James Pierce : definition of James Pierce and synonyms of James Pierce (English) 4 External links Early life/College/Early film career Big Jim Pierce, as he was known to family and friends, was an All-American center on the Indiana Hoosiers football team. Following his graduation in 1921, he coached high school football in Arizona , and began acting in his spare time. After he was cast in the 1923 production of The Deerslayer, he remained in California and coached football at Glendale High School (one of his players was John Wayne ). Portrayal of Tarzan Pierce's life changed when he attended a party given by Edgar Rice Burroughs and his daughter Joan. Burroughs, the creator and author of the Tarzan books, immediately wanted Pierce to star in the next Tarzan movie. Pierce gave up a role in the film Wings to accept the Tarzan role. His part in Wings was given to a newcomer named Gary Cooper . The silent Tarzan film Burroughs talked him into accepting was released in 1927 by RKO Radio Pictures , and entitled Tarzan and the Golden Lion .

Marriage/Radio career/Later life Joan Burroughs and James Pierce married on Pierce's 28th birthday, August 8, 1928. From 1932 to 1934, James and Joan Pierce were the voices of Tarzan and Jane on national radio. They remained married until Joan's death in 1972. Both are buried in Shelbyville, Indiana, and their tombstones bear the inscriptions Tarzan and Jane. They had a daughter Joanne II Anselmo née Pierce (1930–2005) and a son James Michael Pierce (1935–1984). For many years, near the end of his life, Pierce attempted, to no avail, to find a print of Tarzan and the Golden Lion, which was thought lost. After his death, a copy was found in a foreign archive. Big Jim Pierce is also remembered for playing Prince Thun of the lion men in the 1936 movie serial Flash Gordon . He acted in small roles in several films, mostly westerns , through 1951, and worked in a lucrative real estate agency in the San Fernando Valley .

He was an accomplished pilot, active during World War II with the National Airmen's Reserve , the forerunner of today's Air National Guard . External links ERBzine 1385: Jim and Joan Burroughs Pierce Gravesite Jim and Joan Burroughs Pierce Gravesite Forest Hills Cemetery ~ Shelbyville, Indiana During one of our conversations at the Louisville Dum-Dum Bob Hyde had reminded us that Jim and Joan Burroughs Pierce were buried in Jim's hometown of Shelbyville, Indiana, just a short distance from the freeway, but we had no idea as to the cemetery's actual location. James H. Pierce had been discovered by Ed Burroughs himself while attending a party at Tarzana Ranch. At Ed's recommendation he had taken a screen test and was hired to play Tarzan in Tarzan and the Golden Lion -- the last "silent" Tarzan movie. He later married Ed's daughter Joan and the two of them had starred as Tarzan and Jane in the 1932 radio serial.

Wedding invitation from the Danton Burroughs Archive Collection We had met the Pierces over 30 years ago in Tarzana , thanks to hospitality of Hulbert Burroughs, who had suggested that we spend an extra day in Tarzana so that he could set up a meeting between us. Although they were experiencing health problems, Jim and Joan were warm and gracious people. Joan had recently gone through cancer treatments and a mastectomy operation and Jim was recovering from a serious heart attack but they carried themselves with great poise. We promised to send them tape reels from our OTR collection: 77 episodes of the 1932 Tarzan radio serial they had starred in -- and they showed their appreciation by sending us a huge box of ERB, Inc. books and dust jackets. As we approached the city we were diverted to sideroads by detours which led us past two country cemeteries. Although it was raining I couldn't resist stopping and doing a fruitless running search through the tombstones. Sue-On wisely stayed in the shelter of the car -- but I got wet. Things started to look up, however, when we entered Shelbyville, a city of about 17,000.

A large unusual statue dominated the town square: a man in what appeared to be a buckskin outfit was holding two animals -- probably bear cubs -- aloft. Aha! This must be a tribute to hometown boy Jim Pierce who had worked in many westerns after his Hollywood debut as Tarzan. Alas, the accompanying plaque read: IN TRIBUTE TO CHARLES MAJOR ~ NATIVE SON ~ AUTHOR OF THE BEARS OF BLUE RIVER. Since it was Sunday, most of the stores and businesses were closed but we remembered passing a hospital on the way in. After backtracking we got directions to the town's main cemetery -- Forest Hill Cemetery -- but no one had heard of James H. Pierce the actor. We followed Vine Street (an appropriate name) to the second of two neighboring cemeteries. We were slightly boggled by the sight that met us under the overcast, drizzling skies -- a huge sprawling tree-dotted field of stones with no sign of a gravesite map, anyone on duty or Sunday visitors. Our hopes soon rose, however, when we saw two very distinctive grave markers in the shape of trees near the gate -- but there was no indication that they had any connection with the Pierces.

When we looked again across the main grounds our hunt appeared to be a hopeless task since the cemetery was made up of acres of gravestones dating back through centuries, all jumbled together with access by many winding and connecting roadways. We knew that Jim and Joan's grave markers were side-by-side and were inscribed with "Tarzan" and "Jane" so we started a long slow drive around the grounds. We were about to give up when Sue-On's eagle eye spotted a large "PIERCE" tombstone. Looking closer we discovered two small footstones between the roadway and the large Pierce family stone. An accompanying larger monument that had been planned obviously had never materialized. What ensued was an exciting scurrying around the Pierce family plots, during which we took photos from every angle. Most of the photos are shared on this page and in the accompanying Dum-Dum 2003 Diary . Realizing that we still had a long way to travel we found our way back out through the labyrinth of stones and connecting roadways and settled in for an afternoon of rainy freeway driving -- next stop: Oak Park.

Jeff Rapsis / Silent Film Music: Bring your own roar: Silent Tarzan flick on Thursday, March 12 at Flying Monkey Jeff Rapsis / Silent Film Music Chronicling the ongoing adventure of staging silent film screenings with live music in theaters in New England, USA and elsewhere. Now over 285,000 page views! Monday, March 9, 2015 Bring your own roar: Silent Tarzan flick on Thursday, March 12 at Flying Monkey James H. Pierce plays Tarzan in 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' (1927), showing on Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey. When George Lucas and Steven Spielberg made 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981), it was films like 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' (1927) that they were paying homage to. That's all I can think every time I've played music for this film, an entry in the Tarzan catalog that was lost for decades until a print turned up a few years ago. It starts off fast, and then really keeps moving.

It has wily villains, damsels in distress, exotic locations, heroic rescues, and exciting stunts galore. But a silent Tarzan? You have to remind audiences today that when these movies were made, no one thought of them as silent. They were simply the movies, and people fell in love with them without expecting to hear talk or dialogue. It was only later that synchronized sound brought Tarzan's iconic yell to your local theater as part of the movie-going experience. Yes, you can see Tarzan do his yell in 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' as well as other silent Tarzan flicks. He beats his chest and opens his mouth and makes the jungle resound with his cry. So I tell people: if you really really miss it, feel free to channel Carol Burnett and do your best Tarzan yell to fill in for him. And some actually do! Your next chance to be a vocal stand-in for Tarzan comes on Thursday, March 12, when I accompany a screening of 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center in Plymouth, N.H. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each. Hope to see you there.

