Tarzan swings down to the Brazos Valley
Scholars gather to commemorate the evolution of the Tarzan narrative
TheBatt.com ~ June 20, 2016
By Mariah Colon

Tarzan Memorabilia

  Photo by Bianca Lu
A grouping of Tarzan images from hollywood adaptations of the character
at the Brazos Valley Museum of National History.

The literary life of “Tarzan” comes alive at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History.
The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History opened their new exhibit “Tarzan”: The Myth & Mystery Thursday, June 16. Community members were invited to see the exhibit after attending the presentation entitled “I Still Live” given by Jim Goodwin. The exhibit features various “Tarzan” items including old comics, books and illustrations. Posters and photos from “Tarzan” cinema that date back to 1918 can be found in the cases in the exhibit, and the back of the exhibit holds taxidermy central African animals to enhance the setting.

Goodwin, co-founder of the Texas Burroughs Bibliophiles, said he has studied and been a fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the author of “Tarzan”, for over 55 years. Goodwin said the reason he chose to study Burroughs for so long was because of the message his literature sent out. “The critics claim that he was formula driven, but Edgar Rice Burroughs was an author who really wrote of a lifestyle worth living,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin spoke about the legacy that Burroughs left and said he was so influential that conventions and events have been dedicated to him. “There are usually two Edgar Rice Burroughs conventions held every year. One is called the Edgar Rice Burroughs circle of friendship, and the other is called the Dum-Dum. Dum-Dum is ape speak for gathering so the title fits,” Goodwin said. “Texas has a Burroughs bibliophile chapter called the Hell’s Benders. We will be hosting the 2017 Edgar Rice Burroughs Circle of Friendship and invite everyone to attend.”

At the exhibit opening, Goodwin went deeper into the life and legacy of Burroughs, told unknown facts about his work and explained the origins of “Tarzan” and adaptations that the story has been in. Afterwards attendees were given time to ask questions and discuss their history with the “Tarzan” narrative before making their way into the exhibit.

Bianca Lu, business sophomore and photographer for The Battalion, said she thought the lecture and exhibit were both very enlightening and enjoyed attending. ”Growing up, I thought that the original “Tarzan” was from the Disney movie that I watched, so it was very eye opening and educational to realize how long “Tarzan” has actually been around,” Lu said. “The exhibit portrayed that long amount of time through the comic books, action figures and movies that were produced in the past.”

“Tarzan”:Myth & Mystery will remain open until Oct. 29. Goodwin said that the contents of this exhibit are time enduring like none other. “Tarzan” is timeless, the title of my talk is “I Still Live” because he does,” Goodwin says. “Don’t base your opinion on “Tarzan” off of the movies, grab a book and read. I wish you happy reading and hope you enjoy the exhibit.”

Finally on DVD:
The classic animated adventures of
'Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle'
www.examiner.com/article

AXS Entertainment Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts He Tarzan. She Jane. Johnny and Maureen remain movie matinee memories, but the loin-clothed lord is back . . . and his swingin’ is still soarin’. Just in time for Father's Day and the theatrical release, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released the long-awaited animated series “Tarzan, Lord of The Jungle: Complete Season One”. Created by the Filmation Studio for CBS, the animated adventures follow Edgar Rice Burroughs' ape man in 36 episodes produced over the first four seasons. (The rotoscoped animation is based upon the work of Burrough's (sic) favorite Tarzan artist Burne Hogarth.) The series debuted on September 11, 1976.

Th series is the most faithful of all screen-based adaptations of Tarzan, and featured a number of "lost cities" from the original novels. In the series, Tarzan is depicted as intelligent and well-spoken – not the simple-minded ("me Tarzan, you Jane") caricature of many films. Witness the series’ opening narration explains: "The jungle: Here I was born; and here my parents died when I was but an infant. I would have soon perished, too, had I not been found by a kindly she-ape named Kala, who adopted me as her own and taught me the ways of the wild. I learned quickly, and grew stronger each day, and now I share the friendship and trust of all jungle animals. The jungle is filled with beauty, and danger; and lost cities filled with good, and evil. This is my domain, and I protect those who come here; for I am Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle!"

