Fred Pilates, Joe’s Brother
Fred Pilates was Joe Pilates brother, a teacher of the Pilates Method, and builder of Pilates equipment. He was also an inventor, like Joe, and invented apparatus and a game. This article discusses Fred’s game, a paddle tennis game, as well as his work with Joe. Image first shared on February 16, 2021.
Pilates Brothers’ Greco-Roman Sword Fight in Germany
Joe and Fred Pilates boxed together in Germany in the early 1920’s, and according to one of my fascinating research finds, they also performed their now famous Greco-Roman sword fights in Germany, as well.
By 1926, they had both separately moved to the US. Joe Pilates lived in New York City, and Fred Pilates lived in St. Louis.
During a visit to NYC, Fred and Joe performed and filmed their Greco-Roman sword fight on the rooftop at 939 8th Avenue- in complete attire. The film footage of this is part of Sean Gallagher’s Pilates Archives®.
If you’ve seen the archival pilates footage of their sword fight on the rooftop, you’ll recognize this photo as having been taken on the same rooftop, in the same outfit… complete with sword and shield.
Image first shared on 3/2/26.
Original Photo of Fred Pilates
This fantastic photo was sent to me as a gift from a lovely man whose mother was close friends with Fred Pilates, as was he, and he also shared several wonderful stories about Fred with me and told me about what Fred was like as a person. It was so nice to get a glimpse into the world of Fred Pilates because until now, there has been so little known about the depth of who he was as a person, teacher of Contrology, Pilates Studio owner, inventor, friend, family member, and more.
I’ll be sharing more that he sent to me, and the stories about Fred soon. But for now I’m going to say happy birthday to Fred Pilates with this original photo that I treasure and keep framed at my desk for inspiration.
Images first shared on 3/2/26.
Original photo of Fred Pilates, from the private collection of Elaine Ewing. Gifted from a friend of Fred Pilates.
Early Detailed Full Advertisement from Fred Pilates
Words cannot describe the excitement about finding this original, rare advertisement from Fred Pilates in the early 1930s. This stands out because most of the other ads that we know of from Fred were only short, classified ads in the newspaper. Image first shared on 2/22/24.
Fred Pilates and His Watercycle
These two 1940s articles about Fred Pilates highlight his invention, The Watercycle. Interestingly, it mentions Fred was injured while fighting in WWI. Images first shared on 11/25/23.
An early 1930’s publication that Fred Pilates wrote into to promote his Watercycle. Image first shared on 2/18/24.
Fred Pilates Classified Ads
These classified ads were taken out by Fred Pilates in his local newspaper throughout the 1930s-1940s. Its fascinating to thing about how Fred had a studio as well, though very little is known about it at this point.
Images first shared on 11/25/23.
Fred Pilates’ earliest known ad, 1928.
Images first shared on 1/26/26.
Through additional research, I recently discovered several more ads placed by Fred Pilates between the 1930s-1940s:
Images first shared on 1/26/26.
The First Recorded In-Home Pilates Studio – 1953
In 1953, Fred and Henrietta moved into a new home at this address, making Fred’s the first recorded in-home pilates studio that we know of today. Images first shared on 3/2/23.
The 1930 Census, listing Fred Pilates as “Tool maker.” Image first shared February 18, 2023.
A phone book listing for Fred Pilates and his “Pilates Health Studio.” Image first shared February 18, 2023.
A later phone book listing about Fred Pilates, this time listing him as a “masseur.” Image first shared February 18, 2023.
1890 Birth Announcement for Joe Pilates’ younger brother, Fred Pilates, who also taught Contrology and had a studio in St. Louis. Image first shared on 12/2/2024.
Image first shared on February 18, 2021.
Image first shared on February 18, 2021.
Fred Pilates obituary, who died 11 years after Joe. Image first shared on February 23, 2021.
