Flicking your Bic

An audience at the Tiffany Theater in Los Angeles, Flicking their Bics in September of 1978

In the early days of Audience Participation at The Rocky Horror Picture Show, theater-goers would hold up and ignite their pocket cigarette lighters during the curses of "There's A Light." This was referred to a "flicking your Bic", in reference to a long-running advertising campaign at the time for Bic brand lighters. As time went on and Fire-Marshals began to check in on Rocky Horror screenings, theaters banned the dangerous practice and allowed only flashlights. In recent times, it is more common to see people using a smart phone to participate in the "There's a Light" scene.