The primary filming location for the first Tarzan movie was Lake Piru, a large reservoir located in Ventura County, California. The lake's serene surroundings and lush vegetation provided an ideal setting for the film's jungle scenes. The production team took advantage of the lake's proximity to Los Angeles, which made it an accessible location for filming.
: Studios in Hollywood used for supplemental production work. Morgan City Producers chose this location for its lush vegetation convenient logistics
: A waterfront area with numerous moss-covered trees where many of the "jungle" sequences were shot. Avoca Island
In conclusion, in Southern California, with Lake Piru serving as the primary filming location. The production team's choice of location provided the perfect backdrop for the film's jungle scenes, and the movie's success marked the beginning of a cinematic journey that continues to captivate audiences today.
Tarzan of the Apes (1918), Elmo Lincoln, silent film, filming location, Morgan City, Louisiana cinema history
However, the “top” filming location wasn’t Africa—as most audiences assumed—but the American South. Let’s swing through the vines of cinema history to uncover why this location was chosen, how it became the “top” jungle on screen, and why it remains a pilgrimage site for silent film buffs.
Location as Character: The Filming Sites of the First Tarzan Movie (1918)
The first cinematic adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes was a silent film released in 1918. While the fictional jungle of “West Africa” serves as the story’s setting, the actual filming locations were confined to the United States. This paper identifies the primary filming site as Morgan City, Louisiana , with additional sequences shot in Chicago, Illinois .
In 1917, the National Film Corporation sought a location that could replicate the untamed African jungle described in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1912 novel. Producers selected Morgan City for several key operational reasons:
The primary filming location for the first Tarzan movie was , utilizing the dense, swampy Atchafalaya River basin. Why Louisiana Swamps Replaced the African Jungle