From Teenage Scamp to Hollywood Legend

The life of Gordon Zahler was so miraculous that it might as well have been science fiction. Born into an entertainment family in suburban Los Angeles, Zahler was a precocious kid and town prankster, exasperating everyone with his endless feats of derring-do. But the teenager's promising career as a public miscreant went pear-shaped one day after he and his buddies decided to fool around with a springboard in their junior high gym. An unsteady jump would vault Gordon on a deadly trajectory, landing him so gruesomely on his neck that he nearly decapitated himself. He was 14-years old. That's when the real magic began.

Strange As It Seems: The Impossible Life of Gordon Zahler, the journey of a former nobody who defied the odds racked up against him to prosper in showbiz and beyond, is vividly retold by his nephew, writer Chip Jacobs. More than just a biography, Jacobs' portrait evokes an early, Day of the Locust Hollywood, where art and fortunes were made by a colorful set of weirdos, obsessives, and dabblers. Gordon, wheelchair-bound but always in motion, bootstrapped himself into a mini-kingpin, his post-production house beginning with low budget sci-fi films like Ed Wood Jr.’s infamous “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” before upgrading to traditional studio work and classic cartoons (“Popeye” to “The Pink Panther Show.") For all his credits,

the 9th grade dropout was an even better story than the scripts he brightened. How many could say Lucille Ball adored them, or staged a fight to meet "Woody Woodpecker's" famed cartoonist, Walter Lantz, to pitch him business, or partnered with show-runner Ivan Tor, the visionary behind "Flipper," "Gentle Ben," and other nature-shows still hot today? Bored confining himself to Hollywood, Gordon cultivated futuristic concepts, from audible books to talking gas-station pumps. He kept a powerboat for boozy excursions, traveled the globe, was thrown out of moving cars, and nearly died in Rome after being blessed by the pope. Ever propulsive, he refused to allow precious life to cheat him.

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ROLLED & BOLD

After a wildfire torched the piano his grandfather played throughout his Hollywood career, journalist Chip Jacobs began asking questions, soon realizing he’d been raised in mystery. Until then, he’d been told little of the kin whose bloodier moments, strange misadventures and improbable conquests had lingered in the shadows his entire life. His obsession to pull back the curtains eventually led him to quit his job as a newspaper reporter and pen a biography about a particular relation he once couldn’t stand: his maternal uncle.

Gordon Zahler had been a fun-loving scamp, a live-wire kid with a mechanical aptitude, when he shattered his neck at fourteen in a horrifying gymnastics fall at a Pasadena, California junior high school. The highly publicized accident in the months before World War II nearly killed him, landing Gordon in traction at Los Angeles County General Hospital; doctors gave him a one percent shot at survival. While touch-and-go for months, the plucky boy from Sierra Madre survived, but not without its costs. His accident effectively bankrupted the family, torpedoing his sister’s college dreams and obliterating what had been a peaceful existence in the shade of the San Gabriel Mountains. Gordon’s father, Lee, a prolific Hollywood composer for Columbia Pictures and a raft of independent studios, died from brokenhearted stress in 1947, and the Zahler’s only remained off the streets through welfare furnished by the Motion Picture Fund. Things were grim. After the splashy, downtown L.A. murder of Gordon’s own uncle — Nat Ross, a former movie director who’d been there with Carl Laemmle at the dawn of Universal Pictures — it even felt gothic.

Gordon, paralyzed from the clavicle down, for a while didn’t care. Back home, he was more committed to clubbing with his hooch-swiling buddies than figuring out what to do with his life. It took one humiliating incident for him to say enough! Beginning in the late 1940s with his father’s music, the handicapped ninth-grade dropout notched his first soundtracking sales to the burgeoning world of television. He was soon on his way, establishing himself on an MGM-Doris Day rom-com (and learning sound editing on fifties sci-fi movies).

Rarely had showbiz seen a more peculiar trajectory.

