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53-569: In March 2021, World Gym said it had over 200 franchises across six continents. Owned by the Cammilleri family since 2009, its plans included further global expansion of the franchise network and the opening of regional flagship gyms. On October 28, 2024, World Fitness Services, Ltd., the parent company of World Gym Taiwan, announced its acquisition of parent company World Gym International for US$ 9 million. Joe Gold started Gold's gym in 1965. Many world-famous bodybuilders trained there. Gold sold

106-408: A bald weightlifter holding a barbell, was designed in 1973 by professional wrestler Ric Drasin , who was Arnold Schwarzenegger's training partner for four years. During a training break, he sketched the weightlifter on a napkin. The logo became an iconic symbol within the bodybuilding scene. Due to Sprague's contacts in the film industry and his persuasion skills, an opportunity arose in 1975, when

159-474: A bid on the 1977 Mr. America contest, Sprague was confronted by the AAU board about his porn past as Dakota. He left the meeting and filed defamation lawsuit against each member individually. They all resigned rather than pay for lawyers to defend them. On January 17, 1976, Sprague filed a lawsuit against Joe Gold that blocked him from opening a new fitness center World Gym because of the non-competition clause in

212-434: A lightening grid. Even though the filmmakers ran out of funds to finish the production, Arnold Schwarzenegger and other bodybuilders helped to raise additional funds for its completion. The docudrama Pumping Iron became a best seller, which brought attention not only to the gym itself but also to bodybuilding and physique in general. Due to that impact, Gold's Gym became the most famous gym worldwide, which more than tripled

265-442: A location that would become synonymous with the rise of legendary bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger , Dave Draper , Lou Ferrigno , or Franco Columbo . However, despite the spirited reception and Gold's money-saving measures, such as building his own exercise equipment, monthly membership fees proved insufficient to maintain the business. A veteran of the merchant marine , Gold wanted to go back to sea, and in 1970, he sold

318-405: A national corporate wellness program that has over 3000 company partners including  Home Depot ,  Bank of America ,  Whataburger , and  Union Pacific . The corporate sales and wellness program offers custom health and fitness plans for employees nationwide including memberships, nutrition, and wellness programs. Gold's is one of two official health clubs of the  AARP . Through

371-476: A posing room for preparing for bodybuilding competitions. A major marketing campaign for members is the annual Gold's Gym Challenge, which takes place in the USA. It is a 12-week competition that focuses on the visibility of body changes. In January of each year, participants begin by taking stock of their bodies by measuring and photographing them. After 12 weeks, measurements and photographs are taken again to document

424-533: A reemergence goal for August 2020. The company owns about 10 percent of the nearly 700 worldwide locations. Finally, on July 13, 2020, Gold's Gym was auctioned due to a judicial auction procedure. Rainer Schaller , the owner of the German fitness company RSG Group , won the auction of Gold's Gym for $ 100 million. Rainer Schaller fulfilled his dream to finally own the legendary fitness brand, which had inspired him to start his own fitness company in 1997. Previously,

477-492: A six-year period. The three owners extended Gold's Gym to the franchise system and made licensing out deals all over the USA. Gold's Gym was one of the first companies in the health and fitness industry to franchise, starting in 1980. Using the momentum of its fame it sold licenses for products such as fitness equipment and clothing. Soon the brand expanded internationally, after the first outside USA opening in Canada 1985. In 1993

530-584: A teacher at Marietta High School until his retirement in 2010. Sprague was born on July 14, 1945, in Cincinnati, Ohio , to Homer and Ethel Sprague (née Mahaffey). He grew up in Over-the-Rhine neighborhood in a very well to do family cultured in art, politics, and athletics. His mother was a ballet dancer , his father a contractor , and his two brothers were both honored athletes who attained Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Since childhood, Sprague

583-546: A track scholarship. The scholarship lasted for one semester and Sprague was forced to combine his studies with work and family. "I was married, working ten hour night-shifts at a local machine tool company, training, and taking a full academic load. Something had to go - it was track." He earned a Phi Beta Kappa key in chemistry, physics, and biology as an undergraduate . Later in the mid-1980s, he would attain advanced degrees related to behavior modification . Sprague and Thrower divorced in 1969. While still in college, Sprague

