When people search “where was the first Tarzan movie filmed top,” they often see conflicting answers. Let’s correct them:
While Morgan City is the primary answer to “where was the first Tarzan movie filmed,” the production did use two other top locations for specific sequences:
However, more than 80% of the movie was shot in Louisiana. So, for the “top” answer in your search, Louisiana is the definitive winner.
Post:
cinema trivia: Where was the first-ever Tarzan movie filmed? 🎥🌿
If you guessed Africa, you’d be wrong! The 1918 silent classic Tarzan of the Apes was filmed right here in the USA—specifically in the bayous of Morgan City, Louisiana.
They used the local swamps to double for the African jungle! 🐊🌴
#FilmTrivia #Tarzan #MovieFacts
Early 20th-century filmmaking presented immense logistical challenges. Shooting on location in Africa was nearly impossible due to:
Louisiana’s landscape offered a perfect stand-in for Burroughs’ fictional African jungle. The region features:
Why did the filmmakers choose Morgan City, Louisiana, as the top filming location? Three reasons: Geography, Vegetation, and Water.
Morgan City, located about 80 miles west of New Orleans, sits in the heart of the Atchafalaya Swamp—the largest river swamp in North America. In 1918, this area was virtually untouched by modern development. The landscape featured:
The specific “top” spot within Morgan City was the Teche Bayou and the surrounding woodlands near Avery Island. Today, visitors can still take a “Tarzan Tour” through parts of the region, though much of it has been reclaimed by private land or conservation efforts.
Lincoln, a former bodybuilder and actor, became the first “screen Tarzan.” He returned to Morgan City decades later for a cameo in a 1949 Tarzan serial, proving the location’s lasting connection to the character. where was the first tarzan movie filmed top
The first Tarzan movie, titled Tarzan of the Apes (1918) , was primarily filmed in Morgan City, Louisiana
. This production marked the birth of the Louisiana film industry and is considered one of the first major Hollywood films shot on location outside of California or New York. Core Filming Locations in Morgan City
The production utilized the region's unique landscapes to simulate the African jungle:
Atchafalaya Basin Swamps: The moss-draped cypress trees and dense waterways of the Atchafalaya Basin provided the "jungle" atmosphere. Lake End Park
: A waterfront area used for key scenes, including the construction of native palmetto huts. Avoca Island : Another specific location near Morgan City used for exterior jungle shots. Costello Hotel
: Served as the base of operations and lodging for the cast and crew. Supporting Locations in Los Angeles
While the bulk of the "jungle" footage was captured in Louisiana, additional production took place in California: Griffith Park : Used for secondary exterior shots. : Provided a controlled environment for animal scenes. E&R Jungle Film Company : A studio facility used for specialized production needs. Why Morgan City Was Chosen Producers selected Morgan City for several practical and aesthetic reasons:
Natural Landscape: The "moss-covered branches" described in Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels were perfectly matched by the Louisiana bayous. Logistics
: The city offered a railway-serviced wharf, making it easy to transport heavy film equipment and exotic animals from California.
Casting: The production required a large number of extras for "native" roles. Morgan City's
large Black population was hired for these parts, making it one of the first films where Black people portrayed Black characters instead of using white actors in blackface.
Specialized Talent: Approximately 20 gymnasts from the New Orleans Athletic Club were hired to portray Tarzan's adoptive ape family in costumes. The Legacy of the Shoot
The 1918 film was a massive success, becoming one of the first silent films to earn over $1 million at the box office. It also left behind local legends, most notably the rumor that monkeys escaped or were released into the Louisiana swamps after filming concluded, though no scientific evidence supports this. When people search “where was the first Tarzan
Did you know the first Tarzan movie was filmed in Morgan City?
The first-ever Tarzan movie, Tarzan of the Apes (1918) , was primarily filmed in Morgan City, Louisiana
. This silent film used the lush, moss-covered vegetation of the South Louisiana bayous as a stand-in for the African jungle. Primary Filming Locations in Morgan City
The production spent about five weeks on location in 1917, utilizing several specific areas in and around the city: Atchafalaya Basin Swamps
: The dense, exotic-looking swampland served as the primary backdrop for the jungle scenes. Lake End Park
: A waterfront area with numerous moss-covered trees where many of the "jungle" sequences were shot. Avoca Island
: One of the specific island locations used for filming within the surrounding waterways. Local Hardware Store : A building in downtown Morgan City
served as the production's prop shop for building sets and costumes Supplemental Filming Locations Morgan City
was the main location, additional scenes were completed elsewhere Griffith Park, Los Angeles
: Used for additional filming after the crew returned to California. E&R Jungle Film Company
: Studios in Hollywood used for supplemental production work. Morgan City Producers chose this location for its lush vegetation convenient logistics
, such as railway-serviced wharves and nearby hotels like the Costello Hotel
, which housed the cast and crew. The area also provided a large number of local residents who were hired as extras. Expand map Louisiana Locations California Locations local legends Myth: It was filmed in Florida
involving monkeys left behind in the Louisiana swamps after filming wrapped?
Did you know the first Tarzan movie was filmed in Morgan City?
The first Tarzan movie, the 1918 silent film titled Tarzan of the Apes, was primarily filmed in Morgan City, Louisiana .
The production chose this location in late 1917 because the moss-draped swamps of the Atchafalaya Basin provided a convincing stand-in for the African jungle described in Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel . Key Filming Locations in Morgan City
Lake End Park: A waterfront area filled with moss-covered cypress trees used for many of the "jungle" and coastal scenes .
Atchafalaya Basin: The vast swamp region served as the primary backdrop for the "wild" African landscape .
Avoca Island: Another local swamp site used for location shooting .
Shannon Hardware: This downtown hardware store in Morgan City served as the production's prop shop and studio for building costumes and sets . Additional Filming Details
Cast & Crew: The production featured Elmo Lincoln as the adult Tarzan . Many of the "apes" were portrayed by gymnasts from the New Orleans Athletic Club wearing costumes .
Historical Significance: This was one of the first major Hollywood productions to film entirely on location outside of California or New York . It was also a massive commercial success, becoming one of the first films to gross over $1 million at the box office .
California Scenes: While the bulk of the "jungle" action was shot in Louisiana, some additional production work, including some stunt sequences and the filming of the sequel The Romance of Tarzan, took place in Hollywood at locations like Griffith Park and the Selig Zoo .
Later, more famous Tarzan films, such as those starring Johnny Weissmuller in the 1930s, were famously shot in locations like Silver Springs and Wakulla Springs, Florida .
Louisiana Tarzan - Home to the First King of the Jungle Movie
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:
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.