Oh the horror...the Rocky Horror
by Travis Combs
The Metropolitan

Photo by - Joshua Lawton Danny Dupree, right, playing the part of a Transylvainian, talks with other cast members of Colorado Elusive Ingredient before setting up for the midnight showing of the movie at Starz Film Center. Metro student Sara Stevens, left, sews a piece of material for her costume.

Space alien transvestites and the gathering of displaced souls have made a new home at the Starz Film Center within the confines of one movie: The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Denver has been one of only a handful of cities across the United States who, for twenty-seven years, have continuously run the film for Saturday midnight showings.  The venue has changed several times over the years, but the spirit of Rocky Horror remains constant.

The movie, which contains elements of b-grade science fiction and alternative lifestyles, did poorly at the box office when initially released in 1975, but quickly gained a cult following when theaters started running only midnight showings of it.

The Colorado Elusive Ingredient (C.E.I), a collection of Rocky Horror fans, , has been organizing live, mimic performances of the movie’s scenes for nearly three years, and provides a place for like-minded individuals a community in which to bond.

Both the cast of C.E.I and audience members participate in a live reenactment of The Rocky Horror Picture Show while the film is playing on screen.

Born out of melodrama, which characterizes the community of dedicated fans, the C.E.I has carried the torch for keeping weekly Saturday midnight showings of Rocky Horror alive in Denver, according to Pierrette J. Shields, Production Manager and Performer at C.E.I.

“Colorado Elusive Ingredient was born out of extreme melodrama. Since then we’ve been working very hard to eliminate that and I think we’ve done it,” said Shields. “Rocky Horror’s not anything unless it’s completely melodramatic.”

Playing the part of Dr. Frankenfurter, a space alien transvestite, during last Saturday’s performance, Shields and the rest of the crew perform a shadow cast of the show, which is different from doing a direct performance.

“We’re doing exactly what’s going on up on the screen,” said Shields. “We lip sync it all. We even memorize the character’s twitches.”

According to Tam “T.J” Bowkes, being a member of C.E.I can offer a place for many to explore aspects of their personalities that normally would go unexpressed in normal, day-to-day living.
“It’s an amazing experience,” said Bowkes. “I’ve come out of my shell so much. A year ago I wouldn’t be caught dead running around in a half-slip and a bra.”

According to Bowkes, the transforming nature of being a cast member has helped her self-confidence levels grow.

“The confidence you gain in yourself is amazing,” said Bowkes.

A self- described cult, both audience and cast of Rocky Horror showings used the word “family” to describe their relationship to both each other and film itself.

“If one thing in particular happens to a cast member, we all feel it,” said Bowkes.
Andrew (a middle school teacher who asked that his last name not be used) is the Co-Manager of C.E.I and has been involved with The Rocky Horror Picture Show in one aspect or another for fifteen years, also describes the cast and audience as a family.

“Because I’ve yet to convince a woman to stay naked with me for any extended period of time and therefore have no family and no kids, this gives me an opportunity to be parental,” said Andrew who is in his mid-thirties. “I’ve gotten very psychological about it because I feel the need to have a family and take care of things.”

According to Andrew, involvement in Rocky Horror can sometimes provide people with a more caring environment than their traditional families.

“We spend more time with these kids as parents then their parents,” said Andrew. “I’ve counseled some of them on some serious matters.”

Bree Dunn, a cast member for C.E.I also feels Rocky Horror has provided her with a sense of belonging she may have lacked in other aspects of her life.

According to Andrew, misplaced members of society can often find a home among kindred souls when traditional society rejects or misunderstands them.

“Rocky Horror is a place for the socially incompetent yet emotionally interesting,” said Andrew. “It’s a place for people to find functional family groups and band together with other weirdos, which has been the case of theatre since the beginning of time.”

Sara Stevens, A theatre major at Metro and a founding member of C.E.I echoed Andrew’s statements by describing the Rocky Horror community as society's misunderstood members.
“Rocky Horror attracts the freak — almost geek — crowd and gives them a chance to be lewd, crass and almost mean at times,” said Stevens.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show planted its roots in Denver when the Ogden Theatre ran the show every Saturday at Midnight during the latter half of the seventies and into the eighties.
The Show then had regular viewings at the Esquire Theatre on Sixth Ave. during the nineties. After a brief stint at the Buckingham Mall, the show found an ideal theatre at Tiffany Plaza 6, but was unable to stay because of financial concerns.

During their transition to the Starz Film Center, C.E.I underwent a period when it’s future was in question.

“We went homeless for a while when we were between theaters,” said Shields. “There was another group trying to move in and take over, but our audience stayed with us because it’s really a cult.”

According to Shields, C.E.I’s shaky transition to its new home is testimony to the staying power of both Rocky Horror’s appeal and its fan base.

“We’ve just moved to the Tivoli and we survived the move,” said Shields. “The cult is alive and well in Denver after twenty-seven and we’re proud we’re the torchbearers.”

The Rocky Horror Picture Show can be seen Saturdays at Midnight at the Tivoli, with the pre-show starting at approximately 11:15 p.m. For more information about Rocky Horror or the C.E.I go online to www.denverrhps.com or www.coloradoelusiveingredient.com.

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The Chinese New Year begins Feb. 1 with the first New Moon on the first day of the New Year (Feb. 1) and ends 15 days later with the full moon.

In Chinese culture, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are celebrated in Chinese culture as a family affair, a time where when people come together for reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with by a religious ceremony given in honor of family ancestors, Heaven and Earth, and the gods of the household.

“The Chinese New Year is what we call the spring festival, and I would say that it’s the most important festival in China, just like our Christmas here,” said Metro history professor Xiansheng Tian.

Tian, a native of China, said that there are very different ways in the different regions of China to celebrate the New Years.

“Generally speaking, the family members will come together and have a big banquet,” Tian said.  “A big eating event, and the major feast around the table is something roughly translated to meat dumpling.  You can put your fortune and a good wish for the New Year in these meat dumplings., some Some (people) even put something, like a coin, in one of the dumplings. Who ever gets that one is the luckiest person, and will make a fortune next year.”

Tian said that firecrackers are traditionally considered by the Chinese as a way to scare away wandering evil spirits, so that they can have a peaceful year.  Chinese ancestors are also acknowledged on New Year’s Eve, with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table.
“On New Years Eve, every one will come together and sit through midnight, extended family kids, parents, grandparents. Traditionally they also had a ceremony to show the worship of your ancestors, but (modern) Chinese society is much more westernized,” Tian said.

Tian said that on the first day of the New Year, the younger generation is supposed to kneel and touch their head to the ground to show their respect to for their older family members elders.  In return for doing this, the children receive an award or a red envelope carrying with money inside.  However, Tian said that today many young people go to church to celebrate Christmas instead of staying home with their parents to celebrate the Spring Festival.

“These traditions are forgotten by the younger generation, especially after, I’d say, the 1950s under the communist control.  (The communists) were saying that all of these traditions should be gone.  So people are forgetting it,” Tian said.  “Some of the old traditions are slowly coming back, but after you’ve lost it for so long it is not easy to restore.”

Some Taboos and Superstitions of the Chinese New Year

*Setting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of getting rid of the old year and welcoming in the one.
*All debts must be paid by this time of the year. Nothing should be lent to anyone on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the New Year.
*The whole house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all cleaning equipment should be put away. Sweeping or even dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that all your good fortune will be swept away.
*References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning.
*Everyone should refrain from swearing. Negative terms and the word "four" (Ssu), which sounds like the word for death, are not to said. Death and dying are not to be mentioned and ghost stories are very taboo.

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