EXHIBIT 10.1

                              SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              ---------------------


         THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT made and entered into as of the first day of
September 1, 1998, among Bally Total Fitness Holding Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("BTFHC") and William Fanelli ("Employee").

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants
and agreements herein contained, the parties agree as follows:

         1.       Employment.

         (a)      BTFHC hereby employs Employee in the capacity of Senior Vice
President. BTFHC may employ Employee in such other capacities of equal status
and responsibility as the Chief Executive Officer of BTFHC, or his designated
representative, shall reasonably determine, and Employee hereby accepts such
employment upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

         (b)      During the term of his employment, Employee will devote his
best efforts to his employment and perform such duties consistent with his
status as a Senior Vice President and in such capacities as the Chief Executive
Officer of BTFHC shall reasonably assign to him. Employee will devote his entire
working time and attention to the business and related interests of, and will be
loyal to, BTFHC, and Employee agrees to render service on behalf of BTFHC and
its subsidiaries or affiliates.

         (c)      Employee shall not, without prior written consent of BTFHC,
directly or indirectly, during the term of this Employment Agreement:

                  (i)    Other than in the performance of duties naturally
         inherent to BTFHC's business and in furtherance thereof, render
         services of a business, professional or commercial nature to any other
         person or firm, whether for compensation or otherwise, but this shall
         not be construed as preventing the Employee from investing his assets
         in such form or manner as will not require any services on the part of
         the Employee in the operation of the affairs of the companies in which
         such investments are made and which are not in violation of
         subparagraph (ii) below or from engaging in boards of directors
         (subject to the approval of BTFHC's Chief Executive Officer) or
         charitable activities so long as such activities do not interfere with
         the performance of Employee's duties hereunder;

                  (ii)   Engage in any activity competitive with or adverse to
         BTFHC's business or welfare, whether alone, as a partner, or as an
         officer, director, employee or shareholder of any other corporation, or
         otherwise, directly or indirectly, except that the ownership of not
         more than one percent (1%) of the stock of any publicly traded
         corporation shall not be deemed violative of this subparagraph (ii);

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                  (iii)  Be engaged by any entity which conducts business with
         or acts as consultant or advisor to BTFHC, whether alone, as a
         partner, or as an officer, director, employee or shareholder, or
         otherwise, directly or indirectly, except that ownership of not more
         than one percent (1%) of the stock of any publicly traded corporation
         shall not be deemed violative of this subparagraph (iii).

         2.       Term. The term of this Employment Agreement shall begin on the
effective date stated above ("commencement date") and shall continue for three
(3) years through September 30, 2001, unless terminated by either party pursuant
to paragraphs 7 or 8.

         3.       Compensation.

         (a)      In consideration of the services to be rendered by the
Employee hereunder, BTFHC agrees to pay to the Employee, and the Employee agrees
to accept, as compensation, the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars and No/100
Cents Dollars ($200,000.00) (the "Base Salary") for each twelve month period
following the effective date of this Employment Agreement, which shall be paid
on the regularly recurring pay periods established by BTFHC. The Base Salary
shall be subject to periodic review for consideration of increase by BTFHC.

         (b)      It is further understood by the parties that, pursuant to the
policies of BTFHC, discretionary bonus payments may be made in addition to the
Base Salary above provided.

         4.       Vacation and Other Benefits. Employee shall be entitled to a
reasonable vacation each year of his employment with BTFHC as well as other
employment benefits, including hospitalization, life insurance, death and
retirement plans, an automobile allowance or the use of an automobile, and the
like, afforded to senior executives of BTFHC of comparable status and tenure and
consistent with that afforded under BTFHC's policies.

         5.       Expenses. BTFHC shall pay all reasonable expenses incurred by
Employee in the performance of his responsibilities and duties for BTFHC.
Employee shall submit to BTFHC periodic statements of all expenses so incurred.
Subject to such audits BTFHC may deem necessary, BTFHC shall reimburse Employee
the full amount of any such expenses advanced by Employee promptly in the
ordinary course.

         6.       Covenants and Confidential Information.

         (a)      Employee agrees that for the applicable period specified
below, he will not, directly or indirectly, do any of the following:

                  (i)    Be engaged as a partner, officer, director, employee,
         shareholder or consultant by any entity which is engaged in the
         operation of health or fitness clubs within five (5) miles of any
         facility which (on the date Employee ceases to be employed hereunder)
         is owned, managed or under development to be owned or managed by BTFHC,
         its subsidiaries, affiliates and/or its successors and assigns, or is
         owned by a franchisee of BTFHC, its subsidiaries, affiliates and/or its
         successor and assigns ("Facility"); provided, however, that the
         ownership

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         of not more than one percent (1%) of the stock in a publicly-traded
         corporation shall not be deemed violative of this subparagraph
         6(a)(i);

