#Cheeta the Chimp

[elijones94]

🐾 “Like, me Tarzan. This Jane.” 🐾

[chernobog13]

Ron Ely as Tarzan, and his chimp co-star Cheeta. Though they look like best friends, Ely suffered several bites from the little guy during the course of their two years working together.

For kids in the mid-to-late 1960s, Ron Ely WAS Tarzan.

Ely was the star of the 57-episode Tarzan TV series that ran two seasons, from 1966 to 1968, and then in near continual syndication for several years afterward.

The television series was executive produced by Sy Weintraub, who had been producing the Tarzan films since 1958. Weintraub was responsible for replacing the monosyllabic persona of Tarzan, made popular by the Johnny Weissmuller films of the 1930s and40s, with the educated, well-spoken character from Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels. True Trazan fans were delighted with this move, and I'm sure Burroughs himself would have been as well had he lived to see it (he died in 1950).

Tarzan about to demonstrate his vine swinging skills.

Weintraub also filmed his Tarzan movies on location, as opposed to in a studio with stock jungle footage. This made for some spectacular scenes, but it was rough on both the crew and his Tarzan actors: Gordon Scott, Jock Mahoney, and Mike Henry.

When he decided to make the Tarzan television series, Weintraub wanted Henry to continue in the role. However, Henry had made 3 Tarzan films back-to-back in 1965 and was physically exhausted. Thus the TV role eventually was awarded to Ely.

Like the Mike Henry films, the TV series was filmed in Brazil (first four episodes) and Mexico (the remainder of the series). This explains why the scenery, while lush and exotic, sometimes doesn't quite gel with images we'd seen of the African wilderness. It also explains why many of the extras appeared Latin as opposed to African.

Ely insisted on doing his own stunts for the series, a decision later on he would come to regret. He suffered more than two dozen serious injuries, which included two broken shoulders, lion bites, and several bites from his co-star, Cheeta the chimp. Allan Sherman, in an issue of the Tarzan comic book when it was published by DC, wrote an article and chart detailing all the injuries Ely incurred in the two years of production. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find the article to include here.

The one thing Ely could not do: the famous Tarzan yell. The production ended up using a recording of Johnny Weissmuller's version of the yell.

Ely's other co-star in the series was Jai, an orphaned boy (played by Manuel Padilla, Jr). Jai took the place of Boy, Tarzan's son from the Weissmuller films, and gave the ape man someone to protect and/or rescue every episode.

Manuel Padilla, Jr. as Jai, Tarzan's companion throughout the TV series, with Ron Ely as Tarzan.

As in Weintraub's films, the character of Jane was not present. Weintraub preferred a Tarzan who was a lone adventurer. The TV Tarzan was not a globetrotter like his film counterpart; his adventures were limited to a fictional African country.

The Tarzan series had several high profile guest stars including, believe it or not, Diana Ross and The Supremes: Cindy Birdsong, Mary Wilson, and Diana Ross as a trio of nuns.

The series got off to an uneven start, as the location shooting took longer than anticipated. Early episodes show signs of hasty, almost haphazard editing as they were assembled at a breakneck speed to meet NBC network's broadcasting schedule. Luckily, the production eventually found its footing, and things smoothed out quickly.

For a brief time Tarzan's TV adventures took over the cover spot on the Tarzan of the Apes comic book.

Warners Brothers has released the series on DVD back in 2012 and 2013. To my knowledge (which, admittedly, is faulty) it is not currently streaming or available on any cable channels.

[juliehowlin]

Tarzan

Cheeta the chimpanzee, Tarzan's companion in the films, doesn't appear in the books. In fact, there are no chimps in the books at all.

10 things you might not know about Tarzan:

[wolverina2002]

No kill like Overkill

Looks at a creature that already has the

size of an arctic wolf

speed of a cheeta

endurance of an african wild dog

ears of a bat

nose of a bloodhound

strengh of a pony

teeth of a shark (three rows and they always regrow, not the shape)

quils of a porcupine

claws of a grizzly bear

bite force of a jaguar

co-operative capabilities of an orca

jump abilities like a cougar

smarts of a chimp

and asks: "How can I make it more deadly?

