Robert Bootzin
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Robert "Gypsy Boots" Bootzin (August 19, 1914 - August 8, 2004) was an American fitness pioneer. He is credited with laying the foundation for the acceptance by mainstream America of "alternative" lifestyles such as yoga and organic food.
Born in San Francisco as the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, Bootzin had "dropped out" as early as 1933. He, along with 10-15 other "tribesmen," lived off the land, slept in caves and trees, and bathed in waterfalls. His philosophy of clean living, exercise, and healthy eating — as laid out in his books Barefeet and Good Things to Eat and The Gypsy in Me — gained him a cult following. His health food store "Health Hut" was one of the first of its kind in the world (if not the first), and was patronized by dozens of Hollywood celebrities in the early 1960s. The original Health Hut had an authentic "Tiki" style to it made with leaves and bamboo. It has been said many of the cast members of Gilligan's Island had met there and the "Tiki" theme is said to have been part of the inspiration before the TV show began.[citation needed]
Gypsy Boots continued to travel with the Spike Jones Musical/Comedy troup and speaking about health foods. He was a regular guest on US television talk shows in the 1960s, appearing 25 times on The Steve Allen Show, reaching 30 million viewers and increased his national fame. On The Steve Allen Show he would often play up his role as a health advocate by swinging up on stage from a vine as a "Nature Boy" to persuade Steve to drink one of "Gypsy Boots" concocted fruit health drinks. He referred to this drink as a "Smoothie", giving credo Gypsy Boots as the originator of the popular style of blended natural fruit health drinks.
Gypsy Boots personally espoused never eating meat, drinking alcohol, or smoking tobacco. He was an early believer in the health properties of organic foodstuffs. One of these organic foods was garlic --which he later became a spokesperson for the "Kyolic" variety. He also did work for a Sonoma cheese factory. He would often have a garlic spiced cheese "Sonoma Jack" at his booth at health festivals and faires from the "Valley of the Moon". Along with his all-natural sugar-free "Boots Bars", Wheat Grass, Spirulina and Kyolic. As well as "honey sweet" Medjoule Dates from his orchard.
At age 84, he was still able to throw an American football around forty yards.
He released a record album, Unpredictable on Sidewalk Records in 1968.
He has authored an autobiograhy entitled The Gypsy in Me in which it also contains some of his advice and healthy recipes.
"Boots" was an avid fan of the USC Trojans football team and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He regularly attended the games of both teams and was well known by other fans for his spirited cheers, noise makers and streamers.
The 1948 Nat King Cole hit "Nature Boy" was written about Bootzin by fellow "tribesman" Eden Ahbez.
He died, reportedly at age 89, in Camarillo, California.
