FILM HISTORY
Just who is Cheeta the chimp, anyway?
Marilyn Chung / The Desert Sun
Cheeta sips soda at a 75th birthday held in April 2007. An author who researched the ape believes he is considerably younger
The story is that the ape starred with Weissmuller in Tarzan flicks and Reagan in ‘Bonzo’ and is retired at age 76 in Palm Springs. But an author’s research led him to far different conclusions.
By Scott Gold
Los Angeles Times
February 13, 2009
The story does not begin in Hollywood, where it’s possible, though by no means certain, that Cheeta became famous. It does not begin in Palm Springs, where Cheeta lives like so many other retirees, soaking in sunshine, bickering with relatives and, on occasion, treating himself to a drive-through hamburger despite his diabetes and advancing age. (Click on ‘Continue Reading’ for more)
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