The legend of The Rocky Horror Picture Show hits BU
By Mehak ‘May’ Oberoi, Junior Reporter
“Stand up if you’ve never seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show live before.”
Half the auditorium stands up. Three people are picked out from the crowd and brought onto the stage, where they each pop a red balloon. All the Rocky Horror virgins are popping their cherry tonight.
Released on September 25, 1975, the movie was initially a bust in theaters. Since then, however, it’s amassed a following that’s made it a legend of its time and culture, transcending its status as a cult flick to becoming an iconic film of the 70s. It’s also long been an important work for the LGBTQIA+ community. In the preshow, host and Brandon pride chair Aly Wowchuk talked about the political relevance of the film. "We start with a reminder that the Rocky Horror Picture Show is a product of its time and does contain outdated ideas and poor representation of those in the queer community, especially transgender individuals, gender-queer, and bisexuals,” she said. “It also introduced a generation to gender expression, self-discovery, and sexuality in a time where it was taboo and has played a large part in queer culture and identity years since.” As movie theaters grow increasingly irrelevant, Rocky Horror is a reminder of the importance of theaters as a way for a community to gather together. Since its release, it's been an opportunity for like-minded people to be themselves in a welcoming environment.
Passion for watching the film live has resulted in an accumulation of traditions. The hosts of the event sold survival kits at the door (which were so popular that they sold out before the show started). Within the kits, you could find a printed copy of the guide to audience interaction, along with a strange assortment of objects. This is one of the few films where you’re actually encouraged to talk and scream loudly as the film plays. Audience members threw objects in the air, heckled the characters and sang along to the music.
As the opening scenes began, the audience threw confetti in the air as the wedding party of the film walked down the church steps. In Rocky Horror tradition, the audience yelled ‘Boring’ as the narrator went on too long. Glow Sticks were waved during ‘Over At the Frankenstein Place’, and the audience started dancing in the aisles during ‘Sweet Transvestite.’ At one point, a roll of toilet paper landed at my feet. Art is not dead.
The event ended with the costume contest, which was sponsored by Smitten, and judged by Brandon Pride and House of Hex. It’s tradition for a Rocky Horror viewing to end with a costume contest and other audience activities, with the first costume contest for the film happening in 1974, a year before release. Audience members were able to sign up to the contest, then judged on stage. Two finalists were chosen, who battled it out in a lip-synch contest for first place.
The film will celebrate its 48th anniversary this year. If the past is any indication, viewings will be happening for years to come.