"When I'm serious, I get very serious. When I live, I live for keeps.  I tear the grass in great big heaps. Hey, to that person out there, pull your gut in! Straighten up!"

    About This Interview

    In his two-hour interview, Jack LaLanne (1914-2011) speaks about his youth as a gawky teenager, and how his interest in bodybuilding transformed him into an internationally-known fitness guru. He chronicles the founding of his gym and the creation and development of his syndicated Jack LaLanne Show. He talks about the production and format of the long-running show as well as the origins of many of its signature elements and marketing promotions. LaLanne also discusses his guest appearances on other series including The Ed Sullivan Show and You Bet Your Life. B-roll consists of a personal tour of his home gym as well as some of the first bodybuilding machines he invented. Also included on the b-roll is a short stand-up interview with his wife (and co-producer) Elaine LaLanne. Karen Herman conducted the interview on September 12, 2003 in Morro Bay, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Jack LaLanne

    Jack LaLanne on his childhood sugar addiction and learning about nutrition

    03:42
    Thumbnail of Jack LaLanne

    Jack LaLanne on the success of his power juicer

    02:15
    Thumbnail of Jack LaLanne

    Jack LaLanne on censorship on The Jack LaLanne Show and words he could not say; on how standards have changed over the years

    02:11
    Thumbnail of Jack LaLanne

    Jack LaLanne on his wardrobe on The Jack LaLanne Show

    00:36
    Thumbnail of Jack LaLanne

    Jack LaLanne on doing a voiceover on The Simpsons

    00:37
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early years and influences; on his sugar addiction as a child; on his early interest in physical fitness and his plan to be a doctor

    11:55

    On his early television appearances; on starting his gym, Jack LaLanne Physical Culture Studio, in the 1930s and recruiting student clients

    10:35

    On developing his first TV series in San Francisco; on moving to Hollywood to go national

    06:30

    Chapter 2

    On starting his television show in 1951; on developing his own products; on music and censorship on The Jack LaLanne Show

    16:05

    On production, wardrobe, and syndication of The Jack LaLanne Show

    12:25

    Chapter 3

    On his show going off the air in 1985; on his guest appearances on other series; on the success of his power juicer and filming infomercials

    08:55

    On being a television spokesperson for the Dorr Arthritis Institute; on watching television

    01:29

    On his advice to fitness professionals; on how he'd like to be remembered

    05:57

    On photos illustrating his career; with his wife Elaine in their gym at home

    12:23

    Chapter 4

    Jack and Elaine LaLanne give a tour of their gym; on working out and their work together; on machines he invented

    11:56

    Elaine LaLanne on her duties on The Jack LaLanne Show; on her favorite Jack LaLanne story

    08:42

    Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town

    Jack LaLanne on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show

    00:17

    Here's Lucy

    Jack LaLanne on appearing on Here's Lucy with Lucille Ball

    01:00

    Jack LaLanne Show, The

    Jack LaLanne on the start of The Jack LaLanne Show in 1951

    02:34

    Jack LaLanne on developing his own products and promoting them on The Jack LaLanne Show

    02:20

    Jack LaLanne on the music on The Jack LaLanne Show and keeping the show entertaining and interesting

    02:40

    Jack LaLanne on censorship on The Jack LaLanne Show and words he could not say; on how standards have changed over the years

    02:11

    Jack LaLanne on the opening of The Jack LaLanne Show and what the announcer said

    01:26

    Jack LaLanne on the importance of faith on The Jack LaLanne Show

    02:33

    Jack LaLanne on having dogs and children on The Jack LaLanne Show

    01:30

    Jack LaLanne on television critics' and viewer responses to The Jack LaLanne Show

    00:42

    Jack LaLanne on the production of The Jack LaLanne Show

    01:09

    Jack LaLanne on his wardrobe on The Jack LaLanne Show

    00:36

    Jack LaLanne on the first broadcast of The Jack LaLanne Show  

    01:56

    Jack LaLanne on wanting to help and motivate people through The Jack LaLanne Show

    05:02

    Jack LaLanne on live TV mishaps and working on live TV with The Jack LaLanne Show

    00:27

    Jack LaLanne on syndicating The Jack LaLanne Show

    03:14

    Jack LaLanne on The Jack LaLanne Show going off the air in 1985

    00:44

    Jack LaLanne on a photo of him on The Jack LaLanne Show

    00:15

    Elaine LaLanne on her duties on The Jack LaLanne Show

    04:43

    Simpsons, The

    Jack LaLanne on doing a voiceover on The Simpsons

    00:37

    You Asked For It

    Jack LaLanne on appearing on You Asked For It after breaking the world record for push-ups

    00:24

    You Bet Your Life

    Jack LaLanne on appearing on You Bet Your Life with Groucho Marx

    00:41

    Advice

    Jack LaLanne on his advice to aspiring television fitness professionals

    02:07

    Bloopers

    Jack LaLanne on live TV mishaps and working on live TV with The Jack LaLanne Show

    00:27

    Censorship / Standards & Practices

    Jack LaLanne on censorship on The Jack LaLanne Show and words he could not say; on how standards have changed over the years

    02:11

    Criticism of TV

    Jack LaLanne on television critics' and viewer responses to The Jack LaLanne Show

    00:42

    Television Industry

    Jack LaLanne on syndicating The Jack LaLanne Show

    03:14

    Jack LaLanne on censorship on The Jack LaLanne Show and words he could not say; on how standards have changed over the years

    02:11

    Jack LaLanne on television critics' and viewer responses to The Jack LaLanne Show

    00:42

    Jack LaLanne on his advice to aspiring television fitness professionals

    02:07

    Service Shows

    Jack LaLanne on the early years of The Jack LaLanne Show

    28:29

    Lucille Ball

    Jack LaLanne on appearing on Here's Lucy with Lucille Ball

    01:00

    Jack LaLanne on a photo with Lucille Ball

    00:27

    Bonnie Hunt

    Jack LaLanne on appearing on Life With Bonnie

    00:17

    Jack LaLanne

    Elaine LaLanne on her favorite Jack LaLanne story

    01:57

    Groucho Marx

    Jack LaLanne on appearing on You Bet Your Life with Groucho Marx

    00:41

    Arnold Schwarzenegger

    Jack LaLanne on friend and fellow fitness enthusiast Arnold Schwarzenegger

    00:22

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