Video Vault: 1962 Paige Palmer Show

CLEVELAND - Often called “The First Lady of Fitness," Paige Palmer brought exercise and fashion to viewers of WEWS for a quarter of a century.

Topics of style, health, fitness and fun made her a hit with housewives from 1947 to 1973.

Palmer, usually wearing leotards and stockings, got TV viewers in to the exercise action every weekday morning.

She was the fashionista right up to the end of her life. At the station’s 60th anniversary celebration in 2007, Palmer stood out with her dress, red coat black hat and sunglasses. [See video clip two for the 2007 60th anniversary story which contains an interview with Palmer.]

She would pass away in 2009 at age 93.

I’ve taken the first five minutes of a black and white classic for presentation here. The date of this show is April 5, 1962.

It’s all workout here, Paige and a half dozen helpers using chairs, bands and mats to get fit and toned.

“Well these chairs aren’t to sit in this morning, but they’re to work in,” she says as she begins the show.

One of those women is Rachel Torchia of Brecksville.

“This was one of her eight-week 'beauty' clinics,” she said in a facebook message. “Women would write in as to why they wanted to be in the clinic and shape up. I had just had a baby and I was chosen. After the clinic ended for us, I continued on the show and worked for Paige doing promotional work/modeling for her.”

Organ music helps Paige to urge her lady friends on; she also is encouraging us couch potatoes at home to join her.

WEWS Program Director Gary Stark told me Crandell Hendershott was on staff as the station's organist.

According to WEWS videographer Bob Seeley, Hendershott also played piano for Miss Barbara on the WEWS children's program "Romper Room".

But enough about music, let’s put on our workout gear and join Paige Palmer.

Enjoy.