For more information, please check out the press release below. * * * An original lobby card for 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion.' WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2015 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more info, contact: Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jeffrapsis@gmail.com Silent film 'Tarzan and The Golden Lion' at Flying Monkey on Thursday, March 12 Screening of long-lost movie classic in downtown Plymouth venue to feature live musical accompaniment PLYMOUTH, N.H.—You won't get to hear his famous jungle yell. But everything else that made Tarzan a vine-swinging movie legend will fill the big screen at an upcoming one-night-only silent film program at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center. The silent program, set for Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m., features 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' (1927), an early Tarzan feature that helped popularize the character created by author Edgar Rice Burroughs.

'Tarzan and the Golden' was considered a lost film for many decades; its recent rediscovery has made it available for viewing for the first time since its original release. The movie will be accompanied by live music performed by silent film composer Jeff Rapsis. General admission for the event is $10 per person. 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' (1927) was an adaptation of a 1923 Burroughs novel of the same title. It was financed in part by Joseph P. Kennedy, patriarch of the Kennedy clan, whose 1920s business interests extended to movie production. The film finds Tarzan forced to journey through the African jungle to the legendary City of Diamonds, where he and his pet lion Jadbal-ja must save an Englishwoman from being sacrificed to the Gods. Playing Tarzan in this film is James H. Pierce, the fourth actor to portray the role on-screen. Pierce was a part-time actor who coached high school football in Glendale, Calif., where his squad included future actor John Wayne. After landing the Tarzan role, Pierce married Burroughs' daughter Joan in 1928.

Although other actors took over the Tarzan role in motion pictures, Pierce and his wife continued to voice the roles of Tarzan and Jane in a popular 1930s radio show. Pierce later ran a real estate agency in southern California. He died in 1984; he and his wife are buried in Indiana with tombstones marked "Tarzan" and "Jane." The film also includes a brief cameo of legendary actor Boris Karloff in heavy makeup playing a witch doctor. For decades, no copy of 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' was thought to exist until a nearly complete print was recently discovered in a foreign archive. The film has been restored and transferred to digital media so that audiences can enjoy it once again. The Flying Monkey's silent film series aims to recreate the full silent film experience, with restored prints projected on the big screen, live music, and the presence of an audience. All these elements are essential to seeing silent films they way they were intended, Rapsis said. "If you can put it all together again, these films still contain a lot of great stuff," Rapsis said.

"By staging these screenings of features from Hollywood's early days, you can see why people first fell in love with the movies." Upcoming movies include a classic Buster Keaton comedy and an adaptation of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' that was thought lost for decades. The Flying Monkey originally opened a silent film moviehouse in the 1920s, and showed first-run Hollywood films to generations of area residents until closing several years ago. The theater has since been renovated by Alex Ray, owner of the Common Man restaurants, who created a performance space that hosts a wide range of music acts. Movies of all types, however, are still a big part of the Flying Monkey's offerings, and the silent film series is a way for the theater to remain connected to its roots. Live music is a key element of each silent film screening, Rapsis said. Silent movies were never shown in silence, but were accompanied by live music made right in each theater. Most films were not released with official scores, so it was up to local musicians to provide the soundtrack, which could vary greatly from theater to theater.

"Because there's no set soundtrack for most silent films, musicians are free to create new music as they see fit, even today," Rapsis said. "In bringing a film to life, I try to create original 'movie score' music that sounds like what you might expect in a theater today, which helps bridge the gap between today's audiences and silent films that are in some cases nearly 100 years old." The Flying Monkey's silent film series will continue in 2015 with these upcoming titles: • Thursday, April 9, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: 'The Three Ages' (1923) starring Buster Keaton. Keaton's first feature-length comedy interweaves tales of romance from three epochs: the Stone Age, the Roman Empire, and "Modern Times," meaning 1920s California. See why Buster is regarded as one of the great clowns of the silent era. • Thursday, May 14, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: 'The Count of Monte Cristo' (1922) starring John Gilbert.

The original screen adaptation of the Andre Dumas swashbuckler about a man unjustly imprisoned who later seeks revenge. A film thought lost for decades until a print surfaced in the Czech Republic! The next installment in the Flying Monkey's silent film series will be 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' (1927), to be screened with live music by Jeff Rapsis on Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H. Tickets are $10 per person. For more information, call (603) 536-2551 or visit For more information about the music, visit Posted by Tarzan -- "Escape" & "The Decoy" Tarzan -- "Escape" & "The Decoy" Saturday, 20 July 2013 16:08 Dave Truesdale This week we have a double treat for all Edgar Rice Burroughs and Tarzan fans.

From December 26, 1932 we have episode 46 of the very first major syndicated radio serial, Tarzan of the Apes, with "Escape." And from January 4, 1951 the very first episode of radio's new incarnation of Tarzan, "The Decoy." A bit of backstory is in order. From 1932-36 Tarzan on radio consisted of three long-running serials: Tarzan of the Apes, Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher, and The Fires of Toth. Tarzan was played by silent film actor James H. Pierce and Jane was played by Burroughs's daughter Joan. Pierce had attended a party held by Burroughs where he met Joan. ERB asked Pierce if would appear as Tarzan in ERB's next silent Tarzan picture. Pierce replied that he was to appear in another film titled Wings. ERB nevertheless convinced Pierce to become Tarzan and he gave up his role in Wings. Pierce's role in Wings was then filled by a relative newcomer named Gary Cooper, and Wings would walk away with the first Oscar for what is now known as Best Picture in 1929.

Such blow the fickle winds of Fate. On the up side, James Pierce would wed Joan Burroughs in 1928 and they would remain together until their deaths (Joan in 1972 and James in 1983). It is impractical to run lengthy serials here. Each of the 1930s Tarzan serials ran to approximately 40 episodes, give or take, and timed out from 8-12 minutes each. There would be a new Tarzan episode in the much longer story arc every two or three days throughout the week. That said, the first of this week's double dip of Tarzan on radio offers up an episode we couldn't resist. "Escape" features James Pierce as Tarzan and Joan Burroughs-Pierce as Jane (see photo upper left). Seems like everyone is being captured by nasty gibbering cannibals and Tarzan must find a way to rescue them. The audio effects sound as if they were taken directly from an old Tarzan film and have an earthy realism to them that can't be beat.

