I think he over-exaggerates it a lot, but is it possible that they DID hire a man in a suit, even if none of it went into the film?

Imagine if we found out we'd been fooled and this old man was right LOL.

"I want Kong to be the fiercest, most brutal, monstrous damned thing that has ever been seen."

- Merian C. Cooper, in argument with Willis H. O'Brien.