It was a night out. . .

2021-08-16T01:55:54Z

On this day in 1975, the Rocky Horror Picture Show opened in the United States.

It flopped.

But on the midnight movie circuit, it became a cult, and I joined that cult in 1978 or 79. I cannot overstate how important the RHPS was to me as a teenager. I was a shy, skinny kid with very few friends. Getting into Rocky and joining casts meant being part of something for the first time, having friends, and if you want to get over your shyness, I can recommend running around a theater in your underwear while people scream "ASSHOLE!" at you.

Yes, I played Brad. I eventually played every role in various shadow casts and saw the movie well over 500 times. OK, to be honest, I saw the movie like five times. The rest of the time I was in the cast, acting out, bellowing call-back lines, and reveling in the sheer joy of doing something different and somewhat forbidden. After all, in a movie theater, one keeps quiet and doesn't throw things. Also, pants usually remain on. But Rocky was liberating, and just so much damn fun!

So here's to every cast I ever played with, every Janet I ever proposed to, to every post-show feast of french fries and ranch dressing, and to that skeezy gas station (long since vanished) where I'd gas up my car while still mostly in costume. Those were great days. And always remember.

Don't dream it, be it. Because. . .

On our world, we'll do the Time Warp AGAIN!

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Douglas E. Berry

It was a night out. . .