Phil Attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 Downtown San Jose-Dec. 7, 2013

When the clock strikes midnight, that's when the crazy, freaking, scary people come out! And where are these ill-mannered, foul mouthed hooligans go to hang out? At the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE show at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose of course! To bring this cult classic to life, my good friends from Barely Legal Productions were there to act out along with the film! And once again my friend Sara was there with me to join in on this 37 year old midnight tradition! And it was also a special holiday themed show as well! What better way to say "Happy Holidays" than with transvestites and fishnet stockings!!

The night started off with a sexy, Burlesque type number with the luscious ladies of Barely Legal seducing Santa Claus to Eartha Kitt's rendition of "Santa Baby." Yup, I knew that this was going to be fun-filled, holiday show!! Oh-la-la!!

As always, Nate McHavoc (our Riff Raff) was our emcee for the night. He whipped up the crowd and got us all excited about the show. He introduced us to the cast members for that night's show and also subjected the "virgins" to the infamous butt dance. Once again there were a lot of virgins in the house! After picking out six victims....uh.....virgins....Nate subjected them to his embarrassing games and we all had a big laugh at their expense! It was awesome! After the games, the audience started sing Happy Birthday to cast member Lizzie Bernard who plays MAgenta! However, as some of you may know, we sing it quite differently. So the whole audience started singing, "Happy Birthday F#ck You!" It brought a tear to my eye!

As with the Fourth of July show, everyone was sporting holiday costumes, which included Santa hats, bells, red and green outfits, X-mas lights, and a certain someone dressed up in a snowman costume! Yes Virgina, there really is a talking snowman!! The Barely Legal cast turned in another fantastic performance once again, and the crowd had a blast! Sara and I had so much freaking fun!!

What an amazing night! Now just in case you missed out on all this midnight fun, fret not my friends! There will be another show here at the Camera 3 on January 4, 2014!! It's the first ROCKY show of the year people!! And as a reminder, Barely Legal are looking for new members so if you've ever wanted to be a star, now's your chance! To learn more about Barely Legal, their schedule, and how to become a member, visit their website at barelylegal.rhps.org. Also look for them on Facebook as well! Also visit the Camera Cinemas website at www.cameracinemas.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 Downtown San Jose-Nov. 2, 2013

Yes friends, after many, many months away, I returned to the Camera 3 to once again partake in a midnight tradition. Saturday night was my triumphant return to the monthly midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, the ultimate cult classic and original midnight movie! And as always, my friends from Barely Legal Productions were there to bring the film to life! However, Saturday's show was no ordinary show, oh no! It was the first ever "Tacky Horror" show! The guys played the girl's parts and the girls played the guy's parts! Or as they BL crew called it, "It's genderbenderiffic!" The show was presented by The Camera 3 Cinemas and by Psycho Donuts as well!

The was a huge crowd for the event, and our host was the always magnificent Nate McHavoc, who informed that crowd that he and his wife, the lovely and sexy Bridgid McHavoc, were at their friend's wedding and had a lot of champagne (and in Nate's case some tequila as well). These contributing factors made his intro all the more fun! He had all the virgins come up and do the butt dance (there were quite a lot of virgins), and then sent everyone under 18 years old back to their seats. Those who remained had to answer a his traditional contest which involves taking a basket, "And putting it between your legs." Yup, that never gets old! After humiliating the virgins, it was time to meet our cast!

Bridgid McHavoc & Lizzie Bernard.

I'm not gonna lie, it was freaking hilarious to see cast dressed up in each other's clothes!! This was the first time that my friend Lizzie Bernard (who mostly portrays Magenta at the shows) made her debut as the one and only Dr. Frank-N-Furter and she was awesome!! She really played up her performance and rightfully so. Lizzie is so full of energy that you cannot contain it. So she really went for it and made it so much fun to watch!And to make it even more fun, Lizzie's mom and sister were in the audience. Whenever Lizzie made a funny face or did something sexually provocative, her mom just smiled and said, "That's my girl!"

Another worthy performance that night was by Christy Robinson Mila, who portrayed handyman Riff Raff (a role done my Nate) and she was spot on! He behavior, he mannerism, she was Riff Raff and she was excellent!

After the show was all over, I was talking with Bridgid and I mentioned that this should be an annual event. So, it looks like it'll be back again nest year! But in case you can't wait till then, there is one more "Tacky Horror" show and it'll take place Saturday, November 9th at the Albany Twin Landmark Theater. So make plans for that show! In the meantime, The Barely Legal gang will return to the Camera 3 on Saturday, December 7th!! So come out next time and join in on all this ROCKY HORROR fun! You'll be glad you did! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at barelylegal.rhps.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the Peaches Christ Production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW: THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT TRIBUTE with Patricia Quinn Live In-Person at the Vistoria Theatre-May 11, 2013

Now as many of you are already aware, I'm a big fan of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. I attended the regular monthly midnight screenings at the Camera 3 with my friends Barely Legal, I've done the Time warp dance numerous times. I thought I've done it all, but I was wrong. Recently I had the pleasure of heading back out to San Francisco with my good friend/make-up artist Michelle Snyder to attend the Peaches Christ production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW: THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT TRIBUTE! Also making this even more extraordinary was the addition of Magenta herself, Patricia Quinn was there live in-person. All this ROCKY fun was held at the Victoria Theatre (San Francisco's oldest operating theatre) over in the Mission District.

