(7-9-08) GUILLERMO DEL TORO NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE TARZAN FILM PROJECT
Sad news that's not exactly a secret -- it's been obvious that several other projects have pushed any new Tarzan film way down the list for director Guillermo Del Toro, and IGN.com just posted an interview with GDT today where he says:
"Tarzan I'm out of for many reasons, including the fact that I don'it want to stop it now that I'm going [away] for four years. That's number one. And number two because I think that project needs fulltime dedication and I can't give it to it."
Unfortunate as I was really looking forward to seeing his vision realized, but it sounds as if the project is still in the works. More to come as I hear it. Let's keep our fingers crossed!
(5-1-08) THE FOREST PRIMEVAL RELEASES FIRST IN NEW SERIES OF JOE JUSKO'S PRINTS -- INTERVIEW TO COME
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new series of high-quality prints by famed Tarzan artist Joe Jusko, and the first one, "Tarzan And The Golden Lion", is now available at The Forest Primeval! If you've read my artist interviews, you know what giclees are -- prints so realistic it's hard to distinguish them from the original! And as a special to Tarzan.CC readers, the website has offered a $200.00 discount on a very limited number of these prints until 6/27/2008, so get them quick!
To order and take advantage of the special discount, visit www.theforestprimeval.com and enter TZCC42 as the promo code.
And to add even more excitement to the news, we will be speaking with Joe soon for an exclusive interview for Tarzan.CC -- stay tuned!
(5-1-08) DANTON BURROUGHS PASSES AWAY APRIL 30th, 2008
What a sad past few years this has been for Tarzan fans. We've lost many who are near and dear to our hearts and memories, and now comes the unfortunate news of the passing of ERB, Inc. Chairman Danton Burroughs, grandson of Edgar Rice Burroughs:
This, from one of the earlier reports found online:
One of the San Fernando Valley's greatest friends of history, Danton Burroughs has died. Dan died sometime after 10 last evening. He had struggled with Parkinson's Disease for sometime, but his death may have been related to a significant fire among his historical treasures on April 30th. Danton was the grandson of the beloved author Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan.
Danton died at his home in Tarzana, a San Fernando Valley suburb named by his grandfather. Danton was the son of the great American photographer John Coleman Burroughs. He was a founder of the Tarzana Museum and supporter of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.
Danton was a member of Chi Chi Chi Fraternity at Los Angeles Pierce College and was a lifelong friend of many members of the Beta Chapter of the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity.
From what I've learned, the fire was a completely separate incident, though the loss of many irreplaceable photographs in his collection must have been tough for him. He had just gained the position of Chairman of the Board for ERB, Inc., and was looking forward to taking a very hands-on role with management of the company.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Danton Burroughs, but had always planned to, as those who knew him loved and respected him. This is a significant loss for Tarzan fandom... Rest easy, Mr. Burroughs.
(12-1-07) MINOR UPDATES
Hi, folks! Wow... After such a flurry of activity earlier this year, I realize it's now been 5 months since I posted my last Jungle Drums update. Sorry for this, but I've been juggling so many irons in the fire lately that I've had to set the website aside for a while in order to tend to other interests. I do promise to be back in step as soon as possible, as I already have 3 great interviews in the works.
Some minor tidbits in the meantime... Earlier this year I attended my first Dum Dum convention, held in Louisville, KY, and had a blast! It was such a treat meeting so many of the people I've only known via e-mail for the past few years, including some of the biggest of the big-wigs in the ERB/Tarzan universe! I also had the honor of speaking at the banquet, reading two very kind letters from Eve Brent and Elaine Hollingsworth (Sara Shane) written for the Gordon Scott Memorial portion of the evening's events. I was later surprised to find that my presentation had been recorded by "Elmo" of Panthan Press for use in an episode of his Dateline Jasoom podcast, and that episode can be found HERE (right-click and save as a file for easier downloading). Thanks, Elmo! I look forward to hopefully attending the Dum Dum next year as well!
Second, a few Tarzan.CC interviews are now being republished in the "Burroughs Bulletin", so if you are interested in seeing them in print, you may subscribe at the Burroughs Bibliophiles website. Our Elaine Hollingsworth interview alone took up a good 1/3 of the last issue! Thanks to George McWhorter and the Burroughs Bibliophiles for showing an interest in our interviews!
My last small bit of news was the predictable delay of Guillermo del Toro's "Tarzan" project as the script was not yet ready. I say "predictable" because I think everyone understood that he had at least two other projects to address before "Tarzan" could be tackled -- "Hellboy II" and possibly (but no longer probably) H.P. Lovecraft's "At The Mountains Of Madness". Hopefully we will hear news of "Tarzan" moving ahead within the next several months.
That's all for now, and please keep checking back. I hope to have things geared back up very soon. All the best, and hope you enjoy the coming holidays!
(7-1-07) NEW FAN MAIL ADDRESS FOR GORDON SCOTT
After discussion with the late actor's family and friends, it has been decided that Mr. Scott's future fan mail be directed to Roger and Betty Thomas of Baltimore. They were very close, and Roger and Betty would love hearing from or corresponding with Gordon's fans. The address is:
Gordon Scott
c/o Roger Thomas
205 Pontiac Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21225
Please note that the P.O. Box which was set up on Gordon's behalf is no longer valid, and mail sent there may not be forwarded correctly. To avoid confusion, I've removed the address from previous postings.
(5-21-07) DONATIONS COMPLETE FOR GORDON SCOTT'S BURIAL EXPENSES
I've been informed that we've collected enough to handle outstanding funeral expenses, so no further donations can be accepted for this purpose. Thanks to each and every one of you who wrote in and contributed. You've made a huge difference!
On a related note, we think it appropriate to close down the P.O. Box for Gordon's fan mail and instead let the family receive mail directly. I've proposed this, and if everyone is in agreement, I'll post an updated address for Gordon's fan mail.
(5-19-07) UPDATE ON GORDON'S SERVICE
I've spoken with Bob Burrows and Gordon's son Eric who attended the burial service, and they provided more details of the proceedings.
Gordon was buried in a small, yet very personal service, in a lovely section of Kensico Cemetery near a tree. The arrangements were handled by Gordon's older brother Ray Werschkul, his niece Jane Tyler, and Eric. Gordon also has a daughter Samantha Lyons, who lives in Idaho. Unfortunately Ray, Jane, and Samantha were unable to travel to New York for the service itself. The family was represented by Eric, who flew in from Las Vegas, Nevada to pay his respects to his father. Also present were a minister, friends Bob Burrows and Betty Thomas, and Mart and Maria Hulswit. Mart is the Executive Director of the Episcopal Actors' Guild of America, and as chance would have it, had also starred opposite Gordon as Ulysses in "Hercules and the Princess of Troy".
