‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s 50th anniversary – Shiver with antici…pation for multiple celebrations

August 14 marked the 50th anniversary of the first screenings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” the cult favorite adaptation of the successful stage play. The story about fiancés Brad and Janet’s wild night in the castle of a strange scientist has become a cult favorite in queer communities and among allies as well. Along with a new Blu-ray for home viewing, multiple  screenings and Q&As with some of the film’s stars will take place across the country, and in San Francisco, where the nightclub version of the musical will return.
Although Richard O’Brien’s musical was not at first a success in its film adaptation, the legendary midnight showings, thought up by a young 20th Century Fox executive, attracted college students and fans who eventually started talking back to the screen, bringing props and costumes and, initially at downtown New York City’s Waverly Cinema, developed into what came to be known as shadow casts, comprised of superfans who mimicked the action on-screen up and down the theater aisles.

Audience members would throw toast, squirt water pistols, and protect their heads with newspapers, depending on the accompanying onscreen action. Many devoted fans were known to attend screenings hundreds of times. Some fans credit the film for their sexual awakening.

Wild and untamed thing
For myself, I was already sexually awake when I was recruited into becoming part of a fall 1979 shadow cast (as Brad Majors) at the Kent Theater in Ohio. I did write about the experience, and some awkward and funny moments in a blog post, in a short story, “A Toast to Rocky” in my anthology “40 Wild Crushes,” and in a fictional account of the 1980s Philadelphia screenings in my fifth novel, “Message of Love.” So, I guess the film has, as with many fans, stuck with me.

You’re into a time slip
To celebrate the 50th anniversary, a new 4K restoration will be screened at cinemas around the U.S. A special screening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will include several of the film’s stars, and a North American fan tour features cast members like Barry Bostwick, Nell Campbell, and Patricia Quinn. The San Francisco stop on the tour will include Nell Campbell in a Q&A and screening, with a shadow cast, at the Curran Theatre on October 23.

A new Blu-ray edition will also be released for sale. Additional events include official conventions, Q&As with the cast and crew, and some new merchandise from brands like Funko and Loungefly.

And for fans of the musical stage show, Oasis Arts and Ray of Light Theater company collaborate once again for an immersive hilarious nightclub version of the musical starring D’Arcy Dollinger as Frank-N-Furter. The show runs October 9 through 31, and will be the last of this version of the show, as Oasis will unfortunately close after 2025.

"Strange Journey," the documentary about the musical and film, directed by Linus O'Brien, Richard's son, premieres September 26.
http://www.rockyhorrordoc.com

What’s on the slab
Of course, the Bay Area has a rich history with both the film and stage musical, which enjoyed a Broadway revival in 2001.

The first known San Francisco stage show of the musical was in 1976 at the Montgomery Playhouse (622 Broadway). Participatory midnight screenings were already a regular event at The Larkin Cinema for a mere $2.

Ray of Light Theater originally produced earlier versions of the musical from 2015 to 2019 at the Victoria Theater with J.A. Valentine as Furter, and later productions starring Drollinger. The show moved to the nightclub Oasis four years ago to acclaim and sold-out shows.

In 2020, Peached Christ welcomed actors Barry Bostwick, Patricia Quinn and Nell Campbell to the Castro Theatre stage for an SF Sketchfest screening and Q&A. Quinn returned in 2023 for a Curran Theatre screening and Q&A.

And, in February 2025, Peaches Christ welcomed Tim Curry at a special night at the Sydney Goldstein Theater as part of SF Sketchfest (The Bold Italic).

Despite recovering from a stroke in 2012, Curry will also have his memoir, "Vagabond," published in October (Hachette). Also in books, Mick Rock, the official on-set photographer, will share plenty of never-before-seen photos from the film's production, in "Rocky Horror: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Cult Classic" in October (Harper Collins).

A.C.T. produced a version of the musical in 2019, and The Bawdy Caste has performed along with film screenings for years in Berkeley, and next on August 30 at the Balboa Theater.

It was great when it all began, but it seems even better 50 years later. A toast to “Rocky!”

‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ U.S. tour:
https://www.scottstander.com/rocky.html

Nell Campbell at ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Curran Theatre screening and Q&A, $67-$100 VIP, Oct. 23, 8pm. Afterparty $30. 445 Geary St.
https://www.broadwaysf.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/

‘The Rocky Horror Show’ at Oasis, $52, 7pm, Oct. 9-31, 395 11th St.
https://www.sfoasis.com/