Despite a wonky biology that could alternate between fragility and indestructibility, Gordon by the early-1960s’s was running the largest, independently owned post-production houses in Hollywood: General Music Corporation. Among its TV and film credits were: “26 Men,” A Tunnel of Love, Plan 9 From Outer Space, “Popeye the Sailor,” “The Ann Sothern Show,” “Cavalcade of America,” “The Red Skelton Show,” The Phantom Planet, “Bozo: the World’s Most Famous Clown,” First Spaceship on Venus, Shock Corridor, The Navy vs. the Night Monsters, “The Woody Woodpecker Show,” “Tarzan,” “Journey to the Center of the Earth,”, “Flipper,” “Daktari,” “Cowboy in Africa,” Gentle Giant, “Gentle Ben,” Pippi Longstocking, The Daring Game, “The Pink Panther Show,” and the Golden Globe winning Animals Are Beautiful People. Gordon, in his dealings, partnered with animation legend Walter Lantz and primetime-hits showrunner Ivan Tors. He worked with Sam Fuller, Roger Corman, Russell Hayden, Hans Salter , and, yes, even Ed Wood, Jr. despite him still owing him money. He rubbed elbows with Burt Lancaster, Lucille Ball, Sidney Sheldon, Jerry Lewis, Mel Blanc and John Banner. Most regarded as him as most interesting character on the lot.

In his off hours, the showbiz entrepreneur was determined to wring the marrow out of what he knew would be an abbreviated time on earth. So, he visited exotic, sometimes dangerous locales from Beirut to Nairobi, Havana to Tokyo. He married a beautiful blonde stronger than her willowy frame. He fantasized about water-skiing and flying lessons, adored safaris and deep-sea fishing, and couldn’t get his fill of reckless maritime stunts on his power boat. At his sleek house on Blue Jay Way above the Sunset Strip, not far from where Beatle George Harrison once rented a home, his oft-celebrity-filled parties were legendary, his storytelling something to experience. (Famed African American architect Paul Williams designed the residence specifically for his client’s picky, if unique requirements.) When not working the entertainment side of his brain, Gordon was forever hustling to dream up or nail down deals for ahead-of-their-time concepts — narrated books on cassettes, talking gas station pumps, personal information devices and what not.

Gordon, in the last coda of his life, chased a different sort of dream than producing a blockbuster movie or owning a studio as New Turks like Robert Evans conquered Hollywood. Ten thousand miles from LA, he marshaled his indomitable energy into becoming the father of South African television, believing he could rake in his fortune there while equalizing the races. He was pulling it off, too—until he was betrayed by a prime minister trying to flimflam the West that his nation was liberalizing. After that defeat, the reality was incontrovertible: the magic that’d surrounded Gordon’s rise from left-for-dead kid to rolling, mini-mogul was wearing off fast. Storm clouds loomed everywhere, his business in trouble, his finances drying up, his marriage under strain. When the disease came for him, Gordon had to decide whether it was just another obstacle to hurdle, then what dreams he was willing to forsake for selfless love.

By the time he died, the boy from Sierra Madre had packed so much into his 49 years, high stepping it by the seat of the pants, that the world was tongue-tied trying to describe him. Which is just how he wanted it! Strange As It Seems is Gordon’s implausible life, as told by the nephew who went from fearing his presence to gaping at his star.

Mini-documentary

Praise & Reviews

“Jacobs…is an exceptional storyteller, and his lively look at the extraordinary career of Gordon Zahler…is a peculiar page-turner. Zahler, the author’s uncle, achieved success on the margins of show business despite a spinal injury…Jacobs…craft(s) an imaginative biography about this unusual figure, who carved out a distinct place in post-WWII Hollywood by repurposing the music of his father, Lee Zahler, a prolific film composer. Along the way, readers meet a colorful cast of characters … Zahler’s life was filled with difficulties, but Jacobs refuses to frame his cantankerous uncle as a tragic figure. This fast-paced account of a life lived to its fullest is a triumphant tribute…” — Publishers Weekly

“Readers looking for a glamorous Hollywood story or a tale of gentle uplift should be warned: This is not that book. Instead, Chip Jacobs has written something far better—a witty, clear-eyed account of a charming and utterly impossible man whose ferocious willpower transformed his personal nightmare into a lifelong Technicolor hallucination.” — A. J. Langguth, bestselling author of Patriots

