JOHNNY WEISSMULLER
BORN- JUNE 2, 1904
DIED- JANUARY 20, 1984
AGED-79 YEARS
DIED FROM- PULMONARY EDEMA
MARRIED TO- 5 TIMES! (HE WAS A BUSY BOY) MOST FAMOUSLY TO LUPE VALEZ
CHILDREN-3 THE YOUNGEST DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT I WHEN SHE WAS JUST 18
TALENTS-FAMOUS OLYMPIC SWIMMER. THE FIRST TO SWIM THE 100 METRE IN UNDER A MINUTE. WON 5 GOLD MEDALS AND 1 BRONZE IN WATER POLO. SET 67 WORLD RECORDS.
KNOWN FOR- HIS TARZAN YELL WHICH HE CAME UP WITH
I chose Johnny because he is born on the same day as me and I like him better than the Marquis De Sade who was also born on my day. (ughh, why him, why not any other writer but him). Johnny has German heritage but was born in what used to be the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and is now Romania. His family, with him in tow at 5 yrs old, immigrated to the U.S. and started life anew. He loved to swim and excelled at it winning in 2 Olympic Games in the 1920s, plus setting 67 world records. He got noticed by some scout or other when Johnny was doing an underwear ad because they were looking for a new Tarzan.
He became THE Tarzan and made several pictures as the loincloth man who swings to the best vines. He meets Jane and, with his trustee companion, Cheetah, they live in the luxury of his home. Later, they find a baby and name him Boy(how original). Cheetah, apparently, had a thing for Johnny and got very jealous of Maureen O'Sullivan when they had to do romantic scenes. The ape would bite her when give the chance.
Johnny was a life-long advocate for eating well and exercising devoted to the Kellogg school of dieting and healthy living (Yes, that Kellogg who was a strange, strange bird) but he ran into many health issues in the 1970s. he broke his leg and hip and almost died from an infection and then developed lung issues etc. As a side note, he saved many people from drowning in a boating accident, in 1927. He was a life guard in Chicago training for a marathon when this accident happened. Apparently Johnny was known to have saved quite a few people over his life time.
Johnny was also very famous for his affair and marriage to the loopy Lupe Valez who had one fiery temper plus bedded many, many, many.....did I say many?, men. She had a habit of stabbing or firing a gun at her lover/husband as well. Gary Cooper was shot at by her and, I think, Johnny was stabbed but I could be wrong. It was superficial, thankfully. Yes, the marriage ended in divorce.
I always thought he was THE best Tarzan even though this Tarzan character is way off track from the actual Tarzan of the Edgar Rice Burrough books as Tarzan could read, write and speak eloquently in the novels. His yell is perfect which, even if you have not seen the films, you know his yell. Carol Burnett was great doing that yell on her famous TV variety show plus many others made fun/paid homage to it.
FILMS
Tarzan The Ape Man-1932
Tarzan & His Mate-1934
Tarzan Escapes-1936
Tarzan Finds His Son -1939
Tarzan 's Secret Treasure-1939
Tarzan's New York Adventure-1942
Tarzan Triumphs- 1943
Tarzan's Desert Mystery-1943
Tarzan and The Amazons-1945
Tarzan and the Leopard Woman-1946
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you featured Johnny Weissmuller this month, dear friend. He made quite an impression on me as a boy. I watched most of his Tarzan movies on TV and was fascinated by the exotic jungle locations, wild animals and, most of all, by lovely Maureen O'Sullivan, Mia's mom. I remember the scene in which Jane went ape when she discovered Tarzan was a Cheeta.
Like Johnny, I was discovered posing in underwear, the difference being that I was wrestled to the ground by police on that busy street corner and hauled off to the clink. I didn't know that Johnny was married five times. The definition of a bachelor is a guy who never makes the same mistake once. I am also sad to learn that his youngest child, his daughter, died in a car crash at the age of 18.
Lupe Valez sounds like my kinda gal. Even if she stabbed Johnny, he was a lucky guy, because he could have hooked-up with Lorena Bobbitt. Yessum, I remember Carol Burnett imitating the Tarzan yell.
I agree that Johnny Weissmuller was the "real" Tarzan, just like Pee Wee Herman was the "real" James Bond. I didn't watch any films with different actors portraying the King of the Jungle.
I'd like to add the 1969 hit novelty record "Gitarzan" by Ray Stevens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=293Irm-vxtE
Enjoy your Tuesday, dear friend BB. I'll see you tamale on song day!
I know what you mean about those we share a birthday with. I have a couple doozies on my list. He seems like he was a pretty good guy. I don't think I've ever seen one of his movies, though.
ReplyDeleteHi Birgit - congratulations on your recent birthday - June's a good month - not mine ...I certainly didn't know all the bio you've given us about Johnny - interesting read, thank you - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to you, Birgit, and to Johnny, who is the one and only Tarzan as far as I'm concerned. I used to have a friend who met Johnny in a bar long ago. He said Johnny was quite drunk but was a happy, friendly drunk. My friend helped Johnny return to his hotel room and said goodnight.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Happy Birthday once again, Birgit. I am a fan of Johnny Weissmuller and his Tarzan movies. Thanks for sharing more info about him! I knew about the Olympics and the wives, but not the rest. He was the absolute best Tarzan, for sure!
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