After the trio of initial serials in the 1930s, the Golden Age of radio would produce no further Tarzan adventures until 1951, at which time his new exploits would run until 1953, when many radio shows were gradually being phased out in favor of television. Lamont Johnson now played the Lord of the Jungle, and in contrast to the earlier 1930s serials (and the famous Johnny Weismuller Tarzan pictures), Tarzan would speak intelligent English rather than the "Me Tarzan, you Jane" dialogue many have come to think of when the subject comes up. So the pair of episodes below provide ample contrast in styles, actors, production values and format, for the 1950s episodes are self-contained half-hour stories, the serial format a thing of the past. And while they are separated by almost two decades and a World War, each holds a charm of its own and further continues the legacy of one of the most renowned and beloved fictional characters in all literature.

"Escape" -- December 26, 1932 "The Decoy" -- January 4, 1951 Play Time: 27:34 12. Jim and Joan Burroughs Pierce Gravesite Reseda, California Wedding invitation from the Danton Burroughs Archive Collection We had met the Pierces over 30 years ago in Tarzana , thanks to hospitality of Hulbert Burroughs, who had suggested that we spend an extra day in Tarzana so that he could set up a meeting between us. Although they were experiencing health problems, Jim and Joan were warm and gracious people. Joan had recently gone through cancer treatments and a mastectomy operation and Jim was recovering from a serious heart attack but they carried themselves with great poise. We promised to send them tape reels from our OTR collection: 77 episodes of the 1932 Tarzan radio serial they had starred in -- and they showed their appreciation by sending us a huge box of ERB, Inc. books and dust jackets. As we approached the city we were diverted to sideroads by detours which led us past two country cemeteries.

Although it was raining I couldn't resist stopping and doing a fruitless running search through the tombstones. Sue-On wisely stayed in the shelter of the car -- but I got wet. Things started to look up, however, when we entered Shelbyville, a city of about 17,000. A large unusual statue dominated the town square: a man in what appeared to be a buckskin outfit was holding two animals -- probably bear cubs -- aloft. Aha! This must be a tribute to hometown boy Jim Pierce who had worked in many westerns after his Hollywood debut as Tarzan. Alas, the accompanying plaque read: IN TRIBUTE TO CHARLES MAJOR ~ NATIVE SON ~ AUTHOR OF THE BEARS OF BLUE RIVER. Since it was Sunday, most of the stores and businesses were closed but we remembered passing a hospital on the way in. After backtracking we got directions to the town's main cemetery -- Forest Hill Cemetery -- but no one had heard of James H. Pierce the actor. We followed Vine Street (an appropriate name) to the second of two neighboring cemeteries.

We were slightly boggled by the sight that met us under the overcast, drizzling skies -- a huge sprawling tree-dotted field of stones with no sign of a gravesite map, anyone on duty or Sunday visitors. Our hopes soon rose, however, when we saw two very distinctive grave markers in the shape of trees near the gate -- but there was no indication that they had any connection with the Pierces. When we looked again across the main grounds our hunt appeared to be a hopeless task since the cemetery was made up of acres of gravestones dating back through centuries, all jumbled together with access by many winding and connecting roadways. We knew that Jim and Joan's grave markers were side-by-side and were inscribed with "Tarzan" and "Jane" so we started a long slow drive around the grounds. We were about to give up when Sue-On's eagle eye spotted a large "PIERCE" tombstone. Looking closer we discovered two small footstones between the roadway and the large Pierce family stone. An accompanying larger monument that had been planned obviously had never materialized. What ensued was an exciting scurrying around the Pierce family plots, during which we took photos from every angle.

Most of the photos are shared on this page and in the accompanying Dum-Dum 2003 Diary . Realizing that we still had a long way to travel we found our way back out through the labyrinth of stones and connecting roadways and settled in for an afternoon of rainy freeway driving -- next stop: Oak Park. Shelbyville Town Square Tarzan Movie Guide.com : The Silent Era (1918-1929) 1918 TARZAN OF THE APES (55 minutes - video) Elmo Lincoln. Enid Markey. This film is the one that started it all; the first Tarzan film and a reasonably faithful adaptation of Burroughs' first novel. Lord and Lady Greystoke are put ashore in Africa. Their baby is born shortly thereafter. After the death of his parents, the baby is raised among the apes as Tarzan. Years later a search party arrives and Jane is with them. Tarzan, now fully grown, falls in love with her and she with him. This movie is fun and has a lot of energy. Elmo Lincoln looks mighty chunky as Tarzan to me, but he does a good job.

Reportedly, Lincoln actually kills a VERY old lion in this film, but it is hard to tell. 1918 THE ROMANCE OF TARZAN (? minutes) Elmo Lincoln. Enid Markey. I haven't seen this one (I doubt it still even exists) but it doesn't sound like it was very good. 1920 THE REVENGE OF TARZAN (? minutes) Gene Pollar. Karla Schramm. I wish I could see this movie! Gene Pollar has got to be the goofiest looking Tarzan ever; even odder looking than P. Dempsey Tabler (see below)! Pollar looks like Tony Randall in a leopard skin! 1920 THE SON OF TARZAN - 15 Chapter Serial (253 minutes) P. Dempsey Tabler. Karla Schramm. Kamuela Searle. This movie does a decent job of following the ERB book, not many Tarzan movies even try. Tarzan's son, Jack, runs away to Africa and gets involved with the kidnapping of a small girl.

In the process of rescuing her (through many chapters), Jack becomes known as Korak the Killer, the Son of Tarzan. Both Tarzan and Korak are in on the finale, although Korak is the star of the movie. The big finish has Korak tied to a stake and rescued by Tantor, the elephant. Searle is terrific as Korak, but Tabler is completely out of place as the ape-man. What were they thinking?! Very funny. Jeff Rapsis / Silent Film Music: Silent 'Tarzan' double feature with live musicThurs., Sept. 18 at Leavitt Theatre, Ogunquit Silent 'Tarzan' double feature with live music Thurs., Sept. 18 at Leavitt Theatre, Ogunquit A crazy (but memorable) poster in which my name battles a lion and Tarzan for prominence. Here's a thought about our silent Tarzan double feature coming up this week (Thursday, Sept. 18) at the Leavitt Theatre in Ogunquit, Maine: I think the 'Tarzan' stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs are in the same category as 'The Lost World' by Arthur Conan Doyle or 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr.

Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson. Yes, they were all made into popular silent films. But that's not what I mean, despite this being a blog about silent film accompaniment. What I'm thinking about is how each author used then-current changes in society to imagine original stories that became powerful modern myths. I suppose it's true that the basic stories of mankind haven't changed since pre-history. Boy meets girl, pride comes before a fall, etc. In Western civilization, tales illustrating such themes are woven into Greek mythology, the Bible, into Shakespeare—everything. They're important in part because they are unchanging. But what I like about Tarzan—and about 'The Lost World' and about 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,' too—is that they seem to me to entirely new stories rooted in what was happening right in their times. They represented changes in culture and society that just weren't part of the ancient landscape. They were new. In the case of Tarzan, Burroughs fashioned a storyline to create a human raised without benefit of modern civilization's extensive and potentially corrupting influence. Was he a better person because of it?

