Behold Johnny Weissmuller

Johnny WeissmullerJohnny Weissmuller was born on June 2, 1904, and died January 20, 1984.  He’s
been gone nearly a quarter century, but his exquisite good looks and
breathtaking physique — especially in his early Tarzan movies — live
on.  Married six times — the ladies loved him — Weissmuller was
the ideal candidate to become an adventuring matinee idol in a
brief loincloth.

I’m linking to
some interesting biographical sites featuring Johnny Weissmuller,
including this fun look at
Hollywood
Biceps
, with Johnny right on top, a complimentary review of
some of the Tarzan movies, a snappy career review at the always
entertaining and informative
Brian’s Drive-in Theater
site
, and the swimming pool construction
company
, founded by Johnny, which still bears
his name.  Mostly however, I think we pay tribute to Johnny
Weissmuller best by just gazing upon his physical perfection and
rejoicing that such a creature once walked…er…swam among us. 
So we begin –

Hubba Hubba! Johnny Weissmuller is fine!

Tarzan and his Jane, Maureel O' Sullivan

 

 

 

 

With the lovely Maureen O’ Sullivan, looking as spectacular
as he
does

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A Man and His Monkey

  There’s nothing sweeter than a
man holding his monkey, is
there?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnny and fellow MGM star Jackie Cooper

 

Johnny
pals around with fellow MGM star young Jackie Cooper at the Hollywood
Athletic
Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnny doing the Tarzan Yell

 

 

 Johnny ready to
let loose with his trademark Tarzan
Yell

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tarzan and Jane, after she had to wear more clothes

 

 Well, that wasn’t very
nice, was it, making Jane put on a pinafore instead of those nice
skins?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tarzan compares biceps and chest muscles with George<br /> O'Brien

 

 

Johnny comparing chest
development with actor
George O’
Brien

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Very Gorgeous Johnny Weissmuller 1904 - 1984

 

 

 

And I
leave you with this very beautiful Johnny Weissmuller, indeed…

6 Responses Behold Johnny Weissmuller
Posted By john : June 3, 2008 10:22 am

you should have shown the original choice for tarzan-bruce bennett,i.e.
herman brix. he had the body type that the author describes in his
books. brix was injured in his first film, touchdown, and lost the
opportunity of a lifetime.  ester williams in her bio states that
johnny was always pinching her rear. he was no actor and he knew it,
while brix went on to play many roles and did them well, mildred pierce
and treasure of sierra madre!

Posted By Patricia : June 3, 2008 3:25 pm

Ah, that Johnny was a wonder to behold.  I have always been
partial to George O'Brien so I want to express my deepest gratitude
for that second last photo.  My deepest, deepest gratitude.

Posted By mrsardonicus : June 9, 2008 5:26 pm

j.w. learned to swim so fast by jumping into cold waters in his home town of windber, pa for more info ck picture book tarzan of the movies by gabe essoe.i had often wondered how he felt about maureen leaving the series when he moved to rko without her/ also any info on deleted scenes from tarzan escapes i.e. up river shots/cave shots w/giant bat[s] dwarf guide\ would be much appreciated

Posted By bOb : June 17, 2008 9:32 pm

Johnny Weissmuller was not only an Olympic hero and a reel hero (as Tarzan), but he was a real hero, too. While in training for the Olympics, he was swimming in Lake Michigan with his brother, Peter, rowing a boat alongside of him. Nearby a touring boat with about 80 people capsized and Johnny, swimming, and Peter, rowing, hurried to the scene to help. Johnny was hauling people up from the depths and Peter was trying to revive them in the boat. Diving until he was totally exhausted, Johnny pulled 20 people out of the water. But of the 20, 12 survived.
My childhood idol, seemingly the personification of the fictional ape man, was a real-life hero.

Posted By Petra : October 26, 2008 10:32 am

You’re absolutely right. Johnny Weissmuller was the best, and best looking Tarzan. He had a natural and lean muscled physique which established his physical command. And his lack of a ripped bodybuilder physique gave him a vulnerability that made him believable in the role. His vulnerability was also enhanced by the sexy, skimpy loincloth he wore, especially in the first three MGM films. And most vividly, he had the most perfectly sculpted breathtaking chest any man could have – truly pleasing to the eyes.

Posted By Tracy : March 7, 2009 10:06 am

Walter Seltzer, movie producer and longtime member of the MPTF’s board of directors, tells the saga of Johnny Weissmuller, greatest of the Tarzans:
“When Weissmuller was in the hospital, other patients complained because he was yelling (the Tarzan yell) in the hallways. It got so bad that we had to remove him. We found a place for him and his wife in Mexico near Acapulco, which was where Johnny wanted to be. We sent people down there several times a year to make sure he was all right.”

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