Gorilla Men

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LAST UPDATED 11/12/2007

'SEEKING HOLLYWOOD'S MOST ELUSIVE BEAST'

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Gorilla Men Bios

Film Reviews

Who are the Gorilla Men?

Better yet, what the blue blazes is a Gorilla Man anyways?
First things first. My curiosity about these unique practitioners of a highly specialized craft was borne out of love for comic books. Comics have evolved greatly since the popular explosion in their most recognizable form in the 1930’s. Beside the obvious shifts in how they have been produced and presented, likewise, comic book themes and trends have often reflected social shifts. There are also archetypal images that seem to be recurrent throughout their history – the Hero and the Supervillian, Robots, BEM’s (Bug Eyed Monsters), the Hapless Female and the one that has resonated with me, the Gorilla.

Man’s evolutionary cousin has been a regular staple of the four colour medium since its’ inception. A menacing, drooling jungle beast rising from the verdant tangle threatens to smite the cub reporter Jimmy Olsen – the early cover of Action Comics #4 foreshadowed DC Comics eventual obsession with the gorilla. KING KONG (1933) represented a colossal landmark in entertainment – the ripple effect of the giant ape would be felt across all mediums. Gorillas were still very much an oddity in the early 20th century. Darwinism and evolution were not universally accepted (a century later and most of the United States continues to refuse that man came from monkeys). The Great Ape was a creature held in awe – fearsome power to rend a man from limb to limb and a glint in it’s eye that hinted at unfathomable depths. Travelogues featuring confrontations with these jungle men in their natural habitat were very popular and Monkey Houses at the growing number of local zoos attracted thousands.

In cinema, the Gorilla offered a unique opportunity to present a fantastic element with an edge of realism that could not be mirrored. Bringing gorillas to life on the silver screen could be achieved with relative ease – audiences unfamiliar with the beast would stare with wonder as the menace carried off screaming white maidens or performed clever, amusing comic bits.

However did they get that monster to cooperate?

The popularity of film apes led to the natural creation of the Gorilla Man. There was a demand for someone who could bring not only their very own costume, but the ability to utilize it effectively onscreen. When you see some hack stunt man or stand-in trip across the frame with a poorly tailored suit you know it. When the craft's finest performer Charles Gemora had a close up, you were convinced that his expressions altered, when in fact only his eyes peering out from within the fixed mask apparatus had communicated the emotion.

Unfortunately, Charles Gemora and his fellow artisans have all but faded into obscurity. With the lack of film credits on most of their film and television appearances and the scarcity of period press on the pioneers of gorilla suit work, it has been a long and difficult task (though rewarding) to assemble the images and information you will find here.

This site is a companion to the Gorilla Men blog, the raw effort from which these pages are distilled from. Links to expanded articles, biographies, and reviews will be found throughout and I encourage you to venture further into the Dark territory where the Gorilla Men still roam.

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