Glenn Sundby
Encyclopedia
Glenn Marlin Sundby was the founder of Modern Gymnast magazine (the forerunner to International Gymnast magazine) and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
. First intrigued by the gymnasts and bodybuilders performing and practicing on the beach in Santa Monica
, he went on to perform nationally and on nationwide television shows such The Ed Sullivan Show
. He was a co-founder of the USA Gymnastics
(United States Gymnastics Federation).
before moving with his family to Los Angeles
in 1932 when he was in junior high school. 5 feet 5 inches tall, he attended University High School in Los Angeles
, where he described himself as "an asthmatic, weak little kid" who was "the smallest kid in school" until he joined the school's newly-formed gymnastics team. There he trained under coach Van Dixon, and specialized in the parallel bars.
He started hanging out at the original Muscle Beach
in Santa Monica where he met former wrestler George Wayne Long. The two formed an act in which Sundby would balance on top of Long, who played the strongman role. The duo traveled around the country appearing at clubs, as well as performances at Radio City Music Hall
and in Star and Garter, a revue that appeared on Broadway
in 1942 with Gypsy Rose Lee
as star.
In 1945, Sundby's sister Dolores was added to the act, which was named the Wayne-Marlin Trio after the middle names of the two men. A 1949 stunt in which Sundby walked down the Washington Monument
's 898 steps on his hands was included as an item illustrated in the pages of Ripley's Believe It or Not!
. The group traveled with Spike Jones
before breaking up in 1955, following his sister's marriage. Sundby moved on to the real estate business.
as it lacked its own governing body. He initially ran the magazine on his own, covering responsibilities ranging from authoring articles to mailing the issues.
He was named vice president of the United States Gymnastics Federation (now known as USA Gymnastics
) in 1962 as one of its founders. Mademoiselle Gymnast was formed in 1965 to focus on female gymnasts, and was merged with The Modern Gymnast to form Gymnast, which was renamed as International Gymnast, and later as IG. Sundby's active role in the magazines, was exemplified by his taking a picture of all 305 participants at the 1985 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
held in Montreal
, Canada
. He would conclude all of his editorials with the catch phrase "Have a Happy Handstand".
He established the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
in Oceanside, California
, which later relocated to Oklahoma City
.
A resident of Carlsbad, California
, Sundby died at age 87 on March 18, 2009 at Tri-City Hospital in nearby Vista, California
, survived by a son.
International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, located in Oklahoma City, USA, is a hall of fame dedicated to honoring the achievements and contributions of the world's greatest competitors, coaches and authorities in artistic gymnastics....
. First intrigued by the gymnasts and bodybuilders performing and practicing on the beach in Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, he went on to perform nationally and on nationwide television shows such The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
. He was a co-founder of the USA Gymnastics
USA Gymnastics
United States of America Gymnastics or USAG is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The mission of USA Gymnastics is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of gymnastics....
(United States Gymnastics Federation).
Biography
Sundby was born in Minneapolis on November 4, 1921 and grew up in South DakotaSouth Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
before moving with his family to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1932 when he was in junior high school. 5 feet 5 inches tall, he attended University High School in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he described himself as "an asthmatic, weak little kid" who was "the smallest kid in school" until he joined the school's newly-formed gymnastics team. There he trained under coach Van Dixon, and specialized in the parallel bars.
He started hanging out at the original Muscle Beach
Muscle Beach
Muscle Beach refers to either Muscle Beach Venice, an area in Venice, California, on Ocean Front Walk two blocks north of Venice Boulevard or to Original Muscle Beach, two miles north of Venice, south of the Santa Monica Pier...
in Santa Monica where he met former wrestler George Wayne Long. The two formed an act in which Sundby would balance on top of Long, who played the strongman role. The duo traveled around the country appearing at clubs, as well as performances at Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
and in Star and Garter, a revue that appeared on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in 1942 with Gypsy Rose Lee
Gypsy Rose Lee
Gypsy Rose Lee was an American burlesque entertainer famous for her striptease act. She was also an actress, author, and playwright whose 1957 memoir was made into the stage musical and film Gypsy.-Early life:...
as star.
In 1945, Sundby's sister Dolores was added to the act, which was named the Wayne-Marlin Trio after the middle names of the two men. A 1949 stunt in which Sundby walked down the Washington Monument
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington...
's 898 steps on his hands was included as an item illustrated in the pages of Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a franchise, founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims...
. The group traveled with Spike Jones
Spike Jones
Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Warner Brothers cartoon characters, performed a drunken, hiccuping verse for 1942's "Clink! Clink! Another Drink"...
before breaking up in 1955, following his sister's marriage. Sundby moved on to the real estate business.
Gymnastics promotion
Sundby's first effort in publishing was with Acrobat in 1949, which was followed by the brief life of Acro-Chat. He established a magazine called The Modern Gymnast in 1956, as part of an effort to increase exposure for the sport, which at the time was overseen by the Amateur Athletic UnionAmateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
as it lacked its own governing body. He initially ran the magazine on his own, covering responsibilities ranging from authoring articles to mailing the issues.
He was named vice president of the United States Gymnastics Federation (now known as USA Gymnastics
USA Gymnastics
United States of America Gymnastics or USAG is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The mission of USA Gymnastics is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of gymnastics....
) in 1962 as one of its founders. Mademoiselle Gymnast was formed in 1965 to focus on female gymnasts, and was merged with The Modern Gymnast to form Gymnast, which was renamed as International Gymnast, and later as IG. Sundby's active role in the magazines, was exemplified by his taking a picture of all 305 participants at the 1985 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
1985 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 23rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Montreal, Canada, in 1985.-Medals:-All-around:- Floor exercise :-Pommel horse:-Rings:-Vault:-Parallel bars:-Horizontal bar:-Team final:-All-around:- Vault :...
held in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He would conclude all of his editorials with the catch phrase "Have a Happy Handstand".
He established the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, located in Oklahoma City, USA, is a hall of fame dedicated to honoring the achievements and contributions of the world's greatest competitors, coaches and authorities in artistic gymnastics....
in Oceanside, California
Oceanside, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
, which later relocated to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
.
Personal
In 1968, Sundby was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.A resident of Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Carlsbad had a population of 105,328. The population density was 2,693.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Carlsbad was 87,205 White, 1,379 African American, 514 Native American, 7,460 Asian, 198 Pacific Islander, 4,189 from other...
, Sundby died at age 87 on March 18, 2009 at Tri-City Hospital in nearby Vista, California
Vista, California
Vista is a city in north San Diego County, California. It was incorporated January 28, 1963 and became a charter city on June 13, 2007. Located just seven miles inland from the Pacific Ocean in northern San Diego County, the City of Vista has a Mediterranean climate...
, survived by a son.