'Rocky Horror': Hollywood Theater To Mark Movie's Milestone

DORMONT, PA - The original “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” movie was released in 1975. But it wasn’t until about three years later when shadowcasting it - having live actors perform scenes from the film while the movie is being shown - became popular.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of shadowcasts of the cult classic, a special “Rocky Horror” midnight performance by the Junior Chamber of Commerce Players will occur May 5 at the Hollywood Theater. Some of the performers are shadowcast alumni dating back to when the movie played at the old King’s Court theater in Oakland every weekend.

The festivities will include a proclamation from Dormont Mayor Jason Walsh naming Saturday Rocky Horror Day in the borough. There also will be a video message from writer-director Stephen Chobsky, whose movie version of his book “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” featured a Rocky Horror scene at the Hollywood.

“When I was in high school I had just met a few people. I was pretty shy,” said Sam Bassett, President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce Players, who regularly perform “Rocky Horror” at the Hollywood. “One of the fun initiations into my friends’ group was to read ‘Perks’ and see ‘Rocky Horror’ with everyone. We were a merry band of theater arts people.”

Photo via Markowitz Communications.