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It’s Astounding! The Enduring Magic of the Rocky Horror Picture Show

10/5/2012

8 Comments

 
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I went to a wedding reception a while ago. They had a DJ playing music and we all danced to several songs with choreographed moves including the Electric Slide, the Hokey Pokey, the Chicken Dance, and the Macarena. So I thought about asking the DJ if he had the “Time Warp,” which is the most emblematic song of the Rocky Horror Picture Show (RHPS). He frowned and looked around his list and then replied in the negative, so I shrugged and went back to dancing.

However, a few minutes later the DJs assistant came over and informed me with a tone of voice that made it sound like the DJ had had to dig his way through a mummy’s tomb that after looking more thoroughly he had found it. As if this were not enough, just before playing it the DJ said. “And now I am going to take you way, way, way…back. Actually I lost track of the number of times he said “way,” but I felt I aged 10 years for every time he said that. Finally the initial notes of the Time Warp began to make their way out of the loudspeakers, and I had the sinking feeling that I would be the only one dancing.” To my surprise I heard screams and a commotion. Everyone, young and old, hastily made their way to the dance floor and we all did the Time Warp again!

This is the enduring magic of the RHPS. Created by the brilliant mind of Richard O'Brien, The Rocky Horror Show began as a play in London in 1973 and was adapted into a film bearing the name of the RHPS in 1975. While many A movies of that time have all but been lost to the interests of new generations, this B-movie musical with its hilarious over the top antics still captures the imagination of the young.

Conceived as a satire of earlier science fiction and horror flicks, the RHPS boasts the incipient talents of future Tony nominated actor Tim Curry in his amazing gender bending performance as the infamous Dr. Frank-N-Furter, future Oscar winning actress Susan Sarandon in her performance as the innocent/slutty Janet, and future Grammy award winner mega rocker Meatloaf who would also wow the world with the bestselling rock album of all time “Bat out of Hell,” playing Eddie a pizza delivery boy who meets a gruesome fate.

And not only are the performances and the storyline “out of this world” but the songs are pure foot stomping naughty fun. From the scandalous "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me” to the touching "I'm Going Home”.  From the energy packed "Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul" or “Wild and Untamed Thing” to the commanding “Sweet Transvestite”. There is also the tour de force of old science fiction movies “Science Fiction/Double Feature” and the “Dammit Janet” song whose title every woman named Janet has heard. And, of course, there is the “Time Warp” and its choreographed moves with the bizarre commentary of the criminologist.

But what has made the RHPS a cultural icon for the ages is the audience participation. Even nowadays the practice is still going strong and there are groups of youngsters that show up en masse for RHPS performances to shout their lines at the screen. Most of these groups have names related to the movie such as The Satanic Mechanics, The Wild and Untamed Things, or The Transylvanians. Many of the kids in these groups have seen the movie and or play dozens of times. In any given week there are dozens of performances of the RHPS going on in the USA and this increases towards Halloween when showing this movie is practically a tradition. In fact the RHPS bears the distinction of being the film that has remained on limited release for the longest time in film history.

So this Halloween find the RHPS playing at a theater near you or rent/download the movie and invite your friends to take that jump to the left and that little step to the right, to place your hands on your hips, press your knees real tight, and be driven insane by that pelvic thrust while you do the Time Warp again!


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8 Comments
Laura Novak
10/8/2012 08:49:40 am

Gosh, Susan Sarandon was SO young! I'd forgotten how young we all were when this came out. I recall sitting in a movie theater in Boston and getting pelted with toast as it soared through the air. That, and "great Scott" toilet paper! Thanks for the memories, Rolando!

Reply
Rolando
10/8/2012 09:55:25 am

Thanks for your comment Laura. We are not old...we are wild and untamed things. We're a bee with a deadly sting. You get a hit and your mind goes ping. Your heart will pump and your blood will sing. So let the party and the sound rock on! We're gonna shake it til the life has gone! Rose tints my world keeps me safe from my trouble and pain.

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Jeri link
10/8/2012 10:33:05 am

RHPS brings back some great memories indeed! I was Dr. Frank-N-Furter almost 20 years ago for Halloween. Most of my fellow classmates didn't get it, but that didn't matter. Come to think of it, I think I'll bring the album up in my iTunes library right now :) Your post reminds me that I really should find a midnight showing to see. I'm sure that would be a surprise my soon-to-visit sister would not anticipate.

Reply
Rolando link
10/8/2012 10:52:21 am

Thanks for your comment Jeri. Just remember that...in the velvet darkness, of the blackest night, burning bright, there's a guiding star, no matter what, or who you are. There's a light, over at the Frankenstein place, there's a light, burning in the fireplace, there's a light, light, in the darkness of everybody's life.

Reply
A.K.Andrew link
10/10/2012 05:50:20 pm

Rocky Horror is a big one in my memory too, even from before it was a film. OK - yeah , that makes me over 21! But I think it's so enduring, cos it's so out there , even today. It encourages you to be bad & funny & irreverent. What's not to like?

Reply
Rolando link
10/11/2012 11:45:05 am

Thanks for your comment and yes, it makes me want to sing: Whatever happened to Saturday night? When you dressed up sharp and you felt alright. It don't seem the same since cosmic light, came into my life, I thought I was divine. I used to go for a ride with a chick who'd go, and listen to the music on the radio. A saxophone was blowing on a Rock and Roll show. We climbed in the back seat, really had a good time. Hot patootie, bless my soul, really love that Rock and Roll!

Reply
Brian W. Porter link
10/20/2012 12:03:50 am

Love the outrageousness, but I never saw it with the captions such as "Throw Popcorn". I want those captions. Where can I find them?

Reply
Rolando link
10/20/2012 01:50:43 pm

Some of the recent RHPS DVD have features that include captions and callbacks. Ach! We've got to get out of this trap before this decadence saps our wills. I've got to be strong and try to hang on, or else my mind, may well snap, and my life will be lived, for the thrills!

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