Hollywood's Gorilla Men of Film and Television

Ray 'Crash' Corrigan began his Hollywood career with a MGM contact after he was discovered in a local gym where he worked as a physical trainer. Not much came of his four year stint with the studio, but Ray's first brush with gorilla suit work was in the 1932 production of TARZAN THE APE MAN. In addition to a few minor roles, Rays' physical prowess also allowed him to handle some rigorous stunt work and he even doubled for Johnny Weismuller.
By 1934, Corrigan appeared in his first major gorilla suit role in MURDER IN THE PRIVATE CAR, where he menaced the actors in a primitive suit. The mask apparatus was altered for subsequent appearances but the overall look of the suit was consistent through the 1930's.
During this period of his film career, Ray Corrigan had the moniker 'Crash' added with the release of UNDERSEA KINGDOM, a science fiction adventure serial. Although the chapter play did not propel Ray to the heights that Buster Crabbe reached with FLASH GORDON, Corrigan found his niche with a series of cheapie dusters as one of THE THREE MESQUITEERS. Dozens of shoot em' ups were cranked out for Republic until Ray parted ways with them in 1939. Knowing full well what paid the bills, Ray 'Crash' Corrigan continued making Westerns with a near identical premise of a heroic gun slinging trio. THE RANGE BUSTERS series continued to thrill audiences for a few years more before Ray withdrew from the genre in 1943.
Although the 40's were full of gorilla suit roles for Ray, his feet were still firmly planted in Western style entertainment. In 1937 the clever cowpoke bought a sizeable chunk of land in the Simi Valley and immediately began renting the area for film shoots. Frontier style sets, the variety of terrains and accessibility to local studios made it a popular spot for shooting. Corrigan later created one of America's earliest theme parks, opening Corriganville to the public in 1949. Visitors were treated to dusty theatrics and stunts as Ray's old saddle mates carried on their craft for paying spectators.
After a decade filled with gorilla suit appearances, from THE APE to WHITE PONGO to NABONGA, an aging Ray opted to pass on the mantle and concentrate on Corriganville. Steve Calvert, aspiring actor and Ciro's bartender, purchased the suits from Ray in 1948 and received a measure of wisdom from one of the screen's pioneering gorilla men on how to snort and scare the filmgoers proper. Corrigan occasionally played minor roles in films up until 1958 when he closed out his near 30 years on screen in grand fashion as the titular creature of IT! THE TERROR FROM OUTER SPACE.
Ray continued to build upon the park's success for many years but approaching his autumn years, he opted to sell the park to Bob Hope for a tidy sum of 3 million dollars.
He passed away in Oregon in 1976.