Finally, after all these years, I decided that it was time to see what all the hooplah was about. No, I didn't go see it at its normal viewing time of 12 Midnight. But, I did rent it (yes, yes, I know. It's not at all the same experience at home on the VCR!)

Ok, the really weird thing is that there is some music in it that has a great beat. I mean, can anyone hear "Time Warp" and not want to get up and do the dance?

So, anyone else care to comment on it?

(By the way, I can't remember who posted this in another forum - was it in the Music Cellar? But, someone said that they had to take the movie away from their 3 (was that it?) child, because she suddenly started doing the "Sweet Transvestite" song. I know the place in the song that you're talking about, and I can just picture a little child doing it! That was all I could think about when I was watching it.)

I enjoyed going to the movie back in the latter 1970's. I liked the audience participation. I wasn't often that I could stay out that late and it was a fun time to be with my friends. I enjoyed the music also. It raised our emotions in a positive way and we felt like we were a part of somthing different.

I saw the movie on the campus of University of Pennsylvannia. I thought the way this particular theater handled it was exceptional.
As you bought the ticket they told you where to sit based on your level of participation.
Those that dressed in character were seated up front. Those familiar with the audience participation were seated in the middle and those that had never been there before were seated in the back.
It being my first time I took a seat in the back and was treated to the most entertaining night at the movies I've ever had.
I saw it a few times after that and would shoot the water pistols and throw the roll of toilet paper but I never went so far as to dress up.
Now that it is released on video, I thought about renting or buying it but I can't imagine it would ever be as interesting as it was in those theaters.

Ok, I'm going out on a limb here and asking a question that might or might not be appropriate (since I haven't seen it in the theater, I don't know exactly how, ummmmm, risque it can get).

Can someone give a kind of list of what goes on with the audience participation?

If it's a foul word, use symbols (we do want to keep this site as clean as possible). If it's a graphic body movement or something, somehow tame it.

But, I'd really kind of like to know what happens in the theaters.

I think the thing that was surprising when I watched it was that it wasn't nearly as "bad" as I had thought. I'm thinking that it's the experience that gives it the impression that it has.

And, since this is a trivia site, while you're giving me some details on the participation, I'll give you some "facts" about Rocky Horror. (gathered from the IMDB site and a "behind the scenes" show)

In the opening wedding scene, Riff Raff and Magenta parody Grant Wood's American Gothic painting.

The original screenplay called for the movie to be in black and white until Dr. Frank N. Furter appears in the elevator, when it was to go to color after zooming in on his lips.

The movies referenced in the title song are, in order:
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
The Invisible Man (1933)
King Kong (1933)
Doctor X (1932)
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Tarantula (1955)
The Day of the Triffids (1962)
Night of the Demon (1957)
When Worlds Collide (1951)

Oakley Court, Dr. Frank N. Furter's "castle," was used in numerous Hammer horror films made at adjacent Bray Studios (where the lab and ballroom scenes were shot), including The House in Nightmare Park (1973), The Reptile, (1966), The Brides of Dracula (1960) and The Man in Black (1949). Built in 1859, it was refurbished in 1981 and made into a hotel,
where rooms cost from 150 to 195 British pounds per night.

In the opening wedding scene, the minister is Tim Curry (Dr. Frank N. Furter), the "old man" to his left is Richard O'Brien (Riff Raff) and the "wife" to his right is Patricia Quinn (Magenta). The spinster who joins them inside the church is Little Nell (Columbia).

Aside from the chemical symbols scrawled on the lab wall next to the control panel, there is a grocery list calling for flour, eggs, bread, sugar and two hypodermics.

As Eddie rides his motorcycle up the ramp to the observation platform in the lab, a Transylvanian jumps onto a nearby statue, knocking its head off.

Meatloaf did not ride a motorcycle. In order to get the close up of his riding up the ramp, they had him roll a wheelchair. [Linda's note: If you watch, you can see this plainly! He's definitely wheeling in that scene!]

The movie was banned in South Africa several weeks after release by the Board of Censors, but not before it had been seen by some 250,000 viewers and had a strong cult following.

The opening number, "Science Fiction Double Feature," contains references to many classic science fiction films. Originally, the credits rolled over a montage from these films, but audience reaction was poor.

When originally released, the prints were done in monaural sound. Later, Lou Adler decided to re-mix them into stereo. In the stereo print, many vocals no longer match the actors' mouths, extra sound effects were added, Peter Hinwood's vocals are very different, Janet's scream is cut off when Frank comes out of the elevator, etc.

