It wasn't as much fun as it sounds. The articles were often heterosexist, we featured female bodybuilders as often as male, and I didn't get to actually watch many photo shoots.
But I did get to talk to some bodybuilders, including Lou Ferrigno: Mr. America, Mr. Universe, Hercules, and The Incredible Hulk
He was most famous for The Incredible Hulk, about ten years before. I never watched, but I knew the basic premise: It starred Bill Bixby as David Banner (changed from the Marvel comics' Bruce, which the network censored deemed too gay). After the death of his wife, of course, he experiments with human strength, and Jekyl-Hydes himself into Ferrigno's green-skinned man-mountain: "Don't get me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
One day Ferrigno came in with Bill Bixby. I thought they looked like a gay couple.
A few days later, he came in by himself for a photo shoot.
"Hi, Mr. Ferrigno." I called. "Where's Bill?"
"I left him home, chained up in the basement."
"Can I come take a look?"
He grinned, clapped a huge hand on my back, and walked on.
Asking around, I was told: "Ferrigno is straight, but he won't say no to a late-night blow job."
One day Ferrigno came in with Bill Bixby. I thought they looked like a gay couple.
A few days later, he came in by himself for a photo shoot.
"Hi, Mr. Ferrigno." I called. "Where's Bill?"
"I left him home, chained up in the basement."
"Can I come take a look?"
He grinned, clapped a huge hand on my back, and walked on.
Asking around, I was told: "Ferrigno is straight, but he won't say no to a late-night blow job."
I kept a lookout for Ferrigno's next appearance. It came near Halloween, when I was working reception, a part of the job I hated.
"You got a promotion, I see," he said with a cruisy smile.
"I'm a jack of all trades around here, but usually I'm in editorial."
"Then be sure to spell my name right."
"Only if you spell mine right. I'd better write it down for you."
He didn't object, so I wrote it on a piece of paper. "And my phone number, in case you have any questions."
"Good idea. I might have questions."
He put the number in his pocket and went off to his appointment. About half an hour later, he came through the lobby again and stopped at my desk. "Do you like ____?"
I didn't understand his deaf accent (Ferrigno has 80% hearing loss). "Mexican food?" Was he asking me out? "Sure. What time...."
Then someone else came in, and he mouthed "I'll call you," and left.
At least that's what I think he said.
I told all my friends that I had a date with Lou Ferrigno, and waited for his call.
It never came, so I forgot about it-- I was giving my phone number to a lot of people at the time.
Then one night in January shortly after Alan the Pentecostal Porn Star and I broke up, I was at home, watching tv and doing some reading for my seminar in Dante at USC, when Lou knocked on my door!
"Is this a good time?" he asked.
My one-room apartment was a mess -- unmade bed, dinner dishes out, books and papers everywhere. Besides, I was in my bathrobe, and I hadn't brushed my teeth since dinner. But who's going to say no?
He collapsed onto the bed. "Boy, I'm tired. I could use a nap."
"Ok, let's take a nap."
I climbed onto the bed next to him, and he wrapped a huge arm around me. I moved up and started unbuttoning his shirt and kissing his chest.
"I'm a jack of all trades around here, but usually I'm in editorial."
"Then be sure to spell my name right."
"Only if you spell mine right. I'd better write it down for you."
He didn't object, so I wrote it on a piece of paper. "And my phone number, in case you have any questions."
"Good idea. I might have questions."
He put the number in his pocket and went off to his appointment. About half an hour later, he came through the lobby again and stopped at my desk. "Do you like ____?"
I didn't understand his deaf accent (Ferrigno has 80% hearing loss). "Mexican food?" Was he asking me out? "Sure. What time...."
Then someone else came in, and he mouthed "I'll call you," and left.
At least that's what I think he said.
I told all my friends that I had a date with Lou Ferrigno, and waited for his call.
It never came, so I forgot about it-- I was giving my phone number to a lot of people at the time.
Then one night in January shortly after Alan the Pentecostal Porn Star and I broke up, I was at home, watching tv and doing some reading for my seminar in Dante at USC, when Lou knocked on my door!
"Is this a good time?" he asked.
My one-room apartment was a mess -- unmade bed, dinner dishes out, books and papers everywhere. Besides, I was in my bathrobe, and I hadn't brushed my teeth since dinner. But who's going to say no?
He collapsed onto the bed. "Boy, I'm tired. I could use a nap."
"Ok, let's take a nap."
I climbed onto the bed next to him, and he wrapped a huge arm around me. I moved up and started unbuttoning his shirt and kissing his chest.
More after the break. Caution: Explicit