# Rocky Horror all day today

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [October 31, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968 "2010-10-31T13:38:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/1 "2010-10-31T13:38:09Z")

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Till 6am Monday morning on Fox Movie Channel- with the Super Heroes song & the reprise of Science Fiction Double Feature intact.

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**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/2 "2010-10-31T16:25:49Z")

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I know, I know… and I don’t get that channel. I get an assload of other channels, but for some reason that doesn’t come with my package. And I’m depressed about that.

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**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/3 "2010-10-31T19:27:57Z")

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I don’t get that channel, either, and my daughter took my DVD and MOVED TO VIRGINIA!!! ARRRRGH! She never would have gotten out the door had I but known!

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**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/4 "2010-10-31T19:31:21Z")

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“Rocky Horror all day today”

Best. Day. Ever.

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**Author:** ![monkeylucifer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@monkeylucifer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monkeylucifer)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/5 "2010-10-31T19:37:42Z")

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I think only DirectTV and Dish Network carry the channel. Alas, I have neither.

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**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/6 "2010-10-31T19:56:58Z")

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I have NEVER seen this movie. Not even a 5 minute clip. And I’ve looked for it from time to time.

So, in 5 minutes I’ll be turning it on!

Cool. I figure it’s going to suck (I’ve heard enough about it), but I have always wondered what the hub-bub has been over the past 35 years…

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**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/7 "2010-10-31T20:35:43Z")

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> [@Serenata67](#):
>
> I know, I know… and I don’t get that channel. I get an assload of other channels, but for some reason that doesn’t come with my package. And I’m depressed about that.

This.

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**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/8 "2010-10-31T20:52:08Z")

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45 minutes into this. I don’t get it. Can someone try to explain this thing to me. I mean, WTF?

And it’s a cult hit? I’m clearly too old for this.

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**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/9 "2010-10-31T21:17:56Z")

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> [@Stink Fish Pot](#):
>
> 45 minutes into this. I don’t get it. Can someone try to explain this thing to me. I mean, WTF?
> 
> And it’s a cult hit? I’m clearly too old for this.

It’s much better with the audience participation, especially the first time you see it.

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**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/10 "2010-10-31T21:32:38Z")

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> [@Infovore](#):
>
> It’s much better with the audience participation, especially the first time you see it.

I’ve heard about the audience participation to this movie, but I’m not sure how opening an umbrella at the same time would enhance my viewing pleasure. I’d be willing to try it, though, because I’m getting nothing out of the experience right now.

I’ve always wondered about the audience participation, and now that I’ve seen the movie, I wonder… how did the A. P. become defined, started, and agreed to in the first place?

Susan Sarandon’s body is rocking in this movie, though.

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**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/11 "2010-10-31T21:33:07Z")

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> [@monkeylucifer](#):
>
> I think only DirectTV and Dish Network carry the channel. Alas, I have neither.

I have DirecTV and I don’t get it either. I did get it, though, when I had Time Warner.

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**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/12 "2010-10-31T21:45:57Z")

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If you’ve never been to see it at a midnight show, just bear in mind that you’re only hearing about a third of the “real” dialog that makes it such a hit. The audience provides the rest. I’ve been to screenings where you basically can’t hear a single word from the actual audio track… the audience just takes it over entirely.

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**Author:** ![monkeylucifer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@monkeylucifer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monkeylucifer)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/13 "2010-10-31T21:53:04Z")

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> [@Stink Fish Pot](#):
>
> 45 minutes into this. I don’t get it. Can someone try to explain this thing to me. I mean, WTF?
> 
> And it’s a cult hit? I’m clearly too old for this.

Wait till you get to the ending and you’ll really be saying WTF.

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**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/14 "2010-10-31T21:53:39Z")

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I’ve only been to a couple of showings, but the concept of throwing toast during a movie makes it an instant win for me.

It’s just goofy; like a lot of other things \<sports comes to mind\>, half the experience comes from being with other people who also enjoy what’s going on.

And I have no idea how it became a hit; it’s really goofy! But I still like it; oddly enough, the Glee special on it actually made me like it a little more.

