Roy Adams Biography

By David Gentle

From cartoon to classic, or instructional to inspirational, great art has always been an integral part of the bodybuilding journal. Artistic representations of the muscular and aesthetic physique have been around right from the birth of physical training publications. McFadden's PHYSICAL CULTURE and Sandow's Magazine, depicted all aspects of art and illuminated illustrations, even more so through necessity, before the later widespread use of the camera and its ever complicated technology.

I N S P I R A T I O N S

Many a 'seven stone weakling' became motivated to improve fitness and physique by sources other than p.c. journals. A prime example being comic book heroes. Back to the beginnings of the 'funnies' it has been estimated over 18 million or almost, one third of all mags sold in the USA alone in the 1940's were comics. This vehicle of fun and adventure, first published circa 1937, by the 40's the superheroes Batman, Superman, and Captain Marvel etc. all powerfully strong and muscled up anatomically correct began to show. Many a later muscle champ confessed his inspiration came from such a source. DAN ATKINS illustrator of heroic figures in the late 70's once worked as a comic strip illustrator for Marvel Comics.

The ERB (Edgar Rice Burroughs) TARZAN strips were exceptionally well drawn by many, but best by Burne Hogarth (from 1937 to 1950) with an eerie esoteric beauty, including full backgrounds. So good was Hogarth that in 1950 he became director of New York School of Visual arts.

If all that recreational reading was not enough, the inside or back pages of literally every pulp fiction book or mag was guaranteed to contain the Charles Roman/Doc Tilney inspired 'Sand in the face' advert for the Charles Atlas course, Atlas himself for long having a model. Thus the combination of art work and Atlas photo, became an almost universal catalyst for millions to take up bodybuilding.

Despite being an island, Great Britain could not escape the positive and prolonged influence of such super bodies as depicted in contemporary reading matter. Bodybuilding IS ART and literally physical 'sculpture', and all sculpture, flesh or stone requires working drawings, mind images, inspiration. Appreciation of true art is one of its' many facets, and almost second nature for any real, thinking bodybuilder. So it was that 'Roy Adams a young British weight trainer of the 1950's was similarly inspired and driven to exhibit his talent for art alongside his love for physical culture.

BEATLES, BODYBUILDING AND THE TOWER OF LONDON

Roy Adams almost epitomizes the image of G.B having been a former owner of the Cavern Club, where once the famous pop phenomena The Beatles played. He served in the World renown Guards Regiment, and for a time served, i.e. did duties in THE TOWER OF LONDON. Certainly visitors to the OH. Foundation Awards held annually in London will have noticed if not recognized those huge background pictures, which were produced by Roy.

Rowland John Adams aka "Roy' legendary Merseyside night club owner was born in 1932 in the port of Liverpool, jumping off spot for thousands of USA and Canadian and Irish emigrants. Liverpool is recognized world wide as birth place also of The Beatles and modern pop cultures. Roy lived for a while in Southern England, moved to Scotland, then came back to sedate southern seaside town of Felixstowe where he was educated at a grammar school. With an instinctive love for drawing, he spent several years at Ispswich School of Art.

When 18 at an era in UK when conscription was compulsory, Roy enlisted voluntarily into the prestigious Brigade of Guards, serving 4 colourful years in 'The colours' and 9 years on army reserves. He was demobbed in Liverpool.

Previously having commenced weight training at the early age of 14 years, Roy continued with his regular bodybuilding regimes in the army. A great all round sportsman, fine runner and rugby player, he also played rugby in the forces. Whilst stationed at the famous tourist spot of the Tower of London, where conveniently, especially for a British bodybuilder (Britain was still on war rations) he was put in charge of the rations and trained at the nearby popular Ralph Samual's gymnasium. Not only strength and size, but also agility and ability were all inclusive as training aims. From balancing weights and bodies, he was to soon be required to balance budgets and accounts.

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