When Richard O’Brien was a struggling actor in London during the early 1970s, he passed time between gigs by writing a strange little musical inspired by his obsession with B-movies, 1950s rock and roll, and science fiction serials. He called it “They Came from Denton High.” With its quirky characters, cross-dressing aliens, and madcap energy, the script was too odd for mainstream theater, but director Jim Sharman, who had worked with O’Brien on the stage production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” saw potential. He encouraged O’Brien to refine it, which led to the creation of the stage musical “The Rocky Horror Show” in 1973.

The live show debuted in a small 60-seat theater in London’s Royal Court and quickly gained a cult following. Its success caught the attention of 20th Century Fox, which greenlit a film adaptation with a modest budget and limited expectations. Filming began in October 1974 at Bray Studios, a facility best known for classic Hammer horror films. The production used leftover sets from “The Eagle Has Landed” and old Victorian props to save money. The mansion featured in the film was Oakley Court, a real English estate with no heating, where actors often wore nothing under their costumes to stay in character, shivering between takes.

Tim Curry, who originated the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter on stage, was cast again for the film. He transformed his voice for the role, shifting from a German accent to a posh, campy British one inspired by Queen Elizabeth’s pronunciation, believing it would make the character more unsettling and elegant. Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick played Janet and Brad, the uptight couple whose lives are upended by Frank-N-Furter’s wild household. Sarandon fell ill with pneumonia during the shoot after long days in wet clothes on freezing sets. Still, she continued filming, stating years later that the experience, though miserable, was unforgettable.

O’Brien played Riff Raff and co-wrote many of the songs, including “Time Warp” and “Science Fiction/Double Feature.” The songs were recorded live on set to preserve energy, an uncommon choice at the time. The production’s shoestring budget meant that the cast provided many of their own accessories. Little Nell, who played Columbia, famously wore tap shoes she had owned since childhood, and Patricia Quinn, who played Magenta, agreed to take the role only after confirming she would get to lip-sync the iconic opening number, which she rehearsed with exaggerated precision.

When “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” premiered in 1975, it opened to confusion and low box office numbers. Critics could not categorize it. It was part musical, part horror spoof, part glam rock fever dream. But everything changed in 1976 when a Fox executive named Tim Deegan suggested midnight screenings. Word-of-mouth exploded in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Fans began dressing as characters, shouting lines back at the screen, and performing in front of the theater. The Waverly Theater in Greenwich Village became ground zero for the film’s interactive cult status. At one point, it played continuously every weekend night for over four decades.

One particularly fascinating behind-the-scenes story involved Meat Loaf, who played Eddie. His iconic motorcycle scene through the laboratory was achieved using a wheelchair with handlebars after the real motorcycle was deemed too dangerous to operate in tight studio spaces. Meat Loaf nearly crashed when the wheel jammed during filming but continued the performance, earning applause from the crew.

For years, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” was one of the few films audiences returned to over and over, not for the plot but for the experience. Lines like “Dammit, Janet” and “Sweet Transvestite” became cultural anthems, and the film’s costumes influenced generations of Halloween parties, drag shows, and fashion runways. Richard O’Brien once said, “We made it with no money, no expectations, and no idea it would still be alive when most of us were dead.”

Actors went on to successful careers, but many remained closely tied to their Rocky Horror personas. Tim Curry often spoke about how the film allowed him to express outrageous ideas without limits, calling it one of the few projects that felt entirely free.

O’Brien never stopped honoring the film’s legacy, appearing in anniversary events and embracing the continued audience love for a story born out of theatrical rebellion, camp music, and unapologetic identity. The fire it lit in 1975 burns on every time someone does the Time Warp again.