Win Tickets to the 35th Anniversary Screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show
Photo courtesy Sins O' The Flesh / Lucas Miller
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — 35 years later, are you still shivering with antici-pation?
Next weekend, Downtown Los Angeles plays host to SinsCon, a convention of Rocky Horror Picture fans celebrating the motions picture's 35th year in continuous theatrical release.
The rock musical was bashed by critics when it premiered in 1975, but by 1977 was a staple of midnight screenings known for elaborate audience interaction, with repeat attendees dressed as their favorite characters and performing dance numbers or singing along in their seats and the aisles.
Convention events include an opening reception and pajama party at the Standard on Thursday night, a costume pageant at Club 740 and prom at the Alexandria on Friday, and on Saturday night a screening of Rocky Horror at the Million Dollar Theatre, with an introduction by star Barry Bostwick. For the full schedule and ticket info visit their official site.
We're giving away two pairs of tickets for Saturday night's screening. For your chance to win, tell us in the comments below about your favorite Rocky Horror picture show experience. If you've never attended one of the midnight shows, that's totally okay - just let us know what's been keeping you (if you win, we promise they'll take extra special care of you). Entries accepted until Tuesday at noon.
eviltikimonkey on September 20, 2010, at 08:48AM – #1
my favorite memory is still my first midnight experience! watching everyone, learning what to say when and just enjoying the entire experience. It was life changing!!!
Ryan Sullivan on September 20, 2010, at 08:50AM – #2
The best time was when I popped my Rocky Horror live performance cherry and saw it while in college. I was one of those people that they took extra care of and I'm glad I wasn't sober for a second of it.
Guest on September 20, 2010, at 08:57AM – #3
My parents were big RHPS fans (I'm about the same age as the movie) and played the soundtrack album around our house all the time. I loved the music, and they thought it was adorable when I sang along.
When the four-year-old me sang Sweet Transvestite for my grandmother and her friends, though, not so much.
David Markland on September 20, 2010, at 09:22AM – #4
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Francisco Flores on September 20, 2010, at 09:31AM – #5
I remember getting into the Rocky Horror Picture show a decade ago when the 25th anniversary was happening and went to the show at the Art Theater in Long Beach a couple of times, totally blew my mind. Halloween time in 2007 me and friends dressed up as RHPS characters, i was Eddie and my ex GF was Columbia. good times were had by all.
Heather Johnson (@hnjohnso) on September 20, 2010, at 09:33AM – #6
I had the greatest time seeing it live in Pasadena while still in high school. I will never forget how awesome this is!
My mom was a huge fan and owned the soundtrack also. !!!
heather n johnson at gmail dot com
Marla on September 20, 2010, at 09:49AM – #7
Sadly I've never been to a midnight screening with all the frills.When the Rialto shut down a few years ago, I lost hope of seeing it authentically anywhere locally.
My favorite Rocky Horror experience though was acting out the part of Magenta for a Jr High lipsynch contest. Me and four friends watched the time-warp dance sequence at least 40 times and then practiced in my parents backyard for a few hours until our 8th grade sass was down to a tee.
I'm sure I could unlock those dance moves again if only given the opportunity....
Maureen Anne on September 20, 2010, at 10:44AM – #8
My father bought me the movie for Christmas when I was 12 years old and I watched it literally every day for years (I've seen it over 2,000 times at this point!). Eventually my friends and I, living in the middle of the mojave desert and having no access to midnight screenings, downloaded the script complete with audience participation cues and we constructed our own group of players for the show! Practicing with my friends and performing as Columbia after years of worshiping the movie is still hands down my favorite memory! Bar none to seeing it on Broadway or my frequent jaunts to the Nuart on Saturdays when I did finally move to Los Angeles.
Phillip Warren on September 20, 2010, at 11:26AM – #9
My favorite experience has to have been my first. Almost a decade ago, I took a girlfriend-to-be on our first date. Neither one of us had ever been to Rocky Horror before, so clearly a de-virginizing needed to be done. We went up on stage, where we placed our hands over our groins and had our arms jiggled by cast members. Much to my chagrin, it turned out my ex girlfriend was in the cast. And that's how, on my first date with a long time girlfriend, an ex-girlfriend jiggled my junk at the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
So awkward it became a timeless and treasured memory.
Piper on September 20, 2010, at 03:41PM – #10
The first time going to a midnight showing might not always be the best show you'll see, but it's always the most memorable.
For my first time, I tried to dress as weird and tarty as I could but I was still immediately marked by some guy running through the line outside yelling "VIRGIN!" -- A V on my chest in bright red lipstick. Must have been my "deer caught in headlights" look.
When the newbs were called up, my task was to give some blindfolded guy a lap dance with two other girls. Which of course wasn't sexy in the least, we were just trying to cope with the mob yelling and whistling at us. It was great.
The night was rowdy and immature and ridiculous and loud. Pretty typical, and everything I had built it up to be.
Oh, and I ended up going home with "Brad" at the end of the night. What better way to complete my first midnight Rocky experience? (Well, maybe if it had been Frankfurter...)
Mary Zaint (@maryzaint) on September 20, 2010, at 06:13PM – #11
When I was in high school about 12 years ago my friends and I convinced my dad to see a midnight rhps screening with us in long beach. We told everyone he was a virgin, they drew all over his face, and humped the hell out of him!! It was hilarious! He was such a good sport about it too. :)
Suzanne on September 21, 2010, at 12:19PM – #12
My first Rocky Horror experience was with my parents and grandparents at 8 years old. I fell in love with it and since I was new to the country back then, I made my parents take me as often as possible. I loved the whole experience of just being a part of the movie where they squirt water bottles when the rain scenes came up and when they threw rice during the wedding, calling Brad "asshole" whenever he came on the screen and Janet as "slut"...Classic! It's one of those memories that clearly stick out. I can't believe it's 35 years old! Such a classic movie. My parents love the movie and surprisingly so did my grandparents. One of my first childhood memories as a new American!
David Markland on September 21, 2010, at 02:20PM – #13
That was fun - thanks to everyone who entered!