                  (ii)   Induce any person who is an employee, officer, or agent
         of BTFHC, to terminate said relationship or employ, assist in employing
         or otherwise associate in business with any present, former or future
         employee or officer of BTFHC;

                  (iii)  Disclose, divulge, discuss, copy or otherwise use or
         suffer to be used in any manner, in competition with, or contrary to
         the interests of BTFHC, the customer lists, inventions, ideas,
         discoveries, manufacturing methods, product research or engineering
         data or other trade secrets of BTFHC, it being acknowledged by Employee
         that all such information regarding the business of BTFHC compiled or
         obtained by, or furnished to, Employee while he shall have been
         employed by or associated with BTFHC is confidential information and
         the exclusive property of BTFHC.

         (b)      The provisions of subparagraphs 6(a)(i), 6(a)(ii) and
6(a)(iii) shall be operative during the Term hereof and as hereafter provided in
this subparagraph 6(b).

                  (i)    In the event of a "Change in Control" (as defined in
         subparagraph 9(c)), the provisions of subparagraphs 6(a)(i) and
         6(a)(ii) shall be operative only so long as the Employee remains an
         employee of BTFHC.

                  (ii)   In all events, including a Change in Control or in the
         event Employee is terminated for illness or incapacity (as provided in
         subparagraph 7(a)) or for "Cause" (as defined in subparagraph 8(a)),
         the provisions of subparagraph 6(a)(iii) shall be operative until such
         time as the information becomes public knowledge other than through the
         act of Employee.

                  (iii)  In the event Employee is terminated for Cause or for
         illness or incapacity (as provided in subparagraph 7(a)), the
         provisions of subparagraphs 6(a)(i) and 6(a)(ii) shall be operative
         during the Term of this Agreement and for one (1) additional year.

         (c)      Employee expressly agrees and understands that the remedy at
law for any breach by him of this paragraph 6 will be inadequate and that the
damages flowing from such breach are not readily susceptible to being measured
in monetary terms. Accordingly, it is acknowledged that BTFHC shall be entitled
to immediate injunctive relief and if the court so permits, may obtain a
temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach. Nothing contained
in this paragraph 6 shall be deemed to limit BTFHC's remedies at law or in
equity for any breach by Employee of the provisions of this paragraph 6 which
may be pursued or availed of by BTFHC. Any covenant on Employee's part contained
hereinabove, which may not be specifically enforceable, shall nevertheless, if
breached, give rise to a cause of action for monetary damages.

         (d)      Employee has carefully considered the nature and extent of the
restrictions upon him and the rights and remedies conferred upon BTFHC under
this paragraph 6, and hereby acknowledges and agrees that the same are
reasonable in time and territory, are designed to eliminate competition which
otherwise would be unfair to BTFHC, do not stifle the inherent skill and
experience of

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Employee, would not operate as a bar to Employee's sole means of support, are
fully required to protect the legitimate interests of BTFHC and do not confer a
benefit upon BTFHC disproportionate to the detriment to Employee.

         (e)      For the purposes of this paragraph 6, the term "BTFHC" shall
be deemed to include BTFHC and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the
successors and assigns of it and its subsidiaries and affiliates, involved in
the operation or management of a fitness center.

         (f)      The covenants contained in this paragraph 6 shall be construed
to extend to separate counties and adjacent counties, if applicable, of the
states of the United States in which BTFHC and its subsidiaries, affiliates and
its and their successors and assigns has a fitness center, and to the extent
that any such covenant shall be illegal and/or unenforceable with respect to any
one of said counties, said covenants shall not be affected thereby with respect
to each other county, such covenants with respect to each county being construed
as severable and independent.

         7.       Illness, Incapacity or Death During Employment.

         (a)      If the Employee is unable to perform his services by reason of
illness or incapacity resulting in a failure to discharge his duties under this
Employment Agreement for six (6) or more consecutive months or for 180 days in
any 365-day period, then upon three (3) days notice, BTFHC may terminate the
employment of Employee under this Employment Agreement and Employee, upon such
termination, shall be (i) paid his Base Salary on a pro-rata basis to the date
of termination through the three (3) day notice period; plus (ii) any previously
declared but unpaid bonuses; plus (iii) reimbursement of all expenses reasonably
incurred by Employee in performing his responsibilities and duties for BTFHC
through and including such three (3) day notice period; plus (iv) any other
payment or benefit which Employee is then entitled to receive under any
employment benefit plan, retirement plan or similar arrangement then maintained
by BTFHC, in the amount and to the extent determined under the terms and
conditions of any such plan.

         In the event of such termination, the Employee shall have the right, at
his option, to the assignment of any and all insurance policies or health
protection plans if said policies and plans permit assignment out of the group
to the Employee.

