NOTE (Wednesday, October 6, 2021): This story has been updated to indicate current COVID guidelines will be followed for each screening. It also includes notes on items that will not be allowed in the theater during the Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings.

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For the first time in its history, Edmond Town Hall is planning screenings of a musical comedy horror film that was not exactly a box office smash upon its initial release 46 years ago.

The movie theater within the historic building at 45 Main Street will offer showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show for three nights this month. Costumes and audience participation are highly encouraged.

Five screenings are planned, with shows on Friday and Saturday, October 15 and 16, at 7 and 9:30; and Sunday, October 17, at 7.

Rocky Horror Picture Show was the theatrical debut for Tim Curry (who plays Dr Frank-N-Furter —A Scientist). Curry, along with Richard O’Brien (Riff Raff — A Handyman), Patricia Quinn (Magenta — A Domestic) and Nell Campbell (Columbia — A Groupie) reprised their roles from the original 1973 stage production of the show, which was reportedly created by O’Brien from his love of classic science fiction and horror movies.

The play premiered at The Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in London in June 1973.

In addition to the aforementioned, the film also features Susan Sarandon (Janet Weiss — A Heroine), Barry Bostwick (Brad Majors — A Hero), Jonathan Adams (Dr Everett V. Scott — A Rival Scientist), Peter Hinwood (Rocky Horror — A Creation), Meat Loaf (Eddie — An Ex-Delivery Boy), and Charles Gray (The Criminologist — An Expert).

The film version was released in August 1975, and was largely critically panned. The following year, however, a midnight screening was done on April Fool’s Day at the Waverly Theater in New York City’s Greenwich Village, and the movie took on an entirely new life.

Midnight screenings across the country began drawing audiences who participated in the shows by responding to dialogue and action on the screen, and dressing as characters. Throwing props at appropriate times — including but not limited to newspapers, rubber gloves, toilet paper, and party hats — added another dimension to the film’s cult popularity.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is still considered in limited release, making it the longest-running theatrical release in film history. It is most often screened during the Halloween season.

The film won Best Feature Film at the 1975 Faro Island Film Festival.

It was a Hall of Fame inductee for the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films in 1980; selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2005, and added to the Online Film & Television Association OFTA Film Hall of Fame in 2017.

It was also ranked number 2 in Entertainment Weekly’s “Top 50 Cult Films of All Time.”

The film has a running time of 1 hour, 40 minutes, and is rated R.

The original stage production was only 40 minutes long, based on O’Brien’s original 14-page treatment.

Tickets for the October 15–17 screenings are $10 each, and can be purchased at the box office ahead of each screening or in advance at edmondtownhall.org. The theater is strongly encouraging advance ticket purchases.

A limited number of prop bags will also be available for an additional charge.

If purchased as a combo with the movie ticket in advance, the cost is $16. Remaining bags, if available, will be sold for $8 each prior to each screening. Prop bags include items along with notes for those unfamiliar with when and how they should be used.

Some items, while referenced in the movie and traditionally included in Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings, are purposely not being included in the prop bags. Edmond Town Hall is not including — nor allowing the use of — the following items: lighters, candles, and open flames of any kind; rice, toast, hot dogs, or prunes; and water pistols.

Guests will be expected to follow COVID guidelines in place at the time of each screening.

Beer and wine will be available for purchase for both of the October 16 shows.

For more information call 203-270-4285 or visit edmondtownhall.org.