There were three shows at three different times: Friday, May 10th at 8pm, then Saturday, May 11th at 3pm and 8pm. Michelle and I went to the last show on Saturday. Upon arriving at the theatre, we made our way to the front row (as we always do) so we can take in all this Peachy goodness fun! The air in the Victoria was intoxicating! The energy level was off the charts. The audience was really fired up. Then The Bawdy Caste (the ROCKY shadowcast that performs here in the city and in Menlo Park) showed all the newbies (AKA virgins) how to do the Time Warp dance. They left the stage right after, and the lights dimmed, and the show began!

Hostess Peaches Christ (Photo courtesy of Facebook)

Peaches came out looking absolutely gorgeous! Fans were screaming and shouting and whistling! She greeted the audience and explained that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the original musical play, which was created by Richard O'Brien (who played Riff Raff in both the play and the movie). After Peaches finished her introductions, it was time for the show to begin!

Singing the song's intro was Magenta herself: Patricia Quinn!! The entire audience went completely crazy!! Hearing Mrs. Quinn singing "Science Fiction/Double Feature" was incredible!! I was jumping and screaming like a little girl!! After the she finished her song, Peaches came back out to narrate the show.

The entire cast was outstanding! This is what a rock'n'roll show should be! So much singing and dancing! Drag queens rocking out! People doing the Time Warp! There were so many highlights that it is just too damn difficult to list. But if I had to list just one, it would be when Jason Brock (one of the Dr. Frank-N-Furters that night) was belting out a heart warming rendition of "I'm Going Home." That performance literally made everyone gasp for air and they all gave Jason one helluva standing ovation! At the end of the show, Patricia Quinn returned to the stage to sing the closing song.

Peaches & Patricia Quinn (Facebook photo)

After the show was over, Peaches conducted an interview with Patricia Quinn, who regaled audiences with funny and interesting personal stories that made the audience laugh. The Mrs. Quinn participated in a rousing Q&A session. The my friends from Barely Legal came on-stage as judges for the costume contest. Then Patricia did an autograph session for all her fans!

This was one night I will not forget for a very long time! Now this was the big kickoff for what Peaches Christ has dubbed "The Summer of Peaches!" All summer long there will be Peaches shows for all her fans to enjoy! The first of these events will be A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2, which will take place on June 22nd during the Frameline Film Festival 37. Then on July 13th, Peaches will screen THE CRAFT. And finally, on August 24th, it's the annual SHOWGIRLS event. All three shows will be at the historic Castro Theatre and ticket for all three shows are on sale now! To purchase your tickets for these shows, please visit Peaches' official website at  www.peacheschrist.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 Downtown San Jose-April 6, 2013

So for the fifth and final movie on Saturday, I participated in a midnight tradition that has been going on since 1975. Over at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose, I once again attended the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. And as always, my friends from Barely Legal Productions were there to bring the film to life! Plus, this was the special Easter Show! Joining me on my trip were my good friends Krista and her boyfriend Joe. The show is presented by The Camera 3 Cinemas and by Psycho Donuts and it features the cast of Barely Legal Productions!!

The Camera 3 lobby was packed full of people, mostly young teenagers and college students, and some of them have never been to a midnight ROCKY screening before! Mmmmm.......I smell virgins! To my surprise, Krista and Joe were also a virgins! OK I knew that tonight was going to be a lot fun!

After the theater was filled, the show began! As always, our host Nate McHavoc was our emcee (and Riff Raff) for this special Easter show. He had all the virgins come up and do the butt dance (there were A LOT of virgins), and then sent everyone under 18 years old back to their seats. Those who remained had to answer a his traditional contest which involves taking a basket, "And putting it between your legs." Now remember, this was the special Easter show, so the games involved Easter eggs and baskets. And of course, Krista was part of it all! I was so proud of her!

Since this was Easter show, some of the cast members wore Easter costumes during the show. But the best costume was Nate's GIGANTIC EASTER BUNNY costume that he wore during the grand finale of the film! It was hilarious! OK here's a little SPOILER. So for those who haven't seen the film yet (and shame on you if you haven't!), skip this part and go to the end. So in the final scene of the film were Riff Raff and Magenta confront Dr. Frank-N-Furter, there dressed in their alien garb. So naturally, the shadowcast does the same thing. But when Nate instead came out in the bunny costume, I almost died laughing! And what made it even funnier was that Nate just popped his head up and down to make it look like he was talking along with the movie! The whole audience was just laughing and cheering! Yes folks, fun was had by all!

After the screening, my friends and I kept the party going by heading over to IHOP down on N. First Street. Both Krista and Joe had a blast at the show, and both wanted to attend the next month's show. I gotta say, tonight was an awesome night!

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. The next Barely Legal will be Saturday, May 4th so come on out and join in on all the fun! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at barelylegal.rhps.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show! 

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 Downtown San Jose-Feb. 2, 2013

This past Saturday night my good friend Leslie and I did the Time Warp again over at the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose! The film was presented by the Camera Cinemas, the Barley Legal production crew, and Psycho Donuts, home of the maniacal named snacks! Now what made this screening even more exciting was that this was Lingerie Night because of Valentine's Day being this month! Yup, 'twas going to be a very fun night!

The Camera 3's lobby was packed full of people, mostly young teenagers and college students, and some of them have never been to a midnight ROCKY screening before! Mmmmm.......I smell virgins! My only real complaint was that their wasn't enough ladies in lingerie! Well, besides the cast and Leslie! Tee-hee!!