The answer? Septic bite like a fucking Komodo Lizard

[zippocreed501]

RECOMMENDED RADIO

With John Malkovich as Cheeta and the late Julian Sands as Johnny Weissmuller.

[travsd]

The Cheeta Hoax

April 2, 1932 saw the release of the MGM film Tarzan the Apeman (1932) featuring Johnny Weissmuller. having already done a post about all the versions of Tarzan, it seemed to me that this might be the proper date to talk about Cheeta, Tarzan’s chimpanzee companion. The character was and remains beloved. There was always some adorable bit of comic business where Cheeta gets into trouble, or…

[mey-rin-is-fabulous]

Fudge. I can't go to the bathroom, I can't walk downstairs without being asked if I'm okay every single time. In other news I'm adopting a sea turtle. So one of my favourite cereals are the envirokid cereals by nature's path they're cute GF and each box that's bought goes to helping endangered species sea turtles, cheetas, chimps, lemurs and each cereal is themed of the animal cheetah chomps, choco chimps, turtle splash

[delphinidin4]

Gettysburg Dime Museum Part 5: Cool Shit

That’s them in the red circle. Sorry for the photo quality, but they were TEENY!!

“Giant Squid Beak”

These swordfish swords were handmade by Charles F. Ellis, chief engineer on the lightship Hens and Chickens off Nantucket, MA in 1923.

Original Paintings by Cheeta: For those of us old enough to remember the Tarzan movies, Cheeta is the chimp that made everybody want one of their own. Animal trainer Tony Gentry found Cheeta on an animal scouting trip to Africa in the 1930s. Cheeta went on to star in 12 Tarzan films. He retired from films in 1967 at the age of 35.

“Creature from the Abyss.” Anybody know what this thing is?

In 1924, Captain William Drayson was fishing off the coast of Florida with a friend and his fourteen year old son, Billy when their boat was attacked by a sawfish. The massive creature launched itself onto the boat, striking left and right with the serrated edges of the saw. Captain Drayson fell backwards and would have surely been mutilated or killed if not for the quick thinking of his son who leapt at the beast with no regard for his own safety and struck with a hatchet. The sawfish retreated and young Billy was celebrated a hero. Months later, fishermen pulled a sawfish measuring eighteen feet in length from the water. They immediately recognized it from the damaged saw as the fish that attacked Captain Drayson’s boat. Billy was given the saw as a memento of the day that he saved his father’s life. Displayed here is the saw that was presented to Billy, and the hatchet used to thwart the attack.

Naturally mummified cat and squirrel

Tennis ball that became lodged in the pelvis of an alligator after it was swallowed. A calcium shell began to form over the ball.

In the story, (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4), a widow donates two small coins to the temple treasury, while wealthy people donate much more. Jesus explains to his disciples that the small sacrifices of the poor mean more to God than the extravagant, but proportionately lesser, donations of the rich. Roman bronze coins, c 50 BC--400 AD. [They were tiny--about as big around as the head of a thumbtack!]

This was about four inches long

Unfortunately, this caption is too blurry to be read, but this is an enormous bezoar stone, bigger than a softball!

Mary Reeser, 1884-1951. In 1951,  the death of Mary Reeser in St. Petersburg, FL [FLORIDA AGAIN!] was suspected to be the result of spontaneous human combustion. Reeser’s landlord came to deliver a telegram and found the doorknob to be incredibly hot and called the police. Reeser’s remains were practically all ashes, except part of her foot in a slipper and her backbone. Also found in the ashes was her skull, and for some reason, [illegible]. 

Ashes and skull of Mary Reeser.

I looked up Mary Reeser, and she was actually buried in Mechanisburg, PA (which is not terribly far from Gettysburg), but I have no idea then how they got the skull of it’s supposed to be a model. Her skull was supposedly shrunken (which, the skull pictured was definitely smaller than normal), but I didn’t see anything on the Wikipedia page about the massive indentations.

