Believe it or not, but Jack Lalanne, one of the most influential men in the American fitness industry is responsible for creating the much maligned Smith Machine. Created by Lalanne during the 1950s, the machine was one of many machines, such as the leg extension and cable crossover, that can be traced back to the great man of fitness.
Designed on the back of a napkin, the Smith Machine was created and marketed by Rudy Smith, who with the help of Vic Tanny, promoted the machine across the US.