Lisa Kurtz Sutton
Rocky Horror Elder Lisa Kurtz Sutton is an American Rocky Horror fan and historian. Sutton (aka HistHORRian) is a major contributor to The Rocky Horror Wiki, with over 40-years of first-hand knowledge, extensive research and professional affiliation.
Her personal history with The Rocky Horror Picture Show began in 1975 when she saw the trailer for the film, before it opened, at the UA Westwood in Los Angeles, CA. At the end of its initial run at the UA Westwood, Sutton became the owner of one of two one-sheets that were displayed at the theater, starting a lifetime of collecting Rocky Horror memorabilia. She went to early screenings of the film at the Nuart Theater and the Fox Venice Theater, and later became a staple at the legendary Tiffany Theater on the Sunset Strip where in addition to being a cast member, she made and sold ''Rocky Horror'' Fan Made Merchandise in the days before there was Officially Licensed Merchandise for ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show''. She appeared as part of both The Rocky Horror Revue (as a Transylvanian) and The Tiffany Troupe in various roles. She was one of the first Rocky Horror fans to see Shock Treatment at a private pre-release screening at 20th Century Fox.
Sutton was the the first documented fan to use props, as she brought noisemakers (for the creation scene) and a teddy bear to hold up during "Eddie's Teddy" in March of 1977 to the Nuart Theater (though she confesses she saw someone carry a teddy bear into a February, 1977 screening at the Bay Theater in Pacific Palisades, indicating possible prop usage earlier at other theaters in L.A.)
Although long since retired from performing, Sutton went on to co-produce and design The Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary Box Set for Ode (distributed by Rhino.) That started an over 10-year relationship with the company, with involvement in several projects helmed by Lou Adler and Howard Frank, including the 20th and 25th Anniversaries. In every package she designed for Ode Records, Sutton snuck in a line-art background made from her very first pair of fishnets as an homage to her past as a fan and performer. In 1999, she worked alongside Richard O'Brien on his CD Absolute O'Brien. Later that year, she brought O'Brien to the US to perform live at Rhino Records' "Retrofest" at the Santa Monica Civic and recruited the Long Beach Rocky Horror cast Midnight Insanity to perform with him for the Rocky numbers.
40+ years after the release of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Sutton still attends occasional screenings and remains a trusted source of knowledge on the early years of the cult. She also was proudly instrumental in helping rescue the theater marquee from the legendary Rocky Horror venue, the Tiffany Theater when it was demolished on August 30, 2013.
On October 30, 2015, Sutton was present at the Rocky Horror Picture Show Day historical plaque dedication at the site of the UA Westwood, bookending 40 years of participation as a fan of the film.
Contents
Cast Affiliations
- 1978: The Rocky Horror Revue
- 1978-1980: The TIffany Troupe
Conventions Attended
1979: The First Annual Transylvanian Convention
1980: The Second Annual Transylvanian Convention
1981: The Semi-Annual Transylvanian Convention
1981: The Third Annual Transylvanian Convention
1990: The Master's Affair - 15th Anniversary Convention
1995: The Rocky Horror 20th Anniversary Celebration (Roxy Theatre, Pantages Theater, Hollywood, CA)
2010: 7 Deadly Sins: The Rocky Horror Picture Show 35th Anniversary Convention - Million Dollar Theater
Misc. RHPS Performances/Appearances
1979: Photographed/Interviewed for TIme Magazine article on the growing Rocky Horror Cult
1979: Wilshire Theater RHPS Opening Night (Fullerton, CA)
1979: Two on the Town (Rocky Horror segment, Sunset Strip Episode)
1979: Rocky Horror segment at Jon Peters Hair Show (Universal City, CA)
1980: Part of Photographic Exhibition on Rocky Horror Cult by David Sussman (Laguna Beach, CA)
1980: Rocky Horror Cast, in John Carpenter's Fade To Black (seen in film trailer, background in film)
2014: Interviewed for Rocky Horror Saved My Life
2016: Interviewed for The Rocky Horror Phenomenon (upcoming German documentary)
Theaters Attended 1975-Present
- UA Westwood, CA (1975)
- Bay Theater, Pacific Palisades, CA (1977)
- Nuart Theater, West Los Angeles, CA (1977-2015)
- Fox Venice Theater, Venice, CA (1977-1980)
- Tiffany Theater, West Hollywood CA (1978-1983)
- Wilshire Theater, Fullerton, CA (1979)
- 8th Street Playhouse, New York City, NY (1980)
- University Theater, Berkeley, CA (1980)
- Aquarius Theater - The Rocky Horror Show 1980 - 81 North American Tour (1981)
