ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN
PREVIOUS TRANNY GUIDES
'Re-occuring
Rocky' - From 10th Edition of The Tranny Guide
'ROCKY
START' By Vicky Lee
Here
is my story of discovery - use and abuse of Rocky - I
can see you shiver with antici ….pation.
Richard
O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show, has provided the opportunity
for thousands to put aside inhibitions and dress up without
fear of, (too much), reprisal.
Back a million light years,
(in the 1970s), when I first met my partner Lesley, the
Rocky Horror Show, was playing on stage in the Kings Road
Chelsea, (the theatre is now a cinema). We went to see
the show as one of our first 'dates'. Many of the actors
went on to be in the film cast including Richard O'B,
Pat Quin, Little Nell and Tim Curry. (I wish I had a program).
The show was the first 'alternative' stage show we had
seen. At this point we were "know nothing" kids from the
suburbs, brought up on Carousel and Christmas panto's.
I knew I was a tranny and I wanted Lesley to know I was
a tranny.
I did not pluck up courage
at that point but at least her enjoyment of the show,
let me know she was not repulsed by the concept. Our next
meeting with Rocky was in the film 'Fame'. The cool kids
take Doris to a late night showing of 'The Rocky Horror
Picture Show'. For some reason I don't think at that time
I was aware of the film. Here were cool NYC kids dressing
up and getting up on stage singing along with the movie.
In the same year, Lesley,
me and best mate Chris took a holiday in a surf village
in Cornwall called 'Skewjack'. This was an extraordinary
place run by, (ex Pink Fairies Chris South), where pretty
much anything was possible. At night the place went mad
in the disco, followed by a day on beach to sleep off
the hangover. One wet day, Chris offered two choices -
trip to a tin mine (again), or a movie on video (videos
were a new invention). "What movie?"
Chris offered a choice
and one was Rocky Horror. (A pirate copy - sorry Richard
O'B).
The camp full of teens
and twenties watched the film with their jaws on the floor.
The next day it rained again. "Rocky Horror"… Every one
wanted to see the movie again. Me, Lelly and Chris sat
at the front with all the props and did the Fame thing.
Friday night at 'Skewjack' was always a fancy dress night.
Well you have never seen so many sweet transvestites.
We went to 'Skewjack' every
year for 10 years, always on August bank Holiday. A growing
group of friends made this weekend their holiday date
too. Every time Lesley packed more stockings and suspender
belts than swimming costumes. On one occasion we had the
full cast and acted out most of the movie. Still in the
closet I was always Riff Raff. Lesley was Magenta. Chris
was Frankenfurter.
One time a big biker joined
us as 'Eddie'. As we got ready, (which I remember, meant
drinking lots of cider), big biker, dropped his trousers
to show us all his stockings and suspender belt. Someone
called out, "Eddie doesn't wear stockings" - "This one
does" he replied.
Some of the friends we
met in Cornwall came to London to university. "They are
having a 'Rocky Horror' night at uni - wana come". About
ten of us got ready. For the very first time I shaved
my legs and did the full Frankenfurter. It turned out
that the screening was at the university film club. It
was full of earnest young people with note books, ready
to 'study' the movie. We were the only ones dressed up
with our water pistols and newspapers. We sure got some
funny looks in the intermission bar.
For eight years at WayOut
we avoided doing anything from Rocky Horror. It seemed
too obvious. However in 2000 I saw the stage show with
Jason Donovan. The audience was wild. It was time to do
a tribute at The WayOut Club. We put together props, scenery
and a soundtrack and acted out all the best bits with
the whole audience joining in the 'Time Warp' dance. It
was a smash hit night and we have made it our Halloween
week fixture.
Richard O'Brien has given
many of us the opportunity to not just "dream
it" but to "be
it". His words have become my life.
So when I received a call
one sleepy Sunday morning and heard.
"Richard
O'Brien here - You might not know me - I am best known
for writing The Rocky Horror Show".
You can imagine I turned
to jelly
Vicky
Lee - After meeting Richard I would like to report that
he is as warm and nice a person as he is eccentric, (and
we like eccentric).
The Rocky Horror Picture
Show is available on video picture disc CD and tape. But
best of all it is available on DVD with hours of extras
and commentaries.
Cult movie The Rocky Horror
Picture Show plays in movie houses world wide & The stage
show plays around the theatres world wide catch it when
you can.
The WayOut Tribute to the
Rocky Horror Show is November
The official Rocky Horror
web site includes exclusive video clips I recommend a
visit to this excellent site www.rockyhorror.com
The pictures in the left
hand strip are all from the WayOut Club tribute to the
Rocky Horror Show
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