The Rheo H. Blair Story
Rheo Blair and Bodybuilding Nutrition
His real name was Irvin Johnson, who at an early age with stricken with many health problems, due to the fact that his mother gave birth to him with a condition, which at the time was considered nearly fatal.
The family moved to the Chicago area, and at around the age of 15, Irvin Johnson showed a real interest in singing, which he later performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Irvin over the years eventually sung on the Lawrence Welk show, and was to become his lifelong friend.
Irvin's interest in bodybuilding came when his brother who was two years older than him, developed a physique, which Irvin decided to duplicate. Irvin did, and around 1948 he opened his gym in the Chicago area, which at the time consisted of some barbells and dumbbells, with a wood floor, that catered to gymnastics. It was at this time that Irvin got involved in nutrition, Irvin studied the science so well, that he believed that nutrition was all chemistry, and that all he had to do was unlock the real secrets. Irvin started using members of his gym to run blood tests, to measure the chemistry of certain supplements, that could accelerate gains.
Around 1951 Irvin John introduced his milk and egg protein to the public, which at the time, he was the only one to bring about a product for athletes, The question was how would he market the product, since health food stores were non-existent back then. Irvin Johnson's milk and egg product was called "Optipro", and was marketed and sold through drug stores throughout the Chicago area. Irvin Johnson's popularity became national when experts started labeling Irvin as eccentric. The experts claimed Johnson's theories were unheard of. Irvin decided to test his theory. In 1952 a bodybuilder named Jim Park was going to enter the Mr. America contest, but was only favored near the bottom. The contest was only 10 weeks out, and park was in no condition to even place. Irvin put park on his nutrition program, with a mixture of milk and egg protein and cream, and some added rare supplements, after he ran blood tests on Park, to see what supplement could transform his physique. Jim Park won the 1952 Mr. America and Irvin Johnson became very well known on the east coast. From then on, Irvin Johnson's gym and milk and egg protein sold like hot cakes.
Jim Park Mr. America 1952
Irvin continued to train bodybuilders in the 1950's and then in 1958 decided he would sell his gym and move to Los Angeles, California, where he wanted to concentrate on and expand his nutrition guidance. Almost immediately he became known and started transformations on movie stars. Irvin's real interest though was still working with bodybuilders and he was fully aware that California was the Mecca, which could open up doors for his business. Irvin Johnson's first recognition came when he met the future Mr. Olympia Larry Scott around 1961, after Scott has placed third in the Mr. Los Angeles contest. Irvin took Larry under his wing, and immediately put Larry on two cups of Johnson's milk and egg protein, mixed with cream and milk. In two months time, Larry put on 10 pounds of muscle and won the Mr. California contest. Irvin Johnson's name was now well established and he used Larry Scott for his advertisements, by supplying Scott with free milk and egg protein. Almost every bodybuilder in California sought advice from Irvin Johnson, as well as purchasing Johnson's protein. In no time, Irvin came out with other products such as Liver Extract, B-Complex, and a full line of supplements. Irvin Johnson's first ad for his protein in the bodybuilding magazines first appeared in Iron Man in the year 1963.
Larry Scott Mr Olympia 1965 and 1966
Irvin Johnson even sent free protein to Peary and Mable Rader, the owners of Iron Man, so they could test the product. Every issue of Iron Man contained articles of Irvin's theories of using the protein and cream mixture, with unbelievable results. By 1965 Irvin Johnson's Protein was the best around, and Johnson had an impressive list of physique stars using his product across the country. Irvin was now shipping protein all over the country. It was also at this time, that Irvin met a fortune teller who advised him to change his name to Rheo H. Blair, if he was to really make it big. He did, and his name became a household word, when it came to nutrition. For some strange reason, the name change only increased his business, and he started working up programs for Lawrence Welk, Guy Lombardo, Clint Walker, Andy Williams and other movies stars. Rheo also became a top notch photographer, and he took many pictures of bodybuilders and the movie stars, with amazing before and after transformations.
The Famous Blair's Protein
In 1966 Rheo developed another protein, but this one was more on the advanced level, which had the biological value of mother's milk, which was tested at the time by Larry Scott and Don Howorth. Rheo continued to research on the subject of nutrition and bodily chemistry. Rheo developed a liver extract, which bodybuilders were gulping down at the tune of 50 per day. The effect was unbelievable, as each bodybuilder developed a dark and glowing skin tone, which they all claimed was due to the liver extract. Around 1968 Rheo Blair came out with his special amino acid capsules, which were so expensive that the cost must have been $1.50 per pill. The amino acid capsules performed miracles, and bodybuilders were willing to pay the price, as gains in strength were forthcoming.
In late 1968 Rheo Blair started working with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who at the time had just moved to California. In Arnold's early years, the protein and cream mixture did the trick for the Austrian Oak. In 1969 Franco Columbu came over from Italy, and Arnold and Franco were given free protein, even though Arnold had a contract with Joe Weider. The deal was that Arnold would recommend the products to member at Gold's Gym and in L.A. referring them to Rheo Blair, but Arnold could never make that statement in print. There would be many times that Arnold and Franco would load up their VW, which was leased by Weider back then, and drive off with cases of Blair's protein.
