Teenage Age Strangler to Have Huntington TV premiere
Richard Bartram along with Allen Toney is a true Huntington genius. Bartram writes books on magic, works at Magic Makers, makes films, and for about a year now has managed a public access TV channel or two. I have known him for years, finally meeting him last summer when he interviewed me about “Teenage Strangler.” I hope everyone in Huntington will be to see WV’s first indie feature film on cable along with Bartram’s documentary on an amazing, and nationally known, indie film.
I wrote one of my first WVFilm blog entries about Bartram’s year’s long plan to finally give “Strangler” its proper credit -
http://thegazz.com/gblogs/wvfilm/2007/03/09/richard-bartram-cablecasting-teenage-strangler/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2007Richard Bartram
Huntington Public Access TV, Channel 20
304 638-2502
rbartram@zoomnet.net
http://cinemystique.home.zoomnet.net/Huntington Television Premiere of “Teen-Age Strangler” On Comcast Cable Channel 20The 1964 cult classic, ‘Teen-Age Strangler’, will have its Huntington television premiere on Tuesday, August 21. The film, will air at 8pm on Huntington Comcast Cable Channel 20 (Huntington Public Access Television).
Independently produced in 1964 by Original VI Productions, a group of
Huntington investors, ‘Teen-Age Strangler’ was released to theaters in 1967 as part of a double-bill with the Hershell Gordon Lewis exploitation flick, ‘A Taste of Blood’. The film developed cult status in the 1980s when it was ‘rediscovered’ and eventually given a comedic thrashing on ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000′. Though produced locally, ‘Strangler’ was never seen in a Huntington theater until 1994
The Huntington television broadcast of “Teen-Age Strangler” is courtesy of Mike Vraney, whose company, Something Weird Video, markets the film on DVD.
“Teen-Age Strangler” is the subject of a documentary currently in production. If viewers have any personal connections or information regarding the film, they are encouraged to contact the producer via email at rbartram@zoomnet.net.
Michael Lipton’s Gazette story -
In 1967, 18-year-old Huntington actor John Humphreys hopped in his 1963 Ford Fairlane and drove to the Twin Drive-in theater in
Cincinnati to see his debut on the silver screen. “”Teenage Strangler,'’ a cheesy, horror flick shot in
Huntington in 1964 which, along with “”A Taste Of Blood'’ and “”A Castle Of Blood,'’ was part of a classic triple-bill. Humphreys played the part of Mikey, the neurotic little brother of a James Deanlike good guy named Jimmy. As a kid with thick, black glasses so incredibly nerdly he could make Beaver Cleaver look cool, Mikey helped Jimmy’s gas stumble on to the real killer, vindicating his brother at the same time. “”It was mortifying,'’ he remembered a quarter century later.“”We sat through the other two films and they were really bad too. I went to the concession stand and was actually afraid that someone might recognize me.'’But all things _ even teenage stranglers _ mellow with age.Last year, while Humphreys was living in
Connecticut and running a vintage clothing store, a horror film buff who managed a record store in the same building came across a copy of an old horror film. It was titled “”Teenage Strangler.'’ “”He didn’t recognize me at first,'’ Humphreys said. “”But after a while he recognized the voice. That
West Virginia accent is hard to miss.'’“”I was shocked,'’ he added. “”The first time I saw it, I thought, “My god, this is embarrassing.’ But the second time around I really enjoyed it. All the classic scenes are really amusing _ the hair-dos, the rumbles.'’ The strangler himself (we won’t reveal his/her identity) couldn’t have picked a better time to resurface. In the midst of the biggest retro craze in history, the recently uncovered nugget is nothing short of a wonderfully psychotronic time capsule. In fact, “”Psychotronic Video,'’ the current documenters of camp, have proclaimed “”Teenage Strangler'’ to be a “”marvel.'’ Steve Fesenmaier, the WV Library Commission’s filmmeister, called it a “”masterpiece.'’ As one might expect, the path the film took to
West Virginia was a bit more circuitous: The person who sent the film to Humphreys’ friend also sent a copy to “”Psychotronic Video.'’ Michael Fennimore, a Huntington native now living in
Charleston, saw the review and a NEARBY ad offering it for sale. He passed the information along to Fesenmaier, who ordered two copies for the state’s film library. Equally intriguing is the fact that although “”Teenage Strangler'’ abounds with local color, plans for a Huntington premier _ made nearly 25 years ago _ never materialized. Tonight, for the first time, the film will have a public showing at 8 p.m. at the
St. Albans public library. Also being shown is a new film by Canadian director Guy Maddin “”
Archangel.'’ A number of the local actors that originally starred in “”Teenage Strangler'’ have promised to attend. As a regional, low-budget production, “”Strangler'’ is filled with the kind of period characters and settings that drives retro-buffs nutty; a drag-racing, leather jacket-clad gang called the Fastbacks is more comical than menacing; tough-talking, Dragnet-styled cops have hearts of gold; lots of spooky, tremolo-laden guitar music and a bizarre cameo by then Mayor of Huntington Harold Frankel (who appears ON TELEVISION dressed in Bill Brotherton-styled white uniform ).The film’s plot is a simple enough.
