King Of The Jungle Jungle Man Will Reign In Weekend ‘Tarzan Adventures’ Marathon On Amc Network

Tarzan the ape man, raised in the African jungle by a female ape after being orphaned as an infant, began his literary life as a character created on the backs of old letterhead and odd pieces of paper by a man struggling to support his family.

Edgar Rice Burroughs, who in later years would sell parcels of his 500-acre working ranch in the San Fernando Valley to build houses and eventually create the city of Tarzana, was tired of being discharged from menial jobs. He wanted something more. Something better.

An avid reader of fiction, he made the decision that would change his life forever: He would write stories as rotten as the ones he regularly read in the pulp magazines.

In 1911 the thirtysomething wanna-be writer published his first short story, “Under the Moons of Mars.”

When he submitted his second story, he didn’t think the tale of a man who lived in the jungle and swung from trees would sell. He was wrong.

In 1913, two years after “Tarzan of the Apes” was published, the short story became a novel and landed on the best-seller list.

A legend was born.

Recognizing Tarzan’s immense popularity for more than 80 years, the AMC cable network has put together “Tarzan Adventures,” a four-day marathon of Tarzan films, as well as a one-hour documentary, “Investigating Tarzan.” The salute begins at 5 p.m. Friday (TCI Channel 30 in Spokane), and ends at 1:30 a.m. Monday. Actor Brendan Fraser, star of the upcoming Disney feature “George of the Jungle,” hosts.

Producer Nathalie Barton said the documentary came about because of director and writer Alain D’Aix’s love of the Tarzan character.

“We were brainstorming on a balcony in Montreal,” she recalls. “We realized there was more to it (the Tarzan phenomenon) than meets the eye.

“It’s not cliche - the yell, the beating of the chest. We wanted to peel away the layers.”

Burroughs had a fantastic imagination. According to George McWhorter, curator of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Collection at the University of Louisville, the Tarzan character was something the author had contemplated for some time.

“He had rolled the idea around in his head,” he said. “(He wondered) how a person of good breeding would turn out if abandoned in the jungle.”

McWhorter maintains that the essence of Tarzan is based on characters from Greek mythology and that many of the themes are from Homer’s “Odyssey.”

“Tarzan was always the master of his environment,” he said.

Tarzan caught the imagination of the American public like no other before him, said writer John Seelye. Whether appearing in print or on the screen, the jungle man’s courage, strength and primitive sense of justice served him well when he was confronted by treacherous villains, dangerous animals or wild terrain.

Actor Denny Miller, who co-starred with Joanna Barnes in 1959’s remake of “Tarzan, the Ape Man,” agrees.

“He doesn’t come from another planet like Superman,” Miller said. “He just does his thing in the forest.”

Miller said part of Tarzan’s appeal is the fantasy surrounding him. But, he adds, “Tarzan is accessible. Anybody can play him” - even an unknown athlete like Miller himself, when he was cast for the role.

“He’s one of the good guys, one of the heroes,” Miller said. “No feet of clay, an ecologist. He could just be himself.”

Since 1918, four different studios have distributed Tarzan films, including MGM, RKO, National General and Paramount. Some of the filming was done in back lots, including what is now the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia, and the old lot in Culver City. A few of the movies were filmed in exotic locations such as Mexico, Brazil and India.

Eighteen actors have played Tarzan in films, serials and TV shows, with two more to be added to the list by 1998.

But Johnny Weissmuller remains the quintessential Tarzan in most people’s eyes. This actor-athlete swung through trees with the greatest of ease and stole the hearts of young and old.

One of the young hearts he stole was that of then-8-year-old Johnny Sheffield, who played Boy in eight of the Weissmuller films. Sheffield recalls answering an ad that read: “Do you have a Tarzan Jr. in your back yard?”

His father, English actor Reginald Sheffield, encouraged him to try out for the role.

Weissmuller, who later became known as “Big John,” was present when the youngster tested.

“I hit it off with Big John at the screen test,” Sheffield said. “Then there was the swim test at the Hollywood Athletic Club.”

Sheffield remembers Big John, an Olympic and world-champion swimmer, as being happy, buoyant and playful.

“I figured being around a world champ at a young age couldn’t hurt,” he said.

Working on the set was another positive experience for the youngster.

“I learned Tarzan’s morals with minimum talk,” he said. “I was Boy being taught by my father, Tarzan, (the traits of) forgiveness and honesty.”

Actress Vanessa Brown, who costarred with Lex Barker in “Tarzan and the Slave Girl” in 1950, has many memories from her stint as Jane. She discovered being associated with Tarzan wasn’t always helpful for her image.

“I was attending UCLA at the time,” she explained. “The kids on the paper were really snooty. ‘Tarzan!’ How lowbrow can you get.”

However, sneers from her peers didn’t stop the young actress from getting other roles.

