Slate Daily Feed Decoder Ring | Jane Fonda’s Workout, Part 2: Hanoi Jane’s VHS Revolution (Encore)
Sep 10, 2025
The discussion dives into Jane Fonda's iconic 1982 workout tape, a game changer for the home fitness industry. It explores her transition from a polarizing political figure to a celebrated fitness guru, delving into the cultural impact of her VHS revolution. Fonda's evolution is framed against her activism in the late 70s, highlighting her advocacy for various social issues. The narrative also touches on the scrutiny she faced during the Vietnam War and how her fitness revolution changed public perceptions of her, blending activism and celebrity.
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Video That Created A Market
- Jane Fonda's 1982 VHS transformed home video by creating the for-sale category and launching the exercise-video industry.
- Her tape sold millions and directly inspired dozens of celebrity workout videos and a VCR boom.
Entrepreneurship Met A Celebrity Moment
- Stuart Carl and Carl Video saw a latent market for how-to tapes and targeted buying rather than renting culture.
- They convinced Fonda to make a tape despite low VCR penetration and skepticism.
Winging The First Tape
- Fonda and director Sid Galanti recreated a live class on a shoestring budget and filmed it in a dance-studio set.
- They improvised much of the taping, describing it as 'spit and prayer.'
