FDNY Tales - Me Tarzan

FDNY Tales - Me Fireman, Me Tarzan (Frank Cull)

The year was 1920. Joseph Pohler was a New York City fireman. Numa Pictures was producing a new film, "The Revenge of Tarzan", and was looking for someone to play the title role.

Joseph was picked because of his physique. He was 6' 2 1/2" tall and weighed 215 pounds. He also had some previous acting experience, having played bit parts in the western films of William Hart, Douglas Fairbanks and Tom Mix.

He was given a new name, Gene Pollar, and went to work as Tarzan. The film was successful, in fact Universal offered him a two-year contact at the unbelievable salary of $350 per week. But Numa wouldn't release him from his contact with them. Joseph ended his acting career and returned to his job as a fireman. He died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on October 20, 1971.

Edgar Rice Burroughs' comment on the performance of fireman-turned-actor Pollar: "As an actor, Gene was a great fireman." (Frank Cull)

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Thanks, Ira Hoffman