Brad Majors at 50: Barry Bostwick talks a half-century of 'Rocky Horror' * Oregon ArtsWatch

"Even more than usual, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is everywhere these days. As the landmark cult film marks fifty years since its original release, retrospective documentaries and tributes have explored the creation of this singular phenomena and the unique place it holds in global pop culture. There was no way Richard O'Brien could have known that the gender-bending tribute to vintage science fiction and Hollywood glamor he wrote would become a touchstone for multiple generations."

"And Barry Bostwick, when he played the embodiment of white male cis-het-itude (at least at first), surely had no reason to expect that, five decades later, he'd be touring the nation with the film, communing with some of its most passionate devotees, and answering many of the same questions over and over from journalists. He seems to be handling all of those responsibilities like a pro, at least judging from the 45-minute telephone conversation we had."

"I came up with this the other day when we were doing a show. In "Time Warp," it's a jump to the left and then it's a step to the right. Well, let's just make sure you don't go to the far right! Because that would undo an awful lot of people and their enthusiasm and their needs, society-wise. So don't take that far-right step."

The Rocky Horror Picture Show marks its fiftieth anniversary and remains a pervasive cultural phenomenon with retrospective documentaries and tributes exploring its origins and global influence. The work blends gender-bending themes, vintage science fiction homage, and Hollywood glamor into a persistent touchstone across generations. Barry Bostwick, who originally embodied a conventional white male role and later toured with the film, engages passionately with devoted audiences and journalists. Bostwick's career includes the original Broadway Grease and a role as mayor on Spin City. Bostwick warns against political regression, invoking "Time Warp" as a metaphor: 'jump to the left' but avoid a far-right step. Bostwick will appear at an October 27 screening at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

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