Teenage Strangler

Like many others, I saw this on MST3K (albeit a long time ago). It was hilarious, and I'm sure it's pretty funny on it's own, too. The plot has something to do with a teenage strangler, a new kid with a bad rep, his bike-stealing mongoloid younger brother, and a malt shop sock hop. What I remember most is the movie being so colourful that it was just pretty to look at despite what happened on screen, and of course the memorable acting of young Mikey, who was related to the director in some way to earn his role. Features the "hit" single "Yipe Stripes" and a cheat ending.

TEENAGE STRANGLER opens with a female victim found with a stocking around her neck, and a big X scrawled on her forehead in lipstick. The police are stumped. This all takes place in a small town where everyone speaks VERY LOUDLY! Sometimes, they yell, as if they're afraid that viewers might be falling asleep.

Who is the killer? Could it be some crazed stocking / lipstick salesman?

Meanwhile, a twist-o-thon erupts at the local diner. The mega-hit song, "Yipes Stripes" explodes, battering our eardrums, already ringing from the bellowing townsfolk!

We're introduced to Jimmy, his whiney brother, Mikey, and Jimmy's girlfriend, Betty. The killings continue, unabated.

BURNING QUESTIONS: #1- Could Jimmy be the stocking stalker? #2- Could Mikey possibly be more of a fist magnet? #3- Will the killer never run out of lipstick? #4- Who supplies him with stockings? A local cartel? Hmmm.

P. S.- Be sure to stick around, as Betty gets down with the rest of the 27 year old "kids" at the diner, for a twist-tastic hootenanny...

Yes, this movie stands on its own campy merits. I first saw it some 15 years or more before MST3K got their sticky robot paws on it (and made it even more hilarious). I am originally from Huntington, WV, where the movie was filmed, although I was only 4 years old when "Yipe Stripes" jammed the AM stations. Most of the cast were locals, many playing roles that they held in real life.

Though the quality of the movie speaks for itself. Most may not know the restaurant scenes were filmed in our family restaurant "Martin's Restaurant" on 5th Avenue next to WHTN TV in Huntington. The family eatery was a favorite for students from Marshall University just ten blocks down the street.

My Father John Martin was the owner and was originally asked to play the part of "Marty" in the movie. We had scheduled a family vacation during the time of the filming, so he was not able to take that part.

It's no accident that they selected our restaurant as the landlord was WHTN TV and Clark Davis was the general manager at the time.

INTERESTING NOTE: If you look closely at one of the first scenes where several of the teens are sitting in a booth, in the background you will a picture of my father "Johnny Martin" hanging on the wall. My brother George Martin and I still have that picture. Hard to believe I was 14 and he was 12 when the picture was released. We're of course now 68 & 66 living in Frisco, Texas with our families.

My father passed away many years ago and I don't believe he ever got to see the movie. I know he always took pride in his restaurant and the food he served. Truly a "family" restaurant with home-cooked food and portions that could feed two people, something my mother Georgia always complained about. Lots of great memories! Hope this review adds a bit nostalgia for those of us that remember those good old days!

If the fans of MST3K, such as me, can ever get together and create an MST3K Hall Of Fame, this movie might be inducted in as a charter member in the film category. John Humphries definitely will be inducted as a charter member in the actors category, along with such luminaries as Joe Don Baker, Ross Hagen, John Agar and...the guy...you know, the one who played Torgo.

Humphries made only one MST3K appearance, but it was a great one, playing a character so annoying that you're just begging the other characters to give him a swirley or rub his face in crunchy underwear.

Fortunately, Humphries seems to have a sense of humor and reality, as he didn't foolishly follow other MST3K actors into years of horrible films, thinking he'd eventually get his big break.