As little is publicly known about Gordon's family, Eric wants to ensure that people know that he did have family who cared about him, were proud of him, and wanted to be a part of his life. Eric is Gordon's oldest son, and his parents met while they were both working at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas -- Gordon as a lifeguard and Eric's mother as a PBX operator. They soon married and had a child, but unfortunately the marriage was not sustainable once Gordon's acting career took off. Eric believes his father would be pleased to know that he also had a grandson Taylor, and two great-grandsons Mateo and Gabriel with another on the way! It has been important to Eric that his son and grandsons know their patriarch, and he's asked us to post the following special message to Gordon's fans:
We are grateful to all of you who have expressed your sentiments and support for the greatest Tarzan ever, Gordon Scott. His last years were enhanced by his very close bond with Betty and Roger Thomas. They are such wonderful people. We also want to thank Mart Hulswit of the Episcopal Actors' Guild of America and Gloria Jones at the Actors' Fund for providing such a beautiful site at Kensico. Tarzan.CC and Bob Burrows have also shown their respect and admiration for Gordon Scott in many ways.
Thank you all,
Eric
And thank you, Eric, for your support and your kind words, and I look forward to meeting you in the future.
(5-14-07) GORDON SCOTT BURIED TODAY
Gordon was buried at 11:00am today in beautiful Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York, and now rests together with other heroes like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio. I believe that Bob Burrows and Betty Thomas attended the service, and I will post more information as I have it.
Donations for the family are still being accepted for a short period of time, and are greatly appreciated. See below for details.
(5-3-07) DONATIONS FOR GORDON SCOTT APPRECIATED
The news of Gordon's passing on June 30th has spread quickly, and phone calls and e-mails have been pouring in from many places. Luckily, the family has been contacted and are working hard to make arrangements for Gordon's transport and place of resting. They are wonderful people, but as this situation was unexpected, we are guessing that help could be used and are opening up the door for donations to assist them with expenses. There are several of us conferring on the best way to assist, and here are the two most immediate avenues:
1) Cards, letters, and donations can still be sent to the P.O. Box listed below, all of which will be forwarded directly to the family.
Gordon Scott
(address no longer valid)
2) With Gordon's approval during life, acclaimed artist David Burton had begun working on some special pieces to benefit Gordon, and the store to purchase these was almost ready to go when he learned of Gordon's passing. These are wonderful items, and 100% of the proceeds will be used to assist in the best way possible. I wanted to post this quickly, but will clarify soon when I have confirmation of how the exactly where the funds will be directed. We are coordinating with the family on this. David's Gordon Scott Memorial Store can be found at:
www.cafepress.com/gordonscott
Thanks to all those who cared for Gordon and have contacted me with your kind thoughts. More soon...
(4-30-07) GORDON SCOTT PASSES AWAY AT AGE 80
I just received a sad call that Gordon Scott passed away this morning at approximately 10:50am EST. For the past few weeks, Gordon had been suffering post-operative complications from a recent surgery, and we feared this would be the inevitable conclusion. Roger Thomas of Baltimore shared with me that Gordon had joked a few times about wanting to pass away on the anniversary of the death of his good friend Steve Reeves. As fate would have it, he was one day short of getting there, as Steve passed on May 1st, 2000.
We thank all the staff of Good Samaritan Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for doing everything they could to help restore health to this wonderful person, and to Bob Burrows and the National Capital Panthans for keeping our outreach effort alive for the past few months since my visit to Baltimore.
I want to take a moment to share something very deep and personal with our readers. Bob and I are committed Christians who have for some time held the secondary hope of sharing our faith in Jesus Christ with Gordon while he was still alive. When Bob and I learned that Gordon's condition had taken a turn for the worse, we began praying in earnest for his salvation. Bob relayed to me that he was able to visit Gordon this past Saturday, and shared the Gospel with him. Though Gordon was slipping in and out of consciousness, Bob said that he saw a tear roll down his eye during this time. After speaking with Roger Thomas later this morning, we learned that this had been a concern of his as well, and Bob's story really offered comfort and hope during this difficult time.
For all that we could have given Gordon, there is no greater gift than the sacrifice our Lord Jesus Christ made for us all on the cross, so that we might have eternal life (John 3:16). Rest in peace, Gordon, and we look forward to seeing you healthy once again and happy in the age to come.
We are now attempting to locate and contact any surviving relatives Gordon has to notify them. Any information would be appreciated. Also, Bob had just recently set up a P.O. Box to provide a reliable way for Gordon to receive fan mail. He has decided to keep this in place for the time being, and cards, well-wishes, and donations for Gordon's final arrangements may be mailed in care of Bob to:
Gordon Scott
(address removed)
Thanks also go to all the fans who have e-mailed us recently with concern for Gordon and his situation. You are all appreciated, and please keep in touch. Let us forever cherish the memory of Gordon Scott -- a hero both on and off screen.
(2-10-07) "TARZAN'S GREATEST ADVENTURE" -- IN SEARCH OF GORDON SCOTT... (PART TWO)
It's been a few weeks since my return, and I've wrestled with exactly what to write. It was an excellent trip, no doubt, but I guess I just felt the less said, the better, until I'd spoken with Mr. Scott again. And that part of the exchange went like this:
SB: "You know people are asking me about you -- do you have a message you want to send to your fans?"
GS: "A message like what?"
SB: "Well, you know... something like, 'Hello! Thanks for all the support -- I'm doing fine, and...' "
GS: "But I'm NOT doing fine... I'm doing like hell!" (I could almost hear the smile in his voice)
SB: (laughing) "Yeah, but, I just wasn't sure if you wanted people to know..."
GS: "No, no, no... I don't want to lie to anybody. Just tell them the truth. They're gonna find out anyway."
And there ya go...
It started a few years back, when I decided to look Gordon Scott up in hopes of interviewing him for the site. I'd read conflicting rumblings on the Internet about where he was living, how he was doing, etc., but nothing really clear or definitive. I'd also heard a few testimonials from people who had known him or had met him over the years, which taken together sadly gave me the impression that the guy could use a few more good friends in his life. But at least two good friends, he had...
My first break came when the owner of another fansite sent me the mailing address of a couple that Mr. Scott was reported to be living with, and from this, I sent a letter... it went unanswered. I let it ride for a while until l decided to try again in the middle of 2006. This time, after doing a little sleuthing, I was able to attach a phone number to the address I'd been given, and I called... The woman that answered was very nice, and I was actually surprised to find that Gordon Scott was still living there, as he had been for the past 5 years. We had a few really good conversations over the next week, but as I wasn't sensing much of an opening to speak to Mr. Scott at the time, I felt it best to leave it be for a little bit.