Huntington becomes gripped with terror as a psychopath strangles local highschool girls. Using conveniently supplied clues, the police finger Jimmy, a member of the Fastbacks. But everyone knows Jimmy is no killer. The tension mounts. Huntington locations include
Huntington
High School, a drag-strip in Chesapeake, O.,Cabell
County jail and a fabulously 60s house which belonged to Huntington Mayor Frankel. But “”Strangler’s'’ most psychotronic moment is reserved for a musical number. Huntingtonian Kathy Haddad (now Kathy Goodman) sets up the scene with a priceless intro that transforms Marty’s Malt Shop into a twisting, frugging scene from Hullabaloo. [CF3]”"Fellow citizens and lovers of good music. For those of you who pledge your allegiance to Peter, Paul and Mary … the Beatles … the Teen Queens … Paul Anka and the Chad Mitchell Trio, I proudly introduce to you Mary and Jack, the Huntington Astronauts.'’[CF44] The ensuing tune, “”Yipes, Stripes,'’ is a paean to what was, in 1964, the latest fashion rage. (According to Humphreys the tune was also inspired by the popular “”Fruit Stripes'’ chewing gum.) CUT In the film, the duo was billed as the Huntington Astronauts.CUTIn 1964, Goodman was studying at the
American
Academy of Dramatic Arts in
New York. While home for the summer, she received a call from the film’s producers. An audition at the old Hotel Frederick led to her first screen role. “”I was so involved in theater and wanting to pursue a career in that field, I was just thrilled at having the opportunity to do a film that I could add to my resume,'’ she said.After the filming, Goodman returned to
New York where people she went to school with had already seen it in drive-ins. “”They didn’t say much about it,'’ she said. “”Except that they saw me singing and dancing on the table.'’ Before returning to
Huntington in 1979, she worked in films, commercials and appeared on the television show “”To Tell The Truth.'’ Now, married and a substitute teacher in Cabell county, Goodman is anxious to see the film for the first time, especially after a friend told her that a photo of her from “”Strangler'’ was hanging in a restaurant in
Myrtle Beach. But some of the film’s participants are more reserved with their praise.Steve Christian was 38 when “”Strangler'’ was filmed and played the father of the leading lady. He saw the film in 1968 when it played at the Burlington drive-in across the river in
Chesapeake, O.“”The first time I saw it I said, “Bury it,'’ he said. “”It’s akin to exhuming a mummy. It was a hometown film and most of the local actors had never acted on film before.'’ Still active in local theater, Christian takes his acting seriously. HE attended Yale drama school, appeared on Broadway and was a stage manager for NBC studios in
New York City, Christian In film-years, “”Teenage Strangler'’ was made ages ago; before the terms “”video'’ and “”film'’ were nearly interchangeable, before “”filmmakers'’ could turn footage shot on hand-held video-cams into overnight cult favorites. The idea to make a low-budget film like “”Teenage Strangler'’ was conceived by six
Huntington businessman over what today would be called a “”power lunch.'’ Humphreys said that
Huntington television executive Clark Davis supposedly went home and wrote the entire screenplay and two musical numbers in one night. The production company, dubbed Original Six Productions, immediately looked out-of-state for a camera crew, technicians, director and actors and actresses for the three leading roles (sound familiar?). Ben Parker, from