In late 1968 Rheo printed the famous "Blair Report", which was filled with excerpts from Iron Man Magazine, nutrition articles, along with stories from bodybuilders and users of Blair's Protein. The report was so successful, that the first edition copy sold out. There was a plan for a second copy, but that never materialized. The Blair Report contained information concerning the proper usage of his protein and cream mixture, along with using other key supplements to develop a physique, that could not be attained without using them.
The Blair Report
In 1969 the current Mr. Olympia, Sergio Oliva ordered some protein, which he used with cream and half and half. Sergio gained solid weight and retained the Mr. Olympia title that year. He informed all the members at the Duncan YMCA in Chicago, that Rheo Blair's protein was the best on the market for obtaining size and weight.
Sergio Oliva Beat Arnold at the 1969 Mr. Olympia
Rheo also proved to the bodybuilding world that his famous protein mixed with cream could also be used to lose fat. Rheo worked with Steve Davis, who at the time weighed a fat 285 pounds. In eight months, Rheo once again showed the critics that his theories worked. Steve Dais lost 85 pounds and captured the Mr. California title. At the time, Davis was the greatest example of the full Blair program, which exceeded $1,000 per month. Bill Pearl who never endorsed anyone's product was using Blair's protein. Pearl went on record stating, that he felt better and stronger. That same year in 1969, Rheo Blair furthered his research on protein, and introduced his new milk and egg protein with fructose. The new protein was a success once it hit the market.
Rheo Blair's most famous project came in the year 1973, and Rheo made top stories on television and in the newspapers. Rheo was hired by former tennis star Bobby Riggs to get him in shape for his upcoming challenge against current tennis star Billie Jean King. Riggs was 55 years old and King was only 30, so Blair knew that the full program was in order for Bobby Riggs. Both Riggs and Rheo Blair went on talk shows and Riggs informed the audience that he was consuming 400 capsules per day, along with Blair's protein and cream mixture. Riggs told everyone that he felt he could run through a brick wall. The event finally came and Rheo was down on the sidelines with Bobby Riggs, Even though Riggs lost (some say he threw the match), Rheo Blair's story was featured in Midnight and other magazines, which discussed his miracle transformations. Rheo Blair was sought out by movie stars around the world, even though he had been working with them for years, Rheo's client list was now on a waiting list. Rheo's consultation programs was now full time, so he could no longer be involved in shipping out his protein, the way he did for many years. Rheo purchased land and a building in Northern California, and hired a business manager, who ran the protein business, which left Rheo time to concentrate on his clients. Rheo Blair's protein business flourished. He had become know world wide and his protein was also sold in the foreign markets. Rheo concentrated on clients, and was no longer interested in working with bodybuilder, until Frank Zane visited him and solicited his advice.
Bobby Riggs on the Blair Program
Rheo found in Zane the same thing he has, which was an intense interest in the science of nutrition. Rheo knew that Zane was smarter and more dedicated than any other bodybuilder he had worked with. Rheo worked with Frank and they discussed the Blair program in detail. It was Frank Zane's goal to win the 1977 Mr. Olympia. Zane was put on the special no carbohydrate protein that Rheo had developed within the last three years, Zane consumed Rheo's special amino acid capsules and was paying Blair $1,800 per month. Frank Zane was on the full Blair's program. The result were tremendous, Frank won the 1977 Mr. Olympia defeating Robby Robinson, Ed Corney, Boyer Coe, Ken Waller, Dennis Tinerino, Albert Beckles and Bill Grant. There had never been a bodybuilder that Rheo worked with that stayed on the full Blair program, on a long term basis. Frank Zane did, The next two years, Frank Zane with the help of Rheo Balir, captured the Mr. Olympia again in 1978 and 1979. Frank was the greatest example of the Blair Program, which is what Rheo Blair had stated many times.
Frank Zane Mr. Olympia 1977, 1978 and 1979
Frank Zane was the last bodybuilder that Rheo Blair worked with, even though many still ordered his protein. Blair continued to supply his famous supplements to bodybuilder around the world.
In 1982 Rheo Blair appeared with his good friend Regis Philbin every three months, and Rheo showed transformations on people he worked with,. In late 1982, Larry Scott called Rheo and ordered his special amino acid capsules to get ready for a photo shoot with Weider for Muscle & Fitness Magazine.
Rheo continued to work with movie stars, and then in 1983 he developed Hepatitis, and complications caused him to pass away. The bodybuilding world mourned the greatest nutritionist ever, and the most famous among bodybuilders.
The Blair program still produces results around the world. Today a website still carries on his name and even supplies his formulas for milk and egg protein and free form amino acids. See http://www.RheoBlair.com
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