After the theater was filled, the show began! As always, our host Nate McHavoc was our emcee (and Riff Raff) for this special Lingerie Night show. He had all the virgins come up and do the butt dance (there were A LOT of virgins), and then sent everyone under 18 years old back to their seats. After picking out six victims....uh.....virgins....Nate subjected them to his embarrassing games and we all had a big laugh at their expense! It was awesome!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

There isn't anything that I can say that hasn't already been said. The film is talked about in books and periodicals, referenced in movies and TV shows, and I dare you to find anyone who doesn't know how to do the Time Warp dance. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE has become part of the American Lexicon of cult films, a film that to this day, is the longest running theatrical released film in Hollywood history. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is the alpha and omega of midnight movie; a cult classic that has no real equal. The film is in a class all by itself, far ahead of its time. The film was a bomb when it was first released. Now, it is part of the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. The film's message of "Don't dream it. Be it." has had a major influence on those who are different, the outcasts if you will. It resonates and has inspired many who felt that they didn't belong. Artists, punks, gays, lesbians, movie maniacs, college students, and everyone in between. It speaks to us all to not give up on hope and to not give up on ourselves and to keep following our passions in life! Also the film is just one of the best films ever made! After 36 years, the film continues to play in theaters, and it is playing every month at the Camera 3!

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. But don't fret, the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose next month. They put on shows all over Northern California, so no matter where you live, there will be a show near you. So what are you waiting for? Come out next Saturday and join in on all this ROCKY HORROR fun! You'll be glad you did! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at barelylegal.rhps.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the first midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW of 2013 at the Camera 3-January 5, 2013

This past Saturday night I one again did the Time Warp again over at the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose! The show is presented by the Camera Cinemas and by Psycho Donuts and it features the cast of Barely Legal Productions, who have been carrying the ROCKY torch here in the Bay Area for the past 17 years! What made this show even more fun was that my best friend Dave along with his girlfriend Christine and her daughter Katelyn came out to join in on the fun!

What better way to ring in the new year with a midnight screening of ROCKY, which was Barely Legal's first show for 2013. The cast and crew once again did a wonderful job! Every time I attend these shows, the crowds get bigger and bigger, plus more and more "virgins" are attending these shows, which means the ROCKY virus is spreading to a whole new generation of kids. This makes me very happy, because it means that this midnight tradition, and the film, will be entertaining people for years to come. This is their mission: to keep the legacy of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW alive and well, and to make sure audiences have the best time of their lives at their shows. I always have a blast, and all my friends that I've been taking have all had fun and all have come back several times over.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is the alpha and omega of midnight movie; a cult classic that has no real equal. The film is in a class all by itself, far ahead of its time. The film was a bomb when it was first released. Now, it is part of the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. The film's message of "Don't dream it. Be it." has had a major influence on those who are different, the outcasts if you will. It resonates and has inspired many who felt that they didn't belong. Artists, punks, gays, lesbians, movie maniacs, college students, and everyone in between. The reason we love this film for more than just its obvious and fabulous over-the-top outrageousness. It speaks to us all to not give up on hope. To not give up on ourselves and to keep following our passions in life! Also the film is just one of the best films ever made!

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. But don't fret, the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose next month. They put on shows all over Northern California, so no matter where you live, there will be a show near you. To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at barelylegal.rhps.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Albany Twin Theater-December 8, 2012

So I have been attending Barely Legal's midnight screenings of THE ROCK HORROR PICTURE SHOW for well over a year now. However, I've only attended the screening at the Camera 3 here in Downtown San Jose. They've also been having shows at the Albany Twin Theater in Albany for a while now as well. So while having breakfast with Barely Legal co-founder Bridgid McHavoc at our Post-ROCKY  hangout (the IHOP on First Street in San Jose) last week, she informed be that I had to go to the show in Albany on December 8th for several reasons. The first being was that this was the last show at the Albany Twin for 2012. Second; it was a holiday themed show. And third, Bridgid was playing none other than the infamous Dr. Frank-N-Furter. So I told my good friend Leslie about the show and she invited her whole family to join in! Plus as an added bonus; her oldest daughter Oceanna's birthday was this month. What better way to spend her Bday, right? So we all traveled up to Albany to check out the show!

The Albany Twin Cinema Theater

The Albany Twin Theater was built in the 1970's and it's a really big theater. It had a good size screen and an impressive, real life stage! I mean it was a legit stage, used for performances and shows! It was really cool to see! Now being that we were in the East Bay, there were some differences between this show and the one put on in San Jose. The most obvious was that the crowd was much more louder, livelier, and way more vocal. Plus their commentary and the jokes are just slightly different than San Jose's but it was interesting to hear them.

The night started off with a sexy, Burlesque type number with the luscious ladies of Barely Legal seducing Santa Claus to Eartha Kitt's rendition of "Santa Baby." Yup, I knew that this was going to be fun-filled, holiday show!!

Inside the Albany Twin Theater

Afterwards our emcee Nate McHavoc (aka Riff Raff) whipping the audience into a frenzy! After his introductions he then handed the mic over to Bernie Bregman, a former member of the shadowcast called Sins of the Flesh. He was in charge of humiliating out group of "virgins" which was HUGE!! There must have been over 50 virgins up on the stage! So after he eliminated everyone that was under 18 years-old, he then picked out five girls and boys to participate in what he called, "Bernie's Embarrassing Pre-Show Game." Basically he had all the girls spread their legs like a porno star and he had the guys present their junk through their boxers. This was a riot! Now back in my day, the shadowcast use to embarrass the hell out of the virgins and had them do really fucked up shit, which was done in the good name of fun!! So this was a fun flashback for me.

BL's Bridgid McHavoc after the show

After the games were over, Nate got back up stage to introduce the cast for the show. Again, being in the East Bay, there were a lot more crew members, on both the technical side as well as actors and actresses. So most of the cast were people I have never seen before, and with Bridgid as Frank, it was a totally new show and I loved it! The "new" cast members were awesome, the audience was so into it, and Bridgid was fantastic as Dr. Frank-N-Furter!