You could debate it either way, but the idea was rich enough to spawn endless novels and sequels, turning Tarzan into a cultural icon. And how about dinosaurs? Every time I go into a toy store and see all the dinosaur-related items, I wonder if it would be like this if Sir Arthur hadn't penned 'The Lost World,' published back in 1912. By spinning a tale that gave humans a way to interact with pre-historic creatures long thought extinct, Doyle's creativity gave life to a whole cultural subset that persists to this day. 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde': another case of scientific developments driving the creation of a new tale that reflected present reality and also helped us cope with its consequences. Author Stevenson emerged from the lab of his writing room with a memorable tale of a man with two identities, a story that owed nothing to anyone. So back to this week's screening: Tarzan is among an elite group of characters who were spawned by changes in society in the early 20th century, and then propelled to fame by the movies.

And this goes to heart of what I find exciting about early cinema: it's like being present at the creation of brand new myths that speak closely to age we live in. Of course change keeps happening, and faster and faster all the time. And so I have to ask: who among us is spinning the tales and creating the characters that will help us understand our own times? It's not easy to know. But we can be sure of the impact of Tarzan, and of dinosaurs, and of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, even down to the current day. And I think it's really exciting to go back to when such stories were brand new to readers and movie-goers alike. I do hope you can join us for the silent Tarzan double feature at the Leavitt Theatre in Ogunquit. Details and more info about the films are in the press release below. * * * Elmo Lincoln, the original Tarzan of the Movies, stars in 'Tarzan of the Apes' (1918). WEDNESDAY, SEPT.

10, 2014 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more info, contact: Jeff Rapsis • (603) 236-9237 • jeffrapsis@gmail.com Silent film 'Tarzan' double feature at Leavitt Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 18 Screening of timeless family movie classics in historic Ogunquit venue to feature live musical accompaniment OGUNQUIT, Maine—You won't get to hear his famous jungle yell. But everything else that made Tarzan a vine-swinging movie legend will fill the big screen at an upcoming one-night-only silent film double feature at the historic Leavitt Theatre. The silent program, set for Thursday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m., includes two early Tarzan features that helped popularize the character created by author Edgar Rice Burroughs. Both films will be accompanied by live music performed by silent film composer Jeff Rapsis. General admission for the event is $10 per person. The program features 'Tarzan of the Apes' (1918), the very first full-length movie adaptation of the Tarzan story.

The film covers the basic story of how Tarzan was separated from his aristocratic British parents, Lord and Lady Greystoke. As a young child, he is adopted by apes, and raised in the jungle until his rediscovery as a young "ape man" and his reconnection with civilization begins. The original 'Tarzan of the Apes' was filmed in 1917 in Morgan City, Louisiana, using Louisiana swamp country as a stand-in for the African jungle. Playing Tarzan is Elmo Lincoln, the first actor to popularize the role. Lincoln, a hefty athlete, went on to play the ape man in two subsequent films before the role was given to other actors. After Lincoln's movie career fizzled in the 1920s, he found work in the mining industry. Later in life, he returned to Hollywood to take small parts in low budget movies, working as an uncredited extra in two Tarzan films in the 1940s. Lincoln died in 1952 after suffering a heart attack.

Also to be shown at the Leavitt is 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' (1927), an RKO Pictures adaptation of a 1923 Burroughs novel of the same title. The film finds Tarzan forced to journey through the African jungle to the legendary City of Diamonds, where he and his pet lion Jadbal-ja must save an Englishwoman from being sacrificed to the Gods. Playing Tarzan in this film is James Pierce, the fourth actor to portray the role. Pierce was a part-time actor who coached high school football in Glendale, Calif., where his squad included future actor John Wayne. After landing the Tarzan role, Pierce married Burroughs' daughter Joan in 1928. Although other actors took over the Tarzan role in motion pictures, Pierce and his wife voiced the roles of Tarzan and Jane in a popular 1930s radio show. Pierce later ran a real estate agency in southern California.

He died in 1984; he and his wife are buried in Indiana with tombstones marked "Tarzan" and "Jane." For decades, no copy of 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' was thought to exist until a nearly complete print was discovered in a foreign archive in the 1990s. James H. Pierce plays Tarzan in 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' (1927). The Tarzan double feature is the latest in the Leavitt's series of silent film screenings with live music. The series aims to show the best silent films in the way that caused people to first fall in love with the movies—on the big screen, in a theater, with live music, and with an audience. "We're looking forward to running this amazing double feature of early Tarzan movies," said Peter Clayton, longtime owner/operator of the Leavitt. "So much of what's great about the movies started back in the silent era, and Tarzan is no exception. It's a great joy for us to present these films on the big screen again with live music." The Leavitt opened in 1923 as a silent movie house, and has been in business every summer season since.

Over the past winter, Clayton installed a new digital projection system to enable the Leavitt to continue to offer first-run Hollywood films. Both Tarzan flicks will be accompanied by New Hampshire-based silent film musician and composer Jeff Rapsis, who has prepared new material to go with both pictures. "In accompanying these Tarzan films, I hope to evoke the mystery and excitement of the jungle setting that was a big part of their popularity," Rapsis said. "I also hope to bring out the excitement that helped people first fall in love with the movies, and which is still in these pictures," Rapsis said. "That's especially true in the 'Golden Lion' film, which plays like an early version of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.' " The Tarzan Silent Film Double Feature will be shown with live music on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. at the Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St., Route 1 in Ogunquit, Maine. General admission is $10 per person; for more info, call (207) 646-3123 or visit For more information about the music, visit Posted by The Silent Era d.

Los Angeles, CA 6/27/52 Made 45 films from 1914 to 1952. He was the first movie Tarzan. Thomas G. Lingham (Actor) b. Indianapolis, IN April 7, 1874 d. Woodland Hills, CA Feb. 19, 1950 On stage from 1895 to 1913. Made first movie in 1913. He later specialized in western films usually playing a Sheriff or a villain. He played with Tom Mix, Art Acord, Hoot Gibson and Buck Jones. In 1917 he was in The Railroad Raiders, a serial starring Helen Holmes. Made several more serials, making his last film in 1934. Made 58 films from 1914 to 1934 Carole Lombard (Actress; Jane Alice Peters) (Second cousin of Howard Hawks) b. Fort Wayne, IN 10/6/08 d. Nevada (plane Crash) 1/16/42 Made 27 silent features plus numerous silent shorts.

