Ron Ely passed away in 2024 at the age of 86. His death sparked a massive revival of interest in the 1966 series. Searches for "Tarzan 1966 Internet Archive" skyrocketed by over 400% in the week following his passing. Fans who grew up watching the show on Saturday mornings rushed back to the Archive to leave comments, share memories, and download episodes for a new generation.
One user comment on Archive.org reads: "I watched this as a 7-year-old in 1968. Now I am 63, and I just watched the whole series with my grandson. The music, the Brazilian jungles, Ron Ely's quiet strength... it's all here. Thank you to the archivist who saved this."
After its cancellation, the 1966 Tarzan entered a labyrinth of rights disputes. The series was produced by a syndication company, distributed by NBC, and based on characters owned by the Burroughs estate. For nearly 20 years, reruns were sporadic. When Warner Bros. eventually acquired home video rights in the 2000s, they released a few "best of" DVD compilations, but never a complete, restored box set.
Why? Music licensing. Like The Wonder Years or WKRP in Cincinnati, the 1966 Tarzan used a library of stock music that is prohibitively expensive to clear for modern release. Consequently, the show vanished from legal streaming services.
For a while, the only way to see Ron Ely’s Tarzan was through grainy, fourth-generation VHS tapes traded among collectors. That is, until the Internet Archive stepped in.
When you find the Tarzan 1966 Internet Archive page, you will see a variety of download options. Here is what you are getting:
The 1966 Tarzan most people mean is the Ron Ely TV series (aired 1966–68). It marked a deliberate “modernized” Tarzan: literate, articulate, and no longer defined by the Jane relationship; production shot early episodes in Brazil then moved to Mexico; it ran 57 hour-long episodes and kept familiar elements like the Tarzan yell and Cheeta.
What you’ll find on the Internet Archive
How to search effectively on archive.org
Rights, quality, and reliability notes
Context and why it matters
Quick practical tips
If you’d like, I can:
Watching the episodes on the Archive is passive preservation. If you want to be active:
For fans of vintage adventure, the 1966 film Tarzan and the Valley of Gold holds a unique place in the franchise’s long history. It was the first—and, as it turned out, only—theatrical Tarzan movie to star former football player and model Mike Henry, who took over the role of the Lord of the Apes from the more famous Johnny Weissmuller and Gordon Scott.
The film follows Tarzan as he leaves his jungle home to rescue a kidnapped boy from a maniacal would-be conqueror in the legendary (and aptly named) “Valley of Gold.” While the plot is classic B-movie pulp, the film is notable for its location shooting in Mexico (giving it a sun-scorched, rugged look) and its catchy, big-band jazz score by Lalo Schifrin, who would later become famous for the Mission: Impossible theme.
Why the Internet Archive? Because of a lapse in copyright renewal, Tarzan and the Valley of Gold has entered the public domain in the United States. This means it is completely free to download, share, and stream. The Internet Archive is a primary destination for this film.
What to expect on the Archive:
How to find it:
A note for collectors: If you enjoy the film, be aware that official DVD/Blu-ray releases exist from boutique labels (like Warner Archive’s 2009 DVD), which offer restored picture and sound. However, for the casual viewer or the public domain purist, the Internet Archive provides a free, legal, and instantly accessible way to watch Mike Henry’s sole turn as Tarzan.
Disclaimer: While the film is public domain in the U.S., its copyright status may vary in other countries. The Internet Archive hosts it under fair use and public domain guidelines.
television series, starring , is a significant piece of television history preserved on the Internet Archive
. This adaptation is notable for moving away from the "me Tarzan, you Jane" trope, instead depicting Tarzan as a sophisticated, well-educated Lord Greystoke who willfully chose to return to the jungle. Accessing the 1966 Series on Internet Archive Internet Archive
serves as a digital library for this classic show, offering various ways to experience its legacy: Video Episodes : Users can find several episodes of the 1966 series
available for free streaming and download in various formats. Comic Strips : The Archive also hosts collections of Tarzan comic strips from the 1960s, which were contemporary to the Ron Ely era. Old Time Radio (OTR)
: For those interested in the broader history of the character, the Old Time Radio Researchers Group
has uploaded extensive collections of audio dramas that preceded the TV show. Internet Archive Highlights of the 1966 Series Tarzan (TV Series 1966–1968)
The 1966 Tarzan television series, starring Ron Ely, is a cult classic known for its more sophisticated take on the character—depicting Tarzan as an educated man who returned to the jungle. Several high-quality collections of this era are available on the Internet Archive. Available 1966 Content on Internet Archive tarzan 1966 internet archive
Full TV Series Episodes: You can find various uploads of the 1966–1968 NBC series. Some collections, like the Tarzan page 1 collection , offer free streaming and downloads of individual episodes from the Ron Ely era.
Vintage Comic Strips: For fans of the visual art from that year, the Old Comic Strips - Tarzan (1960 - 69) collection includes scanned archives of the daily and Sunday newspaper strips, capturing the specific artistic style of the mid-60s.
Old Time Radio (OTR) Backlog: While the TV show was airing, the Internet Archive also preserved Tarzan Radio Episodes from earlier decades that were often rebroadcast or recirculated during the 60s. Why This Version Matters
The 1966 series was a turning point for the franchise. Unlike previous "ape-man" versions who spoke in broken English, Ron Ely's Tarzan was:
Articulate and Well-Educated: He was portrayed as Lord Greystoke, a man who had seen civilization and chose to return to nature.
Stunt-Heavy: Ron Ely famously performed many of his own stunts, leading to numerous real-life injuries that added a raw, physical authenticity to the show.
Filmed on Location: Much of the series was shot in Brazil and Mexico, providing lush, cinematic backdrops that were rare for 1960s television. How to Access
To view these items, visit the Internet Archive and search for "Tarzan 1966" or "Ron Ely Tarzan." Most files are available in MP4 for video or PDF/CBR for comics, allowing for easy viewing on modern devices.