Johnny Wiesmuller and Al Antinucchi
Posted By thecircusblog on April 7, 2009
Al and John on location somewhere in California, most likely at the Jungleland Compound as the studio did most of the outdoor shooting there. This is either Cheeta or Tamba. The chimp was owned by Ed C. Learmont. Al worked and trained the chimps for the Tarzan movies and did that for quite some time. All good things come to end, but that wasn’t the end for Al as he created his own chimp act and it with a doubt was one of the best in the business. He played fair’s, TV shows, circuses and motion pictures as well. He had a great act and he was a great guy. Remember……I never saw a chimp act I didn’t like 🙂 READ……… comment by Rich…….. My father Clifford Henry said Al was the best at what ever he did.
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thecircusblog
My name is Ivan M. Henry and I am the 4th generation of a circus/show business dynasty. I hope you enjoy the blog.Comments
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The chimp is Jimmy (playing Cheta). He appeared in three of the RKO Tarzan films: Tarzan and the Amazons, Tarzan and the Leopard Woman and Tarzan and the Huntress. Learmont not longer after donated his chimps to the Los Angeles Zoo. Unfortunately, nothing is known about their fate after that.
The Learmont Chimps lived long at the Los Angeles Zoo. I know this a fact ,Al Antinucchi would visit them from time to time, He made a comment to my father about this. There were two baby chimps that went to Al, from that he created his own act. Al also got chimps from Louie Goebel, Jungleland. Ivan M.Henry
I am glad to hear that. Jimmie was my favourite of all the Chetas. He had such an expressive face and could he act!
Antonucci eventually moved to Gibsonton, Florida where he lived until his death in August.1985, a few short weeks before his 69th birthday. I have been unable to locate his son and daughter.
Al was a very kind man. I played drums for Old Chicago and Hetzer’s Int’l Circus where Al and his chimps were a huge hit. God rest his soul.