Modern Living: Tannyed & Fit

The biggest chain of sweatshops in the U.S. is owned lock, stock and bar bell by wedge-shaped Californian Vic Tanny, 48, an ex-weight lifter whose sell is every bit as hard as his muscles. Capitalizing on the fetish of physical fitness, Tanny has lured more than a million Americans into some 80 chrome-and-red-carpet Vic Tanny gyms scattered across the U.S., signed them up to membership contracts of six months (typical East Coast price: $185) to "permanent" (seven years: $360) on the pay-as-you-perspire plan. Last week in Chicago, Tanny's muscular sell was sporting...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!