Ft. Lee, N.J., was selected as director. Parker’s experience included having made a number of Army training films.When “”Strangler'’ was finished, Humphrey was told they would be shooting another film in
Tennessee.“”I waited by the phone for two years,'’ he joked.It took a little longer to get his first fan letter. After the film was reviewed in “Psychotronic Video,'’ Humphreys wrote a letter to the magazine clarifying some misinformation. He subsequently received his first fan letter _ 23 years after the film was released. “”None of us were ready professionals except the three leads,'’ he said. “”There were good performances, bad performances and off-the-wall performances. I’d like to think of mine as one that gave the film a little more character. “”I was so used to acting on stage, I know I over-acted. But you mellow and learn to laugh at yourself when you get older.'’ If you miss the Halloween night showing, “”Teenage Stranglers'’ can be borrowed from any public library in the state. For more information call 1-800-642-9021.-30-
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michael lipton
mlipton@gmail.com
www.carpenterants.net
www.wvmusichalloffame.com Descriptions from Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Movies and Psychotronic Video Guide, mentioning 1990 WV premiere -
Teen-Age Strangler1964 AjayProducer/Screenwriter: Clark DavisDirector:Bill PosnerFrom Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Movies Made in
West Virginia in 1964, starring Bill A. Bloom, Jo Canterbury, John Ensign, Jim Asp, Bill Mills, and Johnny Haymer. It has something to do with a high school Bluebeard. In 1967 this obscurity showed up as a co-feature with Herschell Gordon Lewis’ “A Taste of Blood.” – CB. P. 694Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film. Michael Weldon.
Ballantine, NY. Also, Charles Beesley, Bob Martin and Akira Fitton. 1983. Teenage Strangler.(SW, 1964) D: Bill Posner/Ben Parker. S/P: Clark DavisFrom Psychotronic Video Guide I love obscure early –60s regional movies like this! A mystery “lipstick” killer is strangling schoolgirls with stocking in the
Huntington, West Virginia, area (where this marvel was filmed). Some of the characters are straight out of “Rebel Without a Cause,” but with Southern accents. Jimmy- a member of the Fastbacks, a pretty harmless “gang”(they wear black jackets with bulldogs on the backs)- is a suspect. He stands up for a guy everybody calls Runt, and has a girlfriend named Betty Jean. His family had to relocate because of his police record. Jimmy even has a drag race with Curley, the gang’s tough guy. Kids do the twist and rink pop at Marty’s where Betty Gay (not Betty jean) announces, “Fellow citizens and lovers of good music – for those of you that pledge allegiance to Peter, Paul and Mary…the Beatles…the Teen Queens…Paul Anka, and the Chad Mitchel Trio…” and a guy (from the Huntington Astronauts) sings “Yipes Stripes.” Despite Betty Gay’s horrifying list, the instrumental rock on the soundtrack (by Danny Dean and the Daredevils) is fine. Meanwhile more girls are strangled. One is killed in a shower, while we see a shadow of somebody with a ducktail haircut. This is a classic cheat scene, since we later discover that Mr. Wilson, the demented school janitor (“I hate everyone one of you!”) is the killer. In 1967, the color “Teenage Strangler” played around the country with “A Taste of Blood.” Try and imagine being at the drive-in for that double bill! The b/w release in 1990 and the write-up in “Psychotronic” resulted in local screenings, newspaper articles, and cast reunions! -p. 559, Psychotronic Video Guide, Michael J. Weldon, 1996 Official website - http://www.psychotronicvideo.com/wow/vestibule.shtml
