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It is interesting to note that the choice to film in Louisiana set a precedent for early Tarzan productions. While later films, such as the Johnny Weissmuller era in the 1930s and 40s, would rely heavily on the famous "Los Angeles Arboretum" and sound stages with stock footage of African animals, the 1918 film relied on the genuine, untamed wildness of the American South.
The contrast between the Atchafalaya Basin and the Los Angeles studios highlights the adventurous spirit of early silent filmmakers. They did not have the luxury of computer-generated imagery or easy international travel. Instead, they found "Africa" in the bayous of Louisiana, creating a piece of cinema history that is still studied for its ambitious use of location today.
The decision to film the first Tarzan movie in Louisiana established a template that would be followed for decades. Subsequent silent Tarzan films, including The Romance of Tarzan (1918) and The Son of Tarzan (1920), also used Louisiana and other Southern locations (like Florida’s Silver Springs) as jungle stand-ins.
It wasn’t until the sound era, particularly the Johnny Weissmuller films of the 1930s and 40s, that Tarzan movies began using more exotic locations like Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán or California’s Sherwood Forest. And it took until the 1980s and 90s for major productions to occasionally film on actual African soil (e.g., Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan was shot in Cameroon and Kenya).
Post:
cinema trivia: Where was the first-ever Tarzan movie filmed? 🎥🌿
If you guessed Africa, you’d be wrong! The 1918 silent classic Tarzan of the Apes was filmed right here in the USA—specifically in the bayous of Morgan City, Louisiana.
They used the local swamps to double for the African jungle! 🐊🌴
#FilmTrivia #Tarzan #MovieFacts
If you are a die-hard Tarzan fan or a film history buff, you can visit Morgan City, Louisiana. Here is a quick guide to the “top” spots: where was the first tarzan movie filmed top
Pro tip: Visit in the fall. The summer humidity is exactly as miserable (and authentic) as the actors endured in 1918.
The first Tarzan movie was not filmed in Africa. Instead, the production chose the swamps, bayous, and dense woodlands of the American South.
The principal filming location for Tarzan of the Apes (1918) was along the Teche River near Morgan City, Louisiana, as well as the surrounding areas of St. Mary Parish.
So, where was the first Tarzan movie filmed? In the swampy, mossy, subtropical wilderness of Louisiana, primarily along the Teche River near Morgan City. The 1918 film Tarzan of the Apes did not go to Africa. Instead, it brought a convincing, low-budget version of Africa to the American South.
This choice, born of necessity and practicality, gave the first cinematic Tarzan an authentic, gritty, and dangerous feel—one that remains a fascinating footnote in both film history and Louisiana’s cultural heritage. The next time you watch a Tarzan movie, remember: the very first vine he swung from was likely dangling over a Louisiana bayou.
Title: Location as Character: The Filming Sites of the First Tarzan Movie (1918)
Abstract The first cinematic adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes was a silent film released in 1918. While the fictional jungle of “West Africa” serves as the story’s setting, the actual filming locations were confined to the United States. This paper identifies the primary filming site as Morgan City, Louisiana, with additional sequences shot in Chicago, Illinois.
Introduction The 1918 film Tarzan of the Apes, directed by Scott Sidney and starring Elmo Lincoln as the titular character, holds the distinction of being the first Tarzan feature film. Determining its filming location is crucial for film historians, as it marks the beginning of a century-long tradition of using exotic locales (or their substitutes) to represent the African jungle.
Main Findings
Production Context The choice of Louisiana over California or actual African locations was driven by early cinema’s logistical constraints. The filmmakers prioritized:
Conclusion To answer the query directly: The first Tarzan movie was filmed primarily in Morgan City, Louisiana (USA) , with studio interiors done in Chicago, Illinois (USA) . No footage was shot in Africa. This precedent established a trend for early Hollywood jungle films: substituting American Southern swamps or studio backlots for the African continent.
Keywords: Tarzan of the Apes (1918), Elmo Lincoln, silent film, filming location, Morgan City, Louisiana cinema history
The first Tarzan feature film is generally considered to be The Romance of Tarzan (1918). It was filmed primarily in Huntington, Long Island, New York (studio/exterior work) and on location in Cuba for jungle scenes.
