Poor Konga

Poor Konga, grown from a little chimp to a giant gorilla monster only to be blasted with bullets....Lucky ape !

Gorilligans Island

Our friend George Chastain, alerted us to this treasure he unearthed while digging around Internet auction sites. It's an autographed promo card for Gilligans Island signed by executive producer Sherwood Schwartz. Schwartz wrote in under Jack Arnolds name"the director" and under Janos Prohaskas name( miss-spelled here as Prosaka) Schwartz wrote"the stuntman".

The classic Gilligans Island was one of the must see programs for the kids of the 60's and 70's.

As an aspiring young gorilla man, I would watch the show partially in hopes to see a gorilla...when I wasn't busy looking at Mary Ann that is.

Gilligan had many run ins with problematic primates during the run of the show, Chimpanzees, bomb throwing monkeys, orangutans and our friendly neighborhood gorilla men.

While the chimps and monkeys were played by the real thing, the upper order primate jobs went to none other than Janos Prohaska.

Janos' story lines usually centered around Mary Ann or Ginger being captured by an ape, and needing to be rescued by the castaways, though Gilligan occasionally found himself to be the romantic interest of the menacing monkeys.

Janos showed a keen sense of humor in these gigs, and at times out shined the main cast.

While Prohaskas gorillas were fairly commonplace to TV audiences, his orangutan was a nice addition to Gilligans monkey menagerie. Prohaskas chimp outfit also made an appearance or two.

So join us now , right here my friend, and your sure to get a smile...From the hairy Hungarian monkey man, here on Gorilligans Isle !

Terror at the Circus !

One type of gorilla performer that's particularly near and dear to old Bongo's heart , is the live show performer. These are the fellows that thrill live audiences in circuses, night clubs, stage acts,theme parks, and burlesque shows all over the world.

Most of these poor guys received no recognition for their efforts, tho there is the rare exception who parlays their act into a higher profile gig like movies or TV.

Emil VanHorn is a good example of the latter, who actually returned to his burlesque exploits at the end of his career.

The poster you see here is for a Chicago based family who toured with the Shrine Circus.

The Gutis Family!

The poster promises one of the wildest moments EVER seen in Chicago !

As seen, the act seems to consist of a bargain basement version of Laurel and Hardy, with an Ellie May looking Jungle Girl thrown in for eye candy. The two gorillas featured, are actually quite well done as circus gorillas go. Both suits are a good deal more realistic than many of their peers.

This wonderful poster art was brought to our attention by the great George "E-Gore" Chastain, who's tireless search for historic coolness fills us with awe and admiration !

Beware of Horny Space Gorillas !

Returning to our series on gorilla men in space,we come to a gruesome duo of similar species yet separated by two decades . The dreaded Horny Gorilla !
Notable is the fact that in this case, both alien monsters are in fact gorillas. The alien gorillas in this case ,separate themselves from their Earthly counterparts with the addition of a large single horn atop their furry noggins.
First up is the Orangapoid, as played by Ray Corrigan,in the Buster Crabbe staring Flash Gordon movie serials. The fearsome creature was the slave of Ming the Merciless ( Charles Middleton) and was used to dispatch Mings foes in an arena.

Flash,eventually gets the upper hand and harpoons the vile beast with a spear supplied by Mings daughter, Princess Aura.

FLASH forward (he he) 20 years and we find ourselves in another intense struggle, this time with the heroic Captain James T. Kirk locked in deadly combat with the dreaded Mugato, (AKA Mugatu, and Gumato according to the end credits ), in the Star Trek episode "A Private Little War"

Unlike the Orangapoid, the Mugato is albino, and has an additional row of horn like spines running down his back. To add yet another frightening aspect, the bite of the mugato is venomous, and Kirk will assuredly die if not treated by the local kahn-ut-tu woman, a gypsy like healer of unearthly beauty. Kirks survives to engage the Mugato once more before the episode is over.

The Mugato was played by versatile gorilla and monster performer, Janos Prohaska.

Prohaska, a stunt man and athlete had amazing agility to move with great intensity in all the various creatures he portrayed.

He was one of the few gorilla performers I've seen who could climb a tree with little to no effort while fully decked out in one of his massively padded gorilla suits.

As such Janos made a supremely formidable foe for the good Captain Kirk.

Bob Finally gets his Chance !

