LOS ANGELES, USA — As a teenager with dreams of becoming a celebrated bodybuilder, Arnold Schwarzenegger plastered his bedroom walls with posters of his muscular idols.
However, these wall decorations were not met with delight by his mother, as Schwarzenegger humorously recounted during “An Evening With Schwarzenegger” at the Academy Museum of Motion Picture’s David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Friday, June 30, 2023.
“My mother was always looking at that wall, and she said, ‘All of your friends have pictures of girls. Where did I go wrong?’” Schwarzenegger shared, imitating his mother’s worried tone.
The audience erupted in laughter as he described how she cried daily, standing before the wall of posters until she eventually consulted their family doctor.
To the relief of his distressed mother, the doctor assured her that it was not unusual for boys Arnold’s age to idolize strong men.
“He finally said, no, this is quite normal in kids at this age. They idolize men that are strong. Don’t worry about it. He’s not gay,” Schwarzenegger explained, candidly revealing that his parents’ primary concern was about his sexual orientation.
Schwarzenegger’s fixation was particularly directed towards Steve Reeves, the star of “Hercules,” and English bodybuilder Reg Park.
He devoured every piece of information he could find on bodybuilding and rigorously emulated their workout routines. “When I read that Reg Park was working out five hours a day, lifting heavy weights, and doing 50, 60 sets of exercise and lifting 50 tons of weights a day, I would do the same thing,” he said.
However, his parents were convinced that he was “a little bit sick in the head” due to his obsession, which they deemed unhealthy.
Schwarzenegger’s dedication bore fruit when he made history in 1967 by becoming the youngest Mr Universe at the age of 20. This marked the beginning of an illustrious career that would see him conquer bodybuilding and Hollywood.
The event, attended by a full house, also featured a 3D screening of “Terminator 2,” Schwarzenegger’s biggest blockbuster.
The former California Governor conversed with Dian Hanson, a Taschen editor, sharing stories of his life and the painstaking process behind his upcoming two-volume book, “Arnold.”
The book, a compilation of Schwarzenegger’s remarkable journey, will be available in limited editions ranging from $1,500 to $15,000, and is scheduled for release in July.
The evening offered a glimpse into the personal and professional life of a man who transformed his childhood dreams, once a source of concern for his family, into a groundbreaking career. Through the tears of a worried mother, the path of an icon was paved.