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636-554: Is an American bodybuilder, businessman, author and school teacher. He is best known as the owner of the original Gold's Gym in Venice, Los Angeles , which he purchased and managed between the years 1972 and 1979. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio , Sprague had a passion for sports since childhood. While still in school, he actively pursued track and field , football , boxing , Olympic weightlifting , and bodybuilding . He competed in numerous Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championships and won

689-725: Is now owned by the German RSG Group . Joe Gold opened the first Gold's Gym in August 1965, in Venice Beach, California , long before the modern-day health club existed. Featuring homemade equipment and dubbed "the Mecca of bodybuilding ", it was frequented by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dave Draper . In the 1950s, bodybuilding was seen as an anti-social outsider sport dominated by outcasts. Gyms in California ,

742-1048: Is owned by "Fitness Unicorn Cult.fit". In Japan, the largest franchise owner is Eiji Tezuka, who has grown Gold’s Gym in Japan to more than 95 facilities across the country. The franchise group Gold’s Gym Arabia has over 70 gyms in Saudi Arabia . The owner of the group is Batterjee Holding Co. in Jeddah . The gyms use state-of-the-art Matrix Fitness equipment. Gold’s Gym has become a pioneer in female fitness in Saudi Arabia. Numerous customers have reported that Gold's Gym franchises have acted in dishonest and unscrupulous ways. They cite advertised deals not being honored, billing irregularities, contract terms being fraudulently altered by sales staff after signing, and problems canceling accounts or relocating. A Gold's Gym in Provo, Utah ,

795-463: Is privately owned by the international fitness company RSG Group and has about 68 company-owned gyms and via its franchising program about 520 international gyms in countries, e.g.: Australia , Austria , Costa Rica , Egypt , Germany , India , Italy , Japan , Mexico , Mongolia , Netherlands , Peru , Philippines , Poland , Saudi Arabia , Russia , Spain , United Arab Emirates , United Kingdom , and Venezuela . Corporate headquarters are in

848-653: The Dallas metropolitan area. Gold's Gym has locations across six continents. In 2015 and 2016, Gold's Gym topped the J.D. Power Health and Fitness Center Satisfaction Report. In 2017, Gold's Gym launched GOLD'S AMP, a fitness app that is meant to serve as a digital personal trainer for people to use anytime and anywhere. It includes numerous customization workout options led by Gold's Gym coaches and thousands of music mixes. In July 2020, new parent company RSG Group reported that Gold's Gym had 61 company-owned gyms and over 600 franchise-owned gyms. Gold's Gym operates

901-756: The Gold's Gym in Venice, California . The then declining fitness club had less than 100 paying members. With the cooperation of wealthy friends and acquaintances, he also acquired a sound stage in Hollywood . Originally started with the idea of becoming a major influence in the field of pornography, the stage served mainly to produce gay porn films. Sprague himself produced several all-male 8mm short films , which were later released as two feature films, Loadstar (1972) and California Supermen (1972), under his own company Dakota Productions. Other bodybuilders including Ric Drasin , Bob Birdsong and Roger Callard appeared in

954-614: The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom during the Civil Rights Movement , a demonstration for civil and economic rights for African Americans, in August 1963. Only a few months after the demonstration, Thrower found out she was pregnant. Sprague found a job, and because he was a minor, sued his parents for guardianship to clear the way for him to marry Thrower. The couple married in June 1964 and their son Kenneth Sprague Jr.

1007-753: The Southern California area and is operated by the Banos brothers, who opened their first gym in North Hollywood in 1988. The group’s president is Angel Banos and Brian Morris is its senior vice president. Gold’s Gym India has more than 150 locations in about 90+ cities of India . Gold’s Gym has started its presents in Mumbai in 2002. It is the second-largest fitness group in India. Their founders are Rajesh Advani and Jagdish K. Valecha. Today it

1060-809: The Telephone Consumer Protection Act , and violations of the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act. The plaintiff published the entire complaint. After ten years of litigation involving a licensing agreement for a fitness center in St. George, the Utah Supreme Court affirmed a decision to deny attorney fees to Gold's Gym even though Gold's Gym prevailed in the underlying litigation ( Gold's Gym International, Inc. v. Chambers , 2020 UT 20). Ken Sprague Kenneth Ray Sprague (born July 14, 1945)

