Tarzan as Underwear Salesman?

“When former Olympic star Johnny Weissmuller was approached to play Tarzan, he was under contract with BVD to advertise their underwear and swimming trunks. BVD strenuously objected to its spokesman appearing in just a loincloth — the company only wanted him to appear wearing its product. In return for letting Weismuller play Tarzan, MGM allowed BVD to run ads featuring the studio’s contract players in BVD swimsuits (including Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow, and Marie Dressler).”

— Source: Gabe Esso’s book Tarzan of the Movies (as cited by Internet Movie Database)

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