Rocky Horror Fever

The Fremont Theatre was abuzz with excitement last night as fans flocked to the 7:30 p.m. showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The sidewalk and the theater lobby alike were both filled with an assortment of various Rockys, Brads, Janets, Magentas, Columbias and more from the cult classic film.

Before the movie started, audience members competed for prizes as they answered movie trivia questions. Prizes were also awarded to several people in categories ranging from best costume, most original costume and most classic character.

Alexandra Ruttschou, an 18-year-old film major attending Cuesta College, came dressed to the nines as Columbia and won a prize for her costume.

Ruttschou said it was her first time experiencing “Rocky Horror” in full theater mode. She said it was something she would always remember.

“I have seen the movie before but never in this way,” Ruttschou said. “I had the best time and I would definitely come and do it again.”

Travis Apgar, an earth science sophomore at Cal Poly, said he had never seen “Rocky Horror” before and he just wanted to come and check it out.

“It’s the funnest movie I think I’ve ever been to see,” Apgar said. “You get to yell at the screen and throw things in the air; it was great.”

He came dressed as the only “Rocky Horror” among the whole group. Apgar scored the prize for the best overall costume, or lack thereof, as he jokingly pointed out. His costume consisted of some small gold shorts and not much else.

“I gotta admit the costume is pretty skimpy,” Apgar said. “But it was still fun to wear.”

He said that his first “Rocky” experience was a pretty good one and he will be back again.

“I thought it was amazing,” Apgar said. “It was a great experience; I’ll definitely do it again.”

Willy Kenyon, 18, and Rachel Santa Cruz, 15, came to the movie dressed as a classic S&M couple. Both said they have been to other shows in the past and had a great time.

Santa Cruz said that people coming to the show and being able to have self-expression is a great thing.

“I think it’s great how everybody can come and express themselves,” Santa Cruz said. “It’s important that people can come and dress however they want to without worry. It’s a very freeing concept.”

Terri Leaf, 46, of Grover Beach, said that she went to her first “Rocky Horror” showing at a very young age.

“It was the late 1970s and I was only about 17 years old,” Leaf said. “But I had the time of my life the first time around.”

She said she has waited a long time to come to another show and she is thrilled to be a part of the experience once again.

“It took me 30 years to get to my next ‘Picture’ show,” Leaf said. “I am so excited to be here.”

Leaf spoke about the differences she witnessed since attending her first “Rocky Horror” experience.

“Definitely the outfits,” Leaf said. “The outfits are a lot more less there than they were the first time I did this.”

Leaf also spoke about the generation gap of her first “Rocky Horror” experience between then and now.

“It’s actually great to see the younger kids coming out and doing this,” Leaf said. “This is harmless fun and it’s also history, too, because of the fact that it has been around for such a long time.”

Overall, “Rocky Horror” remains a cult classic film that continues to bridge the gaps between the areas of physical age, the bonds of human sexuality and the limits of tolerance.

“Rocky Horror” is a timeless piece of filmmaking that has transcended the boundaries of time for the past 30 years, and will continue to do so for as long as the human mind can expand and accept its own diverse nature.