Obesity statistics continue to grab the headlines in the U.S. and currently, four out of 10 Americans are overweight. Tackling this is partly about eating a healthy diet and partly about getting enough exercise. These days, women fully participate in sport and exercise – gyms are full of women keeping in shape. However, this has not always been the case. Our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers all faced significant societal barriers when it came to exercising. For years, exercise was simply not seen as ladylike. So, they became very inventive!
Take a look at some of the most fascinating photos from the early 20th century that showcase innovative activities for the time — and then marvel at just how far women’s fitness and extracurricular activities have evolved. (And since we’re talking about women — check out the greatest women innovators and inventors.)
We took each pic and restored the color so that we can get a sense of what it was like to live in those times.
Cycling
Long before there was SpinCycle or Peloton, there were cycling machines like those pictured here, circa 1922, in the gymnasium on the Homeric, a ship owned by White Star (the same company that operated Titanic). Cycling machines were commonly found in the fitness spaces on world-class ocean liners and were considered an activity primarily for the elite.
The First Exercise Bikes
Two women using the cycle machine in the gym on board the Homeric Liner, taken over from the Germans by White Star. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
The warmth of the color reveals the oak panelling on the walls of this ‘gym’. It’s very different to modern gyms and the exercise bikes themselves look a bit scary!
Rowing
Actress and singer Alexis Smith is shown here getting in shape on a rowing machine in 1951. Smith was a film star first and closed out her career on stage, where she earned a Tony for her role in Follies. Fun fact: the rowing machine was invented in 1872.
Timing the Session
Canadian-born actress Alexis Smith (1921 – 1993) uses a rowing machine, while a police officer times her with a stopwatch, USA, circa 1951. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Adding color draws your eye to the woman in the uniform who appears to be timing the session. The rowing machine looks very different from those used today.
Swim Bars
The ladies in this clip are demonstrating devices known as swim bars on a beach in 1935. You can still purchase swim bars today but they look a little different to these!
At the Beach
28th June 1935: A group of women exercising on the beach at Worthing using new inflated ‘swim bars’. (Photo by William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images)
Thanks to color, we can see that the outfits are not too different to those you would see women wearing at the beach right now – the shoes may be a little different though.
Tennis
Back in 1919, French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen took the women’s singles title at Wimbledon — her first of five in a row. She was a maverick in the sport of women’s tennis as well as the fashions worn in play — her tennis outfit shown here was considered risque at the time, being called “indecent” by reporters.
Winning the Match
French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen (1899 – 1938) in play at the Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, London, 1st July 1919. She won the Women’s Singles title that year. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
It’s striking how adding color makes this scene look very similar to Wimbledon today – some thing never change!
Lacrosse
The Surrey Ladies lacrosse team, pictured here in 1920, wore uniforms that skewed more “masculine.” The trend at that time was for women’s lacrosse uniforms to look more like men’s, thereby elevating the status of the women’s version of the sport from merely recreational to competitive.
Tie Your Hair Back
Surrey Ladies lacrosse players pose for a team portrait ahead of the lacrosse game between London Co and Surrey Ladies, England, United Kingdom, 21st February 1920. (Photo by Adams/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Detail revealed by the color includes the hairnets worn by the players – not a pony tail to be seen.
Football (Soccer)
The Dick, Kerr Ladies Football Club players (a factory team pictured here in 1920) train in advance of a match. The following year, this club drew such large crowds and raised so much money that the Football Association (FA) and the political establishment took note of the rise in popularity of the women’s sport. With that popularity came power, and as such, the women’s sport was seen as problematic and a threat to the establishment. That’s why women’s football was banned the following year. The FA’s consultative committee stated, upon the decision to ban the sport, “Complaints having been made as to football being played by women, Council felt impelled to express the strong opinion that the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and should not be encouraged.” The ban lasted for 51 years.
The Big Match
Players of team Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C representing England at a training session before an international match against the French women’s soccer team, at Deepdale in Preston, UK, 29th April 1920. (Photo by John Warwick Brooke/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Adding color further underlines the waste of 51 years of women’s football. These ladies deserved better.