Made a total of 70 films from 1921 to 1942. Kenneth MacDonald (Sometimes spelled McDonald...real name: Kenneth Dollins; Actor) b. Portland, IN 9/8/01 d. 5/5/72 Made 31 films from 1923 to 1956. Specialized in being the "bad guy" in Westerns. (Best known as a judge in "Perry Mason" TV series.) Ned Mann (Special Effects) b. Redkey, IN 1/17/1893 d. 7/1/67 Did technical work on at least 9 silent films including "Camille", "Dirigible" and "Two Arabian Knights". Was special effects director on at least 16 sound films including "Things to Come" 1936 and "Fire Over England" 1937. Ken Maynard (Actor/Producer/Writer) b. Vevay, IN 7/21/1895 d. Woodland Hills, CA 3/23/73 Made 28 silents from 1923 to 1929.

Made his first "all- talkie" in 1930. Made a total of 88 films from 1923 to 1951. Then appeared in last film "Bigfoot" in 1969. Produced 14 films and wrote two. b. Sullivan County, IN 8/2/1900 d. Glendale, CA 1/19/76 Cinematographer for at least 19 films from 1921 to 1929 including "Sally" 1925 and "Irene" 1926. Cinematographer for 113 sound films through 1966 including "The Treasure of Sierra Madre","East of Eden" and "The Sound of Music". George Barr McCutcheon (Novelist) b. Tippecanoe County, IN 7/26/1866 d. New York, NY 10/23/28 25 movies made from his novels. "Brewster's Millions" was made into six different films. Rose Melville (actress) b.

Terre Haute, IN 1/30/1873 d. 10/8/46 Stage, screen and vaudeville actress. Married to actor Frank Minzey. They appeared together in early Biograph and Keystone films and later in shorts produced by Fox, Goldwyn, etc. She played the role of "Sis Hopkins" more than 5000 times in the course of an 18-year run on stage. b. Laurel, IN June 22, 1872 d. Hollywood, CA July 29, 1941 Made 132 films from 1912 to 1938. One of the original Keystone Cops. b. Crawfordsville, IN 5/21/1894 d. December 1986 Four silent films in 1928 and 1929. Two based on his plays. First in 1928 was "The Barker" which was made again in 1945 as "Diamond Horseshoe". Wrote for a total of 15 films. Meredith M.

Nicholson (Author and Diplomat) b. Indianapolis, IN Six films based on his novels were made from 1915 to 1936. "House of a Thousand Candles" was filmed twice. Virginia Philley (Withey) (writer/actress) b. Fort Wayne, IN March 31, 1890 d. Fort Wayne, IN February 10, 1980 She attended a dramatic school in Chicago and went on stage. Credited with writing at last one screenplay, "Flying Rat" (1920). She was a stage actress for a number of years and then went into films, appearing with such companies as, Thomas Ince, The Griffith Film Company and the Fine Arts Company. In 1915 she married Chester (Chet) Withey, a film director, author and actor. David Graham Phillips (Writer/novelist) Four films based on his novels from 1917 to 1931. Last film in 1931 was "Susan Lenox(Her Fall and Rise)" James H.Pierce b. Freedom, Indiana 8/8/1900 d.

12/11/83 Was an All-American center on the I.U. football team. He centered the ball to a running back named, Kermit Maynard. (Brother of Ken Maynard. Both Maynards were born in Vevay, Indiana) Married Joan Burroughs, daughter of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Played Tarzan in "Tarzan and the Golden Lion", the last silent Tarzan film. Made 42 films from 1926 to 1966. Gene Stratton Porter (Novelist/Screenwriter/Actress) d. Los Angeles, CA 12/7/24 (car accident) 19 films were based on her novels, 6 of them silent. She appeared in three films..."Keeper of the Bees" in 1925, "Laddie" in 1926 and "Freckles" in 1928. Victor Potel (Actor) b. Lafayette, IN 10/12/1889 d. Hollywood, CA 3/8/47 Made 39 silents from 1914 to 1927.

Made a total of 119 films from 1914 to 1947. With Charlie Murray, he was one of the original Keystone Cops. Maurine Powers (Sometimes credited as Maureen Powers) b. Terre Haute, IN 1907(?) Her father was Andrew H. Powers who was a Harrison County Trustee in Vigo County. She went to New York to study art and was asked to appear in To Hell With the Kaiser! in 1918. She signed a movie contract when she was just 13 years old. Her complete filmography is not available at this time but it appears she was in at least six films and perhaps as many as fifteen from 1918 to 1922. In 1923 she returned to Terre Haute and was living there with her parents under the name of "Marie" Powers. James Whitcomb Riley (Writer/Actor) Five films based on his writings from 1918 to 1923. Appeared as himself in "Little Orphant Annie", 1918. Al Rockett (Producer) d. Hollywood, CA Aug.

30, 1960 Produced 15 films from 1922 to 1934 (Also did 4 films as Prod. Mgr.) b. Terre Haute, IN 5/14/1875 d. Syracuse, NY 9/16/57 Made over 60 films from 1913 to 1929. Frequently played unusual characters..."Portugese Joe", "Arvo, the Hypnotist", "Half-Wit", "Dr. Ghoul" etc. Churchill Ross(Actor)(Ross Weigle) b. Lafayette, IN January 29, 1901 d. May 23, 1962 Made ten silent films from 1923 to 1928. His career continued with sound films through 1936. He made a total of 16 films. Never a leading man, usually minor supporting roles and several uncredited appearances. Tom Santschi (Actor/Director/Writer) b. Crystal City, MO Oct.

14, 1880 (Other sources say 1878) d. Los Angeles, CA April 9, 1931 His family moved to Kokomo, Indiana when he was a young boy. Grew up there. Although many sources say he was born in Switzerland, this was a myth promoted by Santschi himself. His father was born in Switzerland. His mother was born in Kentucky. He had two sisters, Florence and Minnie, both born in Missouri. He made 129 films as an actor from 1907 to 1932. Famous for his fight scene with William Farnum in The Spoilers(1914). Directed 5 films in 1915 and 1916 wrote one screenplay The Octopus, 1915. Film Historian William K. Everson states that Santschi was one of the first recognizable villains in the history of movies. d. Hollywood, CA Dec. 12, 1950 Wrote screenplays for 121 films from 1915 to 1950 Norman Selby (Actor) (Sometimes credited as "Kid McCoy") b.

Rush County, IN Oct. 13, 1873 d. Detroit, MI April 18, 1940 Made 14 films from 1916 to 1930 Autumn Sims (actress/dancer) b. Odon, Indiana Her parents were Charles A. and Clare E. Sims, both of Odon. Bit player in several silent films including Is Divorce a Failure? with fellow Hoosier Tom Santschi. Mostly uncredited roles. After a fling at the movies, she became part of the chorus in Earl Caroll's Vanities, dancing and singing. Clifford Smith (Director/Actor/Producer) b. Richmond, IN Aug. 22, 1894 (or 1886?) d. Los Angeles, CA Sept. 17, 1937 Directed 71 films from 1915 to 1937 (Directed 45 Wm. S.