Giant Man Eating Clam: This is a specimen of the largest shell in the world... The Giant Clam which lives on the coral reefs of the South Pacific... Pearl divers stepping on the well-camouflaged mollusk have been instantly trapped by the animal snapping shut its great shell, visewise, and held thusly until drowned.

Large Canine Skull: Unearthed in Dartmoor, England in 1913, it is thought to be the skull of a legendary hellhound said to howl at the grave of Richard Cabell. Cabell, a despised, feared, and hated man, supposedly sold his soul to the devil. Upon his death, fearful villagers had his body entombed in a sepulcher to prevent him from rising from the dead. Satan’s hellhounds returned to the grave every night, howling in frustration at being denied access to their soul.

I looked it up, and Richard Cabell and this legend were the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles!

Madagascar fruit bat.

Look out! It’s coming for your... bananas!

From a display of Japanese masks

[randomnotesnet]

Jumpin’ Jack Flash – The Rolling Stone(s), 1968

… and Michelangelo Antonioni, ”Blow-Up”, Italy-UK, 1966.

Photos – From Top to Bottom

01. Speedotron “Slam Dunk, since 50 years” Promotion. Source: Speedotron, Chicago, IL.

02. Scene from Blow-Up by Michelangelo Antonioni – Italy, UK, 1966, featuring David Hemmings as “Thomas”. Edited.

03. Scene from Blow-Up, featuring David Hemmings as “Thomas”. Edited.

04. Scenes from Blow-Up, featuring David Hemmings as “Thomas” in Maryon Park, London, UK.

05. Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller), Jane (Maureen O'Sullivan), Boy (Johnny Sheffield) and Cheeta the Chimp in a scene from “Tarzan's New York Adventure”, USA 1942. Source: MGM via Explore Pennsylvania History.

06. Scenes from Blow-Up, featuring Ronan O’Casey as corpse and David Hemmings as “Thomas” in Maryon Park, London, UK.

07 - 08. Scenes from Blow-Up, featuring Verushka as model, standing in front of  a firing flash umbrella, and David Hemmings as photographer “Thomas”, questioning her.

09. Speedotron flash heads. Left: “Brown Line” M11CC Flash Head and Reflector. Source: B&H Photo Video, New York, NY.* Right: “Black Line” M11A CC Light Unit with 7″ Reflector. Source: Speedotron, Chicago, IL.

10. Top: Speedotron “Since 1939” Promotion. Source: Speedotron, Chicago, IL. Bottom: Scene from “Blow-Up“, featuring David Hemmings as “Thomas”, Vanessa Redgrave as “Jane” and the entrance of photographer Jon Cowan’s studio at 39 Princes Place, Notting Hill, London, UK, in which large parts of the movie were produced.

11. Speedotron promotion “Authorized Service Center”. Source: Promark Brands.

Notes

Photographer Jon Cowan leased his studio at 39 Princes Place to Antonioni for much of the interior and exterior filming, and Cowan's own photographic murals are featured in the film.

— Blowup – Wikipedia

[…]

Jackie O. Visits Michael J. in Encino – It’s No Thriller for Those Outside

By  Patricia Ward Biederman, Feb. 7, 1985 – The Los Angeles Times

“They already know about this in London,” photographer Kip Rano said Wednesday afternoon as he waited for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ limousine to pull into Michael Jackson’s driveway.

[…]

Only in America, perhaps, could such a scene take place – the media poised to observe the widow of an assassinated President paying a call on a superstar whose trademark is a childish whisper and a sequined glove.

— The Los Angeles Times

“Aftermath”

… The Rolling Stones’ 1966 album, released the same year as “Blow-Up”.

