Don’t dream it, be it: What Rocky Horror means to generations of Milwaukee fans
Video Credit: Sensual Daydreams Youtube Channel
Author's note: This article contains terminology that is now considered outdated and offensive but is used within the context of the film. The author condemns the use of slurs towards any group of people, including the transgender community and any transphobic responses to this article will be deleted and the poster blocked.
For nearly fifty years, Milwaukee residents have flocked in droves to the historic Oriental Theater just before midnight, clad in unusual outfits and waiting to purchase strange kits containing toilet paper . One might say they’re unconventional conventionalists, arriving in the dead of night wearing strange costumes or even lingerie. And once the show starts inside, they call out jokes to the screen with near religious devotion, as live performers from Milwaukee’s own shadow cast, Sensual Daydreams, act them out time and time again
If you’re unfamiliar with the plot of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, here's a brief synopsis. The film focuses on Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon), a newly engaged couple who take refuge in a strange castle that turns out to be the home of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a charismatic scientist with mysterious origins. Over the course of one night, he turns their worlds upside down, threatening the ideals they once held dear and exposing parts of themselves they never knew existed.
The film was considered radical for its time and was far from being an instant hit. But while the film was initially deemed a commercial failure when it was first released in 1975, it found a home among a rapidly growing fanbase and soon developed a cult following.
More and more people heard of the film and flocked to the theaters, with fans gathering dressed as the characters from the film to throw toilet paper at the screen and to shout callbacks, audience participation lines timed to specific sections of the movie.
By the 1980s, the film had transitioned from a commercial failure to a cultural phenomenon and was increasingly considered to be a lifeline for the LGBT+ community, especially during a time of intense homophobic backlash and the ongoing AIDS crisis.
For many Rocky fans, the film also provided a sense of acceptance they couldn't find anywhere else.
"I was a weirdo oddball with ADHD who didn't know how to fit in, so RHPS was a place where you could just be you." says Nika, who first saw Rocky Horror at the Oriental theater twenty-one years ago. "It was like nothing I had ever experienced before."
For others, the film was their first taste of representation. Lucifer Adams was Sensual Daydreams very own Frank-N-Furter for nearly a decade. When asked how he first came to be introduced to the show, he told me how empowering it was when he saw it for the first time at eight years old.
"Growing up in the suburbs I was really isolated from seeing queerness that wasn’t my own in my everyday life. So watching Rocky and feeling some deeper thing in this shitty musical that the people around me weren’t seeing or feeling was disorienting. Watching Tim Curry parade around in his little fishnets and heels was empowering because I was seeing a 'transsexual' happy and proud and thriving and it was foundational to what I try to embody in my life. And this came out in the seventies!"
When asked how many times he’s seen Rocky Horror, he laughed and said it had to be somewhere in the hundreds. He later noted "If Rocky Horror came out today, I feel like right wingers would lose their minds!"
"I saw it in 2004, so conversations are gender identity and queerness and gender expression weren't really even being had at the time." reflected Nika. "But I definitely was friends with a very eclectic group of kids back in the day, and it was a place where you could be accepted for who you are. It was outrageous and freeing in the best ways."
Since its release, the film is still going strong and today, Rocky Horror is widely considered to be a landmark for LGBT+ cinema, including in Milwaukee. The film has run there since 1978, granting the Oriental Theater the honor of having the single longest continuous showing of the film in the world.
And while the film has received more mainstream acceptance in recent years, including being inducted in the National Film Registry twenty years ago, many fans argue its message is still as radical and revolutionary as ever.
When asked about the role of the film in the present day, Lucifer made his answer very clear. "People are so afraid of queerness now, especially as we’re seeing violent backlash against even the mention of gender diverse folks! Rocky horror is not only is a classic piece of queer art but brings people into community with each other."
And while many newcomers may be intimated by the show, longtime fans say there's no reason to be.
"Don’t be afraid to express yourself!" says Emily Kennedy-Gott, who estimates she's seen the film nearly half a dozen times. "I’m happy it’s a cult classic and to be a part of the Rocky community. Everyone is so kind and not afraid to express themselves."
"Expect it to be loud." Advises Nika. "Expect to not know what the hell is happening and to just go with the flow. You probably won't be able to follow the already very loose plot but that's not the point anyway. Enjoy the music, the vibe, the camaraderie."
When asked about the relevancy of the film in the present day, Nika took a moment to think.
"Almost right away I was reminded of how relevant it still is. Sure, is some of the terminology outdated? But it's also still just as provocative and meaningful as ever. It's a beautiful movie with a lot of tenderness at its core, in a weird way."
Lucifer couldn't agree more. "Rocky Horror to me means queer liberation, trans history, and community." He later added "The fact that people all round the world still perform this show because they love it so much is instrumental to preserving queer history."
One thing is clear. As Rocky Horror gets ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary, local fans are more than ready to celebrate the occasion, with both long-time attendees and newcomers ready to give themselves over to absolute pleasure. Tickets for the show can be purchased on the Oriental Theater website and those who want to learn more about both the show and the cast that performs it on the second Saturday of every month can visit the official Sensual Daydreams cast website.
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