Hart westerns plus other westerns featuring Tom Mix,Harry Carey, Hoot Gibson, Ray Stewart) (Acted in 3 films, produced 2 films) Valeska Suratt (actress) b. Owensville, IN 1882 d. July 2, 1962 When she was four years old, her family moved to Terre Haute. Worked for Block's Department store in Indianapolis as a clerk in the Millinery Department before moving to Chicago and into Vaudeville. Became a headliner and entered movies in 1915 in "The Immigrant" (Paramount). She made several films, most of them in one year (1915-1916)then returned to Vaudeville. b. Indianapolis, IN 7/29/1869 d. Indianapolis, IN 5/19/46 49 films from 1914 to 1951 based on his novels and plays. Two Pulitzer Prizes, "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "Alice Adams".

Both of these were made into films twice...once as a silent film and once as a sound film. Alice Terry (real name: Alice Taaffe; Actress) b. Vincennes, IN July 24, 1889 d. Burbank, CA Dec. 22, 1987 Made 26 films from 1916 to 1932. Married Director Rex Ingram who directed her in several films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse opposite Rudolph Valentino. She co-directed one film with her husand, Baroud 1932. J. Homer Tutt (Writer/composer/actor) b. Logansport, Indiana Graduated from Manual Training High School in Indianapolis where he was a champion sprinter and broad jumper. Joined "The Famous Troubadours" as a supporting comedian for his brother Salem Tutt Whitney. Composed several popular songs. Was an actor on stage and was in the cast of Green Pastures. Made at least two films for director Oscar Micheaux. Birthright in 1924 and The Broken Violin in 1927. John P.

Wade (Actor) (Real name: John Patrick Wade) b. Indiana June 30, 1876 d. Hollywood, CA July 14, 1949 Made 14 films from 1914 to 1938 Lew Wallace (Novelist) Four films based on his novels. "Ben Hur" was filmed three times, 1907, 1926 and 1959. "The Prince of India" was filmed in 1914. The 1907 film was a short based on the 1899 stage play starring William S. Hart. May Wallace (Actress) (Real name: May Maddox) b. Russiaville, IN 1877 d. Los Angeles, CA Dec. 11, 1938 Appeared in several of the Little Rascals comedies, usually as the mother or grandmother of one of the children. Also appeared in several Laurel and Hardy films. Made 45 films from 1921 to 1939 George Webb (George Webb Frey) b.

Indianapolis, IN October 3, 1887 d. Los Angeles, CA May 24, 1943 Appeared in over 39 films from 1916 to 1936. Usually small parts, many uncredited. Worked with fellow Hoosiers, Carole Lombard, Raymond Walburn and writer Raymond Schrock. Helen Weir (Actress) Sometimes listed as Helen Weer. Made 12 films from 1915 to 1923 Bessie Wharton (Actress) (Real name: Bessie Emerick Wharton) b. Rochester, IN 1875 d. Boston MA Dec. 13, 1939 Married Leopold Wharton, a stage actor from England. He later became a director and had his own production company in Ithaca, N.Y. around 1912. He put his wife in a number of films including serials like The Exploits of Elaine which was shot in Jersey City. His brother, Theodore, joined him in The Wharton Company which had close ties to Pathe. Mrs.

Wharton made at least 19 films from 1914 to 1922. Olive White (Actress) (Real name: Olive Celeste Moore White) b. Indianapolis, IN 1889 d. Hollywood, CA April 19, 1960 Made 2 films one in 1916 and one in 1920 Walker Whiteside (Actor) b. Logansport, IN 3/16/1869 d. Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 8/17/42 A veteran stage actor whose show business career covered 47 years. He began work as a Shakespearian actor, playing such roles as Hamlet, Othello, Richard III, Shylock and others. He played Hamlet with his own company in his New York debut at age 25. His most successful stage role was "The Master of Ballantrae." His film debut was, "The Melting Pot" (1915). He also starred in The Belgian (1918). In both of these films, his leading lady was fellow Hoosier Valentine Grant (Franklin, Indiana).

Salem Tutt Whitney(actor/composer/writer) b. Logansport, Indiana d. 2/12/34 After studying for the ministry, he decided to become an actor. He wrote many sketches for leading vaudeville artists. He was the composer of 25 musical comedies and over 50 songs. He appeared with his brother, J. Homer Tutt, in Oscar Micheaux's Birthright in 1924 and in another Micheaux film, Marcus Garland in 1925. Mack V. Wright (Actor/Director/Writer) ERBzine 1103: Pt. 2 Joan Burroughs Pierce Biography Part II In the summer of 1926 Joan met her husband-to-be, Jim Pierce. He had been a star centre on the University of Indiana football team, who had moved west to the University of Arizona and California for coaching jobs. Students he had coached included John Wayne, Bob Steele and numerous other athletes who went on to become well-known actors. By 1926 he was also quite busy doing bit parts in films. He had just been offered a substantial role in Wings when fate intervened.

He was invited to a fish fry and pool party at Tarzana Ranch -- by that time part of the El Caballero Country Club -- by his friend Tom Scully. Scully was dating Marguerite Corwin, a school chum of Joan Burroughs. Jim Pierce arrived in his "Whoopie" Model T and was somewhat in awe of the other guests he found mingling on the estate grounds. The party goers included the sons and daughters from the top society of Los Angeles. He was perhaps most in awe of the host: Edgar Rice Burroughs, who was his favourite fiction writer. At one point Jim was thrown -- fully clothed -- into the pool. Burroughs who was chatting with friends in a row of lounge chairs by the pool observed Jim swimming laps in and said, "That's my boy! That's Tarzan!" Eventually Joan led Jim -- clad in swim trunks -- over to meet her father and her young brothers Hulbert and Jack. Ed seemed impressed with Jim's looks and physique. The party lasted into the evening with food and dancing. Jim was quite taken with 18-year-old Joan and danced with her numerous times.

Looking back on this first meeting, Joan once said, "To me, he looked like Tarzan, very trim and well-muscled and his face looked like Tarzan as my father imagined him to be -- grey eyes, something of a Roman nose, and a beautiful smile." When it was time to leave, his beat up Model T was brought around by a parking attendant and he was followed out of the lot and down to the valley by a luxurious Packard Twin-Six driven by a chauffeur. Two weeks later a casting director from the Film Booking Office invited Jim, on the recommendation of ERB, to a screen test for the lead role in the next big-budget Tarzan picture: Tarzan and the Golden Lion based on ERB's book of the same name . Jim, somewhat overwhelmed by the proposal, was reluctant to pursue an full-time acting career. His decision was made even more difficult because it would mean turning down the part Wings -- a part eventually played by Gary Cooper. At the insistence of Joan he agreed to make the test. Ed and Joan attended the test and were delighted with the results. 5245 (5046) Mecca Ave.