1967

A “Blow-Up” Flashback – The Fog in Louisiana

“Daydream Believer” by The Monkees, Jane, Flashy Cars and Speedotron:

Death by Accident at High Speed

In 1967, [Jane] Mansfield was in Biloxi, Mississippi, for an engagement at the Gus Stevens Supper Club. After two appearances on the evening of June 28, Mansfield, Sam Brody (her attorney and companion), their driver Ronnie Harrison (age 20), and three of her children –  Miklós, Zoltán, and Mariska – left Biloxi after midnight in a 1966 Buick Electra 225.

Their destination was New Orleans […] At about 2:25 a.m., on U.S. Highway 90 west of the Rigolets Bridge, the Buick crashed at high speed into the rear of a tractor-trailer shrouded in insecticide fog that had slowed behind a truck spraying mosquito fogger. The three adults in the front seat died instantly. The children, asleep in the rear seat, survived with minor injuries.

— Jayne Mansfield – Wikipedia

Post # 082

[isisisak]

The visit to the zoo meant: 

Isak rambled about a lot of facts, and 

if they could think of it, they formed a challnge out of those facts. 

Flamingos: “I love flamingos! They look so happy and pink!” Lise exclaimed. “Did you know, flamingos actually just turn pink after they eat certain foods?” This managed to impress both Bech Næsheims.  

And after Lise asked if they won’t get tired, standing on one leg for the whole day, Even challanged Isak and Lise to see who of the three could stand on one leg the longest. Even won - screw him and his morning yoga.

Ice Cream Shop: Even handed Lise her cone but held it higher when she grabbed for it, to get her attention. “Look at it before every bite or lick, ok? I don’t want you to accidentally swallow a wasp or bee.” to which Isak supplied, “Eelephants are so scared of bees, that the sound of buzzing is enough to make a whole herd of them run off scared.” He took a huge bite from his ice cream around which he said “And they even made up a special sound to warn each other if bees are near.” Even wiped at Isak’s cheek (he was pretty sure there was nothing there, because Even just always did that - then again he was a messy eater). 

“Really?” That was Even, looking at him as if deciding if Isak made some of those facts up. He wasn’t. “I don’t make shi- stories like up. That’s you and your landmines.” Even snorts while Lise tugged on Isak’s sleeve. “How fast can elephants go?”  The answer to that is 17kmh/11mph and Isak challanged the siblings as to who could run faster - Even won this one too, has noone told him that he was supposed to lose god damn it. But Lise just grinned up at him and said “Isa, one day we will be as tall as Even and then we will be as fast as him!” (excuse u child)

‘Big Cats’: “Cheetas are the biggest cat species that can purr.”  Cue all of them purring - Lise won this one because they both lost it over how cute she was while doing that. 

Giraffes: “They look so pretty and tall!” Lise called and run forward. “Hmm, they remind me of someone.” Isak said, pretending to tip his chin in contemplation. Even laughed and threw an arm around his shoulder before they both leaned in for a kiss. 

“By the way,” Moving his head a bit from side to side to bump their noses “the patterns of giraffes are as unique as a fingerprint.” 

Even first places another peck on Isak’s mouth then pulled his own lips into an impressed face.  Looking at the animals in front of him he tried to remember what else he knew about them. “Their necks are really long but only have seven vertebrae in them and- Oh! They can grow up to six meters! Which is roughly as far as a lion can jump, that’s so cool, right?” Even stepped closer at Isak’s glowing and excided face and nodded (because, er, yes? That was hella wild.)

“Also, their tongues are about 45cm long!” At that Even first raised then wiggled his brows suggestively. “I think we can’t include Lise in that challenge.”  “Even, oh my god!” With red cheeks he looked that Lise was still out of ear shot.

