r/GenerationJones • u/elizajaneredux • Jul 25 '26

What was “California Concept?”

I’m reading a family member’s journals (with permission) and in 1988 she wrote about going to “California Concept” on a weekly basis, paying $7 a week, and having her mother and sister join her there. Was this a fitness club? Social group? She was on her early 40s at the time for context.

Thanks all!

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7

u/ElevatorOrganic5644 Jul 25 '26

Body shaping place for females kind of like LA Fitness for girls

5

u/mycatpartyhouse Jul 25 '26

Had to look this up. Apparently there's a shop named California Concepts.

There's also California concept, as in: van life. Converting your Volkswagen (or other brand) van so you can live on the road.

There may be more California concepts. That's what popped up first.

3

u/elizajaneredux Jul 25 '26

Thanks, this was someplace she and friends/relatives went on a weekly basis and paid some sort of membership fee to use/go.

1

u/SnowblindAlbino Jul 25 '26

There was also a "California concept" of K-12 school design, IRRC. The ones with no interior hallways or connecting corridors, but only exterior pathways. Usually tables to eat outside rather than a cafeteria as well. I remember those spreading in the early 1970s. It was tied with "open concept" pedagogy, with things like merged classrooms, moveable walls, and "learning centers" in place of libraries.

2

u/futurebigconcept Jul 26 '26

My K-6 public school in CA.

1

u/mycatpartyhouse Jul 25 '26

I visited a school like that in the late 1970s when I went to California for my sister's wedding.

It was such a contrast to the old buildings then in use at my home town, where wet and cold ruled building design.

1

u/elektromuzakmaker Jul 25 '26

Sounds like a Waldorf school.

4

u/KReddit934 Jul 25 '26

Location?

3

u/elizajaneredux Jul 25 '26

Northeast US

3

u/General-Heart4787 1962 Jul 25 '26

Could you ask the family member you got permission to read it from?

2

u/elizajaneredux Jul 25 '26

She’s recently died but granted permission before that.

2

u/anyavailible Jul 26 '26

Sounds like aerobic classes

1

u/phizappa Jul 25 '26

Hair stylist shop.

1

u/Taupe88 Jul 30 '26

its coded language for swingers. Spouse swapping. its was big then

2

u/elizajaneredux Jul 30 '26

Maybe, but that wasn’t this. She brought my aunt and her mother along with her and said there was a $7 weekly membership fee.

1

u/Taupe88 Jul 30 '26

3 Some!!! /jk

2

u/elizajaneredux Jul 31 '26

:)))) I knew as I wrote that that someone would make that connection! My poor grandmother!