A bit of trivia about Tarzan and me

My depression and rage over the Orlando shooting are still with me, but I thought it was time for something different here.



Saturday night, I saw a long preview for the upcoming Tarzan movie.  It reminded me of this bit of trivia, which I've never shared publicly.

When I was a kid, I would get up early on Saturday morning, turn on the TV, tune to our UHF channel, and hope to catch a Tarzan movie.  They played many Saturdays between 5:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.  When I was lucky, one would be on before I had to go outside to start mowing lawns.  I loved those movies and watched them over and over.

Johnny Weismuller was my favorite Tarzan.  I particularly loved his Tarzan yell.



I've always wanted to be able to make that sound, but I've never even come close.  Some film lore claims that the call was an artificial one that a sound department made, but a lot of folks insist Weismuller could make the yell himself--and that he did so at random times for many years to come.

I expect I will never be able to make that yell, but I will always dream of doing so, and I will always love it.