Tarzan

04 August 2012, 03:56

RIP

I did.
The movies made me want to read the Edgar Rice Burroughs
books.
When I was ten years old,
Ballantine Books paperbacks were available for 50 cents each.
I shined my military Pop's shoes for 25 cents a pair.
Spit shined!
I collected all of the Tarzan books.
Still have them.
Discovered John Hunter's first book about the same time, at the public library.
After Tarzan, Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett just did not do it for hero worship.
Also about the same time,
the TV Tarzan, played by Ron Ely started up.
No longer was my name "Ronnie."
Thenceforth I was the much more mature "Ron" who yodeled
the Tarzan yell and swung from wild grape vines,
with a Kabar sheath knife on my belt.

04 August 2012, 03:58

MikeBurke

I saw the end. The bamboo pole vault was interesting.

There is a documentary about Burroughs and Tarzan showing now on TCM.

The first Tarzan movie was filmed nearby in Morgan City, La.

04 August 2012, 04:11

Todd Williams

quote:
Originally posted by Mike70560:
I saw the end. The bamboo pole vault was interesting.

There is a documentary about Burroughs and Tarzan showing now on TCM.

The first Tarzan movie was filmed nearby in Morgan City, La.

Watching the documentary right now.

04 August 2012, 04:12

bwana cecil

Did you ever notice that all the natives look Polynesian?
I DVR'd quita few Tarzan movies about a yr. ago.
The same mule deer were in several & even a mountain liom showed up.
3 to 5 leopards in a group.
Like a friend of mine said, our fathers didn't even know better as they had never been to Africa either.
But, it was great entertainment & caused a lot of young boys to start dreaming of Africa, it certainly did me.
I still think Janes "HOT".

04 August 2012, 07:17

RIP

Did you notice the tribe of pygmies in the first one, 1932 "Tarzan of the Apes"?
They were the same bunch of white dwarves that played the Munchkins in "The Wizard of Oz,"
but with "blackface" all over their chubby little loinclothed bodies.
There was maybe one truly black/African achondroplastic dwarf for facial closeup and bone shaking for the camera.

04 August 2012, 07:18

Bren7X64

I, on the other hand, had the unfair advantage of being born there .....

No vines, chimps or gorillas in the area, either.

04 August 2012, 07:51

Todd Williams

quote:
Originally posted by RIP:
Did you notice the tribe of pygmies in the first one, 1932 "Tarzan of the Apes"?
They were the same bunch of white dwarves that played the Munchkins in "The Wizard of Oz,"
but with "blackface" all over their chubby little loinclothed bodies.
There was maybe one truly black/African achondroplastic dwarf for facial closeup and bone shaking for the camera.

I had to get some work done so I switched it off before Tarzan of the Apes came on. But I remember seeing it in the past and I think I remember recognizing the Munchkins as well. Seems like the Tarzan movies were on every Saturday morning when I was a kid. I really think that is where I first got the bug!

04 August 2012, 08:01

retreever

Todd,

Fake ears and fake ivory. But as little boys we thought it was for real.

Mike

04 August 2012, 08:05

Todd Williams

quote:
Originally posted by retreever:
Todd,

Fake ears and fake ivory. But as little boys we thought it was for real.

Mike

You bet we did. We bought it hook, line, and sinker. Hell, I still enjoyed watching it again today!

04 August 2012, 08:07

mete

TCM channel hasbeen showing much of those oldies and I've watched some today. They've also showed the classic "Trader Horn" That showed one of the natives killed by a rhino - the real thing-try that today !!

04 August 2012, 10:03

cal pappas

C'mon, Guys. You're being too hard on the old Tarzan films. Even King Solomon's mines began with an Indian elephant with fake ears! From today's perspective the films are, indeed, poorly made. From a 1930s and '40 perspective they are amazing and introduced many to Africa and the animals there. They may not be realistic by today's standards but that was common back then. Hell, I have a best quality .600 nitro from 1914 with animals engraved on it and it is difficult to tell if one is a rhino or a dog! (When the bison is shot in Dances With Wolves you can see the rubber horns wiggle).

And, if you look close, you will see some fine double rifles, both nitro boxlocks and big 8s and maybe a 4-bore on the native's shoulders. I tried to use many stills of the bore rifles in my upcoming book on the bore rifles but MGM would not give me permission.

Yes, the elephants were not all African elephants, the pygmies not true pygmies, the natives not all Africans (in old John Wayne films, most of the Indians were whites), and the tree house technology a bit hard to believe, but I think they were cool movies. The rifles are great and at a time when the rifles were actually in use. Best of all is the nude swimming scenes of Jane which was actually an Olympic swimmer (Josephine McKim) as Maureen O'Sullivan did not like the water (Tarzan Finds a Mate). The nude swim was too far for the times and it was this film that began talk of ratings in films. Also, it was in King Kong where the big ape pulls off Fay Wraye's clothing, the same ratings talk also began.

So, guys, give the big T a break and enjoy the films as you would if you were sitting in a movie theater in 1935 after the news reel, cartoons, and the first movie. (When my mom went to see the movies then, it cost ten cents--nine cents for the film and one cent for a handful of candy)!

