Elaine Malbin | Pilates History Research

Image first shared on 2/16/2021.

This article is the only full color, printed magazine article about Joe’s original studio that I know of. It is from the 1950’s. It contains many gems, showing Elaine Malbin in red using the adjustable Ped-o-Pul, reformer, and Cadillac, as well as posing on the scale. Sean Gallagher owns that exact original scale, and is currently in the process of refurbishing it. I happen to own a number of original copies of this magazine issue. Please contact me for purchasing information. Image first shared on 7/21/2021. (Click image to enlarge.)

Elaine Malbin dedicated Opera Singer

Elaine Malbin was a dedicated student of Joseph Pilates as well as a renown opera singer. These photos taken from the 1950’s were first discovered through extensive and thorough research by Elaine Ewing, and are now shared for the first time to the pilates community at large. Image first shared on 2/13/2021. (Click image to enlarge.)

Popular Posing

Elaine Malbin was an often-photographed student of Joe’s as well as a famous opera singer. Here she is shown not only exercising but also posing in the popular position of having Joe stand on her stomach to prove how strong she was. It was quite common for Joe and his students to pose like this for articles and photos- which seems to have been a great idea because it still grabs our attention today! Image first shared on​ 2/13/2021. (Click images to enlarge.)

Image first shared on​ 2/13/2021.

Elaine Malbin Demonstrates Exercise

In 1959, Elaine Malbin was featured in five newspaper installments demonstrating exercise, which was a mix of the Pilates Method with other exercises. The descriptions are playful and interesting! Images first shared on 2/13/2021. (Click images to enlarge.)

An article about Elaine Malbin discussing her workout, as well as demonstrating with Iron Shoes. It also includes information about standing on top of someone (as Joe frequently did), with a demonstration. Image first shared on 2/13/2021.

Throughout the 1950’s, many short blurbs about Elaine Malbin and Contrology appeared in newspapers, such as these. Image first shared on 2/13/2021.

I can only assume this article is about Joe and The Pilates Studio, but there’s a chance it’s about another gym. Elaine also appeared in other articles where she worked out in other places besides with Joe. Image first shared on 2/13/2021.

This article suggests usage of the Iron Shoes that Joe designed. Image first shared on 2/13/2021.

Image first shared on 8/31/2022.

Image first shared on 8/31/2022.

A great read about why Elaine Malbin exercised in regards to her singing career. Image first shared on 2/13/2021. (Click image to enlarge.)

An interesting article, showing Elaine Malbin exercising and discussing her workouts and her trainer, though it never specifies if it’s Joe and The Pilates Studio that she’s talking about. It very well might not be, but its great read anyway. Image first shared on 2/13/2021. (Click image to enlarge.)

An example of an article about Elaine Malbin and her workouts that were specifically not about The Pilates Studio. Image first shared on 2/13/2021.(Click image to enlarge.)

An article about Elaine Malbin that shows her working out in Joe’s studio. Interesting that they only call it a “local gym” and not The Pilates Studio. Image first shared on 2/13/2021.

Image first shared on 2/13/2021.