1960s Men's Gym

The 1960s Men’s Gym film by British Pathé was made in the style of a short newsreel feature, typical of the company’s output during that era. Crews would visit a real location, in this case a working men’s gym, and film staged and semi candid sequences of members exercising, lifting weights and using the latest fitness equipment. The men were filmed performing routines such as bodybuilding poses, weight training and trying out machines like the vibro massage device, with the cameraman capturing close ups and wider shots to add visual interest. After filming, the footage would be edited into a short feature with a scripted voiceover, often delivered in the light, slightly tongue in cheek tone that Pathé was known for, before being distributed to cinemas as part of their regular newsreel programme.