Many of the guests at the wedding are Transylvanians.

An extended final number appears in some American prints and the British tape release.

It is rumoured that one country replaced the deleted "Once In A While" number by using lookalikes for Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon.

The set builders forgot to put an extra door in the lab set, thus Dr. Scott had to crash through the wall for his entrance.

The crew had an easter egg hunt one day on the set, and three eggs can be seen in the film: under Frank's throne, one instead
of a light in the main room, one as the group goes up in the elevator to the lab.

The set used for Frank-N-Furter's castle was not heated during filming, and Sarandon caught a cold after the pool scene.

Audience participation was innocent, you threw rice,ate bread and squirted people with squirt guns that's about all I can remember anymore. It was a place where we could act silly and not get in trouble.

Are you sure it's that innocent? I wonder if it maybe depends on where it's being shown - I've heard that it can be a little more wild than that.

Ok, then. Let's say I were to go (not that I am, but let's pretend!). Tell me what what people bring. Give me a breakdown of what to do at which point in the story. I would guess:

Rice: throw at appropriate point in the wedding scene

Newspaper: hold over head when Brad and Janet are running through the rain

What else?

(I'm intrigued by this, can you tell? The movie initially flopped at the box offices. It was only when Adler decided to take the chance on putting it on at midnight in one, solitary theater that it took off and became what it did.)

I've heard that when it was originally released it was supposed to be scarey. I can't believe that, but that's what I heard.

Here's more audience participation:
When the old guy comes on and starts talking, you yell either "BORing" or "Where's your f--ing neck?!" (which always cracked me up.)

When Susan Sarandon is on screen, yell "B--ch!" or "Sl-t" and when ...whoever it is that plays Brad...is on screen, yell "A--hole!"

When the tap dance sceen comes on, people clap with the sound of the tapping.

Everybody does the Time Warp (as you said, you can hardly help it!)

I'm sure there was more, but that's all I remember. It's been years. In high school, it was an every Friday thing. We'd meet at the drive-in, some would dress up (or down, as the case may be).

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...enjoying the journey...

By the way, sorry for the language in my last post. I'm not sure how to clean it up any more than that. If our messages can be edited, maybe Terry can clean it up so no one will be offended. --thanks.

That was my daughter Linda1. She must have been about 5yrs old and she used to stand on the top rung of the front fence siging her lungs out. I don't know what the neighbours would have thought . I think I mentioned that in the Movie Forum

Oh, great, Minime. I read your post and promptly started laughing so hard I almost choked on my coffee! I wonder what the neighbors thought, too! One of these days, you're just going to _have_ to ask them and report back to us!

Check out this site, it gives an excellent explanation. http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/4198/script.txt

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...When I'm a good dog they sometimes throw me a bone in."

[This message has been edited by Leprechaun (edited 11-09-1999).]

Thanks Leprechaun!

I haven't thought of that movie in years!!

Besides those traditions mentioned: When Brad and Janet start sing about the light in the castle we raised our lighters in the air! Every Saturday night at midnight The show would begin, and every time they got to that scene the lighters would come out and they would stop the film until the lighters were put away!

Everyone needs to see this film at least twice! The first time you go you never see the movie, you're too busy watching the show!

Thanks for the memories!

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I gotta be me...everyone else was taken!

Hi everyone..

Did anyone read the movie script
of rocky horror show
the one that Leprechaun in?

If you don't mind the language it is very funny

regards
Caer

By the by, on Meat Loaf's knuckles are tatooed LOVE and HATE-a reference to that classic thriller "Night of the Hunter" with Robert Mitchum.(2 other films with the same ref are: "The Blues Brothers" and "Do the Right Thing")

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Terry Bigham

Up

Susan Sarandon got pneumonia from the set not being heated during the floor show. Just thought you might want to know it, the shows aren't as bad as they used to be(drugs and alcohol-wise). I was never old enough to go during the 70's and 80's, now if the theater crew thinks you have been drinking or your on drugs they won't let you in....at least that's how it is everywhere i've been(like 7 diff. places) because now the movie is popular among the younger crowds.

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~Don't dream it, be it~

The only reason why I watched the Rocky Horror Picture Show was because I saw the movie Fame and it got me interested in it. When I first saw the movie, being the big movie critic that I am, I didn't really care for it much. Then I saw it for a second time and it was the kind of movie that you can get up and just have fun with. Now I understand why it's such a colt classic.

I saw this film ages ago but I only saw it on video,it was still a good laugh though.I would advise anyone to see it at least once.