1113-453: The " Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald of gay porn films". Both of them served as a template for characters in the novel The Iron Game by David Carter. The author described Sprague as never feeling "any guilt," and someone who "would take whatever position was necessary to ensure that he would end up in good shape financially." In 1972 Sprague made a notable appearance in the drag-spoof of All About Eve , “All About Alice, ” where he played

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1166-591: The AARP it offers month-to-month memberships and is also the official health club of the  Blue Cross Blue Shield Association . Gold's offers online enrollment. Gold's Gyms all have a large strength training and free weight area with heavy dumbbells up to 150 kg, Olympic barbells, as well as an area for endurance training. There is a wide range of different fitness courses in specially designated rooms. Personal trainers can be booked for an additional charge. All studios have at least one sauna, and some locations also have

1219-588: The Mr. Cincinnati bodybuilding title in 1967. After enrolling at the University of Cincinnati , Sprague was encouraged by a friend to try modeling, which led him to COLT male erotica studio in New York City. At first, he posed nude for several gay publications, but soon he was asked to travel to California where he starred in a handful of hardcore gay porn clips under the name Dakota. His instant popularity in

1272-562: The Northern District of Texas . The debtors have requested joint administration of the cases under Case No. 20-31318.  Like nearly all businesses, Gold's Gym was required to temporarily close its US locations in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In April of the same year, Gold's said that it would permanently close 30 of its locations. They said their filing for bankruptcy would only affect company-owned locations and set

1325-740: The RSG Group has been primarily active in Europe and expanded to a global company with the integration of Gold's Gym into its portfolio. Since, Gold's Gym has been revitalized and it has also established a new presence in Europe by opening new gyms in Austria , Italy , and Germany . Also new gyms have been opened in e.g. Dallas , Highland Meadows , Georgetown . The expansion process continues worldwide, e.g. in Europe , India , Australia , etc., and includes modernization of many of its gyms. Gold's Gym

1378-416: The RSG Group is Gold's Gym Nutrition—a self-developed and distributed nutritional supplement line. The range offers various nutritional supplements for athletes in the form of drinks, shakes, bars, powders, and capsules. Since the 1980s, Gold’s Gym has sold specially designed clothes with its logo of a bald weightlifter holding a barbell, which has become an iconic symbol within the bodybuilding scene. Today,

1431-409: The boyfriend of “Mona” and also had a couple of full-frontal nude scenes. Carter also indicated that Sprague worked as a male hustler besides his work in porn. According to the book, Keith Spaulding (Sprague) and James Cass (Cassidy), as a result of their films, each earned at least an additional $ 100,000 a year by turning "tricks". Sprague later stated that he had made a great deal of money, but not in

1484-541: The business branch "Gold's Gym Apparel" designs its own functional sportswear and accessories for both genders by recognizing the legendary symbolism. Also, some elaborate items are produced sustainably in Portugal . In April 2024, Gold’s Gym Apparel was present for the first time at the world’s largest fitness and health trade fair FIBO in Cologne , Germany. Gold’s Gym SoCal is a franchise group that owns 23 locations in

1537-559: The business to antique dealer Dave Saxe and jeweler Bud Danits for $ 50,000 equivalent to $ 392,000 in 2023. Saxe and Danits were also unable to operate the gym profitably and considered converting it into an antique shop. Instead, gym member Ken Sprague seized the opportunity and purchased the gym in late 1971. Having a background in the film industry, he injected new energy into the business by organizing bodybuilding competitions and shows to exhibit Gold's Gym athletes. Finally, Gold's Gym became profitable. The original Gold's Gym logo,

1590-524: The early home of bodybuilding, were usually set up outdoors. An indoor gym had operated in Santa Monica , but it was shut down by the city in 1959 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Bodybuilder Joe Gold was dissatisfied with ad hoc gyms, and in 1965, he converted a building he owned on Pacific Avenue in Venice Beach into the first Gold's Gym. Many bodybuilders soon became enthusiastic clients. Dick Tyler commented it as "big news for big men",

1643-440: The filmmaker George Butler set out to film the groundbreaking docudrama Pumping Iron (1977), with Gold's Gym as the primary filming location. Sprague, having strong commitments to his gym and the sport as well as understanding the requirements for film, offered Butler full and unrestricted access to the gym. Preparing and improving the gym as a film set, he also had certain windows painted over to control backlight and installed

