First Tarzan Movie Filmed Top - Where Was The

The first Tarzan movie ever made, the 1918 silent classic Tarzan of the Apes, was primarily filmed in the lush bayous and swamps of Morgan City, Louisiana. While the story is set in the African jungle, producers chose this South Louisiana location because its thick vegetation and vine-draped trees closely mimicked the environment described in Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel. Primary Filming Location: Morgan City, Louisiana

Filmed in 1917 and released in early 1918, the production was a landmark event for both the film industry and the state of Louisiana.

The Atchafalaya Basin: The dark bayous and waterways of the Atchafalaya Swamp served as the backdrop for most of the jungle scenes.

Lake End Park: This waterfront area in Morgan City, known for its iconic moss-covered trees, was the specific site for many "hut scenes," including the construction of palmetto huts used by the film’s characters.

Logistics & Casting: The city was selected not only for its scenery but also for its practical infrastructure, such as a railway-serviced wharf and local hotels for the crew. The production also utilized the large local Black population to cast extras, marking one of the first times Black actors played Black characters rather than using white actors in blackface. Secondary and Studio Locations

While the majority of the "jungle" was found in Louisiana, certain scenes were shot in California to round out the production:

Griffith Park, Los Angeles: Some additional outdoor sequences were filmed here.

Selig Zoo, Hollywood: Used for scenes involving specific animals and controlled environments.

E&R Jungle Film Company: A studio facility in Hollywood used for interior or technical shots. A Cinematic Milestone

The 1918 film, starring Elmo Lincoln as the first cinematic Tarzan, was the first feature-length motion picture shot on location in Louisiana and the first major U.S. feature filmed outside of New York or California. It was an instant blockbuster, becoming one of the first silent movies to gross over $1 million at the box office. Tarzan of the Apes - 64 Parishes

The very first Tarzan film to ever hit the big screen, the 1918 silent classic Tarzan of the Apes, was primarily filmed in the lush, moss-covered swamps of Morgan City, Louisiana. While many modern viewers associate Tarzan with Hollywood studio sets or African landscapes, this original production chose the American South for its distinctive, jungle-like vegetation and accessible infrastructure. The Surprising Birthplace: Morgan City, Louisiana

In 1917, director Scott Sidney and his crew arrived in Morgan City to begin shooting. The location was chosen for several practical and aesthetic reasons:

The Atchafalaya Basin: The vast, prehistoric-looking swamps of the Atchafalaya Basin served as a convincing stand-in for the African jungle. where was the first tarzan movie filmed top

Spanish Moss: Filmmakers utilized the region's famous moss-draped cypress trees to create an atmospheric, wild environment, even though Spanish moss is not actually found in Africa.

Lake End Park: Many of the film’s iconic "hut scenes" were shot at this waterfront site, where the production team built a primitive village of palmetto huts.

Logistics and Diversity: Morgan City offered easy rail access for heavy equipment and a local population that provided both extras and a prop shop out of a downtown hardware store. Historical Significance of the 1918 Shoot

The production of Tarzan of the Apes in Louisiana was groundbreaking for several reasons:

First Major Location Shoot: It was one of the first major U.S. motion pictures filmed on location outside of California or New York.

Box Office Milestone: It was the first silent film to earn over $1 million at the box office, becoming an overnight sensation.

Casting Breakthroughs: The film was among the first in Hollywood history where Black actors portrayed Black characters on screen, moving away from the then-standard practice of using white actors in blackface. Other Notable Early Tarzan Locations

While Morgan City holds the title for the first film, subsequent early Tarzan movies explored other "jungles":

Louisiana Tarzan - Home to the First King of the Jungle Movie

The first Tarzan movie, the 1918 silent film Tarzan of the Apes , was primarily filmed in Morgan City, Louisiana

. While later versions, such as the 1932 film starring Johnny Weissmuller, used locations like Silver Springs, Florida

, the original production transformed the Louisiana swamplands into a stand-in for the African jungle . Primary Filming Locations in Morgan City The first Tarzan movie ever made, the 1918

The production utilized several specific sites in and around the city to create the world of Tarzan: Lake End Park

: This waterfront site served as the primary location for "jungle" scenes, where the crew built palmetto huts for the production Atchafalaya Basin

