The Rocky Horror Show and Asbury Park: Let Your Freak Flags Fly

Call it the quirky, little play that inspired a world-wide cult following.

The Rocky Horror Show began as homage to horror films and science fiction at the Royal Court’s experimental Theatre Upstairs in London back in 1973 with a six-week workshop run.  An immediate success, the show soon moved to the much larger King’s Road Theatre and was named “Best Musical of 1973” by the London Evening Standard’s annual poll of drama critics.  Yet, the play’s early success was nothing compared to the madness that would take place shortly after the film version opened in America on September 26, 1975.

The film’s place in cinematic history was cemented just a few months later on April 1, 1976.  That was the day the film became known as the ultimate midnight movie when it began its run at the Waverly Theatre in New York City.  Soon theaters around the country began showing The Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight and within three years the film was playing on hundreds of screens including over 20 in the New York City region alone.  As the midnight showings spread, a strange phenomenon began taking place.  It started when people began shouting out phrases to the characters on the screen, then people came to the theaters dressed up in costume; eventually, audience members began bringing props and throwing items like rice and toilet paper during specific parts of the film.  It was clear the evolution was now complete — Rocky Horror had successfully shattered the fourth wall and invited everyone into its own world!   The midnight showings continue to run while touring companies have brought the stage version of Rocky Horror to every corner of the globe.   In fact, a special version is coming to New Jersey this week just in time for Halloween.

The Hidden Gem Of Asbury Park

Of all the musical landmarks that once existed in Asbury Park, the most important of all is still standing; a tiny club that fostered the talents of Bruce Springsteen and the band mates that would comprise the original E Street Band.  According to legend, Springsteen got his big break at The Stone Pony, but locals know that Bruce and his friends actually came of age playing at The Upstage Club- a short-lived venue on Cookman Avenue that may be as important to American music history as The Cavern is to Britain.