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1696-479: The films. Sprague soon figured out that he could make just as much, if not more, in the legitimate filmmaking. Various television commercials and independent productions were shot at his stage, as well as the weekly religious telecasts of Tony and Susan Alamo . In spring of 1975, Sprague acquired a secretarial position in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). His intent when joining the organization

1749-458: The gross income of Gold's in 1971 was $ 19,000. I purchased 100% of the stock in Gold's Gym, Inc. for $ 15,000 cash and the assumption of $ 74,000 in mortgages and small debts. None of the other guys at the gym appeared to have the money or foresight to buy it. My motive: I didn't want it to close." —Sprague talking about his purchase of Gold's Gym. On May 26, 1972, Sprague became the new owner of

1802-798: The gym earned $ 20 million before expenses. World Gym International offer products for workout gear such as sports bags, water bottles, nutrition products, accessories, gym clothing and apparel. There are also franchise opportunities available at World Gym International. World Gym International offers gymnasium services, equipment for fitness and physical exercise, fitness and exercise facilities, exercise classes, fitness and nutrition seminars, personal training in nutrition, exercise and fitness, training in fitness, mixed martial arts, boxing and kickboxing. World Gym International also holds exhibitions or contests for athletics, bodybuilding and mixed martial arts. Over 200 franchised locations in over 20 countries and territories The first Joe Gold Lifetime Achievement Award

1855-486: The gym in 1973 and went back out to sea as a sea merchant. When he came back, he regretted that he had also sold the rights to his name. Since he could not use "Gold" in its name, he opened a new gym in Santa Monica under the name of World Gym. Joe sold his World Gym in the valley to a bodybuilder named Steve Davis, who later sold it for $ 25,000. Gold moved his Santa Monica World Gym to Venice then to Marina Del Rey, and

1908-442: The initial sales agreement. Sprague eventually did relent and let Gold open the gym under conditions that Gold could not use any variation of his "Gold" name, no photos in the gym for three years, plus a monetary amount. In May 1978, Sprague's first book The Gold's Gym Weight Training Book written in collaboration with photographer Bill Dobbins was published. On October 23, 1978, Sprague's wife Maryon Riesenfeld died of cancer at

1961-413: The limit of 1 million members was exceeded. During the nineties Gold's Gym expanded around the globe, even in Japan and Russia . Due to the international franchise, the original character changed subsequently to a modern commercial gym fulfilling the standards of the modern fitness industry. In 1999 the company was sold to the private firm Brockway Moran & Partners for an estimated $ 50 million. It

2014-488: The location closed after he died in 2004. World Gym is now owned by the Cammilleri family, since 2009. Joe Gold's gym was where Arnold Schwarzenegger built and sculpted himself when he first came to America. Schwarzenegger has been California's governor, a movie actor, and a former Mr. Olympia. For the film Pumping Iron , released in 1977, Schwarzenegger's training was recorded in Joe's gym. Peter Brockway said in an interview that

2067-417: The membership prices. Gold's Gym continued to be considered a landmark in bodybuilding culture and has achieved cult status. In 1979 Gold's Gym was sold by Sprague to the trio Ed Connors, Pete Grymkowski (former Mr. World), and Tim Kimber. It was the most famous gym in the world at that time. After two years of ownership, they moved from the 5500-square-foot facility into a 60,000-square-foot building over

2120-428: The porn industry brought him enough money and contacts to establish his own independent film studio and purchase the Gold's Gym in 1972. After the modest beginnings following his purchase of the then declining fitness club, Sprague managed to make Gold's a household name. Sponsoring bodybuilding competitions such as AAU Mr. America , it caught the attention of press and was soon dubbed "the Mecca of bodybuilding". It

2173-531: The predominantly black Taft instead of the Central High across town, mostly because of their better athletic teams. A member of a school football team, Sprague met his future wife Melrose Thrower while riding a bus to a football game. After his coach found out he dated an African American girl, he forbade him from seeing her again. When Sprague refused, he was suspended. He also met with disapproval from his parents. In support of his black teammates, he attended

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2226-446: The results. Each participating Gold's Gym selects its own winners, who then have to compete nationally. Finally, an overall winner is chosen. The winners of the Gold's Gym Challenge have been featured in numerous publications, including PopSugar , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution , and Women's Health. In 2023 the Gold's Gym Challenge USA was replaced by annual the Gold's Gym Fitness Competition. A marketing division founded in 2021 by

