The Jungle-style Thread - Pop Culture Iconography of the Dark Continent - General Tiki

J JOHN-O Tiki Socialite Dogtown, USA Joined: May 16, 2008 Posts: 2721	J JOHN-O Posted posted on Wed, Jan 6, 2010 9:07 PM OK, let's go back to TV Land for a while. During the days of the 1960's Black Power movement, there were 3 TV shows that featured African locales. Native Africans were portrayed more respectfully without the "Ooga Booga" of past. The bad guys were now evil WHITE poachers. Daktari (1966-1969) - This show followed the work of Dr. Tracy, his daughter, and staff at an Animal Behavior Study Center in East Africa. Co-stars were Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion and Judy the Chimp. The interesting thing was that a lot of the show was filmed at a place called "Africa USA" in Soledad Canyon just north of Los Angeles. This was a 600-acre animal training compound created in 1962. It all ended in 1969 when major flooding and mudslides destroyed the place. Daktari had a pretty groovy opening score, it would have played well in a Tiki bar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxdxk0RpBQg Tarzan (1966-1968) - Ron Ely played a Tarzan who was pretty articulate. None of this "Me Tarzan, You Jane" stuff. Actually there was no Jane in this TV series. Too bad Raquel Welch's film career took off that year. Her Jane would have raised this seldom remembered TV show to cult status. Don't believe me? Please refer to "One Million Years B.C." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-syuAm5YOzE Cowboy in Africa (1967-1968) - Chuck Conners is transported in an episode of the "Time Tunnel" from his 1880's-set "The Rifleman" TV show to late 1960's Africa. (OK, I made that up but I think my idea would have lasted more than 1 season.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7jnLeo3hnQ

OK, let's go back to TV Land for a while. During the days of the 1960's Black Power movement, there were 3 TV shows that featured African locales. Native Africans were portrayed more respectfully without the "Ooga Booga" of past. The bad guys were now evil WHITE poachers.

Daktari (1966-1969) - This show followed the work of Dr. Tracy, his daughter, and staff at an Animal Behavior Study Center in East Africa. Co-stars were Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion and Judy the Chimp. The interesting thing was that a lot of the show was filmed at a place called "Africa USA" in Soledad Canyon just north of Los Angeles. This was a 600-acre animal training compound created in 1962. It all ended in 1969 when major flooding and mudslides destroyed the place.

Daktari had a pretty groovy opening score, it would have played well in a Tiki bar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxdxk0RpBQg

Tarzan (1966-1968) - Ron Ely played a Tarzan who was pretty articulate. None of this "Me Tarzan, You Jane" stuff. Actually there was no Jane in this TV series. Too bad Raquel Welch's film career took off that year. Her Jane would have raised this seldom remembered TV show to cult status. Don't believe me? Please refer to "One Million Years B.C."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-syuAm5YOzE

Cowboy in Africa (1967-1968) - Chuck Conners is transported in an episode of the "Time Tunnel" from his 1880's-set "The Rifleman" TV show to late 1960's Africa. (OK, I made that up but I think my idea would have lasted more than 1 season.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7jnLeo3hnQ

Post #502708 by JOHN-O on Wed, Jan 6, 2010 9:07 PM