The scourge of beach blankets and volleyball nets, the bumbling, black-leather jacket-wearin' leader of one of Southern California's most infamous biker gangs (The Ratz and Mice) is born, Harvey Lembeck, aka Eric Von Zipper.
Appearing in six of the seven Beach movies (Muscle Beach Party being the one they were absent from) Eric Von Zipper and his gang of surfboard opponents did their best to ruin clubs, party's and romance of all those involved. Why, if it weren't for Professor Robert O. Sutwell and the Himalayan Suspension Technique they might have succeeded. The what?!
In the first Beach Party movie during an argument at Big Daddys nightclub, the Professor is being threatened by Von Zipper so he quickly applies his right index finger to a "key spot" on Zipper's left temple. 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 state of temporary frozen unconsciousness. So, when Von Zipper is "frozen," it inevitably forces his gang to retreat, while carrying Lembeck off a member of the Ratz tells the crowd, "Eric Von Zipper will return."
Harvey Lembeck appeared on Broadway, the Silver Screen and television (Night Gallery, The Monkees and Man From U.N.C.L.E. to name a few) in a career that spanned over 30 years.
"Eric Von Zipper adores you. And when Eric Von Zipper adores somebody they stay adored."
EricEnequin (as a Rat named J.D. pompously pronounces "Eric Von.Zipper will return.")