- Cottage on Lot 76 of tract 5475 - Tarzana In July, the Burroughs family who had been living temporarily at 674 South New Hampshire in Los Angeles, moved back to Tarzana at 5245 (later changed to 5046) Mecca Avenue where Ed had built a cottage on Lot 76 of his tract 5475. He also moved his office to 5255 (later changed to 5135) Avenida Oriente in Tarzana . Soon after, Joan invited the young Tarzan hopeful to the ranch for a horseback ride and dinner. The entire family was accustomed to early morning trail rides through the picturesque ruggedness of the ranch. Ex-cavalryman Ed had taught his family well -- they were all expert riders. Jim sensed he was about to go through another test - a test to see if he could handle a horse. Luckily he had ridden horses at an early age on the farm back in Indiana and recently he had been tutored by the head wrangler of a western movie in which he had a small role.

His horsemanship impressed the Burroughs family and Joan informed him, "You're in! You'll never know how much of a step you just made with this family." From then on the friendship between Joan and Jim grew with Jim visiting the ranch as often as his shooting schedule on the film would permit. It was on his return from one of these visits that he was involved in a near-fatal car accident which forced a delay in the shooting of the Tarzan picture. Things cooled off a little between the couple at this time and they agreed that perhaps they should wait for a few years before there be any thoughts of marriage. This was probably at the urging of the Burroughs family who felt that Joan was too young for a serious relationship. Although they remained close friends, Jim started to see a lot of his co-star Edna Murphy who was nearer to his age. In December of 1926 Ed wrote Louis B. Mayer requesting that Joan be given a tryout for a part in "Old Heidelberg," but nothing seemed to come of this.

ERB's cast-autographed copy of Tarzan and the Golden Lion Tarzan and the Golden Lion -- a silent film -- came out at a bad time -- it coincided with the birth of the talkies. Jim was typecast and his contract was not renewed. The work he found from then on consisted mostly of bit parts in B pictures. During this time Joan was dating actor Rex Lease (1903-1966), who went on to make 200 films and she was also studying drama and singing in a Marta Oatman's Drama School. The romance between the two ended around the same time that Jim and Edna Murphy's relationship cooled off. One of Joan's diary entries reads: "Rex called at 12.00 today. Said he would stop by, had something to tell me. Called a little later. I drove over and met him in front of the Hollywood Athletic Club. Told me that we couldn't see each other anymore. Said he couldn't give me all the things that I'd been used to and that he wasn't good enough for me, which is foolishness. He made me feel very miserable." "Friday, August 21.

I feel worse than ever. Article came out in the Los Angeles Times and Examiner that Rex and (film actress) Charlotte Merriam are engaged to be married. . . . I called Rex and he said it wasn't true, but I don't know. Everybody's consoling me and telling me it is all for the best. Maybe so! But it hurts. My first disillusionment. I wonder how many more I'll have. He probably is glad to get rid of me. Oh, what a dirty trick ~ I hope he will be happier anyway. I'm going to miss him very much." Despite the split, Rex Lease remained a family friend. A fond memory held by Jack's son, Danton, is of Rex coming over for breakfast in the late '40s and frying bacon for Ed and the kids. He regaled them with stories of his experiences while making over 200 westerns in Hollywood. Rex died on New Year's Eve, 1965, at the age of 62. Rex Lease Not long after this split Joan received a call from Jim and they were soon back together again.

She carried on with her drama and voice lessons, joined the Actors' Equity and the Screen Actors' Guild and registered as a singer for film musicals. She picked up numerous professional roles on stage as well as singing roles in films. Her numerous lead roles in stock company productions garnered excellent notices -- especially in Glendale where she became a regular with the well-established Glendale Community Playhouse. She moved into an apartment in Glendale where she worked as a professional actress. It was hard work as the stock company played one show each week while rehearsing for another. Jim became a regular stage-door Johnnie and attended every play at least once. He and the Burroughs family were worried about her being out alone late at night so as much as possible he would drive her back to her apartment for a late supper of chili and spaghetti. The company folded after director/actor William Gould was given a long-term studio contract and left to become one of Hollywood's leading character actors. In 1927, Joan was offered a contract by a travelling stock company that were just opening in Utah. Despite the reservations expressed by family, Joan was excited by thoughts of the experience it would give her and she left for Utah.

On February 20th she opened the Weber Little Theatre in Ogden in the play "The Whole Town's Talking." Emma accompanied her as chaperone and Ed flew in for opening night. Her father was really getting into the theatrical spirit by this time. On April 6 he started writing the play: "Mary Who?" aka "Why Razz the Kids" aka "Holy Bonds of Wedlock." It was probably written with Joan in mind but was never published. Meanwhile, back on the road, Joan was playing the lead in Enter Madame and the pay looked promising, but the caliber of the production and venues was disappointing. Eventually, sensing a note of disappointment and frustration in his daughter's letters, Ed suspected that all was not well and decided to check out the situation. He made a highly publicized trip in a two-seater, open-cockpit mail plane flown by WWI ace pilot Maurey Graham. Graham navigated by following railroads and landmarks. The two communicated by hand signals and by passing notes back and forth. Sadly, a few months later Graham was killed on this route when his plane crashed in the mountains while flying through a snowstorm. Burroughs found Joan in a hopeless situation.

The company was several weeks in arrears and she hadn't been paid. Ed blew the whistle on them and they were shut down by the Actors' Equity and Joan returned home broke -- sad but wiser. On August 28, 1927, in commemoration of their 1916 cross-country trip, the family travelled to the Grand Canyon North Rim. Dad and Mom travelled in their six-year-old Packard Roadster, towing a heavily-loaded trailer, while Joan and Hulbert drove their Buick Roadster with Jack riding in the rumble seat. Ed noted that they had slept out in four states: California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada. It proved to be a miniature version of the infamous 1916 trip with most of the same misadventures squeezed into seven days. Both Ed and Emma lost seven pounds during the rugged trip. Memorably, her dad's 52nd birthday was spent in Arizona, as were his 21st and his 50th: "The Eleven Year Itch," a 6,000-word article was written to describe the event.

The Tarzan Twins , that was published on October 10th, was dedicated to Joan and her brothers: "To Joan, Hulbert and Jack, who were brought up on Tarzan stories, this volume is affectionately dedicated by their father." That fall Joan joined the Menard Players at the Glendale Playhouse for $40 a week. On October 19th, Ed in support of Joan's acting career, gave her a rough draft of a play written with her in mind: " You Lucky Girl! " Unfortunately it was not performed until 1997 at the Palmdale Playhouse , California. It was also around this time that Ed wrote a home movie script, a silent slapstick melodrama, called "Tarzan Pictures Presents 'Them Thar Papers.'" The cast included all family members, as well as James Pierce, and Joan's actress friend Miss Florence Gilbert . It was filmed on 16mm at Tarzana Ranch with Ed operating the camera. Jim's dreams of Hollywood stardom were placed on hold and he took a more dependable job as a coach at the University of Arizona. Feeling a bit more secure financially he proposed to Joan on July 2, 1928.

