Alois P. Swoboda (1873–1938) was an American

quack Quack, The Quack or Quacks may refer to: People * Quack Davis, American baseball player * Hendrick Peter Godfried Quack (1834–1917), Dutch economist and historian * Joachim Friedrich Quack (born 1966), German Egyptologist * Johannes Quack (b ...

and

physical culture Physical culture, also known as Body culture, is a health and strength training movement that originated during the 19th century in Germany, the UK and the US. Origins The physical culture movement in the United States during the 19th century ...

mail-order instructor.Cramp, Arthur J. (1921)
''Nostrums and Quackery, Volume 2''
Press of American Medical Association. pp. 788-796. Swoboda claimed that his exercise system combined with drinking four pints of water a day would cure almost any illness.Axson, Stockton. (1993). ''"Brother Woodrow": A Memoir of Woodrow Wilson''. Princeton University Press. p. 254.

Biography

Swoboda was born in

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on March 8, 1873, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1881 with his father, Adolf Swoboda. They settled in

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...

, where he quickly found work in the local bathhouses. Swoboda subsequently worked in Omaha meatpacking factories but did not receive medical training, etc., despite insinuations of a formal education.

Conscious evolution

Swoboda throughout his career advertised his pseudoscientific ideas under the names "System of Physiological Exercise", "Swoboda's System" and "Conscious Evolution". He described conscious evolution as "based upon a discovery in the cells of the body which I made, and which has revolutionized the effect of exercise." His mail order advertisements promised to cure practically all diseases. He argued that his system was the only natural method for obtaining health as it rejuvenates

cell Cell most often refers to: * Cell (biology), the functional basic unit of life Cell may also refer to: Locations * Monastic cell, a small room, hut, or cave in which a religious recluse lives, alternatively the small precursor of a monastery ...

s, organs and tissue in the body. He also advertised his system as restoring youth, no matter the age. His exercise course did not use apparatus or exercise equipment. He charged $20 for his complete course which consisted of six tension exercise lessons, such as flexing the forearm. He also promised his readers that they have the guarantee of United States government that his system works. This false statement was later dropped. Swoboda managed to dupe

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...

into using his exercise system during 1901 and 1902. Swoboda's system was advertised in ''

Harper's Weekly ''Harper's Weekly, A Journal of Civilization'' was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor, ...

'', ''

Pearson's Magazine ''Pearson's Magazine'' was a monthly periodical that first appeared in Britain in 1896. A US version began publication in 1899. It specialised in speculative literature, political discussion, often of a socialist bent, and the arts. Its contribut ...

'' and ''

Popular Mechanics ''Popular Mechanics'' (sometimes PM or PopMech) is a magazine of popular science and technology, featuring automotive, home, outdoor, electronics, science, do-it-yourself, and technology topics. Military topics, aviation and transportation o ...

''. The '' Journal of the American Medical Association'', noted in 1918:

In brief, the case against the so-called Swoboda System may be summed up by saying that "Conscious Evolution" is a meaningless phrase whose apparent use is to obtain money by misleading and deceiving the public, that the Swoboda exercises are new or original; that the entire Swoboda scheme is quackery of the "physical culture" type.

Oil stocks and religion

From an article in ''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, ...

'' magazine:

Alois P. Swoboda, mass-advertising "culture rhythm" man, was enjoined in Brooklyn from selling oil stock to members of his cult by a letter describing one "Dahlgran," alleged oil well locater. Eighteen months ago, Dr. Swoboda took in $70,000 for the stock; no oil has yet appeared. Said the letter: "This man Dahlgran through his power is to serve Swoboda and Swobodians. Dahlgran has located for me what he considers a very extensive oil pool ... and is positive that the first well will be an enormous gusher. ... I personally do not care for wealth for my own sake, but merely to aid Swobodians."''Time'', July 7, 1930
Accessed March 18, 2009

No oil was found. One of Swoboda's most enthusiastic backers was Elbert Hubbard, claimed as an "uncle" by

L. Ron Hubbard Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (March 13, 1911 – January 24, 1986) was an American author, primarily of science fiction and fantasy stories, who is best known for having founded the Church of Scientology. In 1950, Hubbard authored '' Dianeti ...

, the latter of whom turned many of Swoboda's teachings into what is now

Scientology Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices invented by American author L. Ron Hubbard, and an associated movement. It has been variously defined as a cult, a Scientology as a business, business, or a new religious movement. The most recent ...

References

External links

"The Propaganda for Reform"
''Journal of the American Medical Association''. {{DEFAULTSORT:Swoboda, Alois 1873 births 1938 deaths American bodybuilders American exercise and fitness writers American exercise instructors People associated with physical culture Pseudoscientific diet advocates Strength training writers Writers from Omaha, Nebraska Emigrants from Austria-Hungary to the United States