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**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/15 "2010-10-31T23:23:44Z")

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> [@Stink Fish Pot](#):
>
> 45 minutes into this. I don’t get it. Can someone try to explain this thing to me. I mean, WTF?
> 
> And it’s a cult hit? I’m clearly too old for this.

I’m watching it now, first time in a decade at least.

It helps to know…and yes this is a spoiler, but it HELPS to know, doesn’t detract…that those guests are all, like, aliens. They are, like, time-travelling to enjoy quaint parts of Earth, so it’s all very, very campy to them. It makes a little more sense to know that, I think.

Also, any time someone says something is a ‘cult hit’, immediately think ‘camp’, not serious. There is an element to camp that people either like, or don’t like, and there’s nothing wrong with not liking camp, nothing at all wrong.

But yah, it’s camp. High Camp. VERY high camp. :eek:

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**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/16 "2010-10-31T23:40:01Z")

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I’m there right now.

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**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/17 "2010-11-01T15:38:35Z")

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I like Rocky Horror and love the music. Sure the movie is silly and you can see they had a crap budget. But it was a very liberated and risque movie for when it came out, and they just don’t make movies now like they did then. Thinking also Barberella and Logan’s Run. All 3 of these movies had smoking hot actresses who were just starting out.

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**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/18 "2010-11-02T03:56:46Z")

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> [@Mikemike2](#):
>
> I like Rocky Horror and love the music. Sure the movie is silly and you can see they had a crap budget. But it was a very liberated and risque movie for when it came out, and they just don’t make movies now like they did then. Thinking also Barberella and Logan’s Run. All 3 of these movies had smoking hot actresses who were just starting out.

I can see the enjoyment of a low budget movie, and I can also enjoy a campy movie. Just about everything has its place. Even this movie.

However, I just didn’t get it. It did help to know the guests were all aliens. I don’t know exactly why, but it did help me enjoy it a little more!

those of you that are fans, the things I am fascinated in are

1. how the audience participation began and then took off, and finally became an integral part of this movie’s experience. Did it, for example, have a year-long run at a theater near a college campus, and those viewers started with the toast and umbrellas. How did that get passed along?

2. does this movie mean the same thing to any two people?

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**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/19 "2010-11-02T05:14:31Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> However, I just didn’t get it.

Go to a midnight screening. Otherwise you won’t get the cult aspect, because there isn’t anything to solve just by a close viewing of the movie itself. Whatever the movie is, it isn’t hiding it. The show isn’t what is happening on the screen, it’s on the stage in front of the screen and in the audience.

You keep referring to toast and umbrellas as shorthand for the audience participation thing. That is about 2% of what goes on at a good Rocky Horror screening. When I went in Houston in the late 80s, there was all manner of transgressive chaos going on. People were drunk, on drugs, and continuously yelling shit at the screen that was utterly obscene, awful, totally inappropriate, and hilarious. Sex was not hinted at, it was all out in the open, whateveryoulike. It was, in the best possible sense, a total freak show. The audience scared the hell out of me, because a lot of them were just totally bonkers, and were either oblivious about their craziness or determined to broadcast it as loudly as they could. Aside from all that spectacle, which would be more than enough to keep me coming back week after week, there was the fact that for somebody who was pretty weird, and before the internet existed to validate every subculture in existence, it was worth a lot, to maybe be the most normal person in a room for a couple of hours.

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**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2010, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocky-horror-all-day-today/558968/20 "2010-11-02T11:39:04Z")

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If that description scared you away, don’t worry - I’ve never been to a showing that was out of control. Just a lot of people shouting funny things at the screen, with newspaper over their heads as squirt guns shoot water in the sky, toast or hot dogs are tossed into the air, flashlights are held up and occasionally a cup of water is flung over a shoulder. It is more fun than you can imagine, and watching it on TV made me very nostalgic.

The cult thing developed very quickly. It started in 1973 as a stage show in London, moved briefly to Broadway (where it flopped), and came out as a movie that went nowhere - until they started midnight showings. I don’t know if the audience participation started while it was a on screen or on stage, though. I just know it became a cult sensation when the midnight shows started.

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