Carl Denham

Denham in the 2005 adaptation of King Kong, which is more represented in the parks

### Attractions

Revenge of the Mummy (retroactively; unmentioned)
Sahara Traders
Skull Island: Reign of Kong

## Bio information

### Occupation

Filmmaker
Showman
Museum Curator

### Affiliation

Broadway Theater
Museum of Antiquities

## Physical Description

### Gender

Man

**Carl Denham** is a major character from *King Kong* (1933), originally portrayed by Robert Armstrong. He also appeared in the 2005 remake in which he was played by Jack Black.

## History

### Background

*Carl Denham's story and timeline as presented by the parks.*

#### Origins

Carl Denham was a movie-director, known for filming exotic locations. His nephew Will Denham also planned of being a filmmaker like Carl, causing Carl to advise him to travel the world and find a story to tell. After an expedition in 1931 with the *Eighth Wonder Expedition Company,* Will told Carl about *Skull Island* in the Indian Ocean, and its giant gorilla inhabitant, "King Kong".

#### King Kong

In 1933, Carl lead an expedition to Skull Island aboard the *S.S. Venture* where he captured King Kong and brought the creature back to New York City, advertising it as, "The Eighth Wonder of the World". Carl put King Kong in chains and on display in New York City's Broadway Theater while affiliated with the *Museum of Antiquities* who put artifacts from Skull Island on display in their lower-levels.

King Kong broke free, went on a rampage, and scaled the Empire State Building with Denham's actress Ann Darrow before getting shot dead by a fighter-plane. After this, Denham declared, "It was beauty killed the beast". Denham's former writer Jack Driscoll who was involved in the expedition wrote a newspaper article on the incident titled, "WAKING NIGHTMARE AS MONSTROUS "KONG" WREAKS HAVOC IN THE CITY Thanks in part to one mans ego and ignorance" which blamed Denham for the tragedy.

#### The Living Mummy

Seeking a, "Ninth Wonder of the World", Carl attempted to find Ancient Egyptian artifacts and mummies which he could display in the Museum of Antiquities. Denham attempted correspondence with author/egyptologist Evelyn O'Connell due to her fictional character *Scarlett O'Keeffe* in hopes she could get mummies and ancient artifacts for him. When she refused, he made rude comments about Evelyn and her mother resulting in her cutting contact with him.

Denham also made contact with Evelyn's brother, Jonathan Carnahan, who arranged to sell Denham multiple ancient Egyptian artifacts along with some clothes belonging to Evelyn's adventurer husband, Rick O'Connell. Many of these artifacts appeared to have been magical, as some fit the descriptions of the preserved scarabs, *Bracelet of Anubis*, and *Book of the Dead* from the O'Connell's fights with the mummy priest, Imhotep. Carnahan also offered Denham access to a supposedly cursed temple which Carnaham proposed Denham could shoot one of his films at.

Writer Jack Driscoll who was involved in Denham's expedition to Skull Island sent the museum a warning letter advising them to cut ties with Dunham and not go through with his exhibit on mummies and Egyptology. Driscoll warned the museum about Denham's recent interest in Ancient Egyptian artifacts and what may have been the Book of the Dead, while also telling the museum that they owed it to the city (presumably referencing their involvement in King Kong's rampage). This warning was ripped in half and discarded. Through unknown circumstances, Carl Denham came into the possession of an undead mummy (most likely the priest Imhotep; possibly reanimated through the *Book of the Dead*). Denham put this on display in the lower levels of the museum, deeming it, "The Ninth Wonder of the World, the Living Mummy" and having its exhibit take up the space previously used for the expanded Skull Island exhibition.

Denham's later exhibits included, "An Authentic Dig Site" which mimicked excavation of an Ancient Egyptian temple, and, "Egyptian Artifacts and Treasures". The later history of Denham's Living Mummy exhibit is unknown, however it is known that fear and superstitious would surround the building for years to come regarding, "The Curse of the Mummy".

## Appearances

### Sahara Traders

There are multiple references to Carl Denham in this shop, tying him into the backstory of the adjacent *Revenge of the Mummy*. Carl is identified as the one responsible for the museum's cursed Egyptology exhibits, as well as the rampage of King Kong. Jack Driscoll has a newspaper article blaming him for the gorilla's tragedy, and sent the museum a letter to advise them not to work with him.

### Skull Island: Reign of Kong

One of the jeep drivers is Carl's nephew Will Denham. After encountering King Kong, Will brings up wanting to tell, "**Uncle Carl**" about the island, it's adventure and King Kong. In the queue, Will Denham talks about how he wants to be a filmmaker in Hollywood like his uncle Carl, and how Carl told him, "If you want a story worth telling, you need a story to tell. Go out and see the world, make life happen".

## Trivia

* In the Tribute Store, there was a photograph of Boris Shuster's apartment taken by one, "Sterling Denham".
* Denham's original actor Robert Armstrong (1890-1973) is paid tribute in Skull Island: Reign of Kong via the character Sir Robert Ashmore Wallace whose name is a tribute to various people who worked on the 1933 King Kong. Armstrong is also tributed in the queue by radio-announcer Richard Armstrong.