Even the most cursory reading of published and online assessments of the Beach Party movies reveals an interesting consistency: irrespective of what the reviewer thinks of the films (and many are less than flattering; far too many people presume inexpensive films produced four decades ago should have somehow anticipated post-millennium tastes and values), they enjoy the antics of Eric Von Zipper (right), Harvey Lembeck's bumbling motorcycle gang leader character.
Harvey Lembeck born April 15, 1923 in Brooklyn, and after high school served in the Navy during World War II . After being discharged, he entered New York University and earned a degree in radio arts in 1947. At the recommendation of one of his professors, he pursued a stage career upon graduation.
When he was hired in 1963 to appear as Von Zipper in Beach Party, he was one of the oldest cast members at age 40.
Von Zipper was the leader of the Ratz and Mice, the standing arch-enemies of the surfing kids (or, as described by Von Zipper, "dem no good soifing bums.") Suffice to say, Zipper and his "bikers" never presented any real threat to the beach gang, given the Ratz and Mice in essence represented the Hell's Angels as executed by the Three Stooges. The core of the latter was Lembeck's classic characterization of Von Zipper, which was basically a blatant -- and riotously funny -- parody of "Johnny Strabler," Marlon Brando's cycle gang leader character from the 1953 film The Wild One. In almost every scene in which the gang appears, this fantastic drawling imitation of a brain-dead gearhead immediately set the stage:
"I come here to tell you dat dese beach bums is bums."
"I like you. And when Eric Von Zipper likes someone, dey stay liked."
Zipper and his "stooges" appeared in six of the seven Beach Party movies (all but the second, Muscle Beach Party. The reasons for their absence in that outing are unclear; I suspect either a contract dispute of some sort with AIP or a schedule conflict; Lembeck was involved as cast member with another production -- MGM's The Unsinkable Molly Brown -- about the same time that Muscle Beach Party was being filmed).
The gang is introduced early on in Beach Party and have a key role in that film, as not only the opponents of the Surfers but of the adult "love interest" Professor Robert O. Sutwell. Late in the film, Sutwell lays out the beginning of a key running gag with Von Zpper (one that follows that character all the way through the sixth movie, How To Stuff A Wild Bikini). Said key running gag is the infamous..Himalayan Suspension Technique.
The Himalayan what? Well, let me explain.
During a dispute at the Big Daddys nightclub, Sutwell -- who is being threatened by Von Zipper -- applies his right index finger to a "key spot" on Zipper's left temple. Apparently, this mysterious form of far-Eastern self-defense -- which involves applying pressure to some particular nerve in the victim -- results in putting them into immediate frozen temporary unconsciousness. So, in Beach Party -- as well as confrontation scenes in four other films -- Von Zipper is "frozen," which inevitably forces his gang to retreat, while carrying Lembeck off like a mannequin (as a Rat named J.D. pompously pronounces "Eric Von.Zipper will return.")
In addition to Lembeck, four other players made up the core Ratz and Mice cast: Bob Harvey, Andy Romano, Jerry Brutsche, and Alberta Nelson all appeared with Lembeck in the six films containing the motorcycle gang characters.
Other than Lembeck, the gang member with the biggest ongoing role was Andy Romano, who played Von Zipper's lieutenant, a biker named "J.D." (which -- as Von Zipper continually reminded audiences -- was short for "juvenile...delinquent.") Romano did a nice job at developing J.D into the calm, soft-spoken counterpoint to hysteric Von Zipper; he and Lembeck eventually had their characters working in seamless "straight man/foil" mode.
Next to Romano, the other player with the most visible ongoing gang member part was Alberta Nelson (left), who played a statuesque blond "biker chick" who was initially named "Alberta" but evolved into "Puss" by the fifth film. Nelson's script lines generally positioned her as the loyal but bumbling "yes girl," which she -- like Lembeck -- embellished with a thick, almost screechy Brooklyn accent. In some films, she also acts as the gang's "moral compass," always being the first to express doubts about Lembeck's latest crackpot scheme (in How to Stuff A Wild Bikini, Puss whines "heaer he goeees agaaaain...." when Von Zipper announces his futile infatuation with one of the beach bunnies). Notably, Nelson also holds the unique distinction of being the only person who appeared in all seven Beach Party movies. In six of them, she plays a "Mice" biker; in Muscle Beach Party (again, the only film where the Zipper and his gang characters don't appear), she's cast in the non-speaking role of "Lisa," one of the female "attendants" working for Jack Fanny's Muscle Building Team.
Also regularly visible is Jerry Brutsche, who played "Jerome," a young, enthusiastic Rat who inevitably gets in the way of Von Zipper at the worst possible moments. Kenny ( the chaplain ) Rollins is the Garage Goons foremost authority on the phrase "You Stupid"!!! Amen brother!!!
