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 Wikki, 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 Rocky collecting. 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. She appeared as part of both The Rocky Horror Revue (as a Transylvanian) and The Tiffany Troupe in various roles.
Sutton was the the first to use props at the Nuart Theater, as she brought noisemakers (for the creation scene) and a teddy bear to hold up during "Eddie's Teddy" in March of 1977 (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 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: SINSCON 2010 - Million Dollar Theater
2013: I Survived the Tiffany Reunion - Tiffany Theater/Canters Deli
Misc. RHPS Performances/Appearances
1979: Photographed for TIme Magazine article on the growing Rocky Horror Cult
1979: Wilshire Theater RHPS Opening Night
1979: Two on the Town Rocky Horror Segment (Sunset Strip Episode)
1979: Rocky Horror Hair Show
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
Theaters Attended 1975-Present
- UA, Westwood, CA (1975)
- Bay Theater, Pacific Palisades, CA (1977)
- Nuart, West Los Angeles, CA (1977-2015)
- Fox Venice, 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, Berkley, CA (1980)
- Aquarius Theater, Hollywood, CA (1981-Revival Tour)
- Vista Theatre, Hollywood, CA (1981-Shock Treatment premiere)
- 20th Century Fox, Century City, CA (1990)
- Pantages Theater, Hollywood (2000)
- Million Dollar Theater, LA, CA (2010)
- Harmony Gold Theater, Hollywood, CA (2011)
- Silent Movie Theater, Hollywood, CA (2014 -Screening following An Evening with Tim Curry)
- Regent Theatre, Westwood, CA (2015 - Rocky Horror Picture Show Day Screening)
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
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
- Designed 15th Anniversary Logo (seen on most merchandise/collateral elements)
- Compiled "Rocky Horror International" for The Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary Box Set
- Compiled "Songs From The Vaults" for "The Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary Box Set
- Wrote Liner Notes for for The Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary Box Set
- Art Direction/Design of 20th Anniversary Box Set
- Wrote Liner Notes for 20th Anniversary Box Set
- Designed CD Packaging for 25 Years of Absolute Pleasure
- Art Direction/Design "Sing It" CD
- Designed CD package for Roxy Cast CD for Ode (Distributed by Rhino)
- Designed CD package for RHPS Audience Participation Album CD for Ode (Distributed by Rhino)
- 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 CD for 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
- Archival Rescue of Tiffany Theater Marquee when theater was demolished
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 Revival starring David Arquette at the Tiffany Theater
1999: Richard O'Brien Live at Retrofest/Santa Monica Civic
2014: An Evening with Tim Curry/Silent Movie Theater, Hollywood
2015: Meatloaf at The Saban Theater, Beverly Hills
2016: Cast reunion at The Hollywood Show