My dear friend , and gorilla mentor Bob Burns has related the tale of his first "professional" gorilla man job in both of his books ( It came from Bobs Basement) and( Monster Kid Memories) and several articles as well. The story tells not only of Bobs entry into the industry, but also his first "run-in" with Hungarian gorilla man Janos Prohaska. Janos had a major television career in the 60's on such shows as Outer Limits, Star Trek, Gilligans Island, and he played "cookie the Bear" on the Andy Williams Show. As such , Janos wasn't too cool on the idea of a new gorilla man muscling in on his jobs. Bob was hired to play a gorilla on the Mickey Rooney show. Janos Prohaska was already cast in the role of another gorilla. Having set the stage, I'll let Bob take over in his own words, describing the story of the episode, and the behind the scenes antics.

Take it away Bob !

OK, well, Mickey Rooney tries to get into MGM studios to see if they will use his marina store to shoot a TV show. He has no appointment so the guard tosses he and his pal, Bobby Van, off the lot. When leaving they spot a guy walking in with a gorilla (me). Mickey gets the idea to rent an ape suit for Bobby and walk right in to the studio after waving to the guard. The ape suit is awful but it fools the folks on the lot. A workman tells Mickey to put the "ape" in a holding stage along with a chimp (Stuntman Jesse Wayne) and another gorilla (me). , I'm supposed to be a female gorilla as I make a pass at Bobby in the ape suit. He freaks and runs out. A man brings in another gorilla (Janos) and puts him where Bobby was. Of course, Mickey comes in a grabs the wrong gorilla (Janos) a takes him to the set where the director is working who Mickey wants him to shoot the show at his store. It goes crazy from there as the real gorilla tosses the director out of a window.
When I first met Janos on the set I could tell that he didn't care for me or my gorilla suit. He walked over and picked up Kogar's head and looked inside to see what the "mechanism" was to operate the mouth. So I went over and started to look inside his head and he suddenly grabbed it out of my hands and said that "no one looked inside of his head". I said "well you looked in mine". He said that was different as he was a "professional" gorilla man. I thought what the hell I'm I a piece of cheese? anyway the day went down hill from there. I was happy though as it was my way first ("professional") gorilla job and my way into the Screen Actors Guild
I ended up staying late that night to re shoot most of Janos's scenes because, I'll just say that Mickey, the producer, and the real director liked me and my suit a lot more than Janos.
Anyway, A few months ago my Friend, Tom Woodruff Jr., Who is now the best gorilla in the business ended up with Janos' gorilla suit. I had told him the story of how I never got to see inside of Janos' head so he brought it over to my place so I could finally see inside of the head. I looked and said Ahh... Crap his head is just like mine. No fancy stuff at all. All of those years ago I wondered why he didn't want me to see it. I bet he was really bummed to see it was just like mine.

Hello Wilbuuuurrr!

Alan Young of "Mister Ed" fame, appears clad in gorilla fur in the 1955 classic film "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes !"

Joining Mr. Young are Jane Russell, and Jeanne Crain, ( the brunettes), as well as Rudy Vallee, Guy Middleton, and Scott Brady.

Why is he dressed as an ape you ask ? I have no idea...But judging by the way the ladies are dressed I may have to do my gorilla duty and give it a view sometime.

This photo was brought to our attention by the great George "E-Gor" Chastain , a friend to gorilla men everywhere ! Eagle Eyed "E-Gor"is a great supporter of our cause, and keeps us alerted to all the gorilla goodies he finds !

Maddening monkey mystery !

There is a great deal of satisfaction in solving a mystery or puzzle that has been tormenting you for a long time. We at Hollywood Gorilla Men make it our quest to find the names and faces of those who've thrilled us with their astounding examples of superior simian cinema.

Occasionally though, there are those that despite our best efforts remain a mystery.

Gorilla Man and myself call upon knowledgeable friends in the pursuit of answers on many occasions, and now I'd like to call on any and all of our friends and gorilla fans out there to help solve this Monkey Mystery !

The gorilla in the photo appears in the serial "Tim Tylers Luck". The same gorilla is also featured in the serial "Terry and the Pirates" and the Mickey Rooney short "Mickey's Apeman". There are others I'm sure, but these are the ones that come to mind. Our good friend and master gorilla man Bob Burns was queried as to this gorilla's identity, but Bob doesn't have any record of it in his considerable gorilla files.

Soooo, this is where you, our friends can help ! If you have any information in regards to this gorilla's secret identity, please drop us a note in the comments below.

Thank you for your help and assistance in getting these hard working gorilla men the recognition they so richly deserve !