Gene Pollar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
September 16, 1892
Gene Pollar | |
|---|---|
 Gene Pollar, Motion Picture Studio Directory (1920) | |
| Born | Joseph Charles Pohler September 16, 1892 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 20, 1971 (aged 79) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. |
Joseph Charles Pohler (September 16, 1892 - October 20, 1971), known by the screen name Gene Pollar, was a New York City firefighter who, in his very brief movie career, played Tarzan.
At age 28, the 6'2", 215-pound Pohler became the second actor to portray Tarzan in films. Elmo Lincoln, the first actor in the role, had made two Tarzan movies when Numa Pictures approached him about making a third. At the time, Lincoln was not interested (though he would later return to the role briefly). One of the Weiss Brothers, the low-budget filmmakers who controlled Numa, was on a visit to New York when he signed Pohler to play the apeman. Pohler was given the screen name Gene Pollar. The film was called The Return of Tarzan, based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' novel The Return of Tarzan.
Production
Pollar was paid $100 per week. The production was sold to Goldwyn Distribution Corporation in April 1920. As a precautionary measure, since it featured a new star, the film was retitled The Revenge of Tarzan just two weeks prior to its opening on July 20, 1920. The film was a success, but Numa refused to release Pollar to accept a contract from Universal Pictures.
