarb
1959	In order to take part in the Mr. Europe contest in Turin/Italy, Gelbfarb founds the first German bodybuilding association. He starts in Turin with two of his students.
1960	Gelbfarb organizes the first Mr. Germany contest in Munich. One of his students wins in class I.
1961	Opening of a large gym in Nuremberg. One of several studios Gelbfarb runs in Germany in the following years.
1966	Gelbfarb meets Arnold Schwarzenegger in Munich for the first time.
	German-American bodybuilding contest held at the US-baracks in Kitzingen in 1981, organized by Harry Gelbfarb. (Photo: Estate Gelbfarb)
1981	The first German national contest for women follows the regulations developed by Gelbfarb. The first German contest in the posing for couples is held at Gelbfarb's gym in Schweinfurt. The German American bodybuilding contest in Kitzingen (Northern Bavaria), is organized by Gelbfarb.
1983-1991	After moving to California, Gelbfarb runs a gym at San Clemente.
2005	Gelbfarb dies on May 5th in Zell nearby Schweinfurt (Germany)
2010	The German bodybuilding association DFBV affiliates him in its Hall of Fame.

Further Reading: Jürgen Giessing/Jan Todd: The Origins of German Bodybuilding: 1790 bis 1970

 

 

Photos at top of the page: Profile of Harry Gelbfarb's head, pupils of Gelbfarb posing at the pubilc swimming pool at Schweinfurt (Photos: Estate Gelbfarb).