"It Was Great When It All Began"
"Didn't We Pass A Castle?"
"Not An Equal"
"Superheroes"
"To Absent Friends"
I
celebrated my 30th ROCKY HORROR Anniversary at
the Nuart on February 2, 2009.
I can safely
say I've seen "THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW" at least 400 times
in 18 different theaters.
I took the "The
Rocky Horror Purity Test".
My score was 34.3% Rocky Pure (65.7% Rocky Corrupt) with a Weirdness/Uniqueness
Factor of 57%.
I also spent some time, effort and money tracking down some of the printed
materials that I had lost.
There was a kid in line at the Nuart selling a second printing of "THE
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW BOOK".
He also had a copy of "THE OFFICIAL ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
MOVIE NOVEL" in excellent condition.
I snapped both of them up for a total of $40. I guess he didn't know what
he had.
I later found a near mint copy on eBay, so I gave the other one to Richard.
I was also able to track down "THE
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW OFFICIAL MAGAZINE" by Adam Sargis.
On May 23, 2009,
Richard Gifford celebrated his 30th ROCKY HORROR Anniversary at the
Nuart.
He dressed as a very cool variation of Riff Raff, and was recognized
by SINS OF THE FLESH.
During the Wedding Scene, he filled in the role of Betty Hapschatt and
threw the bouquet.
Julie Ford, Kurt Koenig, David James, and Selina Phanara also marked
their 30th Anniversaries in 2009.
I've
re-connected with old friends, and made some new ones.
Out of the blue, I was contacted by Rick Sloane. He's a successful cult
film director now.
I hooked up with him at the Los Angeles Comic Convention, where he was
promoting his films.
Rick is one of the unsung heroes of ROCKY HORROR in Los Angeles in the
late 70's and early 80's.
Rick was the first film director I ever worked for.
TROY MARTIN & RICK SLOANE
Los Angeles - 2009
On
September 26, 2009, Steve Cartoon celebrated his 30th ROCKY HORROR
Anniversary at the Nuart.
Steve was the first of our old Tiffany Theater cast to go to the Nuart
way back in 1985.
For his return to the Nuart, we pulled out all the stops.
CATHY CARTOON, RICHARD GIFFORD, STEVE CARTOON,
KURT KOENIG
TROY MARTIN
Nuart Theater - Los Angeles - 2009
STEVE CARTOON
Nuart Theater - Los Angeles - 2009
Steve
and his wife Cathy were on tour during Steve's birthday week, and one
their stops was Hollywood.
I contacted as many of our friends as I could. Some couldn't make it,
but they were with us in spirit, anyway.
Kurt Koenig showed up, and that was simply awesome.
It had been the first time since 1983 that we had all been in the same
room together.
It was also the first time Kurt and Steve had seen each other in over
20 years.
We caught up with each other, and talked about old times and new.
We had The Spirit.
It was decided by unanimous vote that Steve would be made an Honorary
Member of EROTIC NIGHTMARES.
Although EROTIC NIGHTMARES didn't meet
Steve until we got to the Tiffany in 1979, the fact that we were all
such close friends, and the fact the he had actually seen "THE ROCKY
HORROR PICTURE SHOW" at our original home at
the Riverside Tyler Mall United Artists Theater 4, and the fact that
we had all lived together at one time or another
and kept each other going, it was decided to make things right once
and for all. Congratulations, Brother!
Richard suprised everyone by announcing that he was going as Frank.
We got into our makeup and costumes, and descended on the Nuart.
We arrived around 11:30 PM, and there was already, as always, a line wrapped around the place waiting to get in.
STEVE CARTOON'S 30TH ROCKY HORROR ANNIVERSARY
Nuart Theater - Los Angeles CA
SINS
OF THE FLESH had been given the heads-up that we were coming,
and they gave us a wonderful reception.
 TROY MARTIN, BERNIE BREGMAN, RICHARD GIFFORD Nuart Theater - Los Angeles - 2009 |
 SARAH PRESLEY, RICHARD GIFFORD Nuart Theater - Los Angeles - 2009 |
back-biting, conniving, cock-blocking, sicko, girlfriend & boyfriend stealing, coat-tail riding, manipulative, sleazy, smelly, pepper-bellied, dirty, lousy, rotten, stinkin' freaks that ever gave us shit or grief, hurt us, or made life hard for us because it was in their nature, or simply because they could. They know who they are. This is for them.
There...is that punk rock enough for you?
Dennis Miller arrived, and we were all so happy that he did.
Dennis used to go to ROCKY HORROR at the Tiffany right before it closed in 1983.
He's been going to ROCKY HORROR at the Nuart since the film started playing there.
Steve and Dennis were pals at the Nuart "back in the day", and they had not seen each other in over 22 years.