And, Johnny W. was THE best Tarzan as Sean C. THE best Bond. (I bet that statement will open up some hatemails)!

Cheers, all,
Cal

_______________________________

Cal Pappas, Willow, Alaska
www.CalPappas.com
www.CalPappas.blogspot.com
1994 Zimbabwe
1997 Zimbabwe
1998 Zimbabwe
1999 Zimbabwe
1999 Namibia, Botswana, Zambia--vacation
2000 Australia
2002 South Africa
2003 South Africa
2003 Zimbabwe
2005 South Africa
2005 Zimbabwe
2006 Tanzania
2006 Zimbabwe--vacation
2007 Zimbabwe--vacation
2008 Zimbabwe
2012 Australia
2013 South Africa
2013 Zimbabwe
2013 Australia
2016 Zimbabwe
2017 Zimbabwe
2018 South Africa
2018 Zimbabwe--vacation
2019 South Africa
2019 Botswana
2019 Zimbabwe vacation
2021 South Africa
2021 South Africa (2nd hunt a month later)
______________________________

04 August 2012, 11:32

Bill73

Edgar rice burroughs was hands down the best writer that I ever read as a kid,growing up in India,my favorite bookstore had a lot of old books,very early editions,those books left a lasting impression on me,reading a 500 page hardcover edition based on the Tarzan of the apes was an unforgettable experience,I wish my son could experience it !!

04 August 2012, 11:42

Todd Williams

quote:
Originally posted by cal pappas:
C'mon, Guys. You're being too hard on the old Tarzan films. Even King Solomon's mines began with an Indian elephant with fake ears! From today's perspective the films are, indeed, poorly made. From a 1930s and '40 perspective they are amazing and introduced many to Africa and the animals there. They may not be realistic by today's standards but that was common back then. Hell, I have a best quality .600 nitro from 1914 with animals engraved on it and it is difficult to tell if one is a rhino or a dog! (When the bison is shot in Dances With Wolves you can see the rubber horns wiggle).

And, if you look close, you will see some fine double rifles, both nitro boxlocks and big 8s and maybe a 4-bore on the native's shoulders. I tried to use many stills of the bore rifles in my upcoming book on the bore rifles but MGM would not give me permission.

Yes, the elephants were not all African elephants, the pygmies not true pygmies, the natives not all Africans (in old John Wayne films, most of the Indians were whites), and the tree house technology a bit hard to believe, but I think they were cool movies. The rifles are great and at a time when the rifles were actually in use. Best of all is the nude swimming scenes of Jane which was actually an Olympic swimmer (Josephine McKim) as Maureen O'Sullivan did not like the water (Tarzan Finds a Mate). The nude swim was too far for the times and it was this film that began talk of ratings in films. Also, it was in King Kong where the big ape pulls off Fay Wraye's clothing, the same ratings talk also began.

So, guys, give the big T a break and enjoy the films as you would if you were sitting in a movie theater in 1935 after the news reel, cartoons, and the first movie. (When my mom went to see the movies then, it cost ten cents--nine cents for the film and one cent for a handful of candy)!

And, Johnny W. was THE best Tarzan as Sean C. THE best Bond. (I bet that statement will open up some hatemails)!

Cheers, all,
Cal

Being hard on the Tarzan movies? Hell, I love them!! They bring back lots of great childhood memories!!

04 August 2012, 16:02

bwana cecil

Like Todd, I still love the old Tarzan movies & watch them when given the chance.
It's just funny watching some of the crazy stuff in them.
And I still think Jane is "HOT".

04 August 2012, 17:03

BNagel

Nobody ever came within a light year of the books with movie "Tarzans". Fantastic stuff for the young man's imagination. Never saw a Tarzan movie growing up in East Africa, but boy! I sure wanted to be him. Hunting with a rifle is actually better now :-)

04 August 2012, 17:23

mete

There was another advantage in the old movies . In one safari movie Robert Taylor fires a 600 NE [to save the blonde of course !] and there was NO recoil !!

04 August 2012, 18:12

Indy

I like the scene in Trader Horne where they get charged by a herd of Wildebeeste.

04 August 2012, 19:08

Scriptus

Nah! I reckon "George of the Jungle" was good for a giggle or two.

06 August 2012, 20:51

degoins

quote:
Being hard on the Tarzan movies? Hell, I love them!! They bring back lots of great childhood memories!!

Same here brother!!! They started my long love afair with Africa.

06 August 2012, 20:55

joester

Another Tarzan vote for sure! Also John Wayne in Doctari and Abbott & Costello in Africa Screams.,watch them if you can find them!

06 August 2012, 21:08

Michael Robinson

quote:
Originally posted by BNagel:
Nobody ever came within a light year of the books with movie "Tarzans". Fantastic stuff for the young man's imagination.

I agree 100%. I loved those books. I read every single one of them as fast as I could pick them up. And incidentially, they taught me as much about good writing as any teacher I ever had!