- Vista Theatre, Hollywood, CA (1981-Shock Treatment premiere)
- 20th Century Fox, Century City, CA (1990) 15th Anniversary Convention
- Pantages Theater, Hollywood (2000) The Rocky Horror 20th Anniversary Celebration
- Million Dollar Theater, LA, CA (2010) 7 Deadly Sins: The Rocky Horror Picture Show 35th Anniversary Convention
- Harmony Gold Theater, Hollywood, CA (2011)
- UA Westwood - Westwood CA Rocky Horror Picture Show Day Ceremony (2015)
- Regent Theatre, Westwood, CA Rocky Horror Picture Show Day Screening (2015)
- Roxy Theatre (West Hollywood CA) The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again Premiere (2016)
Shock Treatment Events
1981: Shock Treatment Special Advance Screening, 20th Century Fox
1981: Shock Treatment Opening Night --Vista, Hollywood
Honors
1999: Invited by Richard O'Brien to join him at revival performance of The Rocky Horror Show at the Tiffany Theater (after it had become a playhouse) with David Arquette as Frank N Furter
2001: Featured in "Fans who Crossed Over" article in Crazed Imaginations Fanzine (October/Issue #74)
Professional Involvement
- Costume Contest Judge- The Second Annual Transylvanian Convention
- Costume Contest Judge- The Semi-Annual Transylvanian Convention
- Costume Contest Judge- The Third Annual Transylvanian Convention
- Program Cover Art- The Third Annual Transylvanian Convention
- Art Direction/Design of The Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary Box Set (4 CD or Cass, Comp + Box and booklet) - Ode Sounds & Visuals, Dist by Rhino
- Wrote Liner Notes for forThe Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary Box Set (4 CD or Cass, Comp + Box and booklet) - Ode Sounds & Visuals, Dist by Rhino
- Compiled Songs From The Vaults (A Collection Of Rocky Horror Rarities) for "The Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary Box Set
- Art Direction/Design of Songs From The Vaults (A Collection Of Rocky Horror Rarities) for "The Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary Box Set
- Compiled Rocky Horror International (A Collection Of Rocky Horror Tracks From Around The World) for The Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary Box Set
- Art Direction/Design of Rocky Horror International (A Collection Of Rocky Horror Tracks From Around The World) for The Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary Box Set
- Designed 15th Anniversary Logo (seen on most merchandise/collateral elements)
- Art Direction/Design for The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Sing It! (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Minus The Lead Vocals) - Ode Sounds & Visuals, Dist by Rhino
- Art Direction/Design of The Rocky Horror Collection (4 CD box, reconfigured from 15th Anniversary Set) - Ode Sounds & Visuals, Dist by Rhino
- Wrote Liner Notes for The Rocky Horror Collection (4 CD box, reconfigured from 15th Anniversary Set) - Ode Sounds & Visuals, Dist by Rhino
- Designed CD package for The Rocky Horror Show - Original Roxy Cast
- Designed CD package for Say It! The Rocky Horror Picture Show Audience Participation Album - Ode Records, US, 1983
- Designed CD package for RHPS Film Soundtrack CD for Ode (Distributed by Rhino)
- Designed CD package for London Cast CD for Ode (Distributed by Rhino)
- Designed CD package for Shock Treatment Soundtrack Ode (Distributed by Rhino)
- Consultant for 25th Anniversary TV Special for VH-1
- Art Direction for Absolute O'Brien CD for Oglio Entertainment
- Talent Coordination for Rocky Horror Night at Rhino Retrofest
- Co-Coordinator I Survived the Tiffany Reunion - Tiffany Theater/Nuart Theater
- Facilitated the Archival Rescue of Tiffany Theater Marquee with Valley Relics Museum before theater was demolished
- Facilitated the Archival Rescue of costumes and photo collection of Garrett Gafford
Notable Concerts/Events Attended
1978: Tim Curry at the Roxy Theater
1979: Tim Curry at the Santa Monica Civic
1979: Tim Curry at the Roxy Theater
1980: Fame advance screening at MGM
1999: The Rocky Horror Show 1999 Los Angeles Revival starring David Arquette at the Tiffany Theater
1999: Richard O'Brien Live at Retrofest/Santa Monica Civic
2013: I Survived the Tiffany Reunion - Tiffany Theater/Nuart Theater
2013: Cast reunion at The Hollywood Show
2013: Archival Rescue of Tiffany Theater Marquee when theater was demolished
2014: An Evening with Tim Curry / Silent Movie Theater, Los Angeles, CA
2015: Meat Loaf at The Saban Theater, Beverly Hills
2016: Cast reunion at The Hollywood Show
2016: The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again Premiere - Roxy Theatre (West Hollywood CA)
2017: Tim Curry and Jamie Donnelly: An Evening Of Classic Broadway - Rockwell Table & Stage (Los Angeles, CA) (March 20)