         (b)      In the event that BTFHC elects to terminate this Employment
Agreement pursuant to Section 7(a) by reason of illness or incapacity, then
Employee shall be entitled to the long-term disability (LTD) benefits provided
to senior officers by BTFHC but in any event at no less than sixty percent (60%)
of Base Salary as of the date of termination, without reference to set-off or
caps existing in any LTD plan.

         (c)      In the event of Employee's death, all obligations of BTFHC
under this Employment Agreement shall terminate other than the payment of that
portion of his Base Salary on a pro-rata basis accrued to the date of death, any
previously declared but unpaid bonuses, plus reimbursement of all expenses
reasonably incurred by Employee in performing his responsibilities and duties
for BTFHC prior to and including such date.

         8.       Termination.

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         (a)      The employment of Employee under this Employment Agreement,
and the term hereof, may be terminated by BTFHC for cause at any time. For
purposes hereof, the term "cause" means:

                  (i)    Employee's fraud or dishonesty;

                  (ii)   Employee's willful misconduct or gross negligence in
         the performance of his duties hereunder, including willful failure to
         perform such duties as may properly be assigned him hereunder; or

                  (iii)  Employee's material breach of any material provision of
         this Employment Agreement.

         (b)      Any termination shall not be in limitation of any other right
or remedy BTFHC or Employee may have under this Employment Agreement or
otherwise.

         9.       Optional Termination Upon Change of Control.

         (a)      In the event that there is a "Change in Control" (as defined
in this paragraph 9) of BTFHC and the successor in control, without cause,
terminates this Employment Agreement, Employee shall be paid, subject to the
limits set forth in paragraph 10 a lump sum equal to twenty-four (24) months of
his then Base Salary or an amount equal to his then Base Salary for the balance
of the three year term, whichever is greater, and the greater of the average of
twice the bonuses paid to Employee by BTFHC for 1997 or the bonus, if any, for
any year after 1997 but prior to the Change in Control. If the successor in
control changes Employee's title or substantially changes his duties or
functions from those which he previously performed hereunder or requires
Employee to perform the majority of his duties at a location outside of the
metropolitan area of Chicago, Illinois, the successor in control shall be deemed
to have constructively terminated Employee's services without cause and Employee
shall be entitled to payment set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph.

         In the event that there is a Change in Control (as defined in this
paragraph 9) of BTFHC, Employee may, at his option, terminate this Employment
Agreement at any time thereafter upon thirty (30) days written notice to BTFHC.
If Employee exercises this right to terminate, he shall be paid the following
amounts: (i) a lump sum amount equal to one-half (1/2) of his annual Base Salary
as in effect at the time of exercise (or, if greater, at the time of the Change
in Control); plus, (ii) his Base Salary on a pro-rata basis through and
including the date of his employment termination; plus (iii) any previously
declared but unpaid bonuses; plus (iv) reimbursement of all expenses reasonably
incurred by Employee in performing his responsibilities and duties for BTFHC
through and including the date of his employment termination; plus (v) any other
payment or benefit which Employee is then entitled to receive under any
employment benefit plan, retirement plan or similar arrangement then maintained
by BTFHC, in the amount and to the extent determined under the terms and
conditions of any such plan. All such payments shall be made no later than
thirty (30) days after the last day of Employee's employment. In addition,
Employee shall have the right, at his election, to the assignment of any and all
insurance policies and/or health protection plans if said policies and plans
permit assignment to Employee.

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         A "Change in Control" shall, except as provided below, mean a change in
control of BTFHC of a nature that would be required to be reported in response
to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (as in effect on the effective date of this Employment
Agreement, the "Exchange Act"), whether or not BTFHC is then subject to such
reporting requirement; provided that, without limitation, such a Change in
Control shall be deemed to have occurred if:


                  (i)    any "person" (as defined in subsections 13(d) and 14(d)
         of the Exchange Act), other than a person with which Arthur M. Goldberg
         is affiliated or of which he is a part, is or becomes the "beneficial
         owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), of securities
         of BTFHC representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined
         voting power of BTFHC's then outstanding securities;

                  (ii)   during any period of two (2) consecutive years or less
         (not including any period prior to the effective date of this
         Employment Agreement) there shall cease to be a majority of the Board
         of Directors of BTFHC comprised of Continuing Directors (as defined
         below); or

                  (iii)  the stockholders of BTFHC approve (1) a merger or
         consolidation of BTFHC with any other corporation, other than a merger
         or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of BTFHC
         outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either
         by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities
         of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the combined voting power of
         the voting securities of BTFHC or such surviving entity outstanding
         immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (2) a plan of
         complete liquidation of BTFHC or an agreement for the sale or
         disposition by BTFHC of all or substantially all of its assets.

         Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, the
acquisition of BTFHC securities from BTFHC which issuance was approved by the
Continuing Directors (as defined below) shall not, either on its own or in
connection with any other acquisition of BTFHC securities prior thereto, be
deemed to be a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement.

         The term "Continuing Directors" shall mean individuals who constitute
the Board of Directors of BTFHC as of the effective date of this Employment
Agreement and any new director(s) whose election by such Board or nomination for
election by BTFHC's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
of the directors then in office who either were directors as of the effective
date of this Employment Agreement or whose election or nomination for election
was previously so approved.

         10.      Limit on Payments. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement
to the contrary, in the event of a Change in Control, the total compensation to
Employee under this Agreement and any other agreements between the Employee and
Company or its subsidiaries relating to a Change in Control shall not exceed an
amount equal to (i) an amount equal to 2.99 times the Employee's "annualized
includible compensation for the base period" (as defined in Section 280G of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), over (ii) the present
value of any and all "payments in the nature of compensation" (within the
meaning of Section 280G of the Code and any proposed,

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temporary or final Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) to the Employee
under this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement between the Company
and the Employee treated as "parachute payment(s)" under Section 280G of the
Code and any proposed, temporary or final Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder, such that no payment to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement or
any other agreement between the Employee and the Company or its subsidiaries
will constitute an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G
of the Code. All determinations under this paragraph 10 shall be made by the
Company based on the advice or counsel of its tax professional and shall be
binding and conclusive on the Company and the Employee.

         11.      Severable.  Provisions.  The  provisions  of this  Employment
Agreement are severable, and if any one or more provisions may be determined to
be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining
provisions, and any partially unenforceable provision to the extent enforceable
in any jurisdiction, shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

         12.      Binding  Agreement.  The rights and obligations of BTFHC under
this Employment Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding
upon the respective successors and assigns of BTFHC.

         13.      Attorneys' Fees. In the event Employee is required to commence
an arbitration action to enforce the provisions of this Employment Agreement and
Employee prevails in such action, BTFHC shall pay Employee's reasonable costs
and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred in such arbitration
and in any subsequent legal action brought to enforce the arbitration decision.

         14.      Notices. Any notice to be given to BTFHC under the terms of
this Employment Agreement shall be addressed to BTFHC at the address of its
principal places of business, and any notice to be given to Employee shall be
addressed to him at his home address last shown on the records of BTFHC, or at
such other address as the parties may hereafter designate in writing to the
other. Any such notice shall have been duly given when enclosed in a properly
sealed envelope addressed as aforesaid, postage prepaid, registered or
certified, return receipt requested, and deposited in a post office or branch
post office regularly maintained by the United States Government.

         15.      Waiver. Either party's failure to enforce any provision or
provisions of this Employment Agreement shall not in any way be construed as a
waiver of any such provision or provisions as to any future violations thereof,
nor prevent that party thereafter from enforcing each and every other provision
of this Employment Agreement. The rights granted the parties herein are
cumulative and the waiver by a party of any single remedy shall not constitute a
waiver of such party's right to assert all other legal remedies available to him
or it under the circumstances.

         16.      Governing Law. This Employment  Agreement  shall be governed
by and construed and interpreted according to the internal laws of the State of
Illinois without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

         17.      Miscellaneous. Captions and headings used herein are for
convenience only and are not a part of this Employment Agreement and shall not
be used in construing it. This Employment Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between BTFHC and Employee with respect to the

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subject matter hereof and may not be modified or terminated orally. No
modification, termination or attempted waiver of this Employment Agreement shall
be valid unless in writing and signed by the party against whom the same is
sought to be enforced.

         18.      Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or
relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by
arbitration in accordance with the Rules of the American Arbitration Association
then pertaining in Chicago, Illinois and judgment upon the award rendered by the
arbitrator or arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof. The arbitrator or arbitrators shall be deemed to possess the powers to
issue mandatory orders and restraining orders in connection with such
arbitration; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph 18 shall be
construed so as to deny BTFHC's right and power to seek and obtain injunctive
relief in a court of equity for any breach or threatened breach of Employee of
any of his covenants contained in subparagraph 6(a) hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Employment
Agreement to be duly elected as of the day and year first above written.

                                       BALLY TOTAL FITNESS HOLDING
                                       CORPORATION


ATTEST: /s/ John W. Dwyer              /s/ Harold Morgan
        -----------------              ---------------------------------------
                                       Harold Morgan                   "BTFHC"


                                       /s/ William Fanelli
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                       William Fanelli              "Employee"



Approved by the Compensation Committee of Bally Total Fitness Holding
Corporation on ____________________, 1998.


                                       /s/ Liza M. Walsh
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                       Liza Walsh
                                       Chairman, Compensation Committee - Bally
                                       Total Fitness Holding Corporation

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