johnny weismeuller

Well, Look Who I Found in My Mail Box

Johnny Weismeuller, Olympic swimmer

By Val

@valmnz (17099)

New Zealand

May 23, 2017 10:02pm CST

Today is a grey rainy day, with a splattering of thunder and lightning from time to time. So, finding this postcard in my mail box really brightened my day. For those of you who have no idea who this young man is, I'll give you a hint. He is one of my all-time favourite Olympic swimmers. You still have no idea? This is Johnny Weismeuller, world record holder and Olympic swimming champion, winning five gold medals during the 1920s. Then he became even better known when he went on to play the role of Tarzan in the movies during the 1930s and 1940s. So, my day was definitely brightened to receive this postcard on such an otherwise dull day.

17 people like this

17 responses

@jstory07 (134481)

• Roseburg, Oregon

24 May 17

That is one hot man. I did not know who he was.

3 people like this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

24 May 17

He seems very young here. He went on to be really good looking.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325854)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 May 17

Don't you just love the swimming costumes from those days? I have a photo of my Dad in something similar.

2 people like this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

24 May 17

Ha, ha, I'm hoping no one is offended at how revealing his swim suit was.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

24 May 17

@JudyEv that's a real Aussie comment, but at least we Kiwis understand what you mean

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325854)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 May 17

@valmnz He looks to have a budgie or two hidden!

1 person likes this

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@LadyDuck (458237)

• Switzerland

24 May 17

I recognized him, not as a swimmer, but as the famous Tarzan.

2 people like this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

I don't think I've ever seen him in a Tarzan movie. To me he will always be the champion swimmer.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (458237)

• Switzerland

28 May 17

@valmnz I did, in the small country cinema near the house of my grandparents. They proposed very old movies.

1 person likes this

@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

24 May 17

My mother would tell me all about Johnny Weismeuller every time we went to the movies to watch a Tarzan show - the old Tarzan movies that is. Hunky young man in your post box - nice!!

2 people like this

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

16 Jul 17

Buster Crabbe also played many similar roles because swimming was the main requirement for such a character. I remember Mark Spitz being considered for the role after his amazing Olympic achievements. Apparently they finally gave up because his acting was inadequate. You have to be quite useless not to be considered a good enough actor for such a role.

2 people like this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

The benefits of postcrossing

1 person likes this

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@xFiacre (12597)

• Ireland

24 May 17

@valmnz Strange how a swimming outfit like that, although it covers much more than the briefest of Speedos, is actually much more revealing!! A real budgie smuggler.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

Even modern day swim suits can cling when they're wet

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

@xFiacre but is a preferred option!

@xFiacre (12597)

• Ireland

28 May 17

@valmnz I hate the feel of clinging, wet swimwear as I emerge from the water. The only solution I can think of would get me arrested.

1 person likes this

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@DianneN (246906)

• United States

24 May 17

Oh, my!

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

1 person likes this

@DianneN (246906)

• United States

28 May 17

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (157563)

• United States

24 May 17

Sometimes I wish there was a man in my mailbox. I did guess, though.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

He stayed handsome into old age too.

@allknowing (130064)

• India

25 May 17

That outfit is too tight - if you know what I mean

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

Probably more a matter of a wet swim suit clinging. They usually do.

1 person likes this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)

• China

24 May 17

The postcard did make your day ! I haven't known of Johnny Weismeuller,but know Tarzan.He was a man with a powerful frame!

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

And quite an athlete in his time.

1 person likes this

@vickyrose (2235)

• Cooma, Australia

25 May 17

I thought that he looked familiar, Tarzan! my favorite character. I've seen some of his old Tarzan movies. Thanks for sharing this priceless photo.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

Isn't it wonderful

@RubyHawk (99425)

• Atlanta, Georgia

24 May 17

I haven't thought about him in a long time . I watched him as a child playing Tarzan. It's a cool gray day here with plenty of rain.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

24 May 17

I'm sure, with his body, he made a magnificent Tarzan

seems rain is the order of the day.

1 person likes this

@RubyHawk (99425)

• Atlanta, Georgia

24 May 17

@valmnz Johnny was a great Tarzan. He could swing from those trees like a monkey. We have rain too.

1 person likes this

@responsiveme (22926)

• India

24 May 17

Me Tarzan you Jane...Loved the Tarzan films

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

I never actually saw him in Tarzan, or if I did I was too young to register the name of the star.

1 person likes this

@Yadah04 (3363)

• Philippines

28 May 17

sure does give the sunshine on a rainy day. that was quite a feat Mr. Johnny achieve.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

As an ex swimmer myself he has always been one of my heroes/

@Kandae11 (53679)

•

24 May 17

Who sent the postcard?

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

Someone from the postcrossing site who knew I collect both swimming and Olympic Games postcards.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

16 Jul 17

I remember him well because he and Buster Crabbe dominated the role of Tarzan for decades. Nevertheless, I cannot recognise him from the photograph, which may be because I knew him when he was a little older.

@Rollo1 (16679)

• Boston, Massachusetts

24 May 17

We used to watch Tarzan on Saturday mornings, always some good old movies on TV back then. I didn't even know Johnny Weismeuller was still alive, and certainly never imagined he would be writing to you! How exciting.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

28 May 17

I don't think he is alive. This is a postcard sent to me from someone on the postcrossing site. Nice to see you here

@JohnRoberts (109857)

• Los Angeles, California

24 May 17

He was a great champion and it was that athletic prowess, fame and looks that landed him Tarzan.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

24 May 17

I'm lucky to have a small collection of postcards of him from back in the 1920s. To days modern arrival was a pleasant surprise

2 people like this