A few months later, an Internet message thread on Mr. Scott's whereabouts came back to life when a new post mentioned that he was now living in a nursing home, and would appreciate hearing from his fans. I got the idea to call the couple again, and they confirmed that he'd recently been moved there due to some health concerns. Our conversations over the next few days allowed me the opportunity to establish a much better rapport with them. With their encouragement, my wife and I planned immediately on making a trip to visit Mr. Scott, and to basically try to see how we might be of service.
After only a few days, our travel plans were set, and I brought my idea to the fans on ERBList.com. Surely enough, there was a great and positive response, including offers of assistance, gifts for Mr. Scott, and donations of funds to purchase more gifts on arrival. Boosted by this wave of support, we boarded our plane and headed to our destination. Within an hour of landing, we'd settled into our hotel room and I'd picked up the phone to call the nursing facility. I'd spoken to Mr. Scott once before, and called again to see if he might be up for any visitors, and was elated when he invited us right over.
We were lucky in that our hotel room was literally 2 miles from the nursing home, but it had also started to snow pretty steadily by that point. Though it was freezing cold, the roads were manageable, and on our arrival we signed in at the front desk and were directed to Mr. Scott's room. When I walked in, he was sitting in a chair with his back to us, and I put a hand on his shoulder and said hello. He turned around and grinned, greeted us, then asked us to pull up some chairs and visit for a bit. He was really amazed that two folks from Arkansas had made such a journey and traveled in that kind of weather just to visit with him, and we had an enjoyable conversation. I also gave him the gifts that I'd carried with me on the plane, which included a huge hardback book comprised of 3 Tarzan novels (his response, "You could actually work out with this!"), as well as copies of all 6 of his Tarzan movies (plus "Duel of the Titans" and his "Hercules" film) on DVD, kindly donated by various friends. I could tell he was really touched and pleased to receive these, and he complimented the artwork on the Tarzan DVD inserts, which depicted some of the original movie posters from those films.
We kept our visit short, and that night, my wife and I went shopping with the funds that were donated by the fans on ERBList.com. If there is one true talent I have, it's being able to stretch a dollar well beyond known limits, and we made it count. By morning, we had acquired for him several outfits of clothing per his stated preference, as well as a 20" LCD television and DVD player for his discs, and an electric razor (he mentioned to me that he'd "been having dreams of Norelco").
He seemed really excited about the TV set and player, and immediately wanted to pop in his copy of "Tarzan's Fight For Life". Let me tell you from a fan's perspective how cool it was to be sitting next to the star of this film and hearing scene-for-scene commentary from the man himself!
There was quite a lot going on for us during this trip, which also included a meeting with the National Capital Panthans, a local chapter of Edgar Rice Burroughs fans. Through this, we made some great and lasting friendships, as well as more offers to help with our efforts on behalf of Mr. Scott. Unfortunately, my last planned visit on the day we were to leave had to be cancelled, as Mr. Scott had been transferred to another facility the previous night to undergo some tests. But all was not lost, as we were finally able to get together with the couple he'd been living with recently, and enjoyed a lovely visit with them. There were some unexpected surprises they shared with us during this visit, including several great photos of Mr. Scott from recent years, as well as the actual knife given to him by the studio when he left the Tarzan series -- it was gold plated, and engraved with both his autograph and the text, "GORDON SCOTT - 'TARZAN' - 1954-1961". What a treat that was!
Before we left, we'd already established a plan to continue our little friendship effort with the help of the National Capital Panthans, and that effort is blossoming and continuing currently. I'm now lucky to be able to call Gordon Scott a friend of mine, and even luckier to be able to help give something back to a person who gave so much enjoyment to all of us on many a Saturday afternoon.
So, for those concerned, here is what I feel comfortable saying about Mr. Scott's current condition. At 80 years old, his physical health has obviously seen better times, but mentally he's sharp as a tack, with a perfect memory. Luckily, with proper attention, his health situation is improving, and we are keeping regular tabs on him to make sure he is doing ok and has what he needs. Best of all, with several people now sharing in the effort, he has what seems makes all the difference in the world -- the love of a few good friends.
If you are interested in our little project and would like to know how you might become involved and help out, feel free to contact me.
(3-1-07) HERMAN BRIX / BRUCE BENNETT PASSES AWAY AT AGE 100
Very sad news... Herman Brix, star of "The New Adventures of Tarzan", passed away February 25th after complications from a broken hip. He was 100.
I, along with many others, felt that Mr. Brix was the perfect screen Tarzan, and it would have been great to see him continue in the part. But unfortunately, being cast in such a high-profile role only worked to hamper his acting career, and he later chose to change his name to Bruce Bennett to escape his association with action films.
Sad news that's not exactly a secret -- it's been obvious that several other projects have pushed any new Tarzan film way down the list for director Guillermo Del Toro, and IGN.com just posted an interview with GDT today where he says:
"Tarzan I'm out of for many reasons, including the fact that I don'it want to stop it now that I'm going [away] for four years. That's number one. And number two because I think that project needs fulltime dedication and I can't give it to it."
Unfortunate as I was really looking forward to seeing his vision realized, but it sounds as if the project is still in the works. More to come as I hear it. Let's keep our fingers crossed!
(5-1-08) THE FOREST PRIMEVAL RELEASES FIRST IN NEW SERIES OF JOE JUSKO'S PRINTS -- INTERVIEW TO COME
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new series of high-quality prints by famed Tarzan artist Joe Jusko, and the first one, "Tarzan And The Golden Lion", is now available at The Forest Primeval! If you've read my artist interviews, you know what giclees are -- prints so realistic it's hard to distinguish them from the original! And as a special to Tarzan.CC readers, the website has offered a $200.00 discount on a very limited number of these prints until 6/27/2008, so get them quick!
To order and take advantage of the special discount, visit www.theforestprimeval.com and enter TZCC42 as the promo code.
And to add even more excitement to the news, we will be speaking with Joe soon for an exclusive interview for Tarzan.CC -- stay tuned!
(5-1-08) DANTON BURROUGHS PASSES AWAY APRIL 30th, 2008
What a sad past few years this has been for Tarzan fans. We've lost many who are near and dear to our hearts and memories, and now comes the unfortunate news of the passing of ERB, Inc. Chairman Danton Burroughs, grandson of Edgar Rice Burroughs:
This, from one of the earlier reports found online:
One of the San Fernando Valley's greatest friends of history, Danton Burroughs has died. Dan died sometime after 10 last evening. He had struggled with Parkinson's Disease for sometime, but his death may have been related to a significant fire among his historical treasures on April 30th. Danton was the grandson of the beloved author Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan.
Danton died at his home in Tarzana, a San Fernando Valley suburb named by his grandfather. Danton was the son of the great American photographer John Coleman Burroughs. He was a founder of the Tarzana Museum and supporter of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.
Danton was a member of Chi Chi Chi Fraternity at Los Angeles Pierce College and was a lifelong friend of many members of the Beta Chapter of the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity.