She appeared in the “Seven Year Itch” on Broadway and had roles in “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,” “The Heiress” and “I’ve Always Loved You.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: The stars: who’s who in the jungle Los Angeles Daily News

Actors As of 1998, 20 actors will have assumed the role of Tarzan: Elmo Lincoln starred in the 1918 silent film “Tarzan of the Apes.” Gene Pollar appeared in 1920’s “The Revenge of Tarzan.” P. Dempsey Tabler starred in the 16-chapter serial “Son of Tarzan” in 1920. James Hubert Pierce starred in 1927’s “Tarzan and the Golden Lion.” Frank Merrill played the lead in 1928’s “Tarzan the Mighty.” Johnny Weissmuller, the most popular Tarzan, starred in 12 films from 1932 to 1948, with his debut in 1932’s “Tarzan, the Ape Man.” Buster Crabbe appeared in his only Tarzan film, “Tarzan the Fearless,” in 1933. Herman Brix (later to become Bruce Bennett) starred in 1935’s “The New Adventures of Tarzan.” Glenn Morris played the lead in 1938’s “Tarzan’s Revenge.” Lex Barker starred in four Tarzan films, including his debut movie, “Tarzan’s Magic Fountain” in 1949. Gordon Scott starred in five films, including his first, “Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle” in 1955. Denny Miller has the distinction of starring in the worst Tarzan film ever made: the first remake of “Tarzan, the Ape Man,” in 1959. Jock Mahoney was the oldest - at age 42 - to play the jungle king, in 1960’s “Tarzan the Magnificent.” Mike Henry, the former pro football player, starred in three Tarzan movies, including his debut film, 1966’s “Tarzan and the Valley of Gold.” Ron Ely was television’s version of Tarzan from 1966-68. Miles O’Keefe starred in the 1981 remake of “Tarzan, the Ape Man.” Christopher Lambert played Tarzan in 1984’s “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan,” the film considered closest to the way Edgar Rice Burroughs had written the character. Wolf Larson starred as the jungle man in the 1991-93 TV series. Joe Lara starred in the 1989 TV movie “Tarzan in Manhattan,” and he now stars in the current series, “Tarzan: The Epic Adventure.” Casper Van Dien is currently on location filming “Tarzan & Jane,” which will premiere later this year. Wesley Snipes, the first African-American in the role, is set to be the voice of Tarzan in Disney’s animated film scheduled to be released in 1998.

Actresses Among the actresses who played Jane are: Enid Markey was the first, appearing in 1918’s “Tarzan, the Ape Man,” and “The Romance of Tarzan” in 1920. Maureen O’Sullivan, the best-loved of the Janes, played Tarzan’s mate in six films. She made her debut in “Tarzan, the Ape Man” in 1932. Brenda Joyce appeared in five Tarzan films. She made her debut in 1945’s “Tarzan and the Amazons.” Vanessa Brown was Jane in the 1950 movie “Tarzan and the Slave Girl.” Joyce MacKenzie played Jane in Lex Barker’s final film “Tarzan and the She-Devil” in 1953. Eve Brent starred in all five Tarzan films with Gordon Scott, including her debut in 1958’s “Tarzan’s Fight for Life.” Joanna Barnes starred in “Tarzan, the Ape Man” in 1959. Andie MacDowell made her screen debut in “Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan” in 1984. Because of her pronounced Southern accent, which didn’t fit with Jane’s English heritage, her dialog was ultimately replaced with an overdub by actress Glenn Close.

Chimps Some of the chimps that played Cheeta: Emma first appeared with Weissmuller in 1932’s “Tarzan, the Ape Man.” Jiggs No. 3 is 65 (in human years) and appeared in several Scott-era films. He likes to oil-paint and enjoys a six-pack of beer and a cigar a day. Zippy starred in “Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle” in 1955. He formerly appeared on TV’s “Howdy Doody Time.” Dinky was featured in two of Henry’s Tarzan films. He bit the star on the cheek, and the actor developed monkey fever and went into a coma. It took 18 stitches to close the wound and stopped production for three weeks.

Tidbits More Tarzan trivia: The first look at Tarzan’s treehouse did not come until 1936 in “Tarzan Escapes.” The house had six rooms, running water, overhead fans operated by Cheeta and an elephant-operated elevator. The famous Tarzan yell that is heard in many of the films is the same one created by Weissmuller in 1932. Douglas Shearer, an MGM sound technician, augmented Weissmuller’s yell with a variety of unrelated sounds, including a hyena’s yowl played backward, a camel’s bleat, the pluck of a violin string and an opera singer’s high C. However, Frank Merrill is credited with doing the first yell in 1928’s “Tarzan the Mighty.” The 1927 silent film “Tarzan and the Golden Lion” was financed by Joseph P. Kennedy, father of political brothers John, Robert and Edward. Herman Brix, star of “The New Adventures of Tarzan,” received $75 a week to travel to the jungles of Guatemala to film the picture. Jiggs, the chimp who played Cheeta, received $2,000. “Tarzan and the Lost Safari” (1957) was the first Tarzan film done in color. Gene Pollar, star of the 1920 film “The Revenge of Tarzan,” was actually a New York City firefighter who returned to his former job after the film.