THE STORY OF JACK LALANNE, BODYBUILDER , FIRST FITNESS GURU

[@todds.6451]

In recent years, when engaged in conversations with younger guys at the gym, I've occasionally asked "Do you know who Jack Lalanne was?" and sadly most of the time they say no. Jack came closer than anyone to literally inventing the fitness industry. In an era when doctors discouraged unnecessary vigorous exercise as unhealthful, Jack doggedly advocated for people to move more, stop smoking, and eat less sugar and fat. He invented the original versions of most of the exercise machines gyms still provide today, and in fact had one of the first chains of franchised fitness centers. For those of us who remember him, he is still an inspiration.

[@ganirintiniano]

In my last bodybuilding competition this year most people didn't even know who Frank Zane was

[@anjinsanx44]

generation of idiots they dont know shit!!!!about anything miss u ric!!!!!

[@1stcwp]

​@@ganirintiniano and I bet they all jizzed themselves over the name zyzz 🤮🤮🤮

[@DrWesterdahl]

Jack LaLanne was a friend of mine, and I am still close friends of his wife Elaine. He was a great guy and an example to all of us of health and fitness. I even got to exercise with him and Elaine on his TV show, the Jack LaLanne Show.

[@johnluna9286]

I had the pleasure to meet him in Livonia Michigan back in the 80's. I use to go and buy old 40's & 50's muscle magazines at used bookstores. He will always be a true hero in my eyes.

[@johnmatzye6633]

I've been trying to find out about his weight-lifting routine. Did he ever take any lay off. Since you knew him - any info would be appreciated.

[@spyman52]

Lucky you!!!

[@bertryman773]

Jack was the man.

[@gregshock]

Jack was a very cool guy. His idea that he doesn’t care how long he lives, just that he’s living while he’s alive is something we should all strive for.

[@gregshock]

MultiPolonius: Very cool. I didn’t know he was on Adams Family. I will look for that.

[@lunity1111]

That’s always been my saying

[@jerrybyfield737]

I had a friend who trained with Jack a couple of times back in the50's and he said that Jack just about killed him with his workout. Jack never stopped, set after set. On and on. He conditioning was incredible.

[@antoniograncino3506]

Jack had a longstanding public wager: $1000 to anybody who could keep up with him in his workouts. Don't believe there were any takers.

[@joeswanson733]

@@antoniograncino3506 the only people i know that would probably be able to keep up would be olympic level athletes.

[@antoniograncino3506]

@@joeswanson733 In the bodybuilding world Jack was known as "The Endurance King"

[@joeswanson733]

@@antoniograncino3506 jack is a odd one because he's not only a body builder but he's also mixed in with classic strong man functional strength stamina. Like the only other body builder that is similar to him would be franco columbu

[@MaggieD0123]

My olympic set at home is an old Jack Lalanne set, threaded ends on the barbell and the weights are even weights after the 5's (10, 20, 50 lb plates). Those bodybuilders from the 40s and 50s were amazing, all natural and incredible athleticism. Vacuums and gymnastics all day.

[@SkylerKing]

Crazy, I have been talking about Jack Lalanne a lot, lately. Great timing on this video. Interesting to note if you didn't know; Jack LaLanne actually invented a lot of the machines we see in the gyms today. He invented the leg curl and leg extension machine, the pulley machine (with weight stack), the smith machine, etc.

[@SirSmoldham]

I was a kid and our family would watch his show every morning before school. He was the first "fourth wall break" experience I had when, after a TV workout, I collapsed on the sofa. He pointed right at me from the television set and yelled, "Get off that couch, boy. We're not finished!" It blew my mind.

[@tomlucasrccrawlers9108]

I remember Jack use to say "I can't die, it'd ruin my reputation". Lol I worked at Jacks gym(in the 80's) in Bakersfield ran by Dominic. Jack was taller in person than I thought he'd be....probably closer to 5'8(couldn't been the shoes). Jack just didn’t die from a bad heart , quite the contrary...he had full blown pneumonia and he refused to go to the Dr for antibiotics. He died on the couch watching TV. Besides the the flu he still had a healthy heart. His shoulders however were "shot-to-hell" from all the behind-the-neck exercises and the hours of swimming , primary the use of the breaststroke movement. I believe he worked out the day before he died. That's extremely unhealthy beating on the body like that with a virus running through it. When I knew him he'd train two hours on the weights and three hours of swimming A DAY. In his 90's he was doing an hour of weights and two hours swimming...no days off EVER. He did like wine. Oh...this horrible mixed drink with liver powder. Yuck. Lol

[@stu73ke]

Good post, very interesting.

