12 year old strong girl at Muscle Beach, 1954

7 images. 12 year old strong girl at Muscle Beach, 12 February 1954. April Atkins -- 12 years, 79 pounds; Patti Taylor, 102 pounds; Russ Saunders, 175 pounds; DeForrest Most, 176 pounds; Don Thackwell, 180 pounds; Edwin Grant, 200 pounds; Ellen Atkins, 75 pounds; David Schwartz, 132 pounds.; Caption slip reads: "for Sunday or Monday. Photographer: Gaze. Date: 1954-02-12. Reporter: Gaze. Assignment: 12-year-old strong girl. #11: April Atkins, 12-year-old Muscle Beach 'regular', displays unusual stregth as she supports four persons weighing a total of 633 pounds on her back. She has supported 700 pounds. From top to bottom, front: Patti Taylor, 102 pounds; Russ Saunders, 175; back: DeForrest Most, 176 pounds; Don Thackwell, almost hidden in 'pileup,' 180 [pounds]. #30: April Atkins, 12, makes a quick trip upside down on a rope from her 25-foot high perch atop Muscle Beach's high rings cross-bar. #31: April Atkins with exercisor. #45: April Atkins demonstrates strength by lifting 200-pound Edwin (Ed) Grant off. #6: April Atkins, 12, works out under tutelage of her trainer, Barney Fry, at Muscle Beach. #29: April Atkins, 12, of Pacific Paliades, said to be the 'strongest girl in the world' for her age, demonstrates how she can hold 665 pounds on her back. Assisting her at Muscle Beach, Santa Monica, are, from left, top: Patti Taylor, 105 pounds; DeForrest Most, 185 [pounds]; bottom: Russ Saunders, 175 [pounds], and Edwin Grant, 200 [pounds]. #45: With her trainer, Barney Fry, (right), giving instructions, 12-year-old April Atkins of Pacific Palisades 'warms up' for a more difficult feat, (see negative #11) by holding three persons on her shoulders. From top they are her sister, Ellen Atkins, 75 pounds; David Schwartz, 132 [pounds]; DeForrest Most, 176 [pounds]. April weighs in at 79 pounds".