But the (archive.org)—a non-profit digital library—holds a beautiful, grainy, public-domain-adjacent print of the 1966 film. And that’s where the magic happens.
If you are a fan of 1960s adventure television or interested in the evolution of Tarzan, the Internet Archive is the definitive place to experience this piece of media history.
The Internet Archive operates under a mission of universal access to knowledge and cultural preservation. Because the copyright status of older television programs can exist in a complex legal space—involving production companies, syndication rights, and music licensing—users should utilize the platform primarily for historical research, educational purposes, and cultural preservation. The Enduring Legacy of Ron Ely's Tarzan tarzan 1966 internet archive
The film is a retelling of the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs story, with Ron Ely starring as Tarzan, the legendary jungle hero. The movie follows Tarzan as he navigates the dangers of the African jungle, battles poachers, and falls in love with a beautiful woman named Jane.
An interesting and critically important aspect of Tarzan and the Valley of Gold is its novelization. Written by the legendary science fiction and fantasy author Fritz Leiber, the book was published by Ballantine Books in 1966. It was the first authorized Tarzan novel written by an author other than Edgar Rice Burroughs himself and is considered the 25th official book in the series. But the (archive
Utilizing the filter sidebar on the left side of the Internet Archive interface allows you to sort results by (moving images, audio, or text) and Year (to isolate 1966–1968 broadcasts versus later retrospectives). The Legal and Preservation Status of the Series
: In a major departure from cinematic tradition, the character of Jane was entirely omitted to focus on Tarzan’s solo adventures and his bond with a young orphan named Jai (played by Manuel Padilla Jr.). The Internet Archive operates under a mission of
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.
One of the best features of the Internet Archive is direct downloading. Once you find the Tarzan collection:
While the character of Tarzan and the specific television production are subject to complex copyright protections held by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. and the distributing studios (originally Warner Bros./Warner Bros. Television), many older television shows exist in a gray market. When media becomes unavailable through commercial means—meaning publishers are not actively selling or streaming it—the Internet Archive frequently acts as a digital museum.
Over its two-season run, the series produced (32 in the first season and 25 in the second), each delivering the action, thrills, and high adventure that fans expected. Notably, the first five episodes were filmed on location in Brazil, giving the show a sense of authenticity, before production moved to Mexico.