Tarzan’s sidekick is N'kima the monkey, as in the novels ("Cheeta" the chimpanzee was the creation of movie producers). It even uses much of Burroughs' Mangani language,(though some of the words used, particularly for animals not encountered in the novels, do not appear in Burroughs' Mangani lexicons, and so were presumably newly invented for the show.

U of L to display extensive Tarzan memorabilia
www.courier-journal.com  ~  June 16, 2016

(Photo: Courtesy U of L library) To coincide with the release of the new film, "The Legend of Tarzan," the University of Louisville plans to display some of its extensive Edgar Rice Burroughs collection starting July 1. The U of L Archives and Special Collections will have the material on public display through at least Sept. 2 on the first floor of the Ekstrom Library, in the west wing of the facility at Belknap Campus, off Third Street.

Burroughs created the original Tarzan character and stories, writing 63 novels and 21 short stories [sic] featuring the jungle hero. The U of L Burroughs collections is the largest institutional collection in the world, with more than 100,000 items that include first-edition books, fan magazines, film stills, scrapbooks and posters, games and other memorabilia from the author's life and works.

Known as “The Grandfather of American Science Fiction” Burroughs began by writing for pump [sic] magazines. Burroughs capitalized on the Tarzan character’s success by allowing merchandisers to create knives, bows and arrows, belt buckles, watches, figurines, candy, bread, pop-ups, coloring books and costumes.  Many of these items are part of the collection. In connection with the release of the new movie, the exhibit will include editions of “Tarzan” in 37 languages, to emphasize the worldwide appeal of Burroughs’ iconic character.

Most of the collection was donated and curated by U of L Curator Emeritus George T. McWhorter. All items in the collection are available in Archives and Special Collections Research Room, Ekstrom Library, lower level 17.  Anyone with a photo ID may view or research individual items 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

NEWS FROM THE PUBLISHER

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NEW WEBSITE:  Check out the new website at www.erbbooks.com
You can see the latest images of the bibliographies progress as well as place an order.

GREAT RESPONSE:  Thanks for the tremendous response to our PRE-ORDER OFFER.  We currently have over 150 books ordered, but there is still time for you to receive your preorder discount.  The simplest way to order your copy is to reply to this email with the book/books you want:  Standard Cloth Edition in DJ ($100) and Deluxe Signed and Numbered Leather bound Edition ($150) One book discount 10%.. two books 15% FedEx shipping $14 flat fee.  I’ll reply to your email with an invoice from Paypal allowing you to pay by Paypal or Credit Card. Otherwise you can send you check with the attached order form.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY ORDERED . . . would you do us a huge favor and forward this email to those in your contact list that you think would be interested.  We want to continue to offer high quality one-of-a-kind ERB items and the success of each book helps fund the next one.  By the way, there are several new amazing ERB projects in the planning stages.  I’ll keep you posted as we have more information.  Check out the ERB Inc. website at www.edgarriceburroughs.com

TARZAN ON THE PRECIPICE
Update from author Michael Sanford
drmichaelsanford@gmail.com My full length, illustrated, ERB authorized, stand alone novel, Tarzan on the Precipice, is set between the first two books of the Tarzan series, written in ERB's historical style, and will soon be self-published by ERB Inc. through Lulu in hardback, and Create Space in softcover. I entered this project as a lifetime fan first and a first-time writer second -- and I want to ensure other ERB fans that you will love this novel.

Jim Sullos has arranged for me to be on a panel of authors June 27 at the ECOF in CA and I have made reservations for the August Dum-Dum in Morris IL. 

