Tim Curry tribute post

With Tim Curry dying hours after Dolly Parton, I didn't want to let the week end without writing something in appreciation of Curry, too. But I don't really have any Curry ephemera, so I had to figure out what to post.

Then I remembered my newspaper's first local review of The Rocky Horror Picture Show phenomenon.

Jon Ferguson, whom I worked alongside for a few years when I joined the newspaper in 2014, wrote "The Theater Darkens, And Crowd Lights Up" for the Lancaster Intelligence Journal's Lifebeat section on April 6, 1979. As far I can tell from searching the archives, it's the first time Curry's picture appeared in the newspaper in something other than a movie advertisement for a midnight showing.

Curry isn't even mentioned by name in Ferguson's article (only Susan Sarandon gets that honor), but there are some interesting comments, nonetheless. Please remember that this is 1979 in ultra-conservative Lancaster County (current home of America's measles revival); the fact that Rocky Horror was showing in Amish country at all is kind of stunning. Ferguson writes:

• The fool foolish enough to wear his Sunday best was quickly warned as he stepped down the aisle. "You wore a suit to the wrong movie," a voice hidden in the darkness of the theater called out.
• "It's not the movie that provides the show, it's the audience. Don't expect the crowd to sit placidly back in silence as this trifle of a film about a 'sweet transexual from Transylvania' unfolds."
• "Basically, the movie focuses on the debauching of an innocent young couple at the hands of Dr. Frank N. Further, the travestite from the planet Transexual in the galaxy of Transylvania, and his demented minions. The plot is next to invisible, the acting reaches new heights of campiness and there is no hint of social redeeming value. But criticisms of this sort have no place when discussing 'Rocky Horror.' The movie is unto itself, and the same goes for its audience."

Last year, Sarah Nicell had some more contemporary insights when writing a column on the movie's 50th anniversary for LNP | LancasterOnline:

"Much about the movie is outdated, even if it pushed boundaries for its time. There are corny, blood-drip transitions and fourth wall breaks. Frank-N-Furter, the host of the castle played by Tim Curry, sings a seductive song about being a “Sweet Transvestite” from his home planet of 'Transexual' in the galaxy of 'Transylvania.' (It’s unclear in the film whether the character identifies with the antiquated term because he’s a cross-dresser or for his alien heritage. Perhaps it’s both.) The same character tricks his virginal guests into non-consensual sexual encounters. Alien siblings have an implied incestuous relationship. ... The movie is, regardless of the year you watch it, absurd. It is offensive and strange. Some lyrics are nonsensical, and the camera work is shaky."

Ahh well.

Personally, I think "Don't Dream It, Be It" is about as clear and sensible as you can get for a lyric that has been embraced by what is now generations of queer fans.

I also like the summary in Steve Appleford's Curry appreciation for the Los Angeles Times: "No one was ever bored watching Tim Curry onscreen."

To that end, Ashar and I greatly enjoyed watching Curry in 1980's Times Square and 1990's The Hunt for Red October the past two nights as we honored his memory. We're planning to watch Annie and Clue in the coming days. And, having seen some stills, we'd like to track down his 1978 British six-part series Will Shakespeare.