About Catherine Murray di Montezemolo
Catherine Murray di Montezemolo (September 18, 1925 – April 22, 2009) was a fashion editor for Vogue magazine for 30 years and held a prominent position in Southampton society.
She was also an early student of Joseph Pilates and appeared in numerous articles throughout decades during and after Joe and Clara’s lifetime as the model demonstrating on the apparatus.
A great article depicting Catherine in either the 1970’s or 80’s (date currently unknown). In this article she’s using the Cadillac on the floor (currently on display in Sean Gallagher’s Pilates Museum) and the Spine Corrector, believed to be the original Spine Corrector at Rhinebeck Pilates. Images first shared on 6/15/2022. (Click on images to enlarge.)
Catherine modeled for Joe in this 1960’s article. Image first shared on 11/24/2022. (Click image to enlarge.)
Cathy continued to demonstrate and appear in articles for the pilates studio with Clara after Joe’s death. Image first shared on 11/24/2022. (Click image to enlarge.)
I believe this article dates back to the 1980’s, with Catherine demonstrating under Romana’s teaching on a vintage Gratz reformer (or possibly an original reformer to Joseph Pilates?). She is also using a vintage low mat, and one of the earliest Cadillacs Gratz made, which sat on the floor due to the low ceilings in Romana’s studio. That Cadillac is now on display in Sean Gallagher’s pilates museum in the Berkshires. Images first shared on 11/24/2022. (Click on images to enlarge.)
An outtake from the photoshoot above, which appeared in a later article in Vogue about Catherine and her day-to-day lifestyle. Images first shared on 11/24/2022. (Click on images to enlarge.)
A Vogue article from 1980, with Catherine demonstrating on the reformer, as well as on Joe’s original Cadillac from his 8th Ave studio, which at this time was located in the new studio location. I’m not sure if the metal reformer she’s on is one of Joe’s originals or not, but I love the turquoise color! If you look carefully I believe you can see a hint of rubber edging around the reformer, which is interesting because I had previously thought that this type of edging wasn’t used until the 1990’s. (Click image to enlarge.) Image first shared on 11/24/2021.
