[78-L] 78s for radio exercise programs

[Donna Halper]

In the 1920s, there was an exercise craze, based on a fad called the 
"Daily Dozen" (a series of 12 exercises, originally created by Walter 
Camp; these simple calisthenics were supposed to help one to become 
physically fit, even in the comfort of one's home). For some reason, 
radio got involved in the exercise craze, and various programs (which 
I've written about in an essay you can find online called "Exercise and 
Expertise") featured the exercises, led by a friendly host who guided 
you through them each morning. But I'm trying to find out which songs 
were used-- I recall seeing advertisements in newspapers for these 
programs (and the ads mentioned  the names of the local stores that sold 
the exercise records, but the ads I saw _didn't_ mention the songs-- it 
just said the store had the exercise records). I also recall a couple of 
newspaper articles from the early 1920s, that discussed those 
recordings, the ones that were based on Walter Camp's Daily Dozen... but 
I can't find my notes. Anyone know which songs from the early to mid 
1920s might have been used on these radio exercise programs, and who 
performed them?

-- 
Donna L. Halper, PhD
Associate Professor of Communication & Media Studies
Lesley University, Cambridge MA