Over the years, several of the contestants in Macfadden's competitions became famous in their own right. Three of the contestants stand out. They were Albert Treloar, winner of the first competition, Pudgy Stockton, called "the first lady of iron," and Charles Atlas, winner of Macfadden's "Most Perfectly Developed Man" contest. Virtually all bodybuilders of the first half of the twentieth century had some connection with Macfadden. Macfadden was a dynamic and charismatic man who had no trouble attracting loyal followers. Wherever he went, people loved him. He embued his physical culture teaching (which advocated a rather Spartan life) with energy and excitement. Not only was he a dynamic spokesman for his cause, but he had a super-abundance of energy and worked sixteen hours a day on his multitude of projects. One follower called him "the original nature boy." Macfadden was totally dedicated to his life's mission - to educate people on the importance of maintaining good health. In an editorial in a 1906 issue of Physical Culture Magazine, He wrote, "When the importance of physical culture is recognized, when men and women realize its true importance, it will enter into every phase of human life. There is hardly a question in life which physical culture should not be a part." In 1905, Anthony Comstock, the self-appointed smut exterminator, brought legal action against Macfadden to have him arrested and a second exhibition scheduled in Madison Square Garden cancelled on the grounds that it was a lewd display of carnality. Macfadden was given only a suspended sentence, and because of the publicity, the crowds filled the arena and people had to be turned away. People who came to the show hoping to see a display of female flesh were disappointed. All the female participants were modestly attired in union suits. More Events, Enterprises, &
Experiments
In 1905 he had enough capital to
realize a dream - to open a Physical Culture community
which he named Physical Culture City. It was located
on 1900 acres of The photo to the left shows Macfadden's house at Physical Culture City. It had 30-some windows to let in the sunlight and a porch all around for sleeping outdoors in warm weather. The idea was that the house would be heated mainly by sunlight - a novel idea at the time. In addition, he had a large, new building constructed for his publishing business and a building for the Macfadden Institute (see photo above). Approximately, 200 people joined Macfadden at Physical Culture City (most living in tents), but within several months the numbers began to dwindle. Because of unforeseen legal and financial difficulties as well as other business responsibilities (see below), Macfadden had neither the time nor the money to keep PC City going. In 1906 he wrote and published a book titled "Muscular Power and Beauty" which has become somewhat of a classic. In it he explains how to use tension and resistence exercises to develop muscles. A couple decades later, his protégée, Charles Atlas, would successfully market a course based on these exercises. During this time, he also established a sanitarium that would use his treatment methods. From 1907 to 1909 he owned the Bernarr Macfadden Sanitarium in Battle Creek. When Kellogg and Post came out with their breakfast cereals, Macfadden tried to market his own nutrition breakfast food made with wheat, oats, and nuts called "Strengthfude." It didn't really catch on with the public at large, and he dropped it. In 1909 he relocated the sanitarium to a large building in Chicago and renamed it "The Macfadden Healthatorium." He employed well-trained people that he trusted to run these operations. These were a great success and helped establish Macfadden as a leader in the field of alternative health care.
The photographs of Physical Culture City and his sanitariums are clear evidence that these were successful operations. It is clear that these were not low-budget or shoe-string operations.
During this same period, Macfadden began the "Bernarr Macfadden Institute" which was a school that trained students in his physical culture methods which he called "physcultopathy." The curriculum covered anatomy, physical training, hygiene, and instruction in natural methods of treating illness. Macfadden created the curriculum materials as well as the examinations. Graduates could find work as trainers, coaches, and therapists. This enterprise was very successful. It was first located in New York City, then in Physical Culture City, and finally was moved to his "Healthatorium" in Chicago. Many practioners of alternative health methods graduated from the Macfadden Institute. Many of them went on to become well-known in their own right. The Macfadden Institute eventually split into the American College of Physical Education and the International College of Drugless Physicians.
In 1907, Macfadden was arrested again - this time for publishing a story in Physical Culture Magazine which was judged to be "obscene material." This time, Macfadden was convicted. He attempted to have the case heard before the Supreme Court but was denied on the grounds that the case did not involve constitutional questions! He campaigned nationally to have his conviction overturned and finally in 1909, received a presidential pardon from President Taft. Macfadden was one of the first to challenge laws which restricted freedom of speech. He saw prudery as the source of guilt and many social ills. He also taught that feelings of guilt and shame were destructive to a person's overall physical health. Since the mind has a tremendous influence on the body, it is important to keep the thoughts positive. He believed that the body and especially sex were naturally good and wholesome; it was prudery that made them seem otherwise. Macfadden was an important influence in changing attitudes toward sex. The expenses of fighting his legal battles had all but wiped him out financially. He was running into increased problems with the authorities and with the U.S. Post Office which by then had banned his books from being shipped by mail. The story in Physical Culture which caused the furor was about a young man who had venereal disease. Combatting the spread of venereal disease because of ignorance was a major cause for Macfadden. His purpose was to raise the public's awareness of the problem. Macfadden accurately assessed the problem - to control venereal disease, the medical community had to first acknowledge that there was a problem; they must stop avoiding it simply because it was an embarassing or "dirty" subject.
In 1911 he published the first edition of his monumental opus, Macfadden's Encyclopedia of Physical Culture. In spite of his efforts, it looked like his legal problems might destroy everything he had created. In addition, his marriage had ended in divorce. For these reasons, he sold the Physical Culture City land in New Jersey at a loss, gave up ownership of the sanitarium and the restaurants, and placed his publishing business in the hands of trusted associates who would manage it for him. Having done this, he traveled to England for a second time. This trip would mark the beginning of a new life where he would become famous internationally and wealthy beyond all expectations.
INTRODUCTION || EARLY YEARS || PERFECT WOMAN - PERFECT FAMILY || A PUBLISHING EMPIRE || HEALTH CRUSADER || FAME - FORTUNE - FOLLY - FAILURE || FINAL YEARS || RESOURCES-LINKS-MACFADDEN STUFF
A spectacular pictorial biography of the amazing life of Bernarr Macfadden. With over 300 vintage photographs and illustrations. The most comprehensive collection of photos about Macafadden ever published in print!  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
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In 1899 Macfadden returned
to New York. The next twelve years would be
a period of near superhuman productivity. He
went on a successful, national lecture tour
founding Physical Culture "clubs" in several
cities across the country. He communicated
his energy and enthusiasm and was a highly
charasmatic and persuasive speaker. (
The
name
of the magazine was Physical Culture.
The first issue appeared March 1899 and sold
for 5 cents and focused on bodybuilding.
With time, the magazine added information on
health and fitness. 
Competitions/Exhibitions
unspoiled land in New Jersey. The city
was set up to be a community in which outdoor exercise
and healthy living close to nature were the rule.
Saloons and the like were not permitted. Because the
people who joined Macfadden in PC City shunned
restrictive clothing, it acquired what seems to be a
somewhat undeserved reputation for being a nudist
colony. For more information and more pictures,
including the layout of Physical Culture city in 1905
and a map of the area today, click 
In
addition
to everything else he was doing, Macfadden also opened
a couple restaurants. He used the restaurants to prove
that health food could be both delicious and less
expensive than "junk" food. His "Penny" restaurants
became very popular, and by 1910 he owned nearly
twenty restaurants in several cities. 
