Vic Tanny
| Vic Tanny | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Victor A. Iannidinardo February 18, 1912 Rochester, New York United States |
| Died |
June 11, 1985 (aged 73) Tampa, Florida United States |
| Occupation | Trainer |
| Relatives | Armand Tanny (brother) |
Victor "Vic" Tanny (February 18, 1912 – June 11, 1985) was a pioneer in the creation of the modern health club.
Biography
In 1935, Tanny opened his first club in his hometown of Rochester, New York. In 1939 he sold the club and opened a new one in Santa Monica, California. The Vic Tanny Centers flourished in the 1950s and early to mid-1960s and expanded the field to a new type of customer.
Prior to the advent of Tanny, gyms had the reputation of being strictly for men, and often of the rougher type at that—sweaty, dirty, and dingy lairs reserved for serious bodybuilders. Tanny's gyms were modern and inviting by comparison, featuring amenities such as mirrors and carpets, and welcomed both men and women.
Tanny's business eventually fell into bankruptcy. Analysts blamed the insolvency on over-expansion, poor management, and insufficient capital.[1] The Vic Tanny Centers were closed or sold (among those sold, some retained the Vic Tanny name). Nonetheless, Tanny's gyms had played a part in the evolution of the all-male gym to the modern fitness club of today. Many of the Tanny health clubs became part of the Bally Total Fitness network.[2]
Tanny died of heart failure in Tampa, Florida at the age of 73.[3]
References
- ↑ "Vic Tanny, Health Club Owner And Body Builder, Dies at 73". The New York Times. Associated Press. 12 June 1985.
- ↑ International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 25. St. James Press, 1999 (via fundinguniverse.com)]
- ↑ Folkart, Burt A. (12 June 1985). "Vic Tanny, First Big Gym Chain Developer, Dies". Los Angeles Times.