3 Versions of Pumping Iron

3 versions of Pumping Iron

Most people don’t know that there are THREE versions of Pumping Iron.

Pumping Iron is the cult classic movie that was also a book by Charles Gaines and George Butler. This book and movie made Arnold Schwarzenegger and other Golden Era bodybuilders complete stars. Many people including my partner at Old School Gym, Dustin Myers, read Pumping Iron as their first bodybuilding book. On the other hand, I learned from the Franco Columbu pamphlet series which also came out around the same time.

The movie and the book started what became an entire industry. Shortly after I started to collect some old magazine memorabilia, I began searching to find a mint condition Pumping Iron with Ed Corney on the cover. Ed Corney, in his late 30’s at the time, was one of Arnold’s training partners during the Golden Era.

So one day with a big stroke of luck, I was at a used bookstore and found a mint condition Pumping Iron featuring Ed Corney on the cover for like $10. Just to give you an idea, this is worth at least 4-$500 in this condition. So that year I went right to the Arnold Classic and paid $20 to get Ed to sign my new copy.

At this time, I was working with Arnold and came to the realization that there is a Pumping Iron cover that has Arnold Schwarzenegger on the front. I quickly found this edition on eBay, bought it, and then brought it with me next time I saw him. I was fortunate enough for him to personalize it for me.

The third version

As I did more and more research I came across a THIRD VERSION. The ONLY color version. This one featured legend Tom Platz on the cover. Tom Platz was an epic bodybuilder with crazy striated legs. What’s absolutely bizarre to me is that through all the years that I have been going to trade shows, I have NEVER ever seen Tom Platz.
When I was going to the Olympia that year I found the Tom Platz version online and bought it instantly. Before going to the Olympia I decided to throw my Pumping Iron copy in my backpack just in case I somehow ran into him. Sure enough I was lucky enough to run into him!

Another random fact that you may not know is that I have been through EVERY TAKE of Pumping Iron personally. I spent two whole days in Arnold’s personal office sifting through the footage and I feel extremely privileged to have that opportunity. Having all three versions of Pumping Iron signed in person by each person is unreal, and I think I’m one of the few people that has accomplished this.