As with the Fourth of July, everyone was sporting holiday costumes, which included Santa hats, bells, red and green outfits, X-mas lights, and a certain someone dressed up in a snowman costume! Yes Virgina, there really is a talking snowman!! Also, since it was Oceanna's Bday, she was picked to play Betty Munroe Hapschatt!! Our little girl has grown up into a beautiful bride!!

What an amazing night! This was by far one of my favorite Barely Legal shows ever! And I've seen a year's worth already! So in case you missed out on all this midnight fun, fret not my friends! There is still one more show left and it will be their last show for 2012. The next show will be on Saturday 29th at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose. It will also be a holiday themed show so I know you all want to come check it out now after reading this article! And as a reminder, Barely Legal are looking for new members so if you've ever wanted to be a star, now's your chance! To learn more about Barely Legal, their schedule, and how to become a member, visit their website at barelylegal.rhps.org. Also look for them on Facebook as well! Also visit the Camera Cinemas website at www.cameracinemas.com. So what are you waiting for? Come out on the 29th and join in on all this ROCKY HORROR fun! You'll be glad you did!

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the Barely Legal's 17th Birthday show of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 Cinema-November 3, 2012

Once again I attended the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose. Joining me on this midnight tradition was my very good friend Leslie and her daughter Oceanna. Now Saturday night's show was a very special event. It was Barely Legal's 17th Birthday Show! Yup, the guys are now 17 years old and still barely legal!! Hide your booze!!

As always, Nate McHavoc (our Riff Raff) was our emcee for the night. He whipped up the crowd and got us all excited about the show. He introduced us to the cast members for that night's show and also subjected the "virgins" to the infamous butt dance. Once again there were a lot of virgins in the house! After picking out six victims....uh.....virgins....Nate subjected them to his embarrassing games and we all had a big laugh at their expense! It was awesome! After the games, the audience started sing Happy Birthday to the cast. However, as some of you may know, we sing it quite differently. So the whole audience started singing, "Happy Birthday F#ck You!" It brought a tear to my eye!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

The Barely Legal cast turned in another fantastic performance once again, and the crowd had a blast! And there was cake served during the show! Afterwards Leslie, Oceanna, and I continued the party over at the local IHOP down on First Street. Also having breakfast there were some of the members of Barely Legal. As we were leaving, Christy (who plays Janet) and Bridgid pulled up and we all started chatting it up in the parking till about 3am! Yup, this IHOP is now the official post-ROCKY hangout spot!

What a night this was! I had the best time and so did my friends! Now if you wish join in on this midnight tradition of fun, you are in luck! Their next show is this coming Saturday, December 1st so make sure you come out and attend this momentous event! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at http://barelylegal.rhps.org/.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming!

Phil's Halloween Horrors Marathon, Day 27: Phil attends the special Halloween screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with the Barely Legal cast at the Camera 3-October 27, 2012

Welcome my cinematic thrill seekers to Day Twenty-Seven of my horror movie marathon! This past Saturday night I along my best friend Leslie, her daughter Oceanna, and three of her friends attended the special Halloween screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 Cinemas in scenic Downtown San Jose! Now usually these midnight rituals are always packed, filled with long time veterans and nubile virgins. But since it's Halloween season, there was a massive line of people, ready to do the Time Warp again! Once again my friends at Barely Legal Productions were there to bring this cult classic to life before our eyes!

I arrived at the Camera 3 around 11pm, and had some very yummy donuts to snack on, courtesy of our good friends at Psycho Donuts located in the theater lobby. About a half hour later Leslie and the gang showed up with their tickets. Now the show had been sold out for weeks, so we were all excited to attend the show! Oceanna also was kind enough to bring along three of her friends, who also just happened to be virgins! Awwww.....we love our virgins here at ROCKY!! I was able to get a hold of a member of the BL cast and branded her friends with the infamous "V" on their cheeks as well as other tasteful words like "Slut" and "Asshole." Yup, these kids had no clue what the night awaited them!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

The tradition of our emcee Nate McHavoc (Riff Raff) calling up all the virgins from audience was taken to a whole new level with this show. Now in my Day Six review, I mentioned that when the virgins were called to the stage, half of the audience went up. Now this was a sold out crowd, and there was even more virgins in the audience. So when Nate called them up, over 75% of the audience came up on stage! It was unbelievable! I have never seen anything like that before! It was an amazing sight to see!

The Barely Legal cast turned in another fantastic performance once again, and the crowd had a blast! I along with my friends continued the party over at the local IHOP down on First Street. There's nothing like having a big plate of French Toast at 4am! This is what makes life worth living for! Also having breakfast were some of the members of Barely Legal. Yup, this IHOP is now the official post-ROCKY hangout spot!

This was such fun-filled night! The cast, the crowd, the film, everything about the night was just perfect! I had the best time and so did my friends! Now if you wish join in on this midnight tradition of fun, you are in luck! Their next show is this coming Saturday, November 3 at midnight. And to make this show even more special, it is Barely Legal's 17th Birthday show! So make sure you come out and attend this momentous event! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at http://barelylegal.rhps.org/.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming! 

Phil's Halloween Horrors Marathon, Day 6: Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3-October 6, 2012

Hello and welcome to Day Six of my Halloween Horrors Marathon! This past Saturday night my good friend and fellow film buddy Jennifer and I did the Time Warp again over at the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose! As I mentioned many times before, if you have never been to a midnight showing of ROCKY, then you just suck eggs! The show is presented by The Camera 3 Cinemas and by Psycho Donuts and it features the cast of Barely Legal Productions, who have been carrying the ROCKY torch here in the Bay Area for the past 17 years! That's a lot of Time Warping people!!

