Remembering the 80's--The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Released in 1975, there are those that would argue that Rocky Horror doesn’t belong in this series. However, in my opinion, the cult following this movie generated hit its apex in the 1980’s. It wasn’t until 1977 that the movie even began to rebound from its dismal US premiere despite being a smash musical across the pond. Finicky Americans were not yet ready for the message of sexual freedom, especially of the transsexual don’t-dream-it-be-it variety.

It was during the 1980’s that the film really came into its own, having been given a fishnet covered leg-up by the enthusiastic support it received when famously running as a midnight movie at theaters such as The Biograph in Chicago. The movie spawned a cult following that dressed like the characters, recited the movie, shouted responses to the dialogue en masse, and brought props along such as water guns to shoot during a rainy scene and rice to toss during a wedding scene. Going to see Rocky Horror wasn’t a spectator sport: it was a chance for everyone to wallow in the naughtiness.

Still going strong today, the movie continues to evolve. As one RHPS website reports:

“The Associated Press had occasion to visit a midnight screening of the film around the time of the 2000 Broadway revival and noted how contemporary the responses to the film had become. For example, after Frank has dispatched Eddie with an ax, he removes his bloody gloves and hands them to Magenta. Except this time the crowd shouted, "Here, put these behind O.J.'s house." Moments later when asking Frank to explain his homicidal rage, the audience demanded "tell us what Dr. Kevorkian would say!" "It was a… mercy killing," comes Frank's reply.”

Heh.