When I was a kid, I remember watching Jack LaLanne on KTLA channel 5 Saturday afternoons.
The dude was 60 years old at the time. I wondered: Would I ever make it to that age?
I recall doing squats and windmills and various other things right along side him (well … right in front of the television set, anyway) and huffing and puffing for the heck of it. Scrawny muscles pumped out … in front of the mirror, showing off what “guns” I had. We had just moved to Hacienda Heights, CA. I was in a brand new school, some 15 miles away from where I originally lived. We had barely gotten a color television set, if memory serves, but I don’t remember seeing him in color; I recall being at my aunt’s house in Alhambra, CA, hearing his repetitions being called out on her black and white console.
Jack was one of the first people I remember making an impression on me. He was a fireball. Full of vim and vigor. I wanted to be just like him at that age. That … and an astronaut.
I’m going to miss you, Jack. There’s a set of free weights and a cushioning mat up there for you in the clouds, I’m certain …
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on Jan 24, 2011 @ 10:30 EST5EDT
This marks the passing of a era, our childhood world and it’s innocence is no more :-(
Similar memories – Grandma’s black & white TV in her living room – without the exercising or huffing & puffing. I remember looking at him, looking at my white-haired, arthritic grandmother in her rocking chair and thinking, “Wow! What will he be like when he’s Grandma’s age!” Doing the math, he was about 10 years younger than Grandma, and outlived her by about 30 years.
I heart this.
One of my first (tv) memories as a child as well… sad day…
You’re going to probably hate me saying this, but I only know him as the inspiration for Uncle Jack on Arrested Development… “SHOOT ME!”
I was stunned reading this morning’s paper…! I do remember him as a kid….he started out his show doing Jumping Jacks. **sigh** fare thee well Jack LaLanne.
RIP Jack, the first of the fitness gurus.
Hacienda Heights? Wilson or Los Altos side? And RIP Jack.
*POST AUTHOR*
. . . . .
The Wilson side, of course.
Everyone on the Los Altos side were a bunch of thugs and trouble makers …
I, too, remember watching him on our black and white “TV set.” They were “sets” back then because it was a wooden piece of furniture that weighed 200 pounds. My pasty, pudgy little self tried to keep up with his jumping jacks and all his other energetic, happy and friendly instructions, but then I realized I’d rather have a PB&J, a glass of milk, a Star Trek rerun and die young and happy.
Please don’t misunderstand. I respected the guy; I loved the guy; I wanted to be the guy. I was just not motivated enough, but he made a huge impact on the world of fitness and proved by his longevity that it’s actually worthwhile.
Me? I’m counting on good genes (and that PB&J).