[@tomlucasrccrawlers9108]

@Re nato I'm not sure about the knee replacement but it's likely he did. I lost contact with him when I quit working at his gym. However I worked with a friend of the family after on-and-off for many years. I do know he was training for a walk down Hollywood Boulevard with 300 pounds on his back for a birthday stunt...I honestly don't remember for what birthday though...maybe his 80th , when he got in a car accident and messed up his knees. Also was told Elaine was a huge factor in Jack not continuing his "every 5 years stunts" he used to do. She flatout told him no.

[@surfghost9121]

Great stuff, thanks! With that schedule it's actually quite amazing his body didn't give out sooner. He must have had great genetics.

[@stevenleibowitz771]

I remember The Jack Lalanne back in the fifties. A true pioneer in fitness. Nice to see you bring this nostalgia back. Great stuff.

[@francesrude3007]

Just to let you know, I am 78 yrs old and started ACTUALLY doing Jack LALANNE exercises 1 wk ago. I have been doing all of episodes 1 and 2. I was looking for more episodes, but cant find any. I woiuld like to find episode 3, 1-6. Thanks for this vid.

[@ajalewis02]

Jack died from respiratory failure from pneumonia, he worked out 2 hours the day of his death and ignored the pneumonia. his heart was better than ours even art 96.

[@aquamonkey1648]

I was training at Stan Bennett’s in Rohnert Park my friend Jimmy Payne introduced me to his friend Jack Lalanne! He was with his wife Elaine. That was a big deal for me we don’t get a lot of celebrity bodybuilders here in Sonoma County. And to meet the man that started it all was amazing. Great video thanks ric! Did you know Jimmy Payne?

[@antoniograncino3506]

Didn't know Jimmy Payne, but saw his picture on the cover of Mr. America magazine , circa 1963. The photo made him look very red.

[@miltonhollis703]

Mr Alalanna had some of the greatest face exercises to keep you from getting a ( double Chin ).....in 1957 .... I was 12 years old and made fun of Jack Lalanna facial exercises, but when I got older, I still remembered and started using them, and they actually work very, very well....

[@catyear75]

Grew up admiring Jack LaLanne ! Great video tribute to him ! Thanks Ric !

[@equalopportunityoffender6732]

I still lift weights and train at age 60. I recall my mother in early 1960's working out to his TV show. He had a beautiful German Shepard that he fead raw meat.

[@antoniograncino3506]

That would have been "Happy". Later, he had another dog named WALTER, which, Jack said, stood for We All Love To Exercise Regularly

[@leedodge8692]

Some of my earliest memories was of watching Jack's show back in the early 60's.

[@surfghost9121]

Black and white tv's. The days of Popeye, Captain Kangaroo, PowWow the Indian Boy, The Three Stooges, Soupy Sales, Gigantor and Romper Room. Dang.

[@Truthteller000]

Thank you for posting this old video. I’m on my TikTok page talking about him. I’m glad I found your page.❤️

[@subzfit]

What a Legend... I still can't do them Lalanne Push Ups

[@s1003232]

I guess you are larger than he was, only 1.70 m. Same problem here...

[@jbgearhead]

Wow that was really fun to watch a piece of history there. Thanks for sharing that. I never knew there was a feat of strength between Jack and Arnold. Would love to see that clip if it exists. Growing up I thought Jack was just amazing. Thanks again ! Great show.

[@good_mistake8889]

So sad that we won’t get another video ric rest in peace ❤️ & rest in peace too jack class act 👌

[@josephabrams4002]

As Picasso said of Matisse "He was the father to us all"

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

America's first fitness celebrity - and still the best. Joe Weider's old barbell course used him as an example of a high-energy trainer, who'd do 1,000 dips just to take the edge off. His opposite was Ed Theriault, a laid-back little Canadian who could build a relatively huge physique in a few weeks before a contest.

[@jamesguagliardi8689]

Great video ric, jack was a amazing guy.

[@Mach-ow7dx]

I love these old videos. Good job putting this together.

[@johnhughes1395]

Awesome content. You and other greats made our fitness lifestyle what it is today. Thanks Ric and stay well from Australia 🇦🇺

[@jeanbaumgartner4052]

Thanks For Sharing These Videos 📹 Jack LaLanne!

[@LEtang76]

Thanks Ric that was interesting. Gday from Australia mate!