2279-517: The way that Carter portrayed it. Around that same time, Sprague became a member of Gold's Gym in Venice, Los Angeles . On June 27, 1971, he married his girlfriend Maryon Riesenfeld. In August, he entered the Groovy Guy Contest held by The Advocate magazine and ended in the second place. "I purchased the gym more or less as a hobby; I was training there at the time and the current owner (Danits) couldn't make money with it – in fact,

2332-558: The world and in 2017 its first locations in Amman in Jordan . The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic heavily affected the company, forcing it to file bankruptcy with its 61 company-owned gyms and over 700 franchises across six continents. On May 4, 2020, GGI Holdings, LLC (Gold's Gym) and 14 affiliated debtors filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States District Court for

2385-451: Was born two months later. Sprague's parents and siblings disowned him for the next three years. Their daughter Julie was born in 1966. Just after the age of 18, Sprague was encouraged by a national Olympic lifting coach, to get involved in the sport. Sprague competed for the next five years, winning in numerous AAU championships and receiving the Mr. Cincinnati bodybuilding title in 1967. Sprague began attending University of Cincinnati on

2438-547: Was encouraged by a friend to try modeling. He sent a photo of Sprague to the COLT Studio in New York City and shortly afterwards, Sprague was invited to pose for them. During the four-day trip to New York, Sprague did his first nude photoshoot and chose the name Dakota, under which he was represented by the studio. After that, he returned to school and a job in Cincinnati, and Colt sent sold photos to clients. The response

2491-410: Was frequented by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dave Draper , and featured in the 1974 book Pumping Iron and its 1977 film adaptation. Sprague sold Gold's in 1979 and later moved to Eugene, Oregon to focus on his family. He wrote and published several books about bodybuilding and worked as a teacher of mathematics and science . In 1999, he and his wife moved to Marietta, Georgia where he worked as

2544-430: Was instant and Sprague was asked to travel to California to do more modeling. In March 1970, Sprague arrived to California and did his second photo session when he was approached by a private collector to appear in a hardcore sex film. His co-star in that film was another bodybuilder and rising porn star Jim Cassidy . The two have since appeared in a handful of scenes and magazine spreads together, often being referred to as

2597-524: Was led to develop passion for sports. His older brother competed in gymnastics , track and field , and Olympic weightlifting . Sprague began throwing in junior high school. Along with the typical school meets, he competed in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) competitions during the Summer. In 1962, he began attending Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School . After he had previously attended an "all-white" middle school, this time he decided to choose

2650-531: Was presented to Ric Drasin at the 2012 World Gym International Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gold%27s Gym Gold's Gym International, Inc. is an American chain of international co-ed fitness centers (commonly referred to as gyms ) originally started by Joe Gold in Venice Beach, California . Each gym offers a variety of cardio and strength training equipment as well as group exercise programs. Gold's Gym's has its headquarters in Dallas and

2703-707: Was sold again in 2004 to TRT Holdings for $ 150 million. German fitness company RSG Group acquired Gold's in August 2020. The growth of Gold's Gym continued expanding the business with modern wellness programs that grew to more than 3000 company partners. The original Gold's Gym in Venice Beach is considered a national sports landmark by  ESPN  and is named on its list of the 100 most important sports venues. Notable users of Gold's Gym have included such celebrities as Jessica Alba , Jodie Foster , Morgan Freeman , Dwayne Johnson , Jim Morrison , Keanu Reeves , Hilary Swank , Big Show , and Tiger Woods , and many others. In 2016 Gold's Gym opened 58 new locations across

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2756-512: Was successfully sued for fraud in 2006, for changing a contract after it was signed in 1999. An accusation of the same conduct of fraud arose again in 2017: on February 10, 2017, the billing processor for the gyms, Paramount Acceptance, and 26 companies under the VASA Fitness name (including new gyms since 2014) were served with a consumer class action lawsuit with numerous causes of action including fraudulent misrepresentation, violations of

2809-406: Was to bid on the 1976 Mr. California and the 1977 Mr. America contest, which meant engaging the politics of the organization and the stranglehold of weightlifting over bodybuilding. He was approached by the chairman for the newly formed AAU Physique Committee about bidding on the Mr. California contest. Sprague complied with a $ 1,000 offer and won the bid to run the 1976 contest. When trying to land

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