Careers Johnny Weissmuller

1 careers

1.1 swimming
1.2 films
1.3 after films

careers
swimming

as teen, weissmuller attended lane technical college prep high school before dropping out work various jobs including stint lifeguard @ lake michigan beach. while working elevator operator , bellboy @ illinois athletic club, weissmuller caught eye of swim coach william bachrach, trained weissmuller; in august 1921, weissmuller won national championships in 50-yard , 220-yard distances. although foreign-born, weissmuller gave birthplace tanneryville, cambria county, pennsylvania, , birth date of younger brother, peter weissmuller. ensure eligibility compete part of united states olympic team, , critical issue in being issued united states passport.

on july 9, 1922, weissmuller broke duke kahanamoku s world record in 100-meter freestyle, swimming in 58.6 seconds. won title distance @ 1924 summer olympics, beating kahanamoku gold medal. won 400-meter freestyle , member of winning u.s. team in 4×200-meter relay.

as member of u.s. water polo team, won bronze medal. 4 years later, @ 1928 summer olympics in amsterdam, won 2 gold medals. during period weissmuller became enthusiast john harvey kellogg s holistic lifestyle views on nutrition, enemas , exercise. came kellogg s battle creek, michigan sanatorium dedicate new 120-foot swimming pool, , go on break 1 of own previous swimming records after adopting vegetarian diet prescribed kellogg.

in 1927, weissmuller set new world record of 51.0 seconds in 100-yard freestyle, stood 17 years. improved 48.5 seconds @ billy rose world s fair aquacade in 1940, aged 36, result discounted competing professional.

in all, weissmuller won 5 olympic gold medals , 1 bronze medal, fifty-two united states national championships, , set sixty-seven world records. first man swim 100-meter freestyle under 1 minute , 440-yard freestyle under 5 minutes. never lost race , retired unbeaten amateur record. in 1950, selected associated press greatest swimmer of first half of 20th century.

upon moving prosperous bel air section of los angeles (specifically area known today east gate bel air), weissmuller later famously commission architect paul williams design large home 300-foot serpentine swimming pool curled around house (and still exists).

films

in 1929, weissmuller signed contract bvd model , representative. traveled throughout country doing swim shows, handing out leaflets promoting brand of swimwear, signing autographs , going on radio. in same year, made first motion picture appearance adonis, wearing fig leaf, in movie entitled glorifying american girl. appeared himself in first of several crystal champions movie shorts featuring weissmuller , other olympic champions @ silver springs, florida. co-starred esther williams in billy rose s aquacade during new york world s fair 1939–41, pursuing 2 years.

weissmüller maureen o sullivan (jane) in tarzan s secret treasure

his acting career began when signed seven-year contract metro-goldwyn-mayer , played role of tarzan in tarzan ape man (1932). movie huge success , weissmuller became overnight international sensation. author of tarzan, edgar rice burroughs, pleased weissmuller, although hated studio s depiction of tarzan barely spoke english created own concurrent tarzan series filmed on location in central american jungles , starring herman brix suitably articulate version of character.

weissmuller starred in 6 tarzan movies mgm actress maureen o sullivan jane , cheeta chimpanzee. last 3 included johnny sheffield boy. then, in 1942, weissmuller went rko , starred in 6 more tarzan movies markedly reduced production values. sheffield appeared boy in first 5 features rko. brenda joyce took on role of jane in weissmuller s last 4 tarzan movies (the first 2 rko films had not featured jane). unlike mgm, rko allowed weissmuller play other roles, though three-picture contract pine-thomas productions led 1 film, swamp fire, being made, co-starring buster crabbe. in total of twelve tarzan films, weissmuller earned estimated $2,000,000 , established himself many movie historians consider definitive tarzan. although not first tarzan in movies (that elmo lincoln), first associated traditional ululating, yodeling tarzan yell. during appearance on television s mike douglas show in 1970s, weissmuller explained how famous yell created. recordings of 3 vocalists spliced effect‍—‌a soprano, alto , hog caller.

when weissmuller left role of tarzan, traded loincloth costume slouch hat , safari suit role of jungle jim (1948) columbia. made thirteen jungle jim films between 1948 , 1954. according actor michael fox, weissmuller shoot 2 jungle jim films consecutively 9 days filming each break of 2 days between, return home in mexico. within next year, appeared in 3 more jungle movies, playing himself due rights of name jungle jim being taken screen gems. in 1955, began production of jungle jim television adventure series screen gems, film subsidiary of columbia. costars martin huston , dean fredericks. show produced twenty-six episodes, subsequently played repeatedly on network , syndicated television. aside first screen appearance adonis , role of johnny duval in 1946 film swamp fire, weissmuller played 3 roles in films during heyday of hollywood career: tarzan, jungle jim, , himself.

after films

according book weissmuller s son tarzan, father, while playing golf in cuba in 1958 during cuban revolution, weissmuller s golf cart surrounded rebel soldiers. weissmuller unable communicate until got out of cart , attempted trademark tarzan yell. soldiers recognized him , shouted es tarzan! es tarzan de la jungla! johnny , companions not not kidnapped, guerillas gave him escort hotel.

1970

weissmuller accomplished amateur golfer , played in 2 official pga tour tournaments, @ 1937 western open @ canterbury golf club outside cleveland (87–85=172, missed cut) , 1948 hawaiian open (79–75–79–76=309) finish in 37th place.

in late 1950s, weissmuller moved chicago , started swimming pool company. lent name other business ventures, did not have great deal of success. retired in 1965 , moved fort lauderdale, florida, founding chairman of international swimming hall of fame (ishof). inducted ishof same year.

in september 1966, weissmuller joined former screen tarzans james pierce , jock mahoney appear ron ely part of publicity upcoming premiere of tarzan tv series. in late 60s , 70s, weissmuller involved tourist attraction called tropical/florida wonderland, a.k.a. tarzan s jungleland, on us 1 in titusville, florida.

weissmuller s face appeared in collage on iconic front cover of beatles 1967 record album sgt. pepper s lonely hearts club band.

based on interest in natural lifestyles, weissmuller opened small chain of health food stores called johnny weissmuller s american natural foods in california in 1969.

in 1970, attended british commonwealth games in edinburgh, presented queen elizabeth ii. same year, appeared former co-star maureen o sullivan in phynx (1970).

weissmuller lived in florida until end of 1973, moved las vegas, nevada, worked greeter @ caesars palace along boxer joe louis time. in 1976, appeared last time in motion picture, playing movie crewman fired movie mogul (played art carney) in won ton ton, dog saved hollywood, , made final public appearance in year when inducted body building guild hall of fame.

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