[@davidwicklin9943]

Jack LaLanne was the epitome of a human "machine" we should all strive to be! Indeed an amazing physical fitness specimen but also had tremendous mental acuity and was decades ahead of his time!

[@totttrax]

R.I.P RICK KZbin IS NOT THE SAME WITHOUT YOU . YOU GAD A HUGE INFLUENCE OVER MY FITNESS JOURNEY ALOT OF TIPS TAKING FROM YOUR CONTENT

[@nomehdrider]

I used to watch it in the mornings, nut was the sixties I didn't know they were rebroadcasts. He used to bring in two white shepherds.

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

My favorite was "Happy."

[@douglasschickinger2456]

Great tribute Ric! Thank you

[@Tartersauce101]

That Groucho guy actually was funny. I've heard him mentioned many times over the years but this was my first time actually hearing him. I love dry humor I wish I bothered to find out about him before!

[@zxtenn]

COOL, i am 64 now but when i was an early teen i was at a friends home and his Mother had Jacks show on and she told her Husband what a beautiful body Jack has, he said 'Marge thats all he does all day. He used to rip phone books in half so yes strong, i liked his white German Shepherd, EXTREMELY amazing athlete and fantastic cardio, no BB could ever compare to him

[@garybreen8126]

Jack was such an inspiration ....a good man! RIC appreciate the nice introductions to the videos you present.

[@patricelockertanthony7630]

His show wasn't just the 50's and 60's. His show is the longest running at over 30 years.

[@surfghost9121]

My sister worked with him at many health industry trade shows and conventions. Knew him and Elaine. Loved him to death. Said what you saw was who he was. Absolute legend.

[@spyman52]

I loved Jack as a kid in the 60's, and still do. No one today is doing anything new...other than roids. What a treat...and Groucho too! Love all the comments too.

[@zuluexmachina2191]

In 1969, I was a 5 year old little girl and NEVER missed an episode of The Jack Lalanne Show before having to go to school in the afternoon. I absolutely loved Jack ❤.

[@Mr-gb1ob]

You sound sincere and I like that

[@carlosl.garcia2745]

Love the Classics Rick, you da man!💪🦁

[@chrismurray8132]

Jack used and came-up with bodybuilding principles that Weider took credit for!!!

[@antoniograncino3506]

True. Joe Weider claimed to be the originator of everything bodybuilding related.

[@fitness4life67]

@@antoniograncino3506 Weider is the main reason Arnold won as much as he did. Weider was a fraud.

[@antoniograncino3506]

@@fitness4life67 So, are IFBB competitions "fixed" ?

[@fitness4life67]

@@antoniograncino3506 When Weider was making Arnold a star in the beginning, yes. Now, I have no idea.

[@fitness4life67]

@@antoniograncino3506 I know about 2 dozen old timers who were in BB since the 50s and they knew the crap Weider pulled to make Arnold win when he did not deserve to win.

[@peteclarke]

Thank you for this Ric! Jack is my inspiration and definitely the GOAT!!

[@otmanel.640]

Ric, it’s always a pleasure to see you in shape and still sharing your long experience 👍🏼

[@geraldstamour1312]

Iconic! No other word to describe Jack LaLanne!

[@jan6485]

Thank you Ric , your back must be hurting from lifting and pulling the bodybuilding and fitness industry all by yourself sometimes . Great stuff

[@aquamonkey1648]

Also I have to ad Jack was the nicest man he asked me about my personal life if I was married, Jimmy was the same way always complementing and motivating...

[@dominiclondesborough3222]

I will write a blog post on the great Jack LaLanne on my Fitness4London website, and give your KZbin channel a mention, Ric. Thanks for posting this video.

[@eric1313]

Its crazy to see Ric talk about the topic and also about the dead of the man and old age . And now he is gone also really crazy plus Ric was not young but also not crazy old it’s sad that we lost this legend . I will mis his videos and story’s

[@ronaldweed6103]

This is AWESOME

[@ProWrestleMachine]

I’m so happy I found your channel. Subscribed!

[@chavitavb]

I always looked up to jack as a kid when he used to air his juicer commercials. I just always appreciated how much he emphasized health, but without degrading the viewer. He was honest and told you the risks of unhealthy lifestyles. You know what’s weird lol ? I’ve been looking up Jack this past week trying to learn more about him and behold, this video comes out. Maybe the universe read my mind lol

[@bbarnett3469]

I used to watch Jack in the mornings on TV doing exercises with his two German shepherds sitting next to him. There was nothing like it (fitness training) anywhere else in our society at that time! Lived a great life well. Bravo Jack!! RIP....