Once again the cast and crew did a wonderful job! Every time I attend these shows, the crowds get bigger and bigger, plus more and more "virgins" are attending these shows, which means the ROCKY virus is spreading to a whole new generation of kids. This makes me very happy, because it means that this midnight tradition, and the film, will be entertaining people for years to come. But for some strange reason, there were a lot more "virgins" than ever! In fact, when Nate McHavoc aka Riff Raff called all the "virgins" to come up on stage, literally half of the audience came up! I couldn't believe it! There was a lot of booty shaking at this show! And it was all in good fun!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

There isn't anything that I can say that hasn't already been said. The film is talked about in books and periodicals, referenced in movies and TV shows, and I dare you to find anyone who doesn't know how to do the Time Warp dance. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE has become part of the American Lexicon of cult films, a film that to this day, is the longest running theatrical released film in Hollywood history. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is the alpha and omega of midnight movie; a cult classic that has no real equal. The film is in a class all by itself, far ahead of its time. The film was a bomb when it was first released. Now, it is part of the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. The film's message of "Don't dream it. Be it." has had a major influence on those who are different, the outcasts if you will. It resonates and has inspired many who felt that they didn't belong. Artists, punks, gays, lesbians, movie maniacs, college students, and everyone in between. It speaks to us all to not give up on hope and to not give up on ourselves and to keep following our passions in life! Also the film is just one of the best films ever made! After 36 years, the film continues to play in theaters, and it is playing every month at the Camera 3!

Now usually my friends and I have a post-Rocky tradition: eating breakfast at our favorite Denny's on Alma and First Street. But for some reason the place was packed! So Jennifer and I headed over to the IHOP down on First Street and had breakfast there with Bridgid McHavoc, Nate's wife and all around ROCKY pro. She has played everybody, from Magenta to Columbia and even Dr. Frank-N-Furter. We all stayed up late and chatted and had a grand 'ol time!

And so another great midnight screening has come and gone. However the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose later on this month for their BIG ROCKY HORROR HALLOWEEN PARTY! So make sure you come out on Saturday, October 27th for this awesome event! I promise you it will be a night you will never forget! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at http://barelylegal.rhps.org/.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming! 

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICUTRE SHOW at the Camera 3-August 4, 2012

When the clock strikes midnight, that's when the crazy, freaking, scary people come out! And where are these ill-mannered, foul mouthed hooligans go to hang out? At the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE show at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose of course! To bring this cult classic to life, my good friends from Barely Legal Productions were there to act out along with the film! And once again my friends Jennifer, Leslie, her daughter Oceanna and her new boyfriend Caleb were there with me to join in on this 37 year old midnight tradition!

This past Saturday night's show was a special event indeed. First off, the Camera 3 now has a stage!! Now we can see all the action! Hellsyeah!! Second, it was Mrs. Bridgid McHavoc's birthday! And our emcee Nate (aka Riff Raff aka Bridgid's better half) had everybody in the audience sing Happy Birthday to her....in the ROCKY HORROR way! Unfortunately I cannot repeat exactly what we all sang, but it went along the lines of "Happy Birthday, F*** You!" This how we do it at midnight people! But when we sing it, it's really touching. Nate also called up to the stage anyone who was celebrating a birthday this month, and yours truly is celebrating his birthday on the 22nd. Bridgid and I hugged and enjoyed the spotlight while the others looked terrified. So the few of us got onstage and we were all serenaded. To have my friends from Barely Legal (Christy Robinson Mila, Sandra Dee, Travis Venturi-Tackett, Lizzie Bernard, Drea Storey, Tina Rupnik, and Nate) singing and flipping all of us the bird was a wet dream come true!

Now as usual, Nate had all the virgins come up on stage, do the infamous Butt Dance, and had the lucky chosen ones participate in an embarrassing game! One of these virgins was Oceanna's boyfriend Caleb! And just as she did months earlier, his team won the challenge! Their prize: Jack shit! You gotta love virgins!!

Again, the Barely Legal crew did an awesome show! Afterwards, Jennifer, Leslie and I wished Bridgid a Happy Birthday and told her that she played a kick ass Magenta, even though she disagreed. So if a certain Bridgid McHavoc is reading this, I want to say that you did a great job that night! And I'm so glad that I get to share my birthday month with a really fantastic, talented, far out, groovy chick, who just happens to be a good friend! Happy Birthday again Bridgid!!

After the show, myself and the rest of my friends headed to our favorite post-ROCKY hangout: the Denny's off of Monterey Road and Alma. There is nothing like stuffing your face with French Toast at three in the morning! Oh man it was so good! It's the little things in life that make it all worth living!

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. But don't fret, the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose on September 1st. Also they are looking for actors, especially men! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website athttp://barelylegal.rhps.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3-July 7, 2012

Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Last night I participated in a midnight tradition that has been going on since 1975. Over at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose, I once again attended the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. And as always, my friends from Barely Legal Productions were there to bring the film to life! Joining me on my trip were my good friends Jennifer, her friend Kristin, Leslie, her younger sister Lori, and Leslie's daughter Ocean. However there two new ingredients to the mix: One) This was the special 4th of July presentation screening! And 2) It was my friend Jennifer's birthday!

The Camera 3's lobby was packed full of people, mostly young teenagers and college students, and some of them have never been to a midnight ROCKY screening before! Mmmmm.......I smell virgins! To my surprise, Leslie's sister Lori was also a virgin! OK I knew that tonight was going to be a lot fun!

