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Angelo Siciliano (Charles Atlas) Bodybuilder Then And Now

By Cornell Scott / March 11, 2024

Angelo Siciliano (Charles Atlas) Bodybuilder: Then and Now

Angelo Siciliano Then

Angelo Siciliano was born on October 30, 1892, in Acri, Italy. He emigrated to the United States in 1903 with his family and settled in Brooklyn, New York.

As a child, Siciliano was sickly and weak. He was bullied by his peers and often felt inadequate. In 1912, he read an advertisement for a bodybuilding course by Bernarr Macfadden, the publisher of Physical Culture magazine. Siciliano decided to try the course and soon became hooked on bodybuilding.

Siciliano quickly developed an impressive physique. In 1922, he won the Mr. New York City bodybuilding contest. The following year, he won the Mr. America contest. Siciliano’s success as a bodybuilder led him to adopt the stage name Charles Atlas.

Atlas became one of the most famous bodybuilders in the world. He appeared in numerous magazines and books, and he developed a line of fitness products. Atlas also wrote a book called “Dynamic Tension,” which became a best-seller.

Atlas’s bodybuilding career was cut short in 1932 when he suffered a heart attack. He retired from bodybuilding and focused on his fitness business. Atlas died in 1972 at the age of 79.

Angelo Siciliano Now

Angelo Siciliano’s legacy lives on through his fitness products and his book “Dynamic Tension.” His bodybuilding techniques are still used by bodybuilders today. Atlas is considered one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time.