1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class. It's production of I Heart Radio. Hi, 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,479 Speaker 1: I'm Eves, and Welcome to This Day in History Class, 3 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,959 Speaker 1: a show that uncovers a little bit more about history 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: every day. Today is August nineteen. The day was August nineteen. 5 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: The film The Rocky Horror Picture Show premiered in London 6 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,840 Speaker 1: at the Rialto Cinema, based on a stage play called 7 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: The Rocky Horror Show. The movie is still in limited 8 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 1: release in theaters across the United States. The play The 9 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: Rocky Horror Show opened in London in nineteen seventy three. 10 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: Actor and writer Richard O'Brien wrote the musical, which nods 11 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: to science fiction, be horror movies, and rock and roll. 12 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: In the play, a couple gets caught in a storm, 13 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: gets a flat tire, and ends up at the castle 14 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: of a scientist named Dr Frankenfurter. It featured Tim Curry, 15 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: Patricia Quinn, Neil Campbell, Julie Covington and Richard O'Brien. The 16 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: show's original production in London was well received, and it 17 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: moved to a larger theater in Chelsea, then the even 18 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: larger King's Road Theater. The production went on to be 19 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 1: produced in other venues around the world. American record producer 20 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: Lou Adler saw the show in London in nineteen seventy three, 21 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: and he liked it so much that he secured the 22 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: u S theatrical rights to the show. It premiered at 23 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: his Roxy Theater in Los Angeles in nineteen seventy four. 24 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: Adler made a deal with twentieth Century Fox, and filming 25 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: of The Rocky Horror Picture Show began in nineteen seventy 26 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: four in England. Many of the people who were in 27 00:01:55,760 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: the original stage production were also cast in the film. 28 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: The shoot lasted for about six weeks. The Rocky Horror 29 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: Picture Show opened in London on August fourteenth, nineteen, and 30 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: it had its official US debut in Los Angeles in 31 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: September at the u A Theater in Westwood Village. It 32 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: did well in Los Angeles, but it was not successful elsewhere. 33 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: But even though the turnout was poor in other cities, 34 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: people were returning for repeat viewings. The ending of the 35 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: film was recut, and Atler and Tim Deagan, the film's 36 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 1: marketing director, decided to release the film as a midnight 37 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: screening in early nineteen seventy six. Theaters around the country 38 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: began showing The Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight screenings. 39 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: Audiences for the film grew, and people began wearing costumes 40 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: to the showings and interacting with the film in other ways. 41 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: Groups began performing live at the showings. The Official Rocky 42 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: Horror Pictures Show Fan Club formed at the Waverley Theater 43 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: in New York. By the end of nineteen seventy seven, 44 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: the screenings have become all out interactive experiences. People began 45 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: holding conventions around The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and it 46 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:20,800 Speaker 1: began getting more attention through news and media outlets. In 47 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: nineteen one, the film Shock Treatment was released as a 48 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: follow up, but not a direct sequel, to The Rocky 49 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 1: Horror Picture Show. Fox also produced a reimagining of the 50 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: film that aired on television in The Rocky Horror Picture 51 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: Show has remained in circulation since it opened. Though it 52 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: was initially considered a box office and critical flop, it 53 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: has since become a cult classic and made millions of dollars. 54 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: Because it's still in limited release today, it's the longest 55 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: running theatrical release in film history. I'm Eve Jeffcote, and 56 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: hopefully you know a little more about his to you 57 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: today than you did yesterday. And if you haven't gotten 58 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: your fill of history after listening to today's episode, you 59 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at t 60 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: D I h D Podcast. We'll see you here in 61 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 1: the same place tomorrow yet. For more podcasts from I 62 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,359 Speaker 1: Heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or 63 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.