Jill Day's Gym

Copping a gun feel in 1950s Earls Court

I couldn’t help but share another hilarious Pathe newsreel about Olde Worlde gyms, this one from 1957, about the pop singer Jill Day's gym in Earls Court, West London - where she works out in full make up, jewellery and sandals, with her dishy redhead 'ex Australian Navy PTI' partner 'Rusty Hood'.

When not copping a feel of her musclemen patrons’ biceps, such as 'Mr East Scotland'.

All watched over by a signed photo of Dirk Bogarde.

Oh, and the guy in the 1966 Kensington (male-only) gym video I posted about earlier this week, the one who looks like the spit of Richard Jaeckel? He probably was Richard Jaeckel.

Rolf, who organised the Palm Springs pool party, and was very much involved in the 1960s Hollywood homo demimonde, organising discreet soirees for the sympathique, reminded me that at forty - the age he was in 1966 - Jaeckel (who had a bit of a reputation, at least according to hearsay) looked about twenty-five. He also suggested that his agent probably prevented his name being used in the Pathe clip.

A Google search also reveals that Jaeckel was in the UK that year to film The Dirty Dozen, in Hertfordshire, just outside London.

Here he is, snapped with other members of the cast, arriving at Heathrow. With the same lips, smile and haircut as in the clip.

I should have known that the guy doing squats in flip flops couldn't be British. His teeth were far too good for the 1960s.