“Family memoirs are rife with grandiose tales of triumph over adversity, and while it would be easy to dismiss Jacobs’ portrait of his unorthodox uncle as another such unvarnished encomium, his professional background as an award-winning investigative journalist for the Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, and CNN prevents this from being so. With both dramatic flair and detached fairness, Jacobs eloquently reveals the soul of a charismatic and courageous character. Had Gordon’s career taken place on the screen instead of behind it, he would have been the Christopher Reeve of his day.” — Foreword magazine (5 stars)

“FDR’s body and Sammy Glick’s brain? No, but close – and better. Mon Oncle d’Amerique has nothing on Chip Jacobs’ Mon Oncle d’Hollywood, the picaresque, quadriplegic Gordon, who is at least as good a story as anything he helped to put on film … Gordon is a premiere citizen of Hollywood As She is Spoken — unsentimental but believing utterly in the art of the possible.” — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times columnist and author

“An exceptional account of an exceptional man, “Strange As It Seems: The Impossible Life of Gordon Zahler” is a deftly crafted, inherently fascinating, thoroughly riveting read from first page to last…An informative, astonishing, and occasionally iconoclastic narrative study that will prove to be an enduringly popular and much appreciated addition to community library (of) American Biography collections” — Midwest Book Review

*“This amazing book is all heart…Chip Jacobs blends the skills of an investigative journalist, the glitz of Hollywood, and the smooth storytelling of fiction to weave a profile of his larger-than-life uncle that will leave you crying, laughing and gasping in wonder, often on the same page. Bravo!” — Denise Hamilton, bestselling Author of Savage Garden*

“Everyone loves an underdog—and Gordon Zahler, … Hollywood Zelig, and eventual music supervisor of Plan 9 from Outer Space, would seem to be the perfect Boy Alger. Zahler…transmut(ed) the strange horror of physical incapacity into nimble, devilish celluloid miracles…Zahler’s life was a carnival of mettle, the merging of a Muzak sensibility and an indefatigable, preposterous will to live. In B-movie screenings, as in heaven, the man will endure, unapologetic, undead.” — Film Comment

“…amazing…Just how does the class clown face death-defying odds…making Hollywood productions and achieving a dizzying amount of fame during the process of shooting films and even marrying? Jacobs captures the turbulent ups, downs, successes and failures of a life well lived in a biography which is vivid, exciting, and thoroughly engrossing.” — The Bookwatch

“Never a book has taken you from laughing to crying within the same page. The book unites two talents: the one of Mr. Jacobs and one of Mr Zahler. And it’s not a coincidence that both are related…The style of Mr Jacobs is, as always, very eloquent, passionate and yet entertaining…sweating of intelligence. For this amazing life, you’ll have an amazing book. Read it, you won’t be disappointed.” — The Culture News

“If you are determined to title your book Strange As It Seems, you damn well better deliver. Chip Jacobs does that and more in a loving, funny and well-written biography of his late uncle, Hollywood musical legend Gordon Zahler.” — Bob Andelman @ Mr. Media

”… Strange as It Seems…not only details all of facets of Gordon’s improbable career, but his private life as well, including marriage to Judy, who comes across as a chain-smoking saint in the narrative, his relationship with various friends, cronies, and underpaid assistants, and his ability to live a life that some of us with all our workable limbs can’t match. A terrific read and one of the best (hopefully movie-inspiring) books of the year. Highly recommended.” — In the Balcony

“Here is a remarkable tale of Hollywood history that sheds light on the man who provided the music for several TV cartoon series of the 1960s – not to mention the infamous Ed Wood feature Plan 9 From Outer Space…Author Chip Jacobs was Gordon Zahler’s nephew and he throughly traces his uncle’s incredible career—which included providing music to numerous animated series including the King Features TV Popeye’s, Filmation’s Superman and Larry Harman’s Bozo (to name but a few)…It’s a fascinating read.” — Cartoon Research