‘Great Apes’: When they got to the great apes Isak was having a field day. Those creatures were amazing and just beyond impressive, ok? Fight him, they were the coolest. “Look! Those are called ‘Bonbons’!” Lise giggled, before Even kindly corrected her that the sign actually said ‘Bonobos’. (After which they all wanted something sweet so they went and got popcorn).  A handful of popcorn thrown in (the general direction) of his mouth, Isak explained “They are actually the most emphatic of all great ape species. There are reports of them rescuing other animals like crows and shit.” At this Even awed and bumped Isak’s shoulder. “That’s nice.”  Isak agreed and (after making sure the little one was a few steps away from them) he added “And, well, they fuck instead of fight, so that’s pretty nice.”  Even snorted and nodded. Grabbing some of that popcorn he mumbled “Sounds like a great coping mechanism. Another challange for just us then, hm?” which made Isak first laugh then lean in for a quick and popcorn sticky kiss to Even’s cheek.  Lise was happily munching on her cinnamon flavoured popcorn, walking a few steps in front of them, as Isak rambled on and on and on to Even, swinging their intertwined hands between them as they walked along the ape enclosure. “So, this proved that chimpanzees have conscious though!” Even raised his brows at this fact and let Isak carry on. “That means they can recognize that what they perceive of the world is not the same as what another individual perceives. Ok, wait, I read somewhere about a test they made with chimpanzees – for this you need to know that in social structures of chimpanzees the dominant chimps always eat first so the less dominant ones always have to fight to get enough food - but yeah there was this thing where they hid a bunch of fruit around the enclosure of some chimpanzees but they hid it in a way that there was a less dominant chimp that saw where it was hidden. And the more dominant chimp couldn’t see where it was hidden and - but when the chimpanzees saw the food being hidden they were let out into the enclosure and the less dominant chimp tricked the more dominant chimp into thinking that the food was somewhere else so that it could run off and eat more before the dominant chimp got there!” “Wow, sneaky and smart.” Even said impressed before he squeezed Isak’s hand and sent a crinkly smile his way. “Remind you of anyone?” Even chuckled.Isak grinned, faking shock and Even laughed. “So, this is where the nickname baby monkey comes from then, huh?” Even hummed and tugged on Isak’s hand, pulling him as close as still allowed them to walk without problems.   “You are smart like a chimpanzee, yes,” they shared a soft smile and Isak squeezed Even’s hand back. “but I was thinking more of a pygmy marmoset.” Isak frowned. Pygmy… what? Even raised his brows and then pointed a triumphant finger at Isak. “You don’t know those!” Isak shoved his finger away and rolled his eyes. “Yes, I do.” “Hmmm. Don’t think so, babe. I know more about pygmys but you have no idea what monkey I’m talking about so you’ll disagree that you are one.” Even shrugged which made Isak huff, let go of Even's hand and cross his arms. “Nei? I won’t,” he hesitated only for a second before adding “I agree with you.” Isak nodded once to end this conversation before Even snorted which made the frown return but then kissed him several times all over his face which made the frown disappear again.   Once Even and Lise were a few steps in front of him on their way to the next animal Isak fished his phone out of his pocket and googled the strange name Even said. And well, fuck. He agreed to look like that. When they had walked for what felt to Isak’s feet like months they decided to meet up with Jonas at McDonald’s (An idea that Lise loved, mostly because “Yessss! Mamma never allows me Maccas!”).  And on the tram ride home Isak had to fight to keep his eyes open as he leaned his head against Even’s cozy shoulder. A kiss was pressed to his forehead and Even mumbled “You can close your eyes my baby pygmy.” to which Isak just rolled his eyes - he was sure Even knew he did even though they were already closed at this point - and smiled fondly.  —

Can we all take a moment and thank @evenshands for providing me with an actual fuck ton of animal facts??? 99% of the facts came from rino and im in awe of all the animal knowledge ngl

[way-lo]

He never set out to get a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame. But hard work and persistence paid off. Fighting type casting he said " if I'm gonna play a chimp, then I'll be the best damn chimp you've ever seen!" Congratulations Cheeta! #star #hollywood #legends (at Palm Springs, California)

[lumber]

🐒🐒🐒I was in the office of one of my mom's #Finance peeps and saw this #Autographed #Photo of #Tarzan's #Cheeta the #Chimpanzee #Chimp hanging up in their office.🐵🐵🐵 It made me laugh. In a #Weird way. #Autographed. #LOL 😂😂😂

[chernobog13]

MGM’s feature film Tarzan the Ape Man (1931), and its sequel, Tarzan and His Mate (1934), both starring former Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller, turned out to be huge successes for the studio.  They also cemented in the public’s mind the image of the monosyllabic, grunting ape man.