He popped the question while they were parked in the driveway of the Burroughs estate -- under a full moon -- in Jim's old Model T. They were given the blessing of the Burroughs family and set the wedding date for August 8, 1928 -- Jim's birthday. Wedding invitation from the Danton Burroughs Archive Collection The wedding became a top story throughout the world: "Edgar Rice Burroughs' daughter to marry a movie Tarzan." The huge wedding was on the scenic grounds of Tarzana Ranch on one of the hottest days of summer. It was catered by the Elite Catering Service and the grounds were packed with limousines and Marmons, Packards, Auburns, Cords... and Jim's new Nash roadster -- a twin-ignition car, the first and last of its kind. The whole event was recorded on 16 mm film. After the reception the newlyweds left for their new two-bedroom house in Van Nuys on Dixie Canyon near Ventura Boulevard. The house cost $4,500 for which ERB made the down payment as a wedding present.

An additional wedding present was a contract for Jim to make the next Tarzan picture (unfortunately Jim, who had put on a considerable amount of weight, was later forced out of the deal by some Hollywood legal wrangling). They furnished their home in a Spanish motif and household items not given as presents by Ed and Emma were purchased on the installment plan. A few days after the wedding they left on their honeymoon to Indiana. The trip to Jim's hometown of Shelbyville, Indiana took about ten days as it was plagued by constant car problems. They eventually phoned Jim's dad from St. Louis saying that they would arrive in Shelbyville late at night. Jim's dad and mom were so anxious to see the newlyweds that they drove out to meet them before they arrived. That first night in Jim's family home was a memorable one as the old-fashioned four-poster bed collapsed, waking up the whole household -- a humorous event that entered the family lore of the Pierce family. They stayed a week visiting family and old friends and haunts. They even visited the little town of Freedom where Jim was born and the rustic old grocery store where Jim had worked as a kid for a dime a day.

Joan learned that in this little town where everyone had a nickname, Jim was called "Hikey Dike," a name he had earned at age four after being totally fascinated by a wild Borneo jungle-man character with that name who had appeared in a travelling wagon show. Jim's grandfather, Perry Commodore McIntosh, was pleased to find that the newest member of the Pierce family was a rapt listener to his often-told tales of pioneer days and the Civil War. Joan in return let it be known that her grandfather, Major George Tyler Burroughs , had served as an officer in that war and that her grandmother, Mary Evaline, had disguised herself as a man and went to war alongside her husband. ( Memoirs of a War Bride ). The next stops on the honeymoon trip were Chicago and Coldwater, Michigan, where Joan introduced her husband to her relatives. This proved to be a somewhat formidable task as many of the offspring of Ed's four brothers and Emma's four sisters were widely scattered around the area. They had a restful stay at Coldwater where Joan's grandmother lived on a farm with her daughter Jessie. After relaxing days of golf, fishing and swimming they started the return trip to California.

The long honeymoon trip was a great opportunity for the newlyweds to gain insight into each other's dispositions and personalities and to plan for the great adventure that lay before them. Following their return to California, Joan took on the role of housewife, while Jim made a decent living working in poverty row Westerns and serials and eventually worked his way into more prestigious films such as DeMille's Cleopatra, the Marx Brothers' Horse Feathers and a Buster Keaton comedy. On Christmas Eve, 1929, at Hollywood Hospital, Joan gave birth to a daughter -- blonde-haired, blue-eyed little Joan (later they changed the spelling to Joanne to avoid confusion). The proud grandfather dedicated his next book ( Tanar of Pellucidar ) to her: " To Joan Burroughs Pierce II. " Jim's sporadic work on film projects was a great come-down from his major starring role as Tarzan. Suffering from insecurities and a fading ego he joined the newly formed Christian Science Church in a search for direction. Joan did not join the church but was quite supportive.

The Pierce fortunes took a great upturn in 1932 when ERB and American gold Seal Productions sold the idea for a Tarzan radio serial to the Signal Oil Company. Under Ed's recommendation the roles of Tarzan and Jane went to Jim and Joan. The premier of the show was a gala event at the Fox Pantages Theater. Jim ad-libbed a speech and Joan shared anecdotes about being daughter of ERB and growing up with that famous member of the Burroughs family, Tarzan. Johnny Weissmuller made an appearance on stage and then several episodes of the show were played over the theatre sound system. The Tarzan serial was one of the first radio adventures transcribed on 16" electrical transcription discs, quite a daring innovation at a time when all shows were done live. From the Laurence Dunn Collection Click to Enlarge The recording innovation was a major success, however, and started a trend that most major shows eventually followed. The show launched the careers of many actors who would become major stars on the air and screen.

Gale Gordon (Our Miss Brooks, Lucille Ball shows, etc.), Hanley Stafford (father to Fanny Brice's Baby Snooks), Cy Kendall (character actor in radio and film), and Jeanette Nolan and John McIntire (major roles in radio, film and TV). The actors were paid five dollars per show while the Pierces worked for royalties. The program was aired three times a week, ran 39 episodes per story, and went for a total of 354 episodes. Thanks to the new medium of E.T. discs the show was syndicated in almost every major English-speaking country in the world. Looking back on the show, years later, Joan reminisced: "It was a beautiful love story. It was a clean story. There was no obvious sex, just pure love." Since the Pierces received a royalty every time the show was played they soon found themselves on easy street. They moved to a larger house in Hollywood and hired a couple to do the cooking, housework, chauffeuring and to take care of baby Joanne. Jim splurged on a luxury 1933 Packard which cost $3,337 -- a monumental sum in those Depression years.

The series sponsor, Signal Oil went all out with promotion -- claiming their gasoline had "the power of Tarzan." They also organized a Signal Tarzan Club and offered jigsaw puzzles and other premiums to kids who could talk their parents into filling up at the Signal service stations. By 1934 the demands of keeping the club going were so great -- they had already mailed out 415, 000 memberships -- that they had to put an end to the promotion. During a break from recording the program the Pierces spent some holiday time in Canada. They sailed up the coast to Seattle via the Grace Line taking their car with them as cargo. The ship's purser was a devoted fan of their show and invited them to listen to the recorded broadcasts in his quarters, three out of the four nights that they were on board. They drove through the Rockies to Banff and on to the Calgary Stampede -- mobbed everywhere by autograph hounds and media. Jim and Joan with Mary the Chimp Signal Tarzan Club Band Promotional Photo for Tarzan Radio Serial Unfortunately this lifestyle was not to last as 1934 was to bring a series of upheavals to the Burroughs and Pierce families. . .

Question: James H Pierce was the last silent film actor to play who?
Answer: Tarzan