13 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' Trivia Tidbits
![13 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' Trivia Tidbits](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/7/794867_320x180.jpg)
Before becoming the longest running cult classic film of all time, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a play staged at Royal Court Theatre in London. Princess Diana and Elvis both went to see the popular musical production. It's amazing to see this (at the time) cinematic flop turn into one of the most celebrated comedy musicals and an LGBTQ+ milestone in film. Even the film's composer is shocked at the movie's popularity.
While the movie's initial box office struggle and prolonged comeback has long been told since our parents first did “The Time Warp" again, not many people know the struggles and decisions made behind the scenes of Rocky Horror. Susan Sarandon and Meatloaf got sick and injured during filming. Even one of the main performers quit acting after the film's release!
Before you go to the next midnight double feature, take a peek and learn some additional behind-the-scenes Rocky Horror trivia.
![BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS It's the longest-running theatrical release ever RANSYL IAN CONVEN On its initial release, it was a critical failure. A year later, thanks to an executive at 20th Century Fox, it was regularly screened at a midnight show- ing in New York. The midnight showing grew in popularity, with copy cats springing up across the country, for over 40 years.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/3/9/794839.jpg)
Source: The Atlantic
![BEHIND-THE-SCENESEACTS The opening act was going to be shot in black and white Brad and Jane's dull life was initially designed to be black and white, with the first color being Frank N. Furter's red lips on the elevator. The studio rejected the idea.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/2/794862.jpg)
Source: Mental Floss
![BEHIND-THE-SCENESFACTS Meat Loaf was in a wheelchair for the motorcyle scenes 610028 A stunt double rode the motorcyle, but for close-up shots, they put Meat Loaf in a wheelchair since it was a less dangerous option... .however, he still got injured. His stand-in tried to catch him and broke his leg.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/0/794860.jpg)
Source: VH-1
![BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS The composer doesn't understand how it's still popular Richard Hartley said, The film's a bit long, and it's so slow. It wilts after an hour then picks up again. That might explain why audience participation started to play a big part at screenings - they probably got bored so they started answering back.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/3/5/794835.jpg)
Source: The Guardian
![BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS Time Warp was added to pad time The iconic song wasn't in the original production of show. It was added to extend the 40 minute play to feature length, as well as add a dance number.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/3/4/794834.jpg)
Source: The Guardian
![BEHIND-THE-SCENESFACTS Tim Curry did his own make-up They hired Pierre La Roche, David Bowie's make-up artist, for the film, but it would take him four hours to do the look SO Tim Curry decided to just do it himself.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/3/3/794833.jpg)
Source: The Guardian
![BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS Peter Hinwood (Rocky) retired from acting after the film He said, One, I can't act. Two, I cringe with embarrassment every time I see myself on film. He sold his gold shorts in auction for over $1000 in 1994.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/3/794863.jpg)
Source: People
![BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS Susan Sarandon was very ill during filming Sarandon recalls, I had pneumonia, because I was obviously hardly dressed through a lot of it, and damp.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/3/1/794831.jpg)
Source: Yahoo!
![BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS It was filmed in the same house as The Innocents Creator Richard O'Brien explains, It wasn't an actual set: it was an old Victorian gothic revival house a paddock away from the studios.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/3/0/794830.jpg)
Source: The Guardian
![BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS The dining table surprise reveal was genuine Only Tim Curry knew that the corpse was going to be under the tablecloth. The actors' reactions were real.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/3/2/794832.jpg)
Source: The Guardian
![BEHIND-THE-SCENESFACTS Brad and Janet were actually dating 20th Century Fox wanted the British production to include Americans, which is why they brought on real-life couple Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/2/9/794829.jpg)
Source: The Guardian
![BEHIND-THE-SCENESFACTS The lips in the opening sequence are Magenta's The voice is creator Richard O'Brien's (Riff Raff). The lips on the poster, however, belong to former model Lorelei Shark.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/2/5/794825.jpg)
Source: ScreenRant
![BEHIND-THE-SCENESFACTS Roger Ebert gave the movie two and a half stars Ebert liked Tim Curry's performance, saying, He's the best thing in the movie, maybe because he seems to be having the most fun.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/2/3/794823.jpg)
Source: Roger Ebert