That iteration of the ape man was so popular that it was used in the non-MGM film serial Tarzan the Fearless (1933), starring another Olympic swimmer, Buster Crabbe.

Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs praised the films in public (they were making him money, after all), but privately hated their portrayal of his most prized creation.  So he partnered with a family friend, Ashton Dearholt, and produced the 12 chapter-serial The New Adventures of Tarzan (1935).

The serial starred yet another Olympian, Henry Brix, in the title role.  Ironically, Brix had been MGM’s first choice to play Tarzan in their films.   Brix, unfortunately, broke his shoulder while filming another movie.  MGM went with their second choice, Weissmuller, and the rest is history.

Frankly, just by physique alone I think Brix is the superior Tarzan.  Even in his early films Weissmuller always looked a little doughy to me.

Brix’s Tarzan was also extremely faithful to the character from Burroughs’ novels: the cultured, educated, literate Lord Greystroke who spoke several languages, yet was unmistakably a man of action.  This was the last time Tarzan would be depicted so until 1959′s Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure.

Once the troubled production was completed (and that story is practically a book in itself), movie theatres were offered two different was to exhibit the serial: as a stand-alone feature 70 minutes in length, entitled Tarzan and the Lost Tribe; or a feature-length (65 minutes) first episode, followed by the remaining 11 chapters.

Reviews of the film were generally poor in the US, and The New Adventures of Tarzan was the last Tarzan serial ever produced.  However, like most Tarzan films of the time, it was a great success overseas.  So much so, in fact, that in 1938 the last ten chapters of the serial were edited together to become the feature Tarzan and the Green Goddess.

Brix felt he was typecast after the serial was released, so he soon changed his name to Bruce Bennett.  That’s how he’s billed in the numerous films and television episodes he appeared throughout the 1940s and 50s.

Some trivia regarding The New Adventures of Tarzan:

- The film was set, and largely filmed, in Guatemala.

- Producer Ashton Dearholt, who was married, met his leading lady, Ula Holt, on a previous trip to Guatemala.  Dearholt was so smitten that he took Holt home to live with him.  That promptly led Dearholt’s wife, Florence Gilbert, to leave with their two children and divorce him.

- Dearholt also played Raglan, the villain of the story.  He claimed he had to step in to play the role when the actor hired for the part, Don Costello, got sick. This earns him the “George Santos Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire Award,” as there was no Don Costello.  It was just a story Dearholt made up because he always planned to act in the film.

- Edgar Rice Burroughs fell in love with Dearholt’s ex, Florence Gilbert, when he first met her in 1929.  During filming of the serial in 1935 Burroughs divorced his wife and married Gilbert, despite (or perhaps because) her being 30 years younger than him.

- Tarzan’s chimpanzee companion in the film was named Nkima, not Cheeta as in the MGM films.  Jiggs the chimp played both roles, and he was paid $2,000 for his work in the serial.

- Herman Brix was hired at the salary of $75 a week but, other than his travel and accommodations in Guatemala, never got paid for his work.

- There are stories that Brix was personally chosen by Burroughs to play Tarzan.  Brix himself stated that he only met Burroughs briefly after filming had wrapped.  The only actor Burroughs actually picked for the role was Jim Pierce, for 1927′s Tarzan and the Golden Lion.

[wheezer256]

Sorry OP, but this is all a lie. Long article, but interesting and worth a read. via Pocket

[saltpeanutslive]

(Via r/todayilearned.)

[general-eclectic]

Go home, amazon. You're drunk. (The description for mama june's upcoming book is a little... off)