From what I've learned, the fire was a completely separate incident, though the loss of many irreplaceable photographs in his collection must have been tough for him. He had just gained the position of Chairman of the Board for ERB, Inc., and was looking forward to taking a very hands-on role with management of the company.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Danton Burroughs, but had always planned to, as those who knew him loved and respected him. This is a significant loss for Tarzan fandom... Rest easy, Mr. Burroughs.
(12-1-07) MINOR UPDATES
Hi, folks! Wow... After such a flurry of activity earlier this year, I realize it's now been 5 months since I posted my last Jungle Drums update. Sorry for this, but I've been juggling so many irons in the fire lately that I've had to set the website aside for a while in order to tend to other interests. I do promise to be back in step as soon as possible, as I already have 3 great interviews in the works.
Some minor tidbits in the meantime... Earlier this year I attended my first Dum Dum convention, held in Louisville, KY, and had a blast! It was such a treat meeting so many of the people I've only known via e-mail for the past few years, including some of the biggest of the big-wigs in the ERB/Tarzan universe! I also had the honor of speaking at the banquet, reading two very kind letters from Eve Brent and Elaine Hollingsworth (Sara Shane) written for the Gordon Scott Memorial portion of the evening's events. I was later surprised to find that my presentation had been recorded by "Elmo" of Panthan Press for use in an episode of his Dateline Jasoom podcast, and that episode can be found HERE (right-click and save as a file for easier downloading). Thanks, Elmo! I look forward to hopefully attending the Dum Dum next year as well!
Second, a few Tarzan.CC interviews are now being republished in the "Burroughs Bulletin", so if you are interested in seeing them in print, you may subscribe at the Burroughs Bibliophiles website. Our Elaine Hollingsworth interview alone took up a good 1/3 of the last issue! Thanks to George McWhorter and the Burroughs Bibliophiles for showing an interest in our interviews!
My last small bit of news was the predictable delay of Guillermo del Toro's "Tarzan" project as the script was not yet ready. I say "predictable" because I think everyone understood that he had at least two other projects to address before "Tarzan" could be tackled -- "Hellboy II" and possibly (but no longer probably) H.P. Lovecraft's "At The Mountains Of Madness". Hopefully we will hear news of "Tarzan" moving ahead within the next several months.
That's all for now, and please keep checking back. I hope to have things geared back up very soon. All the best, and hope you enjoy the coming holidays!
(7-1-07) NEW FAN MAIL ADDRESS FOR GORDON SCOTT
After discussion with the late actor's family and friends, it has been decided that Mr. Scott's future fan mail be directed to Roger and Betty Thomas of Baltimore. They were very close, and Roger and Betty would love hearing from or corresponding with Gordon's fans. The address is:
Gordon Scott
c/o Roger Thomas
205 Pontiac Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21225
Please note that the P.O. Box which was set up on Gordon's behalf is no longer valid, and mail sent there may not be forwarded correctly. To avoid confusion, I've removed the address from previous postings.
(5-21-07) DONATIONS COMPLETE FOR GORDON SCOTT'S BURIAL EXPENSES
I've been informed that we've collected enough to handle outstanding funeral expenses, so no further donations can be accepted for this purpose. Thanks to each and every one of you who wrote in and contributed. You've made a huge difference!
On a related note, we think it appropriate to close down the P.O. Box for Gordon's fan mail and instead let the family receive mail directly. I've proposed this, and if everyone is in agreement, I'll post an updated address for Gordon's fan mail.
(5-19-07) UPDATE ON GORDON'S SERVICE
I've spoken with Bob Burrows and Gordon's son Eric who attended the burial service, and they provided more details of the proceedings.
Gordon was buried in a small, yet very personal service, in a lovely section of Kensico Cemetery near a tree. The arrangements were handled by Gordon's older brother Ray Werschkul, his niece Jane Tyler, and Eric. Gordon also has a daughter Samantha Lyons, who lives in Idaho. Unfortunately Ray, Jane, and Samantha were unable to travel to New York for the service itself. The family was represented by Eric, who flew in from Las Vegas, Nevada to pay his respects to his father. Also present were a minister, friends Bob Burrows and Betty Thomas, and Mart and Maria Hulswit. Mart is the Executive Director of the Episcopal Actors' Guild of America, and as chance would have it, had also starred opposite Gordon as Ulysses in "Hercules and the Princess of Troy".
As little is publicly known about Gordon's family, Eric wants to ensure that people know that he did have family who cared about him, were proud of him, and wanted to be a part of his life. Eric is Gordon's oldest son, and his parents met while they were both working at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas -- Gordon as a lifeguard and Eric's mother as a PBX operator. They soon married and had a child, but unfortunately the marriage was not sustainable once Gordon's acting career took off. Eric believes his father would be pleased to know that he also had a grandson Taylor, and two great-grandsons Mateo and Gabriel with another on the way! It has been important to Eric that his son and grandsons know their patriarch, and he's asked us to post the following special message to Gordon's fans:
We are grateful to all of you who have expressed your sentiments and support for the greatest Tarzan ever, Gordon Scott. His last years were enhanced by his very close bond with Betty and Roger Thomas. They are such wonderful people. We also want to thank Mart Hulswit of the Episcopal Actors' Guild of America and Gloria Jones at the Actors' Fund for providing such a beautiful site at Kensico. Tarzan.CC and Bob Burrows have also shown their respect and admiration for Gordon Scott in many ways.
Thank you all,
Eric
And thank you, Eric, for your support and your kind words, and I look forward to meeting you in the future.
(5-14-07) GORDON SCOTT BURIED TODAY
Gordon was buried at 11:00am today in beautiful Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York, and now rests together with other heroes like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio. I believe that Bob Burrows and Betty Thomas attended the service, and I will post more information as I have it.
Donations for the family are still being accepted for a short period of time, and are greatly appreciated. See below for details.
(5-3-07) DONATIONS FOR GORDON SCOTT APPRECIATED
The news of Gordon's passing on June 30th has spread quickly, and phone calls and e-mails have been pouring in from many places. Luckily, the family has been contacted and are working hard to make arrangements for Gordon's transport and place of resting. They are wonderful people, but as this situation was unexpected, we are guessing that help could be used and are opening up the door for donations to assist them with expenses. There are several of us conferring on the best way to assist, and here are the two most immediate avenues:
1) Cards, letters, and donations can still be sent to the P.O. Box listed below, all of which will be forwarded directly to the family.
Gordon Scott
(address no longer valid)
2) With Gordon's approval during life, acclaimed artist David Burton had begun working on some special pieces to benefit Gordon, and the store to purchase these was almost ready to go when he learned of Gordon's passing. These are wonderful items, and 100% of the proceeds will be used to assist in the best way possible. I wanted to post this quickly, but will clarify soon when I have confirmation of how the exactly where the funds will be directed. We are coordinating with the family on this. David's Gordon Scott Memorial Store can be found at:
www.cafepress.com/gordonscott
Thanks to all those who cared for Gordon and have contacted me with your kind thoughts. More soon...