The films, on the other hand, leave a lot to be desired, especially to anyone who has read the books.

06 August 2012, 21:12

JTEX

Grandad and I watched 'em all. He was a huge Johnny Wiemuller ( sp ) fan.

.

06 August 2012, 21:41

jorge

And the first one with Maureeen O'Sullivan was a great place to get some good "wet T shirt" tittie quals when she was smimming!

06 August 2012, 21:43

Todd Williams

quote:
Originally posted by joester:
Another Tarzan vote for sure! Also John Wayne in Doctari and Abbott & Costello in Africa Screams.,watch them if you can find them!

Doctari or Hatari? I watch Hatari every time I find it being shown. I'm still a kid when it comes to Africa.

06 August 2012, 22:24

Gayne C. Young

I loved and love Tarzan. I used to play Tarzan with our labs when I was a kid. I'd wrestle those "lions" then escape to the trees.

I watched and read all the Tarzan I could find as a kid.

06 August 2012, 22:43

clayman216

As a boy I watched Tarzan and any movie about Africa with an intense interest. That is probably where I picked up a dream at about age 5 or 6 to hunt an elephant ( and other animals in Africa. That dream has been realized in the past few years and I am still just as excited when I plan my coming safaris. I don't know why this happened but I am glad it did & it has altered my life in a most positive way, I consider it a blessing of good fortune.

06 August 2012, 22:48

MJines

Buzz likes Tarzan too . . . in fact, he has been known to dress up like him.

07 August 2012, 00:11

bwana cecil

Tarzan had way too much self respect to wear a mankini!
Buzz on the other hand, not so much.

07 August 2012, 02:42

Mauser K98

Hands down the Tarzan movies are what lit the fire in me to get to Africa.
Saw my first Tarzan movie when I was 7 years old and I just booked my first Arfican hunt to Namibia yesterday.
I will be 73 years old in two weeks. Better late than never.

Mauser

07 August 2012, 08:48

Anjin

quote:
Originally posted by Mauser K98:
Hands down the Tarzan movies are what lit the fire in me to get to Africa.
Saw my first Tarzan movie when I was 7 years old and I just booked my first Arfican hunt to Namibia yesterday.
I will be 73 years old in two weeks. Better late than never.

Mauser

I started reading the Burroughs books about the time that you did. It is fair to say that he was incredibly inventive, considering how Tarzan has become so much copied. Then again, when he was writing, so very little was known of places and animals in "the Dark Continent" that he could let his imagination run. Same with his Mars books.

Curiously, I recently read that Burroughs was so unsuccessful in business that he spent time reading pulp fiction magazines and concluded that they were so bad that he could do just as well if not better. The rest is history. He was a great success and made a pile of money at it.

14 August 2012, 21:41

Kathi

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.a...-20120814-246nk.html

Tarzan King of the Jungle turns 100

15 August 2012, 06:39

kaprota

google Jungle Jim to see more Johnny W. in african movies from 1937 to 1951
"battling the evil ivory hunters"

15 August 2012, 07:27

SteveGl

quote:
Originally posted by Kathi:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.a...-20120814-246nk.html

Tarzan King of the Jungle turns 100

Jane Goodall??????? Who'd a thunk it?

15 August 2012, 08:26

Frank Martinez

Well, I can't let this go buy.
When I was young my dad was friends with Mable Stark from the old Jungleland near Thousand Oaks. One day she came to visit and brought along== you got it, Johnny Weismuller (God please forgive me if I spelled it wrong). After a little visiting He cut loose with the one and only yell. No doubt that he did his own yell and I can still remember how really loud and authentic it was. Every one in the parking lot (this was at our shopping center and quite a crowd had gathered, jumped back and gave him a huge roar of applause as he left.
Did Tarzan start it for me? Along with Frank Buck and Jungle Jim the ember got lit, and is still burning.
Frank

15 August 2012, 09:34

cal pappas

Frank:
Thanks for the cool story.
Cal

15 August 2012, 17:19

bwanajay

Yep two thums up for Tarzan. I would watch Tarzan every day after school and then grab my pellet gun and my dog and go huntn.

16 August 2012, 21:02

NitroX

quote:
Originally posted by cal pappas:

And, if you look close, you will see some fine double rifles, both nitro boxlocks and big 8s and maybe a 4-bore on the native's shoulders. I tried to use many stills of the bore rifles in my upcoming book on the bore rifles but MGM would not give me permission.

Heathens!

17 August 2012, 06:09

mdstewart

quote:
Originally posted by mete:
There was another advantage in the old movies . In one safari movie Robert Taylor fires a 600 NE [to save the blonde of course !] and there was NO recoil !!

Not sure what rifles Redford and Streep are shooting in Out of Africa, but there's no recoil on either of those rifles when they shoot charging lions. I loved the scene anyway.

17 August 2012, 10:57

cal pappas

mdstewart:
Thanks for bringing up Out of Africa. I seem to remember, about half way through the film, where Redford faces a lion with his double. He is holding two cartridges between his fingers--of this trigger hand! Is my memory correct in this error?
Cal