MUSEUM OF MODERN MYTHOLOGY AND POP CULTURE

JOHNNY WEISSMULLER

1904-1984. Swimmer Johnny Weissmuller competed in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics, winning five gold medals and one bronze medal. He set 52 U. S. National Championships and 67 World Records. Johnny retired from his swimming career undefeated. In 1932, Johnny signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to play the role of Tarzan in Tarzan the Ape Man. The film was a smash success, and Weissmuller became an international star. MGM produced six Tarzan films with Johnny, and Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane. RKO Pictures picked up the continuing series with Johnny, also producing six films. After leaving the role of Tarzan, Johnny and his production company partners began the Jungle Jim series in 1948. Johnny played Jungle Jim in sixteen movies, and then took the character into television in 1955. As per his request, after his death, while mourners lowered his coffin into the ground, a recording of the Tarzan yell played three times.

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