Snakes and snake cults

Collection

Identifier: Film Collection no. 129

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Snake cults are the subject of this program which was a live remote broadcast from Bill Haas's serpentarium in Kendall, Florida. Haas maintained at that time the world's largest collection of snakes, including 150 cobras. Haas is seen milking a king cobra. Various snake cults in the United States, West Africa, and Burma are discussed. Film sequences include a Hopi snake dance (Avalon Dagett production), snake material from Sorcerer's Village by Hassoldt Davis (shown on Dec. 26 1954) and a Burmese priestess kissing a king cobra's head three times (from Armand Denis's Wheels Across India).

Dates

1956

Creator

American Museum of Natural History (Organization)

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Not available through interlibrary loan. Contact AMNH Library Special Collections for terms of access.

Extent

1 Film Reel (30 minutes) : sound, black and white ; 16 mm.

1 Videocassette (U-Matic (30 minutes)) : sound, black and white ; 3/4 in.

Additional Description

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

3/4 in., U-Matic, viewing copy

Other Finding Aids

Finding aid: script.

General

Original format: 16mm kinescope.

General

Originally aired March 4, 1956 as part of the CBS/AMNH Adventure television series.

General

http://libcat1.amnh.org/record=b1139633

General

Charles Collingwood, host; John Cosgrove, director; Charles Romine, producer; Shelby Gordon, assitant producer; Frank de Felitta, script editor; Shelby Gordon and Frank de Felitta, writers; Grover Cole, production design; Bernard Birnbaum, supervisor of film.