After the theater was filled, the show began! As always, our host Nate McHavoc was our emcee (and Riff Raff) for this special 4th of July show. He had all the virgins come up and do the butt dance (there were A LOT of virgins), and then sent everyone under 18 years old back to their seats. Those who remained had to answer a series of extremely easy America related questions, with their mouths filled with marshmallows! Yup, nothing says America quite like a mouthful of marshmallows.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

As I previously stated, tonight's theme was America, so some of the cast members wore patriotic costumes during the show. But the best costume was Nate's Bald Eagle costume that he wore during the grand finale of the film! It was hilarious! OK here's a little SPOILER. So for those who haven't seen the film yet (and shame on you if you haven't!), skip this part and go to the end. So in the final scene of the film were Riff Raff and Magenta confront Dr. Frank-N-Furter, there dressed in their alien garb. So naturally, the shadowcast does the same thing. But when Nate instead came out in the eagle costume, I almost died laughing! And what made it even funnier was that Nate just popped his head up and down to make it look like he was talking along with the movie! The whole audience was just laughing and cheering! The lovely Lizzy Bernard looked gorgeous in her Miss America gown, as well did the rest of the crew! Yes folks, fun was had by all!

After the screening, my friends and I kept the party going by heading over to Denny's off of Monterey Road and Alma.Yeah it looked pretty damn hot with yours truly strolling in the restaurant flocked by five women. But this was Jennifer's night, seeing it was her birthday. And I gotta say, tonight was the best present we could've gave her.

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. But don't fret, the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose next month. They put on shows all over Northern California, so no matter where you live, there will be a show near you. To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at http://barelylegal.rhps.org/.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3-June 2, 2012

The Camera 3 Marquee.

So during the Charlie Chaplin Days at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, I attended a midnight movie tradition here in San Jose. So after I finished my duties at the museum on Saturday (I was there from 11am to 10:30pm), I headed on over to the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose for the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. As always, my friends from Barely Legal Productions were there to bring the film to life! It had been a long time since I attended one of these midnight shows, and I was long overdue for one! In fact I haven't attended a ROCKY show since January and I really wanted to see and support my friends!

The line for the show.

Upon my arrival, I met the lovely Bridgid McHavoc in the Psycho Donuts dining area in the theater's lobby. Bridgid, who's been with Barely Legal for several years, has portrayed several characters from the film; from Columbia to Magenta to the infamous Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Soon other Barely Legal cast members were arriving: Lizzie Bernard, Sandra Dee, and Drea Storey. The lobby was buzzing with excitement and a very long line began to form. Bridgid's husband Nate McHavoc was setting up the theater along with the BLP crew. Props were unloaded, built, and displayed. It all looked amazing! Each prop was extremely detailed that it all looked like the real props from the actual film! And let me just say that the costumes were all just simply amazing! I have been fortunate to see the BL crew in action at several of their shows and they always put 110% into each one. If you have never attended one of their shows, shame on you! Seeing a ROCKY show is required and is on everybody's cinematic bucket list!

Barely Legal's Bridgid McHavoc.

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is the alpha and omega of midnight movie; a cult classic that has no real equal. The film is in a class all by itself, far ahead of its time. The film was a bomb when it was first released. Now, it is part of the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. The film's message of "Don't dream it. Be it." has had a major influence on those who are different, the outcasts if you will. It resonates and has inspired many who felt that they didn't belong. Artists, punks, gays, lesbians, movie maniacs, college students, and everyone in between. The reason we love this film for more than just its obvious and fabulous over-the-top outrageousness. It speaks to us all to not give up on hope. To not give up on ourselves and to keep following our passions in life! Also the film is just one of the best films ever made!

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. But don't fret, the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose next month. They put on shows all over Northern California, so no matter where you live, there will be a show near you. To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at http://barelylegal.rhps.org/.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW: THE PEACHES CHRIST EXPERIENCE with special guest Barry Bostwick live in person at the Castro Theatre-Feb. 4, 2012

This past Saturday night I once again made a trip out to the Castro Theatre in beautiful San Francisco to witness history in the making! I along with a bunch of my friends went to see THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW: THE PEACHES CHRIST EXPERIENCE with Brad Majors himself Barry Bostwick live in person! Tonight also marked the return of the film to the theatre, which hasn't been shown here in over 20 years! Plus as an added bonus my friends from Barely Legal were going to be judging the costume contest. Yes friends, it was indeed a night to remember!

So my friends and I were let into the theatre at 9pm and were greeted by our friends Sandra Dee, Drea Storey, Lizzie Bernard, Christy Robinson, Nate and his wife Bridgid McHavoc from Barely Legal (read my interview with them here) Then we made our way inside the theatre where we found seating in the second row! At exactly 9:30pm the lights dimmed and the pre-show began. Peaches and her "motley friends" Peggy L'Eggs (Riff Raff), PJ Soulless (Brad), Tangyna (Janet), Lady Bear (Magenta), Pristine Condition (Rocky), and Cousin Wonderlette (Columbia) came out and did a rollicking rendition of "Sweet Transvestite" (Peaches' new lyrics were, "I'm just a peach transvestite from San Francisco, California!" Sweet lyrics PC!). After the song Peaches thanked the audience for coming out for the show and told us the night was only beginning.

Up next Peaches introduced us to The Bawdy Caste, a ROCKY shadow-cast who did a fun musical number utilizing their entire cast in the show. But what was really amazing was that, according to Peaches, they came to the Castro to perform this number only because they had to make a mad dash to their midnight show at The Guild in Menlo Park! Thank you for taking out of your very busy schedule to perform at the show TBC!