“Gordon Zahler isn’t a member of the Hollywood A-list, but he certainly hobnobbed with many of them…Author Chip Jacobs…explores the man he only knew from a distance…Zahler’s story is a true tale of hard work and chutzpah…and leaves the reader to make up their mind on whether he was brilliant or just lucky. Zahler’s story truly lives up to its title.” — Cinema Sentries/Journey in Classic Film

”…In finishing this masterfully written biography, I came away thinking that Gordon Zahler, may well have been the original poster boy for the word Hudspeth. Strange As It Seems is Twilight Zone Strange but all true and comes highly recommended.” — Steve Hodel, bestselling author of Black Dahlia Avenger

“…Gordon put the American Dream to the test, pushing the boundaries of what is possible …I didn’t want the book to end, and when it did I felt like I lost a good friend. This is a story worth telling, and a book worth reading. Proof that Jacobs is a powerful voice whose work will stand the test of time.” — Stephen Jay Schwartz, bestselling author of Boulevard

“Though not about a celebrity or newsmaker, this life being told by Chip Jacobs is an extraordinary one in the history of Hollywood. The raw courage and almost unbelievable stamina of Gordon Zahler—abetted by both love and luck—turns this irresistible biography into a page turner.” — William Robert Faith, author of Bob Hope: A Life In Comedy

Strange As it Seems (Biography) – Indies Awards Finalist

Silver Medal (Biography/Autobiography/Memoir) – Pacific Rim Book Festival

Prime pick – California Bookwatch

* Reviews from earlier versions

Media & Appearances

— Strange As It Seems – Podcast – Salt Lake Dirt

— “A New Bookstore is Funded by Publishers—But as Indie as It Gets” (See photo) – Los Angeles Times

— A Strange As It Seems Intersection of Film and Music – Video Interview by Mr. Media as hosted by Bob Andelman

— Interview with Cyrus Webb – Blogtalkradio podcast

— In Conversation with Jerry Rosenberg, author of No Man Is An Island – Rare Bird Soundcloud podcast

— “Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction” – Life Elsewhere podcast

— “Bloodline: Are Our Ancestors Experiences Imprinted in Our DNA?” – Pasadena Weekly

— “Stranger Than Fiction” – Pasadena Weekly

Gordon Miscellany

GORDON – HOLLYWOOD & CAREER
Filmography – Internet Movie Database
Selloff of one of his Big Dreams – Billboard Magazine
Schematic of South Africa project – Late 1960s
1970s Resume Page 1, Page 2
On Worldwide Deal-Making Tour for Ivan Tors – Billboard Magazine
Bid to Ivan Tors for Postproduction on Gentle Ben, Etc – April 2, 1968, Page 1, Page 2
Lease with Walter Lantz – September 28, 1966
“Genius Who Can’t Use Limbs Scores TV Coup” – United Press International, July 8, 1954 / Billboard Story

CHASING ED WOOD
Ed Wood’s Deadbeat letter – August 19, 1963
Pay-Up Letter to Ed Wood, – August 13, 1963
First Effort to get paid by Ed Wood – February 8, 1960
Plan 9 From Outer Space – Sample from Original Soundtrack
Plan 9 From Outer Space Soundtrack – Keeping it Reel

SOME PALS & ASSOCIATES
Jim Backus / Nicholas Deak / Samuel Fuller / Larry Harmon / Arthur Jones
Burt Lancaster / Walter Lantz / Joan Rivers / Loren Ryder / Hans Salter
Lou Scheimer / Ivan Tors / “The House That Flipper Built”/ Jamie Uys / Josef von Stroheim

THE ACCIDENT
“Injured Boy’s Father Asks $200,000” – Pasadena Post, December 18, 1940
“Boy 14, Critically Hurt in Leap Over ‘Gym Horse’ – Pasadena Post, October 30, 1940

GORDON’S FATHER, HOLLYWOOD MUSICIAN & COMPOSER LEE ZAHLER
Filmography – Internet Movie Database
WAMPAS Orchestra Ad With Lee – 1924
Mystery Chart Of Lee’s Colleagues – Possibly 1924