[@michaelleroi9077]

Mom and I watched him and used his Glamour Stretch Bands then saw him pull boats through Moro Bay Harbor. Total inspiration!!!

[@monacoathlete2755]

Hope you had a great 4th Ric! 🇺🇸❤🇺🇸❤🇺🇸❤🇺🇸❤🇺🇸

[@JohnBarron-n]

Thanks Rick !

[@channel1800dumb]

Thankyou Mr Drasin!

[@spikespiegel5434]

I had no idea Groucho was this funny. Oh man! LOL

[@patricksheean1794]

Jack lived close by in Morro Bay until he died. He was in his Corvette when he was stopped for DUI. He was a joy to be around. BTW it was row boats not tug boats 😎

[@jquest43]

Was he a closet alcoholic?

[@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO]

Yeah, tug boats are huge. But I believe he could have pulled at least one or two : )

[@shawndejohn63]

Jack was a true natural bodybuilder and a true gentleman.RIP

[@soundbar8826]

You’re awesome ric love the content recently 💪🏻

[@bushwacker3292]

Thanks that was awesome 👍

[@ardenpowers7730]

I always thought that his Capezio's were out of place ! Thanks for sharing . . .

[@mrpink6022]

Remember his white shepherd HAPPY?

[@georgeanastasopoulos5865]

I remember I first saw Jack LaLane when I was 6, 7 years old on black and white television in the very late 1960s. Furthermore, in the nineteen seventies I watched The Adams Family TV show reruns from the 1960s, and on one episode there was Jack LaLane! As Groucho Marx said one joke after another I laughed. Two legends from motion pictures, and television. These men contributed a great amount; Groucho, of the Marx Brothers who starred, performed in movies from the early, and late 1930s to 1940s, of comedy, and entertainment. Then there is Jack LaLane who represents, and greatly contributed to fitness, health, and a first method of bodybuilding training. These were men who were real, true, and natural. Groucho, and LaLane were also big, genuine American achievers; they were the Americans that I admire who believe in accomplishing something. Accomplishment is a part of my philosophy that I carry from American culture that has helped me to have a bit more faith, and extra confidence. A belief in yourself, and the motivation from fitness gurus, especially that Jack LaLane gave is one of the things that he has added enormously to fitness. Therefore, more men, and women are walking on a path of success.

[@RATBURL]

R. I.P. Ric 👍🏻

[@tomfisher8951]

He started it all remember the German shepherds . Great video , thank you for this

[@QueensNativeNYC]

That was great Ric!

[@everready19373]

I remember watching him on TV when I was a kid.

[@joemurdoch4138]

Jack Lalanne was the real deal. Just hard work and diet. I wish bodybuilding would go back to that standard and get all of the junk out of it. It's no longer about the aesthetics of the body, but about being freakishly big. I would love to hear an honest opinion from jack about these bodybuilders with bubble guts.

[@surfghost9121]

and athleticism. Those guys were all about functional fitness, endurance, flexibility. Today's guys can't tie their own shoes.

[@s1003232]

Great, but the elephant in the room is around 1:20 He was only 1.70m short. That makes it much easier to for example do the Lalanne push up. I tried that with my 1.90 (and above average strength) but no possibility. Is there a video about this issue?

[@russellcyr4867]

My favorite Jack LaLanne quotes: 1. I can't die...it would ruin my reputation. 2. If it tastes good....spit it out.

[@Peter-rg4ng]

Jack LaLanne would toast most body building and fitness coaches today.

[@antoniograncino3506]

Jack didn't die of heart failure or from being just "worn out". He died from complications of pneumonia. I am acquainted with his nephew Tom, who explained that Uncle Jack refused to see a doctor after feeling ill, and thought he could shake it off by working out harder. Viral pneumonia is very dangerous at any age, and can quickly overwhelm the body's defenses before you know it. Jack had little faith in "conventional" medicine: he was an adherent of chiropractic and homeopathy and "natural" healing. But the sad irony is that conventional medicine may have saved his life if he had acted in time; instead he died of the disease that kills most old people.

[@jamesrav]

good advice. I thought perhaps he had bacterial and did not treat it (dumb!), but if it was viral then there really is no treatment and its just a case of whether the body can beat it. At 96 it gets tough to do. Natural healing is great, but sometimes you need targeted, strong, medicine.