(4-30-07) GORDON SCOTT PASSES AWAY AT AGE 80
I just received a sad call that Gordon Scott passed away this morning at approximately 10:50am EST. For the past few weeks, Gordon had been suffering post-operative complications from a recent surgery, and we feared this would be the inevitable conclusion. Roger Thomas of Baltimore shared with me that Gordon had joked a few times about wanting to pass away on the anniversary of the death of his good friend Steve Reeves. As fate would have it, he was one day short of getting there, as Steve passed on May 1st, 2000.
We thank all the staff of Good Samaritan Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for doing everything they could to help restore health to this wonderful person, and to Bob Burrows and the National Capital Panthans for keeping our outreach effort alive for the past few months since my visit to Baltimore.
I want to take a moment to share something very deep and personal with our readers. Bob and I are committed Christians who have for some time held the secondary hope of sharing our faith in Jesus Christ with Gordon while he was still alive. When Bob and I learned that Gordon's condition had taken a turn for the worse, we began praying in earnest for his salvation. Bob relayed to me that he was able to visit Gordon this past Saturday, and shared the Gospel with him. Though Gordon was slipping in and out of consciousness, Bob said that he saw a tear roll down his eye during this time. After speaking with Roger Thomas later this morning, we learned that this had been a concern of his as well, and Bob's story really offered comfort and hope during this difficult time.
For all that we could have given Gordon, there is no greater gift than the sacrifice our Lord Jesus Christ made for us all on the cross, so that we might have eternal life (John 3:16). Rest in peace, Gordon, and we look forward to seeing you healthy once again and happy in the age to come.
We are now attempting to locate and contact any surviving relatives Gordon has to notify them. Any information would be appreciated. Also, Bob had just recently set up a P.O. Box to provide a reliable way for Gordon to receive fan mail. He has decided to keep this in place for the time being, and cards, well-wishes, and donations for Gordon's final arrangements may be mailed in care of Bob to:
Gordon Scott
(address removed)
Thanks also go to all the fans who have e-mailed us recently with concern for Gordon and his situation. You are all appreciated, and please keep in touch. Let us forever cherish the memory of Gordon Scott -- a hero both on and off screen.
(2-10-07) "TARZAN'S GREATEST ADVENTURE" -- IN SEARCH OF GORDON SCOTT... (PART TWO)
It's been a few weeks since my return, and I've wrestled with exactly what to write. It was an excellent trip, no doubt, but I guess I just felt the less said, the better, until I'd spoken with Mr. Scott again. And that part of the exchange went like this:
SB: "You know people are asking me about you -- do you have a message you want to send to your fans?"
GS: "A message like what?"
SB: "Well, you know... something like, 'Hello! Thanks for all the support -- I'm doing fine, and...' "
GS: "But I'm NOT doing fine... I'm doing like hell!" (I could almost hear the smile in his voice)
SB: (laughing) "Yeah, but, I just wasn't sure if you wanted people to know..."
GS: "No, no, no... I don't want to lie to anybody. Just tell them the truth. They're gonna find out anyway."
And there ya go...
It started a few years back, when I decided to look Gordon Scott up in hopes of interviewing him for the site. I'd read conflicting rumblings on the Internet about where he was living, how he was doing, etc., but nothing really clear or definitive. I'd also heard a few testimonials from people who had known him or had met him over the years, which taken together sadly gave me the impression that the guy could use a few more good friends in his life. But at least two good friends, he had...
My first break came when the owner of another fansite sent me the mailing address of a couple that Mr. Scott was reported to be living with, and from this, I sent a letter... it went unanswered. I let it ride for a while until l decided to try again in the middle of 2006. This time, after doing a little sleuthing, I was able to attach a phone number to the address I'd been given, and I called... The woman that answered was very nice, and I was actually surprised to find that Gordon Scott was still living there, as he had been for the past 5 years. We had a few really good conversations over the next week, but as I wasn't sensing much of an opening to speak to Mr. Scott at the time, I felt it best to leave it be for a little bit.
A few months later, an Internet message thread on Mr. Scott's whereabouts came back to life when a new post mentioned that he was now living in a nursing home, and would appreciate hearing from his fans. I got the idea to call the couple again, and they confirmed that he'd recently been moved there due to some health concerns. Our conversations over the next few days allowed me the opportunity to establish a much better rapport with them. With their encouragement, my wife and I planned immediately on making a trip to visit Mr. Scott, and to basically try to see how we might be of service.
After only a few days, our travel plans were set, and I brought my idea to the fans on ERBList.com. Surely enough, there was a great and positive response, including offers of assistance, gifts for Mr. Scott, and donations of funds to purchase more gifts on arrival. Boosted by this wave of support, we boarded our plane and headed to our destination. Within an hour of landing, we'd settled into our hotel room and I'd picked up the phone to call the nursing facility. I'd spoken to Mr. Scott once before, and called again to see if he might be up for any visitors, and was elated when he invited us right over.
We were lucky in that our hotel room was literally 2 miles from the nursing home, but it had also started to snow pretty steadily by that point. Though it was freezing cold, the roads were manageable, and on our arrival we signed in at the front desk and were directed to Mr. Scott's room. When I walked in, he was sitting in a chair with his back to us, and I put a hand on his shoulder and said hello. He turned around and grinned, greeted us, then asked us to pull up some chairs and visit for a bit. He was really amazed that two folks from Arkansas had made such a journey and traveled in that kind of weather just to visit with him, and we had an enjoyable conversation. I also gave him the gifts that I'd carried with me on the plane, which included a huge hardback book comprised of 3 Tarzan novels (his response, "You could actually work out with this!"), as well as copies of all 6 of his Tarzan movies (plus "Duel of the Titans" and his "Hercules" film) on DVD, kindly donated by various friends. I could tell he was really touched and pleased to receive these, and he complimented the artwork on the Tarzan DVD inserts, which depicted some of the original movie posters from those films.
We kept our visit short, and that night, my wife and I went shopping with the funds that were donated by the fans on ERBList.com. If there is one true talent I have, it's being able to stretch a dollar well beyond known limits, and we made it count. By morning, we had acquired for him several outfits of clothing per his stated preference, as well as a 20" LCD television and DVD player for his discs, and an electric razor (he mentioned to me that he'd "been having dreams of Norelco").
He seemed really excited about the TV set and player, and immediately wanted to pop in his copy of "Tarzan's Fight For Life". Let me tell you from a fan's perspective how cool it was to be sitting next to the star of this film and hearing scene-for-scene commentary from the man himself!
