The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-28
He ROars Like Tarzan! It's So
Terrifying! Fondles Lions, Too!
King of the Jungle Makes
His Bow; oh, Yes, He's
u. of S. C. Grad.
BY A. j. LIEBLING
Times STAFF Writer


wild boy, brought up in the jungle
with lions" the publicity man de-
clared, introducing the handsome
young man who wore snug fitting
brown suit and spats. He is a
great naked white giant.
When his brothers and sisters,
the lions, fall into pit he jumps
in, too. SO he is captured and
brought to this country. OF course,
he is more sympathetic with Lions
than with people, but they hire
girl to educate him, and he goes
for her"
"She has a calming effect upon
me-" corrected Clarence (Buster)
Crabbe, juggling young lion in
each hand.
He's Like Weissmuller
Buster-the Clarence has been
soft pedaled since he entered the
movies-iS, like Johnny WeiSsmuller,
an Olympic swimming champion.
He won the 400-meter swim at Los
Angeles last summer. Also, like
Weissmuller, he stars in one of
those menagerie operas the big
companies are putting out, Para
mounts King of the Jungle" which
opened here last week.
He becomes civilized" explained
the publicity man. And then the
lions break loose. So to save the
girl he runs out and roars like he
was a lion, too-and, of course,
everything is hotsy-totsy.'
Urged to roar like a great naked
white giant who has been brought
up with lions, Mr.. Crabbe declined
with charm, but firmness.
More Like ugh
He consented to describe the roar
which he says is not at all like
Weissmuller's but more like ugh ="
At this point Mr. Crabbe put his
two savage brothers down on the
floor, where they started biting the
publicity's man shoes.
Their names are Bimbo and
Bumbo, respectively" said Mr..
Crabbe, land we feed them on yolk
of egg and milk with a tablespoon
of cod liver oil every morning. They
are six and a half weeks old"
Mr.. Crabbe came East by plane,
accompanied by Bimbo, Bumbo, and
a bottle of cod liver OIL He will
make personal appearances with the
picture, but will not swim in a lit
tie tank, like Mr.. Weissmuller, be-
cause he wants people to think of
him as an actor, not swimmer.
He Swims Ashore
He does some swimming in the
picture, he admits, but only as part
of the plot.
You see, when they bring me
here from Africa, am in cage
with my brothers" he related. "A
customs man takes me out of the
cage, thinking it is a publicity gag
for the circus.
Il jump overheard and swim
ashore"
What stroke does the wild boy
swim?"
MY regular stroke" Mr.. Crabbe
admitted with a grin. This is about
as primordial as contract bridge.
Won't Register Lions
The Waldorf Astoria would not
permit Mr. Crabbe to register with
the lions, even with baggage.
Neither would the Aston, although
big game hunter-lecturer was en-
camped on the roof of the latter
hosiery at last reports, affording
ample protection.
The Park Central finally admitted
the lions to the basement and Mr..
Crabbe to a room and bath.
Three hundred athletes were con-
sidered for the role, according to
Mr.. Crabbe. Everybody at the Olym-
pics took screen tests. from hammer
throwers to United Press CORE
Spondents.
IF they had chosen a foreign ath-
lete, they would have had to keep
him wild all through the picture"
said the swimming champion, so he
would not have to say anything"
The king of the jungle was grad
uated from the University of South
ern California year ago.