Old-Time Rock ‘n’ Roll:
How The 1980s Embraced 1950s and 1960s Oldies Music
Sweatin’ to the Oldies
Photo: "Richard Simmons" by matthewspiel is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Richard Simmons became an inspiration to many overweight people by talking about his body image issues. He first started with an exercise studio/salad bar. Due to his encouraging, positive energy, people loved him. Being in Los Angeles, the entertainment industry noticed him during the mid-seventies. He played himself on the popular soap opera General Hospital. The Richard Simmons Show, which ran from 1982-1983, provided viewers with workouts and healthy cooking tips. The loss of his show depressed Simmons. However, a new technology would keep him in the spotlight. With many U.S. households possessing a VCR (video cassette player) during the mid-eighties, workout videos became very popular because they provided viewers the ability to work out anytime privately at home. If one had the motivation, they didn’t need to go to an exercise class. Simmons felt most exercise videos up to 1986 weren’t much fun due to their flat background music. He wanted to do something that made people sing and dance while getting a workout. Richard Simmons decided to employ the music he enjoyed as a youth.
Sweatin’ to the Oldies features hits like It’s My Party,
He’s a Rebel,
Personality,
On Broadway,
Dancing in the Streets,
and Beyond the Sea.
In the videos, Simmons leads his exercise crew in very short shorts and an oversize tank top labeled Sweatin’ to the Oldies. This look became his trademark. His exercise group consisted of his Slimmons workout center customers. A live band provided the music during the workouts. Infomercials promoted the video. Viewers called a 1-800 number to order. Due to the great success of Sweatin’ to the Oldies, more videos were made. Sweatin’ 2, was followed by Sweatin’ 3. The final video title, paying tribute to the Beatles, is titled Sweat N’ Shout.