Peaches then introduced ROCKY superfan J.D. Bear, who along with some other dancers, did a fun lip-sync performance of Meatloaf's classic "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" from his 1977 album Bat Out Of Hell.

The next event up for the night was the incredible and talented Val N Tine from the Ray of Light Theatre, which is THE place to see live performance shows (which included a recent stage production of ROCKY). Val along with Manual Caneri reminded us to "Say it. Don't spray it" meaning no food, or water pistols, or anything of that sort would be allowed during the screening. A funny cautionary and warning, complete will sass and makeup.

Then it was time for the costume contest. The Barely Legal crew had a tough time with this one. There were several great looking costumes to choose from, but in the end it was Ace Allmaras AKA Vernon who won the grand prize! Congrats to you Ace!

Barry Bostwick strikes a pose for Peaches Christ

Then finally the moment had arrived! Now I'm usually a peaceful and level headed individual; calm, cool, and collective. But when Peaches was about to introduce Barry Bostwick out on stage, I found myself screaming like a little girl at a Justin Bieber concert. But my reaction was nothing compared to her's! As soon as Peaches finished her introduction, out comes Bostwick in his original ROCKY DRAG COSTUME! This was hilarious!! And it shocked and surprised Peaches as well! Soon the entire audience was giving him a standing ovation! People were cheering, laughing, screaming and giving him much respect! The first thing Barry said was, "Just shoot me now!" followed by the best line of the evening, "Why won't you guys let this movie die? I can't take it anymore!" Peaches addressed the audience by saying that backstage Barry didn't look like this and he excused himself to her dressing room. Soon Barry was on the floor of the stage, striking his famous leg stretch from the film! For the first time I saw Peaches speechless! This has never happened before! How unbelievable is that folks?

The interview continued with Peaches asking some fun, interesting and funny questions. Questions like, "You were a fan of the show?" which Barry was hesitate to answer, which made us laugh. Other fun questions like, "You got the part over Steve Martin" to which Barry replied, "Whatever happened to his career?" which again made us laugh hysterically! Barry was hilarious, lively and regaled the audience with funny and interesting stories about the making of the film. Peaches then opened up to audience questions, which were also made me laugh even harder thanks to Barry's responses.

After the interview Peaches was about to lead Barry backstage when another surprise happened before our very eyes! Out from the audience came none other than Luke Perry himself (Dylan from the original 90210 for all you who didn't know that)! Perry is currently playing Brad Majors in the Broadway version of ROCKY and came out to say thanks and gave him much praise for his work in the film. As Peaches said, "I can't believe we have TWO Brad Majors here tonight!" This was a complete surprise! After that, the lights faded, and flickering in the darkness was the greatest midnight cult film of all time. If you have never seen THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, then let me say just this: Where in the hell have you been for the past 35 years? Click on the title to learn more about it and then go see it now! But makes sure you go see it at a midnight show! You'll thank me later.

The Happy Couple: Bostwick & Peaches

After every show  I always wonder how Peaches will top this one. After tonight, I don't even know how this can be topped? This was her best show ever! And I've been to quite a few of her shows. The PURPLE RAIN show was amazing, and her SHOWGIRLS event was just astounding, but this show was like being in heaven. Thank you Peaches and thank you Barry for a night that I will never, ever forget!

As I've said before, if you have never attended a Peaches Christ show, then you have not lived my friend. Her shows are the equivalent of having Christmas, Halloween, and the 4th of July all rolled up in an outrageous wig, tight bustier, high heeled shoes and fishnet stockings! Her shows are so popular that they sell out consistently. So the next time I tell you people about an upcoming show of hers, you had better go! And when you do, you'll have the time of you lives! So to keep up with our Cinematic Diva and all her events, check out her website at http://www.peacheschrist.com/. You can also follow her on twitter at https://twitter.com/#%21/PeachesChrist and don't forget visit her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/peacheschrist. Also to view upcoming film events and schedules, visit the Castro Theatre website at http://www.castrotheatre.com/.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil gets an exclusive interview while attending the midnight sceening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3-January 7, 2012

This past Saturday night I did the Time Warp again over at the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose! As I mentioned in my October review, if you have never been to a midnight show of ROCKY, then my friends you are missing out on a lot of fun! The show is presented by The Camera 3 Cinemas and by Psycho Donuts and it features the cast of Barely Legal Productions, who have been carrying the ROCKY torch here in the Bay Area for the past 16 years. These events have been so popular that they are now having shows twice a month: the first and third Saturday!

What a way to ring in the new year with a midnight screening of ROCKY, which was Barely Legal's first show for 2012. The cast and crew once again did a wonderful job! Every time I attend these shows, the crowds get bigger and bigger, plus more and more "virgins" are attending these shows, which means the ROCKY virus is spreading to a whole new generation of kids. This makes me very happy, because it means that this midnight tradition, and the film, will be entertaining people for years to come. This is their mission: to keep the legacy of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW alive and well, and to make sure audiences have the best time of their lives at their shows. I always have a blast, and all my friends that I've been taking have all had fun and all have come back several times over.

The Barely Legal Cast before Saturday's show

I had the honor and privileged to conduct an interview with two of the main actors of the Barely Legal show. Nate and Bridgid McHavoc (who just got married late last year) are what I like to call the "power couple" behind the BLP. They have been part of Barley Legal since its inception. But for Bridgid, who portrayed the infamous sweet transvestite Dr, Frank-N-Furter at Saturday's show, her involvement with the film started years earlier. "When I was dating Nate years ago, he would have ROCKY HORROR parties at his place. That's when I saw the film for the first time really." However while they were dating, "We would go out to dinner or whatever and he would leave at 10:30pm to go with his friends to see ROCKY at midnight, and I got tired of being left behind. So I told him that next time he was going that he had to take me too," Bridgid said laughingly.

