Girls, Join Us Tonight, As "Svengoolie" Presents For The First Time, The Underrated 1973 Cult Classic, "Ssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                                     

                                                                        

                                             The title alone is camp.  And that is just for starters.

                                          It was the Summer of 1973. I had just graduated from high school and was planning on attending Seton Hall University in the Fall, which I did.

                                             But there was a movie and a scandal that season, which peaked the interest of all of us. 

                                              That movie was "Sssssssssss," in which a mad scientist, played by Strother Martin was trying to turn humans, primarily men, into snakes. His daughter was played by, of all actresses, Heather Menzies, whom all of us knew as Louisa Von Trapp in "The Sound Of Music."   When that film came out, I really wanted to be either Heather or Angela Cartwright.  But Heather, though recognizable, looked different here.  Well, she was eight years older.

                                               Like Patty Duke with "Valley Of The Dolls," Heather had not yet completely embraced "The Sound Of Music" mantle that cloaked her.  Eventually, she would.  But at this time, in addition to "Sssssssssssss," she decided to do something even more adult--she posed nude in "Playboy."  Oh, my God!  It was the talk of the Summer!  One of "The Sound Of Music" girls appearing in Playboy?  But which one?  Debbie Turner, Kym Karath, and Angela Cartwright were too young, so it had to be either Charmian Carr or Heather Menzies.  Sure enough, when I got my hands on the issue, there was Heather!  She looked good, but I was shocked.  And I should have recognized my blossoming gaydar, because while it was Heather, her photos did nothing to arouse me.  I preferred her as Louisa in "The Sound Of Music," and to me she will always be that.

                                                  But "Ssssssssssss" sounds like so much fun.  All those snakes; to be avoided for those with snake phobia, and I have a friend with a real bad case of it.  Anyway, having never seen the film, I hope the creatures do turn on Strother Martin, and you have to see the scene where Heather's boyfriend turns into a snake before her eyes, and I think the final shot is of her screaming!!!!!!!!

                                                Alas, all this, and yet we have to go to a double birthday party tonight.  We will probably see "Sssssssssssss" sometime tomorrow, as I am so excited to see it.

                                                Have a rattling' good time, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Here is Heather's final scream, girls!  I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!