For me and my post-Weissmuller generation, anyone who was a jungle and bush adventure enthusiast saw the great Ron Ely as THE Tarzan of our youth.
The 1966–1968 NBC series was broadcast in the UK by the BBC, and was required viewing to take us all out of the dull grey UK and onto the sunny climes of Africa. We had no idea at the time that it was filmed in Brazil and Mexico, and frankly, we didn’t care anyway. Fab escapist fun for eleven year old boys and girls.
Thanks for all those brilliant episodes Ron. RIP
His other cultural milestone was the atrocious Doc Savage movie. I associate this with a particular day in secondary school, the day after it was shown on TV for the first time. However old we were at the time, we had all seen it when it was out in the cinema some summer. I remember it being a highlight of the summer that we were all still excited about the sequel promised ahead of the closing titles. Truly a cinematic classic. Maybe 5 years later after it showed on TV, as older and more world weary 16 year olds, we all agreed without exception that it was absolute shite. Some things are better left in the memory untouched. (See also Highlander for a similar experience later in life)
On a musical note, I am convinced that this film was the inspiration for the Stone Roses’ “Fools Gold”. You’d have to watch it to understand.
I remember it fondly. Though possibly will not watch it again.
I agree a cultural memory no need to re-visit.
I seem to recall a Chimpanzee called cheetah was involved.
Filmed in Brazil and Mexico?
Bunch of fucking cheetahs!
Imagine you’re eleven years old. You’ve just walked home from school through a damp Tuesday afternoon. Your shoes are soaked. Your satchel is heavy. Your mum has just laid the tea-table and you’ve been given permission to turn on the telly, which will take 5 minutes to ‘warm up’. You get a glass of Dandelion & Burdock from the bottle in the fridge and settle down on the sofa to watch your favourite escapist telly programme. Here we go, off to Africa for more adventures with Tarzan. School’s hassles fall away. Your damp feet begin to thaw. Your satchel is propped up out in the hallway; homework will wait until after tea. The picture appears on the screen, and you’re off….
Tuesday afternoon, eh? Round our way it was Tarzan, Looney Tunes and The Big Match on a Sunday. I still associate chimpanzees with the smell of boiling cabbage..
You may be right about the day of the week – it was some time ago!
What a guy!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Ely
“During the filming of Tarzan, Ely did virtually all of his stunts for the series, and suffered two dozen major injuries in the process, including two broken shoulders and various lion bites.”
He was also the author of two mystery novels.
Thank you! I’d only found the closing titles & wondered why the theme didn’t match the one I remember – and we used to sing in the playground. It was the opening one.
I thought he was great, but I recall there was a lot of adult sneering at Ron Ely because he was regarded as being too skinny for Tarzan.
I suspect that was down to Johnny’s people suffering sour grapes. Johnny was a chubby lad.
Yes he was a magnificent looking bloke I thought.
Great memories of watching that show – I loved Cheetah the chimp. And also Judy the chimp in Daktari.
I did wonder if the chimp got confused being called after a big cat maybe it realised there was no h in its name.
Me too. I’d like to know the etymology of that name. Surely a research job for KFD.
Fantastic cover of the theme tune…on the budget Pickwick label, no less.
Nice cover in-joke showing Tarzan standing on the Tiger’s feet
Condolences to Jane
👏👏
I think I’m right that he pops up in one of the clips on Spirit’s superb “Future Games”.
“Take me away, I’m scared”
That’s the bit. “I knew you’d come”.
Wow, that takes me back.
I don’t think I have heard that theme tune in 50 years and remembered it and the name of the little lad, Jai , straight away.
We all did the Tarzan call in the playground and I remember coveting his loincloth/swimming trunks at the time…I’m sure I can still pull that look off (if they do them in XXXL !)
This was the version I grew up with
Though the earlier live action TV version and Daktari still lived on in tie-in Christmas annuals, (which made little sense without having seen them).