Click for full-page images

A note from acclaimed author Richard Lupoff
Modesty is a virtue but I can’t resist the temptation to share the following PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review with you.
I must add that the essay about magicians was a collaboration between myself and the late Don Thompson
—and the portion about Mandrake was all Don’s work. My thanks (again!) to Maggie Thompson for permission to include this essay.
                                                                                                                   ~ Dick

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Web Exclusive Writer: Volume 3
Richard A. Lupoff. Ramble/Surinam Turtle,
$20 (284p) ISBN 978-1-60543-878-8
Pop culture junkies with nostalgia in their hearts will drool over this third collection of essays, introductions, and reviews by Lupoff, whose bona fides in the fields of fantasy and science fiction include the editing (with his wife Pat) of Xero, the fanzine whose "All in Color for a Dime" column helped to launch modern comic book fandom in 1960.

Although most of the book's 36 selections (10 original to the volume) were published in the past decade, they're awash with memories of pulp magazines, comics, radio broadcasts, and forgotten baseball players of the 1940s and '50s. The contents range in theme from tributes to science fiction writer Frank Robinson and crime fiction writer and editor Howard Browne to endearing memoirs about the gestation of Xero, the editing of fiction by SF titan E.E. "Doc" Smith," and Lupoff's forays into high-school and amateur sports. The volume's centerpieces are a pair of thoroughly researched (and recalled) essays about aviation comics and airborne superheroes, "The Propwash Patrol" and "The Propwash Patrol Flies Again," and "It's Magic," a remarkably comprehensive chronicle of Mandrake the Magician and the many magician heroes who were pretenders to his throne in mid-century comic books and newspaper strips.

Although now in his 80s, Lupoff still writes with the enthusiasm of a young fan—as, for example, in "An ERB Addict Gets His Fix," about editing books by Edgar Rice Burroughs at Canaveral Press, in which he writes: "I loved my work, I loved my co-workers, and I loved my surroundings: thousands and thousands of wondrous books!" Any reader who shares Lupoff's interests will find his sense of wonder infectious.
Reviewed on 05/06/2016
Best, Peter

Peter Cannon ~ Senior Reviews Editor
Publishers Weekly ~ 71 W. 23rd St. ~ New York, NY 10010
(212) 377-5699
pcannon@publishersweekly.com

Meanwhile, I suppose you know I started a new publication
"Pulpdom, Son of ERB-dom"
and have a self built website Pulpdom.com you might check out.

I've published two in depth discussions of the TARZAN novels recently,
first the 24 books: "TARZAN REVISITED" in Pulpdom Online issues #2,#3,#4 & #5
and we have just begun a detailed review of the Dell spin-off of Pal-ul-don, 1948 and onwards!

Part I of "The Lost Land" is in Pulpdom Online #11, just published this week, free at Pulpdom.com

Since I seldom hear from many serious ERB fans these days, I thought I'd say Kaor!
Are you still an ERB fan too?  Clearly, ERB forever!
Anyway, Pulpdom.com tells the whole story and is up to date!

Kreegah!
Caz
Camille Cazedessus moonfire@frontier.net

This is a RARE photo showing how big this Radio Club was for kids back in 1932. You can spot Edgar Rice Burroughs standing near the gas pumps. Also on display are two of the great TARZAN posters for Signal Oil. 

In fact, the Radio Show and the SIGNAL OIL TARZAN CLUB was so popular, SIGNAL had to bow out because they could not keep up with the demands. 

Many other products came out of the TARZAN Radio Shows, such as: TARZAN Flour; TARZAN Ice Cream Cups; TARZAN Bread; TARZAN PEANUT BUTTER; You Name it. ERB enjoyed the popularity of the Radio Shows (There were 4 series) 

He even wrote one which eventually ended up as a book of his in 1964, THE RED STAR OF TARZAN and was a Comic Strip Story. The Strip and Radio Show were under a different name: TARZAN AND THE FIRE OF ASHER.