[@ClodiAlmeida]

Great Jack. Nice

[@jeanbaumgartner4052]

We Use Watch Jack LaLanne ALL The Time On TV 📺 😀 😉 🙄 🤣 😄!

[@bullybeatdown1140]

RIP BIG GUY🙏

[@RobertMiller-fw1jt]

Love your show Ric 💕👍😁

[@jonathannoerr5997]

2nd or 4th and the Boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ was the Jack LaLanne Gym!!! When I Vacationed there thru the 90's... Used to Jog or Walk from 44th Street! Workout THERE!!! Then Enjoy the rest of the day with the Beach Volleyball Courts just on the other side of the Boardwalk!!!

[@007stopjockin]

Wow, he was really put together in his younger years! Nice wide structure up top, and a very small waist with narrow hips! Top Tier structure for sure! 007

[@antoniograncino3506]

Stop that ! Yer gettin' me all excited...

[@emale03]

GREAT MAN

[@closetcleaner]

Before Jack, there were others promoters of natural health like Paul Bragg. I'm sure there are more, but left no record on TV, but perhaps on periodicals, books and popular stories.

[@jtoo6060]

The funny thing is Groucho did everything wrong, drank smoked and he lived as long as Jack did

[@dominiclondesborough3222]

Groucho Marx died age 86. Jack LaLanne died age 96. Jack beat Groucho by 10 years!

[@jamesrav]

@@dominiclondesborough3222 and quality of life? its all about quality. Jack was genetically gifted as well, and then accentuating that with his workout routine led to amazing longevity. There's a video him being interviewed at age 88 and he throws a couple playful rapid fire punches at the guys stomach.

[@dspada67]

Awesome stuff.

[@garysnow1475]

I remember watching Jack when I was a kid.

[@Tjrush-rm4jj]

He has great hair!

[@lukeskywalker1574]

I like the Groucho clip, Tv sure was full of funny personalities back then.

[@fitness4life67]

LaLanne was a fitness LEGEND & GOD.

[@kathryn3390]

Jack LaLanne = Affordable Health Care! No devices needed. Our bodies were our weights. From all I've seen the only gadget used was a chair. Not one penny needs to be spent. Life is movement. Adding it's sort of a bummer when using your Apple Watch that, because of his breaks on the show, it fails to tally all that's performed as 'exercise' so the ring fails to move... at least when I did it. During the jogging and lengthy movements it 'moved' but not as much as, say, on an indoor cycling machine.

[@timcarr6401]

Jack was wonderful and inspirational. That lady Evelyn's voice is very familiar. I didn't catch her last name. Was it Bebe, or something like that? I know she had to have done voice overs.

[@arame29]

Ric Thank you for this tribute For the record, Jack died from pneumonia Also he suffered a serious leg injury playing football in in the 1930's. They didnt have the orthoscopic surgical techniques back then, and he was classified 4F in the military during WW2 because he could not perform a full squat So in order to be inducted, he did cartwheels down the waiting line

[@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO]

This guy was the perfect example of what makes America great and unique among nations. But you can tell he can't stand that cigar : ) "If it tastes good, spit it out". -Jack LaLanne

[@michaelmacdonald9493]

RIP Ric

[@rickj895]

Cool

[@guygraham8016]

Bit sad now Rics gone.

[@tomboyd8081]

I had read that jack died from pneumonia. I can feel Jack's pain being interviewed by Groucho. It was like Groucho had no idea who he was.

[@112jungle]

Though the mills of God grind slowly; Yet they grind exceeding small;Though with patience He stands waiting, With exactness grinds He all.

[@williamnewton2786]

Jack died not from heart failure. He died from developing pneumonia when he went to the doctor for a bad cold when he went home and worked out afterward he got really sick and went to the hospital where he died a few days later.

[@theItalianshamrock]

Everything he did was to help others. He wanted to see others happy and healthy

[@roadstar499]

Jack was the best...

[@musclehal]

Great video. I wonder who had a better physique Jack LaLanne or Charles Atlas. Both had great looking bodies

[@MaxMoon65]

Hal..Jack had the superior physique..especially in his later years..Tony Sansone was Charles Atlats' real name..his physique was really nothing..zero legs..just ordinary really.

[@musclehal]

Yeah you are probably right. Would of loved to see them both pose off against each other.

[@MaxMoon65]

@@musclehal Go to Marx Max Muscle and request it...I would like to see it.

[@musclehal]

Will try. That would be hot

[@musclehal]

Just subscribed to it. Thanks. Hot site@@MaxMoon65