Happy 75th Birthday, Cheeta!

Raffine · April 11, 2007, 08:00:00 AM

Cheeta, the chimpanzee who starred in all those MGM Tarzan movies with Johnny Weismuller and Maureen O'Sullivan, recently turned 75!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007160558,00.html

Derf · April 11, 2007, 09:22:11 AM

Who'd have thought that the chimp would be the last survivor? It was fun to hear Maureen O'Sullivan talk about Cheeta on talk shows. It seems that Cheeta had a thing for Johnny Weismuller and hated O'Sullivan (yes, apparently Cheeta had homosexual tendencies). She said that he would get "excited" when Weismuller was around and the crew would have to chase him up into the rafters until he "calmed down." She also said that if you look at the group pictures of the cast, one of Cheeta's feet would always be off camera. This was because they had to chain him to keep him away from her. Must have been a fun work environment. . .

Raffine · April 11, 2007, 12:10:30 PM

I think ol' Cheeta must be some kind of ape transvestite as well.

I'd swear in all those Tarzan movies they always referred to Cheeta as "she" and "her" .

Simian Rivalry

RCMerchant · April 11, 2007, 08:48:29 PM

Well,noe I know what I'll look like at 75,being I'm 5'2,135lbs.

Derf · April 12, 2007, 09:51:39 AM

Quote from: Raffine on April 11, 2007, 12:10:30 PM
I think ol' Cheeta must be some kind of ape transvestite as well.

I'd swear in all those Tarzan movies they always referred to Cheeta as "she" and "her" .

Well, that photo also clearly shows both of Cheeta's feet. I wonder now what I was remembering. I could've sworn I was remembering the stories correctly. I guess old age and bad memory go hand in hand. Alas and alack, mayhaps I shouldst begin reciting in mine native dialect again and drop all notions of appearing young and knowledgeable.

Raffine · April 12, 2007, 10:12:59 AM

Maybe it was Maureen who was exaggerating. Like those stories Judy Garland used to tell on talk shows about them having to catch drunk rampaging Munchkins with butterfly nets.

She also may have been jealous of Weismuller's and Cheeta's "special" relationship. They should teach Cheeta sign language like they did KoKo the Gorilla ("Dirty Toilet Devil!" is my favorite KoKo quote) and let him go on Jerry Springer and tell his side of the story.
"Jane ugly stupid! Tarzan hate! Give banana Cheeta! Oongawa!"

Andrew · April 12, 2007, 10:51:24 AM

Quote from: Raffine on April 12, 2007, 10:12:59 AM
Like those stories Judy Garland used to tell on talk shows about them having to catch drunk rampaging Munchkins with butterfly nets.

See, this is why I keep telling people that I was born sixty or seventy years too late. I would love to chase rampaging Munchkins with a butterfly net. You wouldn't even have to pay me.

Jim H · April 13, 2007, 01:10:34 PM

That's an extremely long life for a chimp. They usually live into their 50s, maybe 60s. So congrats on that Cheeta.