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF GORDON’S UNCLE, UNIVERSAL PICTURES DIRECTOR NAT ROSS
Filmography – Internet Movie Database
“Justice: Swift And Righteous” – January 2004
“Gas Chamber Death Voted Jealous Slayer” – the Los Angeles Times, July 23, 1941
“Suspect In Man’s Killing Quoted As Having No Regret” – the Los Angeles Times, March 5, 1941
“Career Of Slain Film Man Told” – the Los Angeles Evening Herald Express, February 27, 1941

THE TEXAS MURDER OF GORDON’S GRANDFATHER
“Mutilated Body Of M. Rosenberg Tells Story Of Another Brutal Murder” – El Paso Morning Times, February 23, 1915
“Thirty-Five Years For Red Mullen” – El Paso Morning Times, March 31, 1915
Death Certificate – February 15, 1915

Film & TV

– FILM AND TV CREDITS –

SCI-FI

If kitschy sci-fi had a music man, it was an opinionated, 95-pound quadriplegic named Gordon orchestrating the flamboyance. Wouldn’t you know it was Ed Wood Jr., one of the undisputed emperors of 1950s schlock horror, who was the first to purchase Gordon’s cheaply delivered wares. His soundtrack, in fact, accentuates the drama of Wood’s cult-beloved Plan 9 From Outer Space. Introduced to a Hollywood that outsiders would not recognize – the Hollywood populated by freakish under-heroes and dabblers – my uncle realized what he was doing here. Running postproduction for low-budget dreamers was still better that taking crumbs from the legitimate side of the industry. Space vampires. Maneating ferns. Venutian Dr. Strangeloves. Really tall women. It was a living, though you didn’t crow about it at starlet-filled cocktail parties.

Please note that for some listed films and TV programs below, Gordon’s employees – talented people like Jeff Bushleman, Bob Glenn, Walter Greene, Ted Roberts and Joe von Stroheim — are credited, not Gordon himself. Where he is cited, it’s usually as musical director or supervisor. See www.imdb.com or Google for additional details.

Plan Nine From Outer Space – 1959 / trailer
Night of the Ghouls – 1959 / trailer
Assignment Outer Space (a.k.a. Space Men) – 1960 / trailer
Hercules Conquers Atlantis -1961 / trailer
The Phantom Planet -1961 / trailer
First Spaceship on Venus -1962 / trailer
Mutiny in Outer Space -1965 / trailer
The Human Duplicators – 1965 / trailer
Navy Versus the Night Monsters -1966 / trailer
Women of the Prehistoric Planet -1966 / trailer

MAINSTREAM MOVIES

An MGM rom-com starring Doris Day as a wannabe-mom was Gordon’s first brush with an A-list project. “Tunnel of Love” gave him what he needed: the credibility to land future paychecks, in this case with TV westerns. When they were yanked, he paid the mortgage furnishing music and sound effects for sitcoms and cartoons that blared nonstop from America’s living rooms before anyone had heard of cable. Gigs from “The Woody Woodpecker Show,” thanks to Gordon’s improbable friendship with Walter Lantz, came in handy in the dead times. By the mid-1960s, Gordon was back-stroking with a different breed on shows featuring “Gentle Ben,” cross-eyed lions, Chuck Connors and the outdoor adventure world of eccentric producer Ivan Tors. Gordon must have wondered why he ever left Ivan’s side when he burned out on Hollywood in the early 1970s, deciding he’d be the kingpin of nascent South African TV instead.

Tunnel of Love – 1958 / trailer
Shock Corridor – 1963 / trailer
Living Between Two Worlds – 1963
Africa Texas Style – 1967 / clip
Gentle Giant – 1967 / clip
Daring Game –1968
Hello Down There – 1969 / trailer
Lost in the Desert (a.k.a Dirkie) – 1969 / movie
Pippi Longstocking – 1969 / trailer
Mister Kingstreet’s War – 1973
Animals are Beautiful People – 1974 / trailer