(If you meant the first widely known Tarzan film starring Elmo Lincoln, 1918's Tarzan of the Apes was shot similarly in California/New York studios with some Florida/Cuba location work.)
The first Tarzan movie ever made, the silent film Tarzan of the Apes , was primarily filmed in Morgan City, Louisiana
. Shot in 1917, the production utilized the lush, moss-covered vegetation of the South Louisiana bayous to serve as a stand-in for the African jungle. Primary Filming Locations
The production spent roughly five to nine weeks on location in before finishing additional scenes in California Atchafalaya Basin & Swamps
: The main setting used for the "African" jungle scenes due to its dense, exotic-looking landscape. Avoca Island It is interesting to note that the choice
: A specific location near Morgan City used for outdoor shooting. Lake End Park : A waterfront site in Morgan City
where the production built and eventually burned "cannibal village" hut sets Morgan City Downtown
: Local establishments were used for production needs; for instance, Shannon Hardware served as a prop studio to build costumes and sets. California Locations
: Additional scenes, including some studio work, were completed at Griffith Park E&R Jungle Film Company in Los Angeles. Why Morgan City Was Chosen
Filmmakers selected this region for several logistical and aesthetic reasons:
: The moss-draped cypress trees and waterways closely matched the "moss-covered branches" described in Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel. Transportation Morgan City
had a railway-serviced wharf and easy rail access, which was crucial for shipping heavy cameras, equipment, and live animals (including a lion and monkeys) Local Cast
: The production required a large number of extras. It was one of the first major films to use local African American residents to play African tribe members rather than using white actors in blackface. Fun Facts & Legends The Monkey Myth
: Local lore suggests that several monkeys escaped into the Atchafalaya swamp during filming, and legends persist of their descendants living there today, though this is unverified. Hollywood History If you are a die-hard Tarzan fan or
: This shoot is historically significant as one of the first times a major Hollywood feature film was shot on location outside of California or New York. Morgan City to commemorate this film history? Expand map Louisiana Locations California Locations
It is interesting to note that the choice to film in Louisiana set a precedent for early Tarzan productions. While later films, such as the Johnny Weissmuller era in the 1930s and 40s, would rely heavily on the famous "Los Angeles Arboretum" and sound stages with stock footage of African animals, the 1918 film relied on the genuine, untamed wildness of the American South.
The contrast between the Atchafalaya Basin and the Los Angeles studios highlights the adventurous spirit of early silent filmmakers. They did not have the luxury of computer-generated imagery or easy international travel. Instead, they found "Africa" in the bayous of Louisiana, creating a piece of cinema history that is still studied for its ambitious use of location today.
The decision to film the first Tarzan movie in Louisiana established a template that would be followed for decades. Subsequent silent Tarzan films, including The Romance of Tarzan (1918) and The Son of Tarzan (1920), also used Louisiana and other Southern locations (like Florida’s Silver Springs) as jungle stand-ins.
It wasn’t until the sound era, particularly the Johnny Weissmuller films of the 1930s and 40s, that Tarzan movies began using more exotic locations like Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán or California’s Sherwood Forest. And it took until the 1980s and 90s for major productions to occasionally film on actual African soil (e.g., Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan was shot in Cameroon and Kenya).
Post:
cinema trivia: Where was the first-ever Tarzan movie filmed? 🎥🌿
If you guessed Africa, you’d be wrong! The 1918 silent classic Tarzan of the Apes was filmed right here in the USA—specifically in the bayous of Morgan City, Louisiana.
They used the local swamps to double for the African jungle! 🐊🌴
#FilmTrivia #Tarzan #MovieFacts
If you are a die-hard Tarzan fan or a film history buff, you can visit Morgan City, Louisiana. Here is a quick guide to the “top” spots:
Pro tip: Visit in the fall. The summer humidity is exactly as miserable (and authentic) as the actors endured in 1918.
The first Tarzan movie was not filmed in Africa. Instead, the production chose the swamps, bayous, and dense woodlands of the American South.