Nate & Bridgid McHavoc as Riff Raff & Columbia

The first shows that Barely Legal held were at the famous UC Theater in Bekerley every Saturday night until the theater closed its doors in 1997 "After the theater closed we began to put on shows at the Parkway Theater in Oakland, " said Nate, still in his Riff Raff costume, minus the bald cap. "The crowds at those shows were incredible." The Barely Legal cast performed at the Parkway Theater for well over a decade until, like the UC Theater, it closed in 2008. "That was a real shame because we had so much fun there," said Bridgid.

With the closing of the Parkway Theater, the BL crew went on the road, having shows in San Francisco, Peteluma, and other cities before settling in at the Albany Theater in Albany and at the Camera 3 here in San Jose. It had been a long time since San Jose had midnight ROCKY screenings due to the closing of the Camera One back in 1995. For this movie fanatic, I was so happy to see it return to San Jose and back at the Camera Cinemas once again.

Nate and Bridgid live all the way up in Tracy, which by itself is a long commute. Add to the fact that both have full time jobs. Bridgid is an executive assistant at American Pacific Mortgage and Nate, "works a lot." But despite their hectic schedules, they are committed to their ROCKY fans and their passion in keeping the film alive and making sure their audiences have the best time of the lives at their shows. So to Nate, Bridgid, and to the rest of the Barely Legal crew, I would like to say "thank you" for bringing ROCKY back to San Jose, to the Camera Cinemas, and for making me forget my troubles for a while and letting me do the Time Warp once again. You guys are the best!

As I stated earlier, Barely Legal will be having two shows now every month. The next show will be on Saturday, January 28th so mark that date on your calender! If you would like to learn more about them and are interested in joining their cast, visit their cool website at http://barelylegal.rhps.org/. Also look for them on Facebook as well and to see showtimes, visit the Camera Cinemas website at www.cameracinemas.com. So what are you waiting for? Come out next Saturday and join in on all this ROCKY HORROR fun! You'll be glad you did!

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's Horror Watch, Day 1: Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3-October 1, 2011

Welcome my friends to the Halloween edition of Phil's Film Adventures! Starting today and going all the way until Halloween, I will be watching one horror film per day to celebrate this most wonderful time of the year! So to start off this annual event, I took my good friend Michele with me as I made my way to the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose to partake in a cinematic ritual: attending a midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW! The film was presented by the Camera Cinemas, the Barley Legal production crew, and Psycho Donuts, home of the maniacal named snacks!

Like most of the other screenings that I have attended, the people in line are the best people to hang out with. So when you attend one of these midnight screenings, make sure to say hi to the person in front of you, as well a behind you, because you'll be seeing them every month. They will become your family, and what an awesome family to have! I seriously doubt that your folks will be dressed from head to toe in tight, black clothing, or your mom having her breasts pop out of a mid-evil corset. Your younger siblings parading around in black, punk/goth attire, your wacky uncle in a tight, pink, neon dress with his beard properly groomed. Here at ROCKY, this is normal. So how cool is that?

Another cool aspect of attending the screening is that inside the Camera 3 lies the awesomely delicious nirvana of Psycho Donuts, where you will find the best tasting and weirdly named donuts in town! Try the Cereal Killer; a donut covered with Cap'n Crunchberries! Or maybe the Headbanger; a raspberry jelly filled treat. My personal favorite is the Jekyll & Hyde; one side has chocolate sprinkles and the other side is covered with drizzle! To wash down your donuts, try their latest liquid refreshment; Beer shake!! Can you say yum!! Now on to the main attraction folks!!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

ROCKY is the king of all cult films. What makes experiencing the film at a midnight screening so unique is the LIVE cast the acts along with it! The Barely Legal Production has been associated with the film here in the South Bay since 1995. With the retiring of the Indecent Exposure Production that same year (they had been performing with the film for over 20 years here), Barely Legal took over the reigns had have never looked back. Going on 16 years, they are now the keepers of the ROCKY flame, and this cast and crew puts on an amazing show. Hosted by Nathan McHavoc (Riff Raff), he's the man that makes the pre-show so much fun. He has the "virgins" (people who have never been to one of the shows before) come up on stage and make them participate in funny and degrading games for our amusement. He whips the crowd up and gets them ready for the show, and what a show it is! Fantastic props and sets, great acting from the cast, fun audience participation, and hilarious hijinks makes this a must on anyone's bucket list. Before you die, you MUST attend one of these screenings. After that then you can die happily. Now about the film...

...The film is freaking awesome!! There, that's all you need to know! OK, here's a little bit of trivia about the film. The film was released to theaters on September 26, 1975, and was DOA at the boxoffice. However, a little theater in New York called the Waverly Theater played it at midnight on April 1, 1976. The rest, as they say, is history.

There isn't anything that I can say that hasn't already been said. The film is talked about in books and periodicals, referenced in movies and TV shows, and I dare you to find anyone who doesn't know how to do the Time Warp dance. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE has become part of the American Lexicon of cult films, a film that to this day, is the longest running theatrical released film in Hollywood history. After 36 years, the film continues to play in theaters, and it is playing every month at the Camera 3! To be part of film history, you can attend the next ROCKY screening on October 29th, so begin to make plans for this special Halloween event!

To view the film schedule of future screenings of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, or any of the fine films screening at the Camera Cinemas, visit their website at http://www.cameracinemas.com

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!