First and Only Weekly Online Fanzine Devoted to the Life and Works of Edgar Rice Burroughs
Since 1996 ~ Over 10,000 Webpages and Webzines in Archive
Volume 0401

ECLECTICA v.2010.08

The Writers Almanac with Garrison Keillor
Writers Almanac Public Radio.org ~ September 1, 2008

It's the birthday of one of the most popular pulp fiction writers in American history, Edgar Rice Burroughs, (books by this author) born in Chicago (1875). He had read Darwin's book Descent of Man back in 1899, and he was fascinated by the idea that human beings were related to apes. He began to wonder what might happen if a child from an excessively noble, well-bred family were somehow left in the jungle to be raised by apes. The result was his story "Tarzan of the Apes," which filled an entire issue of All-Story magazine in October of 1912.

He went on to write all kinds of stories, from science fiction to adventure, but Tarzan was his most popular character and one of the most widely recognized fictional characters of all time. When the first Tarzan movie came out in 1918, as a silent film, it was one of the first movies ever to gross more than $1 million. Tarzan was also one of the first fictional characters to become an icon for mass-market merchandise. There were Tarzan bathing suits, Tarzan chewing gum, Tarzan ice cream, even Tarzan bread. There have since been more than forty Tarzan movies, as well as comic strips, radio serials, and TV shows.

For the first half of the twentieth century, Burroughs was the most widely read author in America. His novels have since sold more than 100 million copies.

 'Tarzan' chameleon discovered in Madagascar
mongabay.com ~ August 31, 2010
Scientists have discovered a new species of chameleon in a small block of rainforest in Madagascar.  The color-changing lizard, which is described in the current issue of Salamandra Journal, is named Calumma Tarzan. The chameleon is typically yellow or green and adopts an attractive striped pattern when stressed.

The Tarzan chameleon was discovered by a team of German and Malagasy researchers, who say they chose a "celebrity name" that would "promote protection for this last patch of forest" instead of naming the species after themselves, as is convention. They recommend it be listed as "critically endangered" under IUCN Red List criteria for endangered species due to its restricted range of about 4 square miles and threats from deforestation.

Madagascar is home to about 40 percent of the world's known chameleon species, including the largest and the smallest kids. Nine new species of Calumma, the genus under which Tarzan's chameleon is classified, have been described in the last 15 years, according to the authors. Over the past half century, Madagacar's forests have been greatly diminished by subsistence rice cultivation, fuelwood collection, charcoal production, logging, and fires set for cattle grazing. Recent political instability has ushered in widespread illegal logging of the country's rainforest parks for precious timber, putting rare and endemic species at risk.

Female Calumma tarzan with relaxed (top)  and stress coloration (two forms-bottom).

Male Calumma tarzan with relaxed (top)  and stress coloration (bottom).

John Carter and Tars Tarkas model on display at ComicCon 2010

Thark on the Web

Moab and Movies

Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission Museum and Library in the Red Cliffs Lodge

ON THE HORIZON

Tarzan!
 by Pascal Dibie
An exploration of the legendary hero’s journey through pop culture. Apeman. Lord of the Jungle. Eco-warrior. Whatever you call him, Tarzan is, above all else, a legend. First created by Edgar Rice Burroughs in Tarzan of the Apes in 1912, Tarzan was more than a European orphan adopted by gorillas in darkest Africa. He quickly became a legendary opponent of colonialism, a valiant symbol of equality, a dangerous yet undeniably attractive lover, and a seemingly immortal hero to us all. Tarzan, who has starred in countless books, movies, radio and television programs, and in recent years Broadway productions and video games—not to mention hundreds of toys, games, and ephemera—holds a unique place in popular culture and in society. As times changed, so did Tarzan and his world: changing mores demanded Jane wear more clothing; developing ethnic tolerances shaped Tarzan’s relationship with his African friends and enemies; and people began to see Tarzan’s thoughtful coexistence with nature and his animal brethren as a bastion of environmentalism. Pascal Dibie, along with other scholars, shine’s a critical yet celebratory light on Tarzan and Burroughs, and explores the relationship between the character and his times. An amazing retrospective of the legendary character, Tarzan! is filled with scenes from the many films, including photographs of stars such as Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Crabbe, Christopher Lambert, Maureen O’Hara, and of course, Cheetah, in addition to classic comic strips, vintage book jackets, retro Viewmaster scenes, and art created especially for this book.

Pascal Dibie is an author and ethnologist teaching at the University of Paris.
Pub Date: October 2010 ~ Format: Hardcover
Category: Art - Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions
US Price: $30.00 ~ ISBN: 978-0-8478-3515-7 (0-8478-3515-4)
Publisher: Skira Rizzoli ~ Trim Size: 9-1/2 x 10-3/4

GALLERY OF COLLECTIBLES

Tarzan and the Dagomba Treasure   .

A Tarzan Superscope Story Tell set issued in 1978.  The boxed set contains a book and cassette tape.  The book follows cassette, word for word.  The backside of each box contains full-color cut-outs of Tarzan and other characters, animals and scenery.  Each box in the series is different.  Based on illustrations by Hogarth, designed and adapted by Jeff Skelley with story assistance by Paul Stein.

Mattel TARZAN COMIC GAME ~ 1971	TARZAN Magic Slate ~ 1968 Watkins-Strathmore #4445

JOHNNY WEISSMULLER

A Tarzan aluminum premium coin the size of a quarter from Popsicle.
The front side has a raised portrait of  Johnny Weissmuller while
the reverse says M-G-M STAR IN "TARZAN AND HIS MATE" and POPSICLE

A Johnny Weissmuller and Johnny Sheffield  full-colour Tarzan postcard from Holland ~ Filmphoto Service, circa 1939 ~ size 5" by 3 ½"	A program from Billy Rose's AQUACADE at the Great Lakes Exposition 1937.  34 pages, large format.  It features an article with two photos of Johnny Weissmuller  as well as a centerfold with him and Eleanor Holm wearing her Olympic Swim suit.

Tarzan plaster figurine 4.75" tall Fould's Macaroni premium 1939	Midnite, Sept. 10, 1932 ticket ~ SIGNAL TARZAN RADIO PREMIER  Fox Pantages theater ~ 6233 Hollywood Avenue	Tarzan store sign for 5 Cent Custard Cup

From the collection of Bob Thomas

Tarzan.com	ERBzine.com	DantonBurroughs.com	Tarzan.org
BurroughsBibliophiles.com	JohnColemanBurroughs.com	Tarzan.com/tarzine	JohnCarterOfMars.ca
erbzine.com/edgarriceburroughs	Weekly Webzine	Weekly Webzine	Pellucidar.org

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