: The vast, moss-draped swamps of the basin provided the "wild" aesthetic required for the film's outdoor and aerial sequences Avoca Island

: Additional jungle and swamp scenes were shot on this island near the city Shannon Hardware

: Located in downtown Morgan City, this local hardware store was used as a prop studio to build sets and costumes . Supplementary Locations California : After filming for nine weeks in , the production moved to California to complete the remaining scenes, including work at Griffith Park and the in Hollywood . New Orleans : Some filming took place at the New Orleans Athletic Club , particularly involving acrobats who played the apes . Why Morgan City Was Chosen Filmmakers selected Morgan City for several practical and aesthetic reasons:

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

1. Primary Location: Morgan City, Louisiana The majority of jungle scenes were filmed along the Bayou Teche and in the swamps surrounding Morgan City. In 1918, this region was selected for its dense, overhanging moss, cypress trees, and murky waterways, which cinematographers framed to mimic a West African jungle. The humid, subtropical environment provided a practical substitute for Africa without the logistical expense of overseas travel.

2. Secondary Location: Chicago, Illinois Interior scenes, including the cabin built by Tarzan’s parents and certain staged jungle sets, were filmed at the Universal Studios facility in Chicago. At the time, Universal had a major production hub there before shifting entirely to Universal City, California.

Production Context The choice of Louisiana over California or actual African locations was driven by early cinema’s logistical constraints. The filmmakers prioritized: Title: Location as Character: The Filming Sites of

• Proximity to water: The novel’s narrative heavily features rivers and canoe travel.
• Exotic flora: Louisiana’s Spanish moss and alligator populations offered visual novelty for contemporary audiences.
• Cost: Shooting on location in Africa was impossible due to travel expenses, disease risks, and production timelines in 1918.

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

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The First Screen Adaptation: Tarzan of the Apes (1918)

While many people might think of Johnny Weissmuller or the 1980s Greystoke film as the early days, the very first time Tarzan appeared on screen was in the 1918 silent film Tarzan of the Apes. The movie starred Elmo Lincoln as the Ape Man and Enid Markey as Jane Porter.

The production of this film was a massive undertaking for the time, and its locations were split between two vastly different environments: the wilds of Louisiana and the controlled sets of California.

Swinging Through the Bayou: The Filming Location of the First Tarzan Movie

When asking about the "first Tarzan movie," it’s crucial to clarify which one you mean. While Edgar Rice Burroughs’ legendary ape-man first appeared in print in 1912, his leap to the silver screen happened twice in the silent film era.

However, most historians and film archives recognize 1918’s Tarzan of the Apes as the very first feature-length Tarzan movie. And its exotic "African" jungle wasn't filmed in Africa at all—it was shot deep in the humid swamps and woodlands of Louisiana.

How They Faked Africa – The “Top” Tricks Used

Since this was a silent film, there was no need for authentic African animal sounds, but they did need wildlife. The filmmakers brought in trained animals from a California zoo, but for background shots, they used:

• Alligators (native to Louisiana)
• Armadillos (mistaken for African pangolins)
• Local snakes (doubling for pythons)

The most famous scene filmed in Morgan City is the “ape fight” sequence. The actors playing the Mangani apes (men in hair suits) wrestled in knee-deep swamp mud. Elmo Lincoln, who played Tarzan, later recalled that the mosquitoes were so ferocious that actors had to have smoke pots lit between takes.

The Birth of a Legend: What Was the First Tarzan Movie?

Before we dive into the location, it is crucial to identify the correct film. Many people mistakenly believe that the 1932 Tarzan the Ape Man starring Johnny Weissmuller was the first. It was not. The very first adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ iconic character was a silent film titled Tarzan of the Apes, released in 1918.

• Director: Scott Sidney
• Starring: Elmo Lincoln (the very first adult Tarzan on film)
• Production Company: National Film Corporation of America

This film was a massive gamble. Burroughs’ novel (published in 1912) was wildly popular, but translating its African jungle setting to the screen in 1918 was a logistical nightmare. Filming in Africa was impossible due to cost, colonial travel restrictions, and the lingering effects of World War I. The producers needed a location that looked exactly like the Congo or Gabon—but was within a train ride of Hollywood.

That search led them to the bayous of Louisiana.

Legacy: Why This Matters

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).