There was quite a lot going on for us during this trip, which also included a meeting with the National Capital Panthans, a local chapter of Edgar Rice Burroughs fans. Through this, we made some great and lasting friendships, as well as more offers to help with our efforts on behalf of Mr. Scott. Unfortunately, my last planned visit on the day we were to leave had to be cancelled, as Mr. Scott had been transferred to another facility the previous night to undergo some tests. But all was not lost, as we were finally able to get together with the couple he'd been living with recently, and enjoyed a lovely visit with them. There were some unexpected surprises they shared with us during this visit, including several great photos of Mr. Scott from recent years, as well as the actual knife given to him by the studio when he left the Tarzan series -- it was gold plated, and engraved with both his autograph and the text, "GORDON SCOTT - 'TARZAN' - 1954-1961". What a treat that was!
Before we left, we'd already established a plan to continue our little friendship effort with the help of the National Capital Panthans, and that effort is blossoming and continuing currently. I'm now lucky to be able to call Gordon Scott a friend of mine, and even luckier to be able to help give something back to a person who gave so much enjoyment to all of us on many a Saturday afternoon.
So, for those concerned, here is what I feel comfortable saying about Mr. Scott's current condition. At 80 years old, his physical health has obviously seen better times, but mentally he's sharp as a tack, with a perfect memory. Luckily, with proper attention, his health situation is improving, and we are keeping regular tabs on him to make sure he is doing ok and has what he needs. Best of all, with several people now sharing in the effort, he has what seems makes all the difference in the world -- the love of a few good friends.
If you are interested in our little project and would like to know how you might become involved and help out, feel free to contact me.
(3-1-07) HERMAN BRIX / BRUCE BENNETT PASSES AWAY AT AGE 100
Very sad news... Herman Brix, star of "The New Adventures of Tarzan", passed away February 25th after complications from a broken hip. He was 100.
I, along with many others, felt that Mr. Brix was the perfect screen Tarzan, and it would have been great to see him continue in the part. But unfortunately, being cast in such a high-profile role only worked to hamper his acting career, and he later chose to change his name to Bruce Bennett to escape his association with action films.
Mr. Brix, you were loved and will be sorely missed. Rest in peace...
For more information on his life and career, look up a copy of "Please Don't Call Me Tarzan: The Life Story of Herman Brix/Bruce Bennett" by Mike Chapman -- it's a fascinating biography.
(2-23-07) GUILLERMO DEL TORO IS READING ALL 24 TARZAN NOVELS!
In a interview found on CHUD.com, GDT talks about how he's working his way thru all the Tarzan novels:
"I'm reading mostly Tarzan novels right now. I'm reading the entire canon of Tarzan, in order. He's one of those characters that you remember one way as a kid, and you say, 'Was he that cool?' I had read 15 of the novels -- I was lacking a good chunk -- so I said, why don't I go complete the collection, buy them all, and read them in order?
"When you read Dickens all at once, or Chandler all at once or Burroughs all at once, you see where they repeat themselves. With Raymond Chandler, John Dalmas gets repeated later in later detectives. And you even see exact phrases. Because back then they thought nobody was paying attention. When they came out, people threw them in the garbage when they were done with them.
"(the Tarzan novels are) Extremely weird. They're much nastier than the Tarzan in the movies, and much more complex than the Tarzan in the movies. They have more monsters and adventures and lost cities. They have a lot more going in the fantasy aspects. I'm reading that. I'm watching..."
(2-10-07) "TARZAN'S GREATEST ADVENTURE" -- IN SEARCH OF GORDON SCOTT... (PART ONE)
After two years of searching and attempting to contact legendary Tarzan actor Gordon Scott, I've finally located him and managed to speak with him by phone. I don't want to reveal too much at this time, except to mention that I'm leaving 2/14/07 on a journey to meet him and spend some time with him. I'm really looking forward to the trip, and have had the support and encouragement of several fine folks, including George McWhorter (Editor and Publisher of "The Burroughs Bulletin" and Curator of the ERB Memorial Collection), former "Tarzan the Ape Man" actor Denny Miller, and the members of ERBList.com.
Originally, my intent was to contact Mr. Scott in hopes of obtaining an interview for Tarzan.CC, but now the search has turned into something a little more special. Hang tight, because I'll be issuing a full report on my return. :)
(1-1-07) HAPPY NEW YEAR. PLUS ANOTHER NUGGET OF TARZAN MOVIE INFO!
Yes, today a new year begins, and we hope to have several exciting things here for you in the future! Here's a tidbit of news on the new Tarzan project to kick it off...
In a new article on Scottish website Scotsman.com, it's mentioned that Warner Brothers will be aiming to reinvent Tarzan as has been successfully done with both the James Bond and Batman film franchises. Some of the news is heartening for ERB fans, and some may bring questions and concern, as they are planning to portray Tarzan as a bit "unhinged" from his feral upbringing. Here are some quotes from new scriptwriter John Collee:
"He certainly wouldn't be a beautiful person after 17 years in the jungle... Imagine a three-year-old kid lost in the jungle trying to keep pace with a bunch of apes. Then imagine this kid survived. Imagine the kind of athlete and fighter he would grow into... If this kid did grow up in the forest and was deprived of all human warmth for the formative years of his life, he would be a damaged individual. He would have that slightly unhinged, psychologically wild look about him.
"We'll go back to the first three books, in fact mainly the first one, which is a pulp classic... This will be the origin story, like Spider-man and Batman Begins. We're aiming for the same audience. The novels are violent and confronting. We'll aim to keep that."
As for the character of Jane Porter, she will be present, but Hollywood still forgets that the Jane of the novels was an American, not an Englishwoman! Maybe I should send Warner Brothers an e-mail... Oh, well... Happy New Year to all, and best wishes for 2007!
(12-23-06) FINALLY, SOME TARZAN MOVIE PROJECT NEWS!
It seems like it's been an eternity since we've heard anything on this project, but progress has been reported. Warner Bros. and Jerry Weintraub Productions are teaming up with "Hellboy" director Guillermo del Toro to bring the ape-man back to the big screen. Screenwriter John August is out, and is being replaced by "Master and Commander: Far Side of the World" scribe John Collee.
On his personal website, John August had this to say:
" ... the decision of when to cut one's losses never gets easier. ... I had to let Tarzan go, after more than a year of work.
"... I felt profound frustration and disappointment, both in myself and the people who'd hired me. It wasn't just the amount of wasted work, but the sense that I was abandoning my creations. The characters were real to me, and now wouldn't get a chance to live."
As for the upcoming movie, here are some snippets from an article at Variety.com:
"The studio is developing a new take on the Edgar Rice Burroughs-created character."
"Del Toro, who grew up reading Spanish-language translations of those (Tarzan) books, feels that the classic themes are still compelling, and that there is new ground to cover in the Tarzan mythology by turning back to the original Burroughs prose."