DENNIS MILLER
Nuart Theater - Los Angeles - 2009
The
girls danced on the stage while the house filled up, and then
the pre-show started.
Bernie Bregman was the evening's Host With The Most, and he
intoduced Steve as a special guest.
The Virgin Sacrifice took place, and then a "Farm Animals
Contest". E - I - E - I - O!!!
Steve also had the privilege of running
the "SINS OF THE FLESH Birthday Gauntlet".
SINS OF THE FLESH
Nuart Theater - Los Angeles - 2009
SINS
OF THE FLESH then took the stage, and the show began.
And what a show it was! Classic ROCKY HORROR!
One of the many things I love about SINS
OF THE FLESH is that they keep it fresh, and they are
always entertaining. Noisy, Sexy. Professional. We could not
have asked for a better time!
Richard and Steve were honored by portraying the speakers in
the lab scene. (Well...we considered it an honor.)
And at the end of the show, Steve was asked to hold the globe.
("You lucky bastard! You lucky, lucky bastard!")
RICHARD GIFFORD, GINA RADONGA, LIZ STOCKTON,
LAUREN CIANCIMINO, STEVE CARTOON
Nuart Theater - Los Angeles - 2009
BRAD GREENSPAN, STEVE CARTOON
Nuart Theater - Los Angeles - 2009
DENNIS MILLER, CATHY CARTOON, SARAH PRESLEY
RICHARD GIFFORD, KURT KOENIG, STEVE CARTOON
Nuart Theater - Los Angeles - 2009
After
the show, we said "Goodnight" to everyone.
It was after 3 AM, and we were out on an empty city street,
hanging out and being cool. Just like old times.
We then watched a bunch of gangbangers duke it out for a few
minutes in the Subway across the street.
It was over pretty quick, and no one got hurt. It was both
scary and amusing at the same time.
A sobering reminder that there were still dangers out there
in the world.
But everything turned out OK, and we got in our cars and went
home.
The first fog of the season was thick as we drove away from
the theater. Just like old times.
And we were some of happiest people that you ever saw. For
all time.
I consider that night to be one of the best times I ever had
at ROCKY HORROR.
On
December 19, 2009 , Richard and I attended the last performance
by DARK
REFRAIN at the Rialto Theater.
It was the first time we had been to the Rialto in 20 years.
Some of the biggest ROCKY HORROR fans in Southern California
were there to give them a rousing send-off.
It was here that we made a lot of new friends.
On
May 22, 2010, I hooked up with Lisa Kurtz Sutton and Brett
Pearce.
We talked about old times and our never-ending love for ROCKY
HORROR.
And we also know that there were a lot of "Absent Friends"
now.
Lost in time. And lost in space.
On
May 30, 2010, I hooked up with Dawn Morrison.
It was the first time we had seen each other in decades.
Dawn was the very first person I met when I first came to
Hollywood.
TROY
MARTIN & DAWN MORRISON
Hollywood - 2010
We
are a very special group of ROCKY HORROR fans.
We were there during a very special period in the history
of The ROCKY HORROR Experience.
We believe in ROCKY HORROR. We have The Spirit.
Many people consider that ROCKY HORROR is a "rite of
passage" for some people.
I agree.
ROCKY HORROR provides the settings, situations, and environment
that are not available anywhere else.
ROCKY HORROR is an excellent way for all people to express
themselves honestly and socially.
For some people, ROCKY HORROR is the only way for them to
able to socialize at all.
For some people, it is a way to build a foundation in all
aspects of the performing arts.
For some people, it's a way to get the hell out of the house.
And for some, it is a way of life.
And for many, it is all of these things and more.
For
me, ROCKY HORROR is still one of the best parties you could
ever go to.
I will always love to sing the music from the show.
It's a solid, enjoyable vocal work out.
I'm able to "Sing It!"...LOUD!!!...without
any sort of amplification.
And, with an audience that is familiar and appreciative of
the music itself.
Sometimes... you just gotta scream it out!!!
I also look good in in tails, and I like to show it off.
It's been a few years since I "went back to Rocky".
I'm glad I did.
I retired from performing a long time ago, but participation
is another thing.
It's fun to watch the latest generations of performers. This
their time.
And it's always great ot see an audience enjoying themselves.
There's a lot of things you can't do in the theater anymore,
i.e., fucking, open flames ("Bye, Marty!"),
bottles, rice.
That OK, though. You can still have a good time!
I
always remember what Sherri's mom used to say way back in 1979
when people would bag on ROCKY HORROR:
"Lighten up! Come on out and watch the how the kids
have a good time!"
All I can add to that is..."You don't have to be a kid
to love ROCKY HORROR!"
And the Seven Deadly Sins - The 35th Anniversary ROCKY HORROR
Convention was about to prove that.
TROY MARTIN
SINSCON T-Shirt Challenge Post #5!
Hollywood CA - 2010
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