Local fans of ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ trash Utah Theatre

Actor Tim Curry (center) appeared in his iconic role in 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' on Oct. 28 at the Utah Theatre.

LOGAN — More than 300 fanatic fans of the Rocky Horror Picture Show trashed the pristine Utah Theatre here on the evening of Oct. 28.

And they had a darned good time doing it, too!

There were occasions when you could barely hear the movie’s soundtrack over the ongoing festivities. That’s because those fanatic fans weren’t there to watch the movie, they were there to participate in it.

It’s a Halloween tradition, which the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre allowed to happen, though I don’t envy them the process of cleaning the theater after that annual showing.

The Rocky Horror Show franchise first began as a 1973 live musical review in London’s West End theater district and then moved Off-Broadway – way off, in fact.

For reasons completely unknown, 20th Century Fox released the film version of the show, starring members of its original cast, in 1975.

That included Barry Bostwick, who would go on to fame on television’s Spin City; Susan Sarandon, who became an award-winning actress many times over; and Tim Curry, in one of the most uninhibited performances in movie history.

My personal favorite is Meat Loaf, a legitimate rock star (remember the albums Bat Out of Hell 1 and 2?) who plays a corpse for most of the film.

The movie quickly died at the box office, but began to develop a cult following almost immediately.

Audiences began participating with the film at the Waverly Theater in New York City in 1976.

Initially, they simply talked back to the screen. It was like Mystery Science Theater 3000, but with the whole audience riffing in unison.

Later the film’s fans began dressing as the characters, spawning similar displays across the country.

At almost the same time, fans in costume at the King’s Court Theater in Pittsburgh began actually performing alongside the film.

This “shadow cast” mimed the actions on screen above and behind them, while lip-syncing their character’s lines.

The local performance of Rocky Horror Picture Show began with a traditional costume contest, although the costumes were anything but traditional.

About a third of the audience – mostly college-age kids – turned out in costume, although only a select group were brave enough to parade their costumes on stage.

Of course, there were also senior citizens in the audience, reliving their misspent youth by acting juvenile.

Then came the film.

At appropriate moments, the audience responded by throwing rice, toasted bread slices and toilet paper. You had to be there to get it.

Everyone was on their feet to dance “The Time Warp.” Ditto, ditto.

The Festival Opera aided and abetted those antics by selling “Rocky Horror Kits,” complete with newspaper, toast, rice, playing cards, toilet paper and tiny water pistols.

It was admittedly very messy, but a good time was had by all.

If the Utah Theatre does it again next year, don’t miss it.

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15 Comments

  • notwithmytaxdollars October 31, 2022 at 12:45 pm Reply

    So if they were allowed to trash the Utah theatre, will Utah Festival Opera be using RAPZ money to clean it up?

    • DSA October 31, 2022 at 4:22 pm Reply

      Please read the article rather than just reading the headline.

    • Teri Guy October 31, 2022 at 7:59 pm Reply

      Do you just sit around and wait for things to complain about?

  • AKH October 31, 2022 at 2:49 pm Reply

    I was introduced to the film in high school and I’ve never looked back! By far the BEST film to date! The versatility of Tim Curry is undeniable! Meatloaf as Eddie sparked within me a love for his music that will never die! Knowing the call backs is absolutely a riot and anybody who doesn’t know them, is referred to as a RHPS virgin, and should be educated immediately! My love for the film runs deep!!

    • Gothgirl November 1, 2022 at 11:05 am Reply

      Same here. My all time favorite film. They didn’t trash the theater they did what we all do when going to participate in this event

  • heather October 31, 2022 at 7:21 pm Reply

    In 1993, I dressed as Magenta for our community’s safe Halloween for the kids (companies & organizations had tables or booths at the college sports dome). Only one person knew exactly who I was (thank you sir!). Nowadays, I would play Dr. Scott, as I now have a wheelchair after years of illness, but I would do so with the same love, passion & most of all, “for the thriiiiiiiiiiiills!”

  • Victor R. Ziblis November 1, 2022 at 8:27 am Reply

    You should at least spell the name of the actors correctly.

    • Lori R Boulais November 1, 2022 at 4:32 pm Reply

      I’m just happy it has lasted this long. My virgin experience was in high school and we participated but not to the extent they do now. Just the yelling back and the props. Not the acting and dressing up to do the movie. Best movie ever. Don’t know why Tim Curry would be embarrassed of it now. One of his best films

  • monkeygonetoheaven November 1, 2022 at 11:17 am Reply

    I’m just happy that something happened around his backwood-hillbilly town to freak out all the squares.

  • Scott November 1, 2022 at 5:38 pm Reply

    We used to go to the Blue Mouse (when it existed) to participate in RH all the time. Good times. I’m glad some theater is willing to keep it going. I might have to look into this, it’s been a long time.

  • Ace November 2, 2022 at 4:06 am Reply

    “For reasons completely unknown, 20th Century Fox released the film version of the show, starring members of its original cast, in 1975.”

    Uh, the reasons are known. The play had a successful run in L.A. (where they picked up Meat Loaf) while Fox was making Phantom of the Paradise, which the studio expected to be the ginormous hit that it most definitely wasn’t (except in Winnipeg). The studio heads were changing as Rocky got filming, but it was too late to halt pproductions and the new regime had no idea what to do with it. Noting the success of midnight movies like Pink Flamingos, they ultimately put it on the midnight circuit, and the rest is history. PS Ironically, Jessica Harper, star of Phantom, took over Sarandon’s role in the little-known sequel to Rocky, Shock Treatment.

  • B November 2, 2022 at 7:23 am Reply

    I hate when article headlines make it sound like they destroyed the place. The place knew what was going to happen. It is disclosed to them. That is why the tickets are normally higher to get into a show so they can pay for a cleaning crew otherwise the props wouldn’t be there. My husband introduced me to the live show. I was introduced to the movie when I was 10years old by my uncle. Never stop loving it. It is now tradition if we can’t go to a show on Halloween we watch it at home.

  • MAW from Marr Branch November 2, 2022 at 8:19 am Reply

    I work at a haunted house in Mt Olive NC called Marr Branch. I perform the “Time Warp” in front of our customers.. just to see if anyone will join in and some do!

  • Jim November 3, 2022 at 2:41 pm Reply

    Movie was good, but where was that dude’s neck?

  • Truth setter November 3, 2022 at 2:52 pm Reply

    This isn’t new news at all… This isn’t the only theater in utah that does this either.
    There’s a historical theater in Ogden that sells out quicker then the Logan theater.
    I went to a showing 6 year’s ago finally, after seeing this even as a child and I’m now 33 so it’s been 16+ year’s that this has been happening every year.

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