Source: Local 6 News
Submitted by: Michelle (SoSF Fan)
Two live diamondback rattlesnakes were released in an Arizona movie theater during a showing of the new film “Snakes on a Plane,” according to Local 6 News.
Authorities said pranksters released the young venomous rattlesnakes in a dark theater at the AMC Desert Ridge near Tatum and Loop 101 in Phoenix.
The two snakes caused a panic in the dark theater, according to the report.
“That to me is very scary,” herpetological association representative Tom Whiting said. “I would hate to be watching a movie about snakes and have a rattlesnake bite me.”
Wranglers were called to collect the snakes, the report said.
No one was injured in the incident and, so far, the culprits have not been caught.
Officials believe the snakes were smuggled into the theater in backpacks.
“This thing is under someone’s chair and they go to sit and they just push your foot in the air and startle it — obviously all they got to do is startle this thing,” Phoenix Herpetological Society spokesman Daniel Marchand said. “It’s dark. They can’t see you, you know that well. If it’s scared, boom it strikes.”
The snakes were released into the desert.
If I make quote Michelle, who submitted this story to us: “It just takes one A-hole”…to ruin a good thing.
SNAKES UPDATE:
It appears that the above story as reported by Local 6 News and followed up by us and every other news outlet across the country may have been led on a wild-snake chase. Here is the updated and revised account of what happened in that dark and mysterious place we call Arizona. You decide who is telling the snake-tale: We would like to thank SoSF fans Oberonix and Aeryn for the tip-off.
‘Snakes in a theater’ turns out to be hoax
Police say reports that rattlesnakes were let loose during a showing of Snakes on a Plane at a north Phoenix theater have taken moviegoers for a ride.
There is some shred of truth to the story, Phoenix police Sgt. Joel Tranter said. A 10-inch-long rattlesnake was found Friday in a hallway at AMC Desert Ridge 18, near Tatum Boulevard and Loop 101. But it likely slithered inside on its own, Tranter said.
A security guard swept the snake outside and held it in a Tupperware container until a member of the Arizona Herpetological Association could take it away. Snake handlers had been called earlier in the day to retrieve a rattler from outside the theater.
An AMC spokeswoman told the news organization Reuters that the rumors were true, but Tranter has been refuting the story to news outlets from across the U.S.
This story was outed as a hoax.
-S
Must of just happened in the last couple of hours because as of 3 hours ago it was still headline.
What’s the source? Who outed it as a hoax and when?
I think I would have died if that had happend to me. That movie had me screaming out loud like a little girl.
Sorry, probably should have sourced it, here is the link:
http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/0822talker-ON.html
-S
The source is Channel 12 news http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/0822talker-ON.html
‘Snakes in a theater’ turns out to be hoax Aug. 22, 2006 07:27 PM
Police say reports that rattlesnakes were let loose during a showing of Snakes on a Plane at a north Phoenix theater have taken moviegoers for a ride.
There is some shred of truth to the story, Phoenix police Sgt. Joel Tranter said. A 10-inch-long rattlesnake was found Friday in a hallway at AMC Desert Ridge 18, near Tatum Boulevard and Loop 101. But it likely slithered inside on its own, Tranter said.
A security guard swept the snake outside and held it in a Tupperware container until a member of the Arizona Herpetological Association could take it away. Snake handlers had been called earlier in the day to retrieve a rattler from outside the theater.
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An AMC spokeswoman told the news organization Reuters that the rumors were true, but Tranter has been refuting the story to news outlets from across the U.S.
– Lindsey Collom
Rattlers, javelinas, cougars and coyotes… all part of a day around here.
Two to three mornings a week, I saw coyotes trotting across the company parking lot of the place I worked when I first moved out here. In Tempe near the 202. Also saw them all the time near a shopping center in Scottsdale I used to frequent.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/film-reviews/snakes-on-a-plane/2006/08/24/1156012659992.html
snakes on a planes is the worst movie I have seen all year
Based on the “shred of truth” Aeryn quoted, I think it’s cool that even snakes want to go see Snakes on a Plane. They probably won’t like the ending though. 😉
There’s a review of SoaP over at AintItCool.com were there WERE snakes loose in the theater and it seems to have made the experience that much better.