Through a connection with the classic book club I run a division of I was able to talk to Jim Sullos at Edgar Rice Burroughs inc. Burroughs was a very smart business man who Inc.ed himself to protect his work back in the teens. The company today oversees all liscensing for all his novels, not just the Tarzan series. So if you wanted to write another book or make a film of any of his books you have to get permission from the company to do so. This probably prevents really bad films being made! Last night I spoke with the president Jim Sullos for quite a while about Tarzana and taking my book club up there to get a tour or see the memorabilia. They don't give tours anymore because it's a small private office, but I enjoyed talking to him very much. Perhaps one day he can be the guest of honor at my book club meeting I could hold at the the LA arboretum instead, which is mentioned on this page. Thanks Mr. Sullos for a fun chat!
http://www.edgarriceburroughs.ca/ check it out!
by the way if anyone lives in LA county or the Valley and wants to join my book club here's the link through Meetup.com. It's fun! It's free! We meet once a month to discuss a classic book. I run the Westwood group.
http://bookclub.meetup.com/903/If anyone would like the rest of the 2008 fall Occidental College article please email me!
Ok this is a way Burroughs coincidence, but right across the street (sort of) from where I work is this apartment complex. They apparently filmed some of the 1930's Tarzan movies there when it used to be the old MGM backlot. It's a shame those movies, as whack as they are from the books, are in black and white. This place was loaded with beautiful flowers, a waterfall, duckies, and a cool plaque telling people who filmed there. The guard at the entrance told me the tree house used to be above the "lake" but it fell apart. The Top screen shot showing foliage is from : http://clydemovies.blogspot.com/2008/03/tarzan-dvd-collection-volume-i-1932.html 
Tarzana circa 1919! Ventura Blvd. is a dirt road behind his house! the photo is from Tarzana.CA Please don't sue!
Cheeta the oldest living non-human primate (74 as of 10-08) lives in a primate sanctuary in Palm Springs, CA. Cheeta stared in 12 Tarzan movies dating back to the 30's and 40's when he was just a a baby. FYI: Cheeta was never a character in the novels, he was added to the old-school black- and- white films with Johnny Weismuller. The sanctuary has an online gift shop- He also paints too! It's all for charity. 