"I'd love to create a new version that is still a family movie, but as edgy as I can make it," Del Toro said. "There are strong themes of survival of a defenseless child left behind in the most hostile environment."
As expected, we'll be keeping an eye on things, and are hoping for the best!
(11-28-06) HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
I've been working on several updates recently as I've had time, and you will find them scattered throughout the site. Also have some great interviews in the works... Stay tuned, and hope you all are enjoying the holidays!
(3-26-06) SITE UPDATES COMING!
Wow! Seems like it's been forever since I posted updates. I've been incredibly busy and distracted recently, but am finally trying to catch up. Please keep coming back, as there should be some updates soon.
(7-17-05) DENNY MILLER AT MEMPHIS FILM FESTIVAL, FILMING NEW MOVIE
After a year of correspondence by e-mail, I was finally fortunate to meet Denny Miller and his wife Nancy in person at the 2005 Memphis Film Festival. They invited me to have lunch with them, as well as sit at the dealer's table for a while as he greeted his fans. Along with several other western stars of yore, Denny turned in an excellent performance in a recreation of a radio episode of "Have Gun Will Travel", himself filling the lead role of "Palladin". I can safely attest that Denny's reputation as the "friendliest Tarzan actor" is well-deserved, and I would encourage any Tarzan movie fans to catch him at future appearances.
Meanwhile, Denny has just completed filming his part in an upcoming western, "Hell to Pay", also starring veteran actors Robert Vaughn and Buck Taylor. We will update you when the release date is known!
(6-3-05) SITE UPDATES!
Tarzan.CC has really started to get some notice, and I'm getting mail from all over the world, as well as some very nice compliments -- even made a few new friends! And I'm looking forward to a surge of traffic and interest in the site with a freshly-published Interview With Neal Adams, legendary Tarzan artist! Keep that mail coming in!
(5-8-05) SITE UPDATES!
Finally, I've gotten started on the 24 Tomes page. I had first re-read novels #2 through #5, then went back and re-read #1, and am now in the middle of #6. I didn't want to begin work on this section until I could start with "Tarzan of the Apes", and now the first few synopses are complete. More will be added after a fresh reading of each novel. Enjoy!
(4-2-05) SITE UPDATES!
Unfortunately, the demands of work have been requiring most of my attention, but I have managed to update a few sections. I put a dent in The Silver Screen, adding several reviews and pretty much completing synopses of the post-Weissmuller era films, with the exception of the two Ron Ely movies which were culled from episodes of his TV show. I will add them soon, but for now, I plan on starting the film summarizations from the beginning and working my way up. I have had a rule in doing this... I will only add them after a fresh viewing to get a better perspective, and that in itself is a task, as I've had little time to watch Tarzan films.
But don't think I've been lax... I've had my hand in many pots while preparing to add content to the site. Aside from re-reading the Tarzan novels, I've also been watching TV episodes and reading comics from various Tarzan series, and shedding my "thin veneer of civilization" every chance I get. Speaking of that, I've posted my recent adventures in The Scarlet Scar -- check it out for a hoot. And finally, you can find the status of pending interviews under The African Sun. There will be more soon, I promise, so please keep checking back.
(2-10-05) TARZAN.CC TAKING HOLD ON THE WEB
I've been pleased to find that the search engines have finally picked up the site properly, and we're getting hits from all over the world, including the U.S., Singapore, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Canada and Mexico. With response coming in, the pressure is on to get more content into the site soon. Keep checking back for updates...
(1-23-05) SITE UPDATES!
Just posted the completed Interview With Xavier Declie, along with a few more Tarzan movie reviews under The Silver Screen. Enjoy!
(12-30-2004) BELATED MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The holidays have been very busy, yet I'm still finding time to work on the site. Recently posted interviews with Boris Vallejo and John Carl Buechler. Check out the African Sun! Best wishes to all during the holidays, and for the coming new year.
(11-25-2004) HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone the best on this day. We all have so much to be thankful for, and I'm certainly thankful for the opportunity to run a fansite that will hopefully be enjoyed by Tarzan fans around the world, old and new. Enjoy the holidays!
(11-20-2004) OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF TARZAN.CC
Thanks for dropping by my new website dedicated to the Edgar Rice Burroughs' literary character of "Tarzan of the Apes". I've decided to go ahead and take the site live while under construction. All links are active, but content for some of them will be added as time permits.
I would love to hear from visitors to the site, and any feedback would be welcome. Feel free to contact me by e-mail.
(2-23-07) GUILLERMO DEL TORO IS READING ALL 24 TARZAN NOVELS!
In a interview found on CHUD.com, GDT talks about how he's working his way thru all the Tarzan novels:
"I'm reading mostly Tarzan novels right now. I'm reading the entire canon of Tarzan, in order. He's one of those characters that you remember one way as a kid, and you say, 'Was he that cool?' I had read 15 of the novels -- I was lacking a good chunk -- so I said, why don't I go complete the collection, buy them all, and read them in order?
"When you read Dickens all at once, or Chandler all at once or Burroughs all at once, you see where they repeat themselves. With Raymond Chandler, John Dalmas gets repeated later in later detectives. And you even see exact phrases. Because back then they thought nobody was paying attention. When they came out, people threw them in the garbage when they were done with them.
"(the Tarzan novels are) Extremely weird. They're much nastier than the Tarzan in the movies, and much more complex than the Tarzan in the movies. They have more monsters and adventures and lost cities. They have a lot more going in the fantasy aspects. I'm reading that. I'm watching..."
(2-10-07) "TARZAN'S GREATEST ADVENTURE" -- IN SEARCH OF GORDON SCOTT... (PART ONE)
After two years of searching and attempting to contact legendary Tarzan actor Gordon Scott, I've finally located him and managed to speak with him by phone. I don't want to reveal too much at this time, except to mention that I'm leaving 2/14/07 on a journey to meet him and spend some time with him. I'm really looking forward to the trip, and have had the support and encouragement of several fine folks, including George McWhorter (Editor and Publisher of "The Burroughs Bulletin" and Curator of the ERB Memorial Collection), former "Tarzan the Ape Man" actor Denny Miller, and the members of ERBList.com.
Originally, my intent was to contact Mr. Scott in hopes of obtaining an interview for Tarzan.CC, but now the search has turned into something a little more special. Hang tight, because I'll be issuing a full report on my return. :)
(1-1-07) HAPPY NEW YEAR. PLUS ANOTHER NUGGET OF TARZAN MOVIE INFO!
Yes, today a new year begins, and we hope to have several exciting things here for you in the future! Here's a tidbit of news on the new Tarzan project to kick it off...