Golf
Featured here is the hugely successful female golfer, Joyce Wethered, who dominated the sport between the two World Wars. She won the British Ladies Amateur tournament four times and won the English Ladies’ Amateur Championship five years in a row. Joyce was generally regarded as the greatest British women’s golfer of her age. Here, she is sporting the standard female golfing outfit of the time, namely a straight skirt worn with socks and rubber shoes.
Good Shot!
Joyce Wethered, Lady Heathcoat-Amory of Great Britain (1901 – 1997) follows her drive off the tee watched by a group of spectators during the 1925 Womens Amateur Championship golf tournament on 22nd May 1925 at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Thanks to color, your eye is drawn to player’s shoes and the fact that everyone is wearing hats.
Keep-Fit
Members of the Women’s League of Health & Beauty show off their gams back in 1937. The league was formed by Mary Bagot Stack in 1930. It was called a “keep-fit system,” and its popularity spread throughout the world as interest in women’s physical recreation was on the rise.
Best Leg Forward
7th June 1937: Women’s League of Health & Beauty, rehearsing for Health and Beauty display. (Photo by John F. Stephenson/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
This is a strikingly uniform line of women – most of them have exactly the same hairstyle and hair shade revealed by the color.
Jump Rope
Skipping ropes are a popular game for kids but they are also very useful as a keep fit device. Boys were encouraged to use them from the 1600s but girls joining in was problematic because it showed their ankles! Here are two women enjoying skipping in 1932 without worrying about ankle exposure.
Skipping Away
13th April 1932: Two women skipping on a London roof top in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral. (Photo by Davis/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
The movement is accentuated by the color showing that skipping has always been a great workout.
Exercise Class
Uniformity was the name of the game in this 1937 group exercise class. Note that no footwear is worn and the skirts are remarkably short.
Show Your Muscles
14th December 1937: Women participating in an exercise class run by Miss Majorie Mc Killop (right), a twenty five year old Australian heiress and socialite. (Photo by H. Allen/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Color reveals the toned biceps and triceps of these ladies – something that modern gym-goers would be proud of.
Pommel Horse
Here, a Danish gymnast performs on the pommel horse (now known as the vault) at the 1908 Summer Olympic Games in London. Women did not compete in gymnastics at the 1908 games; they only performed “gymnastic displays.”
Leaping the Horse
July 1908: A Danish gymnast performing on a gymnastic pommel horse at the 1908 London Olympics. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Whilst the movement in the scene is revealed to a greater extent by the color, the attire seems even less appropriate.
Vibration Machine
Exercising without having to put any effort in is universally appealing and that was also the case back in 1928. The lady in this picture is relaxing on a chair while the machine does all the work. The effectiveness of this approach to exercising is open to question!
And Relax!
1928: A woman ‘exercising’ on a vibrating motor machine. (Photo by Davis/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
With details of the background revealed by the color, you can’t help but wonder where this machine is located. And check out her boots!
Gym Class
Don’t discount the elderly when it comes to fitness in the early 20th century. Here, a group of senior ladies take part in gym class in 1928. Some wore shoes, some did not. All, though, wear faces of grit and determination, admirable qualities for which women are still known today.
You Are Never Too Old
circa 1928: Energetic elderly women in action at a gym class. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Thanks to color, we can see the huge contrast with the exercise classes for seniors held today. Thankfully, modern classes are much more joyful and colorful.
Spring Shoes
This is probably more of a novelty than a serious exercise activity and presented some risks – not least a sprained ankle. The lady here was captured giving the spring shoes a try out in 1925. Apparently, she could be spotted bouncing along the Atlantic City boardwalk.
Spring Forward
7th April 1925: A woman putting on a pair of shoes with springs attached to the soles, for exercising along the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Even in color, these contraptions look impossibly dangerous. We hope she knew what she was doing.
