In a world in the 1900s where there were no social media, people relied on their strength to gain fame. Therefore, without mainstream competition, being strong was something unique during that era.
But the question still remains; how did people from the 1900s earn from their strength? Well, check out the following content to understand how.
Physical Culture in the 1900s
Just like today’s fitness world, physical culturists in the 1900s also engaged in contests and challenges for prizes and fame. In the early 1900s, strong women and men from both the United States and British would show up in music halls where people enjoyed watching strength performers, singers, comedians, and more.
You could also become a strength performer through the following:
The Circus
Before people could use music halls to perform, strength performers would usually join the circus. These circuses used to travel across America and Europe, so numerous performers could join before they began their careers on the stage.
Physical Culture Challenges
It is after the shows in the 1900s that performers offered a challenge with a prize to be won by anyone who would defeat them. The only issue is that when a performer was defeated in the strength contest, their reputation would suffer. On the other hand, if the performer wins, it would create a starting point toward having their own career.
Championship
Another way to be a performer in the 1900s was if you won in either bodybuilding or weightlifting competition. Though bodybuilding did not receive much focus until the late 1930s, people like Eugen Sandow created a competition to test the physique of Irishmen and the British, in 1901.