This Day in History: Swimmer and actor Johnny Weissmuller died on this day in 1984. While having one of the best competitive swimming records of the 20th century, he is best known for playing Edgar Rice Burroughs' ape man Tarzan in films of the 1930s and 1940s. He is also well known for that distinctive Tarzan Yell: “Aah-eeh-ah-eeh-aaaaaah-eeh-ah-eeh-aaaaah!”
That yell may have actually saved him. "...while playing golf in Cuba in 1958 during the Cuban Revolution, Weissmuller's golf cart was suddenly surrounded by rebel soldiers. Weissmuller was unable to communicate who he was until he got out of the cart and attempted the trademark Tarzan yell. The soldiers then recognized him and shouted '"¡Es Tarzán! ¡Es Tarzán de la Jungla!" Johnny and his companions were not only not kidnapped, but the guerillas gave him an escort to his hotel." Wikipedia
Oh, and Tarzan's Chimpanzee Cheeta actually outlived him.
No comments:
Post a Comment