The principal filming location for Tarzan of the Apes (1918) was along the Teche River near Morgan City, Louisiana, as well as the surrounding areas of St. Mary Parish.
So, where was the first Tarzan movie filmed? In the swampy, mossy, subtropical wilderness of Louisiana, primarily along the Teche River near Morgan City. The 1918 film Tarzan of the Apes did not go to Africa. Instead, it brought a convincing, low-budget version of Africa to the American South.
This choice, born of necessity and practicality, gave the first cinematic Tarzan an authentic, gritty, and dangerous feel—one that remains a fascinating footnote in both film history and Louisiana’s cultural heritage. The next time you watch a Tarzan movie, remember: the very first vine he swung from was likely dangling over a Louisiana bayou.
Title: Location as Character: The Filming Sites of the First Tarzan Movie (1918)
Abstract The first cinematic adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes was a silent film released in 1918. While the fictional jungle of “West Africa” serves as the story’s setting, the actual filming locations were confined to the United States. This paper identifies the primary filming site as Morgan City, Louisiana, with additional sequences shot in Chicago, Illinois.
Introduction The 1918 film Tarzan of the Apes, directed by Scott Sidney and starring Elmo Lincoln as the titular character, holds the distinction of being the first Tarzan feature film. Determining its filming location is crucial for film historians, as it marks the beginning of a century-long tradition of using exotic locales (or their substitutes) to represent the African jungle.
Main Findings
Production Context The choice of Louisiana over California or actual African locations was driven by early cinema’s logistical constraints. The filmmakers prioritized:
Conclusion To answer the query directly: The first Tarzan movie was filmed primarily in Morgan City, Louisiana (USA) , with studio interiors done in Chicago, Illinois (USA) . No footage was shot in Africa. This precedent established a trend for early Hollywood jungle films: substituting American Southern swamps or studio backlots for the African continent.
Keywords: Tarzan of the Apes (1918), Elmo Lincoln, silent film, filming location, Morgan City, Louisiana cinema history
The first Tarzan feature film is generally considered to be The Romance of Tarzan (1918). It was filmed primarily in Huntington, Long Island, New York (studio/exterior work) and on location in Cuba for jungle scenes.
(If you meant the first widely known Tarzan film starring Elmo Lincoln, 1918's Tarzan of the Apes was shot similarly in California/New York studios with some Florida/Cuba location work.)
The first Tarzan movie ever made, the silent film Tarzan of the Apes , was primarily filmed in Morgan City, Louisiana
. Shot in 1917, the production utilized the lush, moss-covered vegetation of the South Louisiana bayous to serve as a stand-in for the African jungle. Primary Filming Locations
The production spent roughly five to nine weeks on location in before finishing additional scenes in California Atchafalaya Basin & Swamps
: The main setting used for the "African" jungle scenes due to its dense, exotic-looking landscape. Avoca Island
: A specific location near Morgan City used for outdoor shooting. Lake End Park : A waterfront site in Morgan City
where the production built and eventually burned "cannibal village" hut sets Morgan City Downtown
: Local establishments were used for production needs; for instance, Shannon Hardware served as a prop studio to build costumes and sets. California Locations
: Additional scenes, including some studio work, were completed at Griffith Park E&R Jungle Film Company in Los Angeles. Why Morgan City Was Chosen
Filmmakers selected this region for several logistical and aesthetic reasons:
: The moss-draped cypress trees and waterways closely matched the "moss-covered branches" described in Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel. Transportation Morgan City
had a railway-serviced wharf and easy rail access, which was crucial for shipping heavy cameras, equipment, and live animals (including a lion and monkeys) Local Cast
: The production required a large number of extras. It was one of the first major films to use local African American residents to play African tribe members rather than using white actors in blackface. Fun Facts & Legends The Monkey Myth
: Local lore suggests that several monkeys escaped into the Atchafalaya swamp during filming, and legends persist of their descendants living there today, though this is unverified. Hollywood History
: This shoot is historically significant as one of the first times a major Hollywood feature film was shot on location outside of California or New York. Morgan City to commemorate this film history? Expand map Louisiana Locations California Locations