Corporate History
The first Gold's Gym opened in fall 1965 in Venice Beach, California. Dubbed "the Mecca of bodybuilding", it was frequented by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dave Draper and featured in the 1977 movie Pumping Iron. The movie brought attention not only to the gym itself, but also to the world of bodybuilding and physique in general. Jim Morrison of The Doors was also a frequent visitor to the Gold's Gym in Venice. To this day, it is considered a landmark in the bodybuilding subculture and has achieved cult status In 1970, Joe Gold sold the chain.
Today, Gold's Gym claims to be the largest chain of co-ed gyms in the world, with more than 700 locations in 42 states and 30 countries. Gold's Gym has a membership of more than three and a half million, split almost equally between male and female patrons. Gold's Gym locations are equipped with cardiovascular and strength training equipment and offer group exercise classes such as group cycling, pilates, Latin dance, yoga and stretching through the company GGX (Gold's Group Exercise) program. Many gyms also offer basketball, swimming pools and boxing studios.
The company also licenses its name to products such as fitness equipment and clothing. The famous original Gold’s Gym logo, a bald-headed weightlifter holding a barbell, was designed in 1973 by Ric Drasin, who was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s training partner for four years. Gold's Gym's membership had included such celebrities as Jodie Foster, Morgan Freeman, The Rock, Hilary Swank, Keanu Reeves, Tiger Woods and Jessica Alba. To this day, the original Gold's Gym in Venice is considered a sports landmark and is recognized by ESPN.com on its list of the 100 most important sports venues.
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