Clubbing
Long before women swung kettlebells at BootCamp class, they swung clubs, known at the time as “Indian clubs,” or meels. The apparatus, shown here in 1932, was available in a variety of sizes and weights and was designed for strength training. Some fitness pros claim still today that these are a superior form of strength training to dumbbells.
Swing in Time
19th February 1932: Women club-swinging on the roof of Bush House, The Strand, London. (Photo by J. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
In color, you can spot the turntable – clearly this exercise was carried out to music.
Snow Skiing
Back in 1921, women typically worse skirts to snow ski. This gal, however, bucked the fashion system and opted for a more traditional male outfit of pants and a sweater. Note the skirt-wearing lady in the background, though.
Keeping Warm
Mrs G. Doyle on the ski slopes at St Moritz, Switzerland, February 1921. (Photo by W. G. Phillips/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Thanks to color, we see just how impractical this outfit is, despite the fact that she is wearing pants. Her gloves look as if they are made of wool – which would soon have got wet.
High Jump
Dorothy Tyler-Odam was a British high jumper. She’s shown here competing at the 1937 Women’s AAA Championship. A year earlier, she took the silver at the 1936 Olympic Games, and she won silver again in the 1948 Olympics, making her the only woman to win a medal both before and after WW2.
Reaching Heights
British athlete Dorothy Tyler-Odam competes in the high jump event during the Women’s AAA Championship meeting at White City, London, 7th August 1937. (Photo by A. Hudson/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Color adds to the wonderful movement captured by this image and the skill of the athlete.
Car Racing
Nearly a century before Danica Patrick staked her claim in car racing history at 2008’s Firestone IndyCar 300 race, British racer Joan Chetwynd (known among fans as The Honourable Mrs. Chetwynd) carved out a space for women drivers. In fact, Chetwynd set a record in 1929, driving her Meadow-engined 1500cc Lea-Francis at an average speed of 82.98 mph. (For comparison’s sake, Danica Patrick clocked 229.88 mph at practice for the Indy 500.)
On a Slope
British racing driver Joan Chetwynd (1911 – 1974) competing in a Lea Francis racing car during a Ladies’ Race at Brooklands, 22nd March 1930. (Photo by Douglas Miller/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
In color, the bright red of the car contrasts with the rather dull grey of the track surface.
Billiards
Though not competing, the women shown here simply enjoyed a game of pool back in 1918 at their local women’s club. That’s not to say women didn’t compete in billiards back then. In fact, there have been professional women billiards players since back in the late 19th century.
Potting the Ball
September 1918: Women playing billiards and draughts in a Women’s club. (Photo by V. M. Palmer/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
This billiard hall looks much more welcoming and bright in color.
Archery
This serious archer has her game face on during a competition in 1938. Archery was one of the earliest sports to allow women to not only play but also to compete. There was a female archery event in the 1904 Olympic Games.
Bulls Eye
8th August 1938: Mdm Fahlman a member of the Swedish Ladies team competing in the 8th International Archery Tournament held at the Honourable Artillery Company’s ground at Finsbury Square, London. (Photo by John F. Stephenson/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Again, it is the details of the outfit that are revealed by color including a smart pair of shoes. Check out the man smoking in the background!
Motorcycle Racing
In 1925, these gals took to their cycles to compete at the International Six Days Reliability Trials. While that was no precursor to the X-Games, it IS the oldest off-road motorcycle race on the calendar of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, or FIM, which is the global governing body of motorcycle racing. Some records show women riding motorcycles in a non-competitive fashion as early as 1910.
Dirt Bike
22nd August 1925: Miss E Foley and Miss L Ball on their motorcycles at the International Six Days Reliability Trials at Brooklands race track. (Photo by Kirby/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
It’s only with added color that you can see just how dirty these ladies have got on their bikes.
Ice Dancing
And finally, this ice dancer shows us that back in 1924, as long as you had a gramophone and a smoke, you could lace up your skates and show off your moves — on ice or anywhere else for that matter.
To the Music
24th January 1924: A woman dancing to a gramophone in Chamonix, France. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
What with the record player and the cigarette, the ice was clearly the place to show off your outfits!