Where Was The First Tarzan Movie Filmed [upd] -

: While Spanish moss isn't actually found in African jungles, it was mentioned in Edgar Rice Burroughs ' original novels, making the Louisiana landscape surprisingly "accurate" to the book's descriptions. Hollywood Comes to Town

Filming in Louisiana was a significant logistical feat for 1918. It was one of the first major Hollywood productions to travel that far on location to capture authentic outdoor scenery. Prior to this, many "jungle" films were shot entirely on indoor sets or in the hills of California. The use of Louisiana's genuine swampland helped establish a new standard for realism in adventure films.

The first Tarzan movie ever made, the 1918 silent film Tarzan of the Apes , was primarily filmed on location in Morgan City, Louisiana . While the story is set in the African jungle, producers chose the Louisiana bayous for their lush, "jungle-like" vegetation and exotic moss-covered trees, which were actually mentioned in the original novels. Key Filming Locations in Morgan City Lake End Park : This waterfront site was used for many of the film's hut scenes. The production crew built (and later burned) palmetto huts here for the camera. Atchafalaya Basin where was the first tarzan movie filmed

At the time, Morgan City was a major hub for the lumber industry. The production team took advantage of the remote, dense forestry to simulate the African wild. The film's famous "ape village" and the scenes involving Tarzan’s upbringing were constructed in these Louisiana swamps.

Local legend says that several monkeys used during filming and that their descendants still live there today, though no scientific evidence supports this. : While Spanish moss isn't actually found in

The production was a massive undertaking for the time, costing approximately . The Prop Shop : A local business, Shannon Hardware in downtown Morgan City

because its lush, untamed vegetation and moss-draped cypress trees in the Atchafalaya Basin provided a perfect, "jungle-like" stand-in for Africa. Lake End Park Prior to this, many "jungle" films were shot

: Since real apes were too dangerous or unavailable, 40 circus acrobats from the New Orleans Athletic Club were hired to play them. They struggled through the intense August heat in heavy, non-breathable costumes.

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