Friday, November 6, 1936

Edna and Edwina take reducing exercises with fitness guru Wallace

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Nice day.

First meeting of Extension

Class held at L.A.S. Hall.

All day meeting. Lucille is

leader and gave the lesson.

Helen attended the meeting.

Edwina came this morning.

The men are repairing the

wall of the church also moved

the toilet at Hall.

Edwina and I took the reducing

exercises given over the Radio

by Wallace. Henry helped Guy

with potatoes this P.M.

Roger came home with Morse

to stay all night.

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Edna was a teacher before she was a wife and mother. I am quite certain she would take some level of satisfaction in knowing that her journal entries are informing and educating me. She often leads me on a path of discovery.

Today, I discovered Wallace Matthew Rogerson.

Rogerson, who was popular enough to be known only by his first name of Wallace, was an exercise guru.

...and I thought Jack LaLane was the first household name in fitness.

Wallace offered in-person physical training, broadcast exercise classes over WGN radio, and marketed records aimed mainly at weight reduction for women. His recordings included charts illustrating how to properly do the exercises.

Wallace died on February 22, 1943. According to his obituary he distributed "millions of recordings."

His obituary also notes that Wallace's funeral services were conducted at the home of his sister-in-law who resided at 6347 N. Lakewood in Chicago. My daughter (Edna's great great granddaughter) is currently attending college in Chicago and lives just one street over and a few houses down from that location.