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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 1980)
NA/VO-L ClNDOldV Horror Show returns HORROR pir.TURP m ‘Rocky’ rookies By KATHLEEN McELROY Since the price of seeing “The Rocky Horror Picture Show" has gone up considerably over the last couple of years, it’s no longer possible for novices to watch the movie five or six times before getting into the groove. Now every showing counts. So here’s a rookie’s guide to the "Rocky Horror Picure Show” — everything a first-timer needs to know before he goes. Paraphernalia: To save costs, try not to buy these items alone. Find a friend who also wants to waste a box a rice on total strangers. Also try to buy them ahead of time, just in case the U-Tote-Em around the corner sells out. 1. rice — it doesn't matter whether or not it’s converted or wild, just as long as it’s not cooked. 2. paper — not Kleenex, but newspaper. 3. a light — preferably a disposable lighter, because candles tend to be messy. It’s much easier just to flick your Bic. 4. toast — not to the movie, but the dry bread type. 5. hot dog (optional) — most moviegoers prefer everyone keeping his weiner to himself. 6. playing cards — don’t throw them kamakazi style, toss them up in the air. Dance Steps: The only dance that counts is the Time Warp which in fact is a JUMP to the left, then a STEP to the right. Put your HANDS on your hip, BEND your knees in tight, it’s the PELIVC THRUST, then just a little SWAY. Then you try to do it again, this time without stepping on anyone’s foot. Dialogue: The audience tends to be more vulgar than the actual dialogue, and you’d have to hear yourself anyway. But one fast-paced sequ ence worth knowing ahead of time as follows: Janet, Dr. Scott, Janet, Brad, Rocky, huh. You’ll have figure out for yourself who these people are. Attitude: As in tennis, never admit you’re new at this game — no one will sit with you because who wants to give a play-by-play? So just lay back, and if you’re asked why aren’t you singing along, act like your hangover’s already started. It’ll probably be true. By KATHLEEN A. WAKEFIELD Battalion Reporter The people who have taken their brown paper bags filled with rice and toast to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show” may not be able to dance the time warp at the Campus Theater much longer. I’ll be surprised if the movie holds until April,” theater manager Mark Shulman said. When Rocky Horror first appeared, it filled the 714 seats in the theater. Now that the movie has played at the Campus for 2 and a half years, the audience has shrunk, with only 100 to 200 people currently coming to each showing. The problem with Rocky Horror is that the theaters have run it to death, Schulman said. “The future for the movie looks bad,” he said, "but I will continue to run it as long as it holds out with the audience.” To prolong the movies’s popularity here, Schulman said he plans to show Rocky Horror only when he has an open slot in his midnight movie schedule. "Rocky Horror has been the best midnight show around,” Schul man said. From May 1978 through May 1979, Rocky Horror provided over 50 percent of the theater’s total revenue. The film also helped during the “crunch period"; the time when the theaters 7 and 10 p.m. features weren’t that good. “You could expect between 400 and 500 peoole to come to the Rocky Horror showing at midnight,” he said. Schulman said Rocky Horror now accounts for only 25 percent of the theater’s revenue. This percentage is not really bad, he said, since the movie has not been playing every weekend. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has attracted a cult following around the country. The reason for its popularity is that the theater audience is invited to participate along with the actors and actresses on the screen in the theater by singing, dancing and thowing rice. The movie’s narrator teaches the audience a dance step, complete with dance chart and instructions. The plot involves a young engaged couple, Brad and Janet, who happen upon a mad scientist, Dr. Frankenfurter, and his beautiful, muscle-bound, blond creation, Rocky. Schulman said the movie has posed several problems. Several seats have been ripped and a bottle had been thrown through the screen causing considerable damage. “I enjoy people having a good time and I understand that when people come to see the movie thay are in a hell-raising mood, but I don’t tear up people’s property and I don’t expect them to tear up mine.” Doing the time warp again By KATHLEEN McELROY While some Aggies were probably into Kyle Field for the ritual of mid night yell practice, a few were trek king to another, more global rite. Yes, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” that madcap musical about cosmic monster-making. "Rocky Horror” started off as a humble play, then an even humbler movie that has now become the “Star Wars” of cult films. “Rocky Horror” has to seen with an open mind because it praises everything most religious and poli tical groups disavow. But what most forget, is that by the end everybody (well, almost everyone) suffers for their actions. Therefore, “Rocky Horror” is just as moral as any episode of the Un touchables. Would ya believe “Kojak“? There have been larger crowds at the Campus. One excuse for this small crowd could be the yell prac tice, but another was the price. Back in old days — at least two years ago — “Rocky Horror“was the ultimate cheap thrill for its cost just one dollar. Thanks to inflation, the price is $2.50—a Jumbo Jack with cheese, flings, AND an apple pie. The first scene, a wedding, is the cue for audience participation. Somehow that’s not exactly the right term — it’s more audience in vasion. From behind me comes a hailstorm of rice, of which I won’t know the full effect until I pull the grains out of my hair the next morning. In “Rocky Horror” the audience plays the malevolent god — they know everything that’s about to happen, everyone’s thoughts. The more you see it, the more you’re in control of the situation, so those who’ve seen it 50 times probably know more about this movie than anything else they’ve seen outside the theater. The audience, cast as the ulti mate Big Brother, laughs as its sub jects time warp their lives away. The best visual element of “Rocky Horror” is Tim Curry’s Frank-N-Furter, who probably has one of the most dramatic entrances in cinema history and the best make-up job, male or female, for a role. True, Franky does have unusual sex habits and can be a little cruel at times, still he’s best looking trans- i K I x X I vestite who ever graced the screen. The first part of Rocky Horror has excellent tempo with the songs driv ing it on. All the major characters with the exception of Dr. Scott are smoothly introduced and meshed in the action. Meatloaf, that over weight, but energetic rock singer puts everything he has (literally) into his “Hot Patootie” number. But the movie starts to drag. I’m no “Rocky Horror” fanatic, because I’ve only seen it 12 times (mostly when it was just a buck), but I’ve conditioned myself to ignore parts I don’t like. So I fell asleep, waking up just in time for the floor show. For those interested, a hint: it’s not Johnson & Johnson wax con vention for homemakers. But it’s not exactly the shocking sequence of irrevelence and immorality it used to be. But then it’s always more fun when it’s your first time. Rotlly Horror^-' 'Oo throw riCE? r's oo THE- TWE. VARfy A6AIV ... * r. r* JOST A SWEET ‘ TRANSVESTITE. Th.j \ f «. WClRD movie. 'o MSC OUTDOOR RECREATION EQUIPMENT RENTAL Phone: 845-4511 Hours: Monday 8 a.m.-12 noon Tuesday 12 noon-5 p.m. Thursday 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Friday 1 p.m.-6 p.m. canoes backpacks stoves tents lanterns and so much more! Equipment rental is open to students, faculty and staff of TAMU. Reservations may be made up to two weeks in advance of rental date. A reservation list is located by MSC Outdoor Recreation cubicle in room 216 MSC. Equipment not reserved is available on a first come, first serve basis. Call during rental hours (845-4511) to check on availability of any item. All equipment is picked up & returned behind Grove Screen. Sirloin Strip • Filet • Rib Eye • Shrimp Scampi • Prime Rib • Broiled Lobster • Stuffed Flounder RESTAURANT HOURS Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-lO p.m. Saturday 6-11 p.m. Closed on Sundays TWO !/2 PRICE HAPPY HOURS Monday-Friday 4-6:30 p.m. & 10 p.m.-Midnight 815 Harvey Rd. (Highway 30) College Station, Texas 77840 693-1991 Yes! We do take reservations!