In a new article on Scottish website Scotsman.com, it's mentioned that Warner Brothers will be aiming to reinvent Tarzan as has been successfully done with both the James Bond and Batman film franchises. Some of the news is heartening for ERB fans, and some may bring questions and concern, as they are planning to portray Tarzan as a bit "unhinged" from his feral upbringing. Here are some quotes from new scriptwriter John Collee:
"He certainly wouldn't be a beautiful person after 17 years in the jungle... Imagine a three-year-old kid lost in the jungle trying to keep pace with a bunch of apes. Then imagine this kid survived. Imagine the kind of athlete and fighter he would grow into... If this kid did grow up in the forest and was deprived of all human warmth for the formative years of his life, he would be a damaged individual. He would have that slightly unhinged, psychologically wild look about him.
"We'll go back to the first three books, in fact mainly the first one, which is a pulp classic... This will be the origin story, like Spider-man and Batman Begins. We're aiming for the same audience. The novels are violent and confronting. We'll aim to keep that."
As for the character of Jane Porter, she will be present, but Hollywood still forgets that the Jane of the novels was an American, not an Englishwoman! Maybe I should send Warner Brothers an e-mail... Oh, well... Happy New Year to all, and best wishes for 2007!
(12-23-06) FINALLY, SOME TARZAN MOVIE PROJECT NEWS!
It seems like it's been an eternity since we've heard anything on this project, but progress has been reported. Warner Bros. and Jerry Weintraub Productions are teaming up with "Hellboy" director Guillermo del Toro to bring the ape-man back to the big screen. Screenwriter John August is out, and is being replaced by "Master and Commander: Far Side of the World" scribe John Collee.
On his personal website, John August had this to say:
" ... the decision of when to cut one's losses never gets easier. ... I had to let Tarzan go, after more than a year of work.
"... I felt profound frustration and disappointment, both in myself and the people who'd hired me. It wasn't just the amount of wasted work, but the sense that I was abandoning my creations. The characters were real to me, and now wouldn't get a chance to live."
As for the upcoming movie, here are some snippets from an article at Variety.com:
"The studio is developing a new take on the Edgar Rice Burroughs-created character."
"Del Toro, who grew up reading Spanish-language translations of those (Tarzan) books, feels that the classic themes are still compelling, and that there is new ground to cover in the Tarzan mythology by turning back to the original Burroughs prose."
"I'd love to create a new version that is still a family movie, but as edgy as I can make it," Del Toro said. "There are strong themes of survival of a defenseless child left behind in the most hostile environment."
As expected, we'll be keeping an eye on things, and are hoping for the best!
(11-28-06) HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
I've been working on several updates recently as I've had time, and you will find them scattered throughout the site. Also have some great interviews in the works... Stay tuned, and hope you all are enjoying the holidays!
(3-26-06) SITE UPDATES COMING!
Wow! Seems like it's been forever since I posted updates. I've been incredibly busy and distracted recently, but am finally trying to catch up. Please keep coming back, as there should be some updates soon.
(7-17-05) DENNY MILLER AT MEMPHIS FILM FESTIVAL, FILMING NEW MOVIE
After a year of correspondence by e-mail, I was finally fortunate to meet Denny Miller and his wife Nancy in person at the 2005 Memphis Film Festival. They invited me to have lunch with them, as well as sit at the dealer's table for a while as he greeted his fans. Along with several other western stars of yore, Denny turned in an excellent performance in a recreation of a radio episode of "Have Gun Will Travel", himself filling the lead role of "Palladin". I can safely attest that Denny's reputation as the "friendliest Tarzan actor" is well-deserved, and I would encourage any Tarzan movie fans to catch him at future appearances.
Meanwhile, Denny has just completed filming his part in an upcoming western, "Hell to Pay", also starring veteran actors Robert Vaughn and Buck Taylor. We will update you when the release date is known!
(6-3-05) SITE UPDATES!
Tarzan.CC has really started to get some notice, and I'm getting mail from all over the world, as well as some very nice compliments -- even made a few new friends! And I'm looking forward to a surge of traffic and interest in the site with a freshly-published Interview With Neal Adams, legendary Tarzan artist! Keep that mail coming in!
(5-8-05) SITE UPDATES!
Finally, I've gotten started on the 24 Tomes page. I had first re-read novels #2 through #5, then went back and re-read #1, and am now in the middle of #6. I didn't want to begin work on this section until I could start with "Tarzan of the Apes", and now the first few synopses are complete. More will be added after a fresh reading of each novel. Enjoy!
(4-2-05) SITE UPDATES!
Unfortunately, the demands of work have been requiring most of my attention, but I have managed to update a few sections. I put a dent in The Silver Screen, adding several reviews and pretty much completing synopses of the post-Weissmuller era films, with the exception of the two Ron Ely movies which were culled from episodes of his TV show. I will add them soon, but for now, I plan on starting the film summarizations from the beginning and working my way up. I have had a rule in doing this... I will only add them after a fresh viewing to get a better perspective, and that in itself is a task, as I've had little time to watch Tarzan films.
But don't think I've been lax... I've had my hand in many pots while preparing to add content to the site. Aside from re-reading the Tarzan novels, I've also been watching TV episodes and reading comics from various Tarzan series, and shedding my "thin veneer of civilization" every chance I get. Speaking of that, I've posted my recent adventures in The Scarlet Scar -- check it out for a hoot. And finally, you can find the status of pending interviews under The African Sun. There will be more soon, I promise, so please keep checking back.
(2-10-05) TARZAN.CC TAKING HOLD ON THE WEB
I've been pleased to find that the search engines have finally picked up the site properly, and we're getting hits from all over the world, including the U.S., Singapore, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Canada and Mexico. With response coming in, the pressure is on to get more content into the site soon. Keep checking back for updates...
(1-23-05) SITE UPDATES!
Just posted the completed Interview With Xavier Declie, along with a few more Tarzan movie reviews under The Silver Screen. Enjoy!
(12-30-2004) BELATED MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The holidays have been very busy, yet I'm still finding time to work on the site. Recently posted interviews with Boris Vallejo and John Carl Buechler. Check out the African Sun! Best wishes to all during the holidays, and for the coming new year.
(11-25-2004) HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone the best on this day. We all have so much to be thankful for, and I'm certainly thankful for the opportunity to run a fansite that will hopefully be enjoyed by Tarzan fans around the world, old and new. Enjoy the holidays!
(11-20-2004) OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF TARZAN.CC
Thanks for dropping by my new website dedicated to the Edgar Rice Burroughs' literary character of "Tarzan of the Apes". I've decided to go ahead and take the site live while under construction. All links are active, but content for some of them will be added as time permits.
I would love to hear from visitors to the site, and any feedback would be welcome. Feel free to contact me by e-mail.
This section is reserved for Tarzan-related news and information, as well as Tarzan.CC update notifications. Please drop by frequently to keep up to date!
