Good luck if you are running the Sport Relief mile today in a fancy dress costume. We hope the sun shines for you. We mentioned yesterday that Saturday can often be our busiest day, but we are starting to find that Sunday is getting to be quite popular. This is possibly because we are one of the few fancy dress shops in the area that do open on Sundays.
Today we thought we would take a look at those celebrating their birthday today, as they can be pertinent to some of the themes we get asked for. 1970s is not quite as prolific request as it once was, but today sees the 70th birthday of actor and writer, Richard O’Brien. Some may remember him from The Crystal Maze in the 1980s, but it is the 1970s Rocky Horror Show, which is undeniably his most famous creation.
Talking of which, we see that the Sing-a-long-a Rocky Horror Picture Show is back at the Prince Charles Cinema in London on March 30th (plus a few other dates during the year). For those of you who are going, you might like to know that we offer the full range of licensed Rocky Horror characters for this show, including Frank n Furter, Columbia, Magenta and Riff Raff, we also stock boas, basques, stockings, wigs, etc, where you can improvise your own look. Take a look at our Rocky Horror information page, it gives you loads of information on Rocky Horror Costume Ideas
Another person celebrating his birthday today who was big in the 1970s, is Paul Michael Glaser, who played Detective Dave Starsky in the 1970s TV series’ Starsky and Hutch. This was one of the classic Cops TV shows (along with 1980s Miami Vice) which was recreated with new films in the noughties. Although we do occasionally get requests for the Miami Vice look, when it comes to costumes, Starsky and Hutch is not one that has stood the test of time.
Are you brave enough to join the dedicated fan club and dress up in costume as a character from The Rocky Horror Picture Show?
It’s that time of the year when we once again celebrate the Rocky Horror Picture Show which premiered in London on August 14th 1975. The ‘Picture Show’ was (and still is) the movie version of the off-beat Rocky Horror Show originally performed in a disused cinema off the Kings Road in Chelsea, London. The Picture Show’s primary shooting location – Oakley Court, situated close to the then Bray Studios (home of the Hammer Horror films)- is still a mecca for Horror Show fans, even though it has now been converted into a swanky hotel offering a whole different kind of hospitality. Meanwhile, whilst the Picture Show is easily available to enjoy at home on DVD, Blu-Ray and any other media, the live 3D version continues to evolve and tour the country, gathering new virgins (those who haven’t experienced the Show) as it does so.
It’s the end of June, and we are halfway through 2011. Have you dressed up in costume this year yet? Where is the time going to? Yesterday, we were talking about some of the external events , where historical and retro fashion is a key component and visitors are encouraged to dress up in costume and enter into the spirit of the occasion. If you are not one of those who enjoy the outdoor festival circuit there are of course other forms of entertainment held indoors (aside from private parties) where dressing up and audience participation go hand in hand. We are talking about the singalonga circuit. Shows currently doing the rounds (and if you are in the Essex area, at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch,) include Rocky Horror; the Sound of Music; Grease and High School Musical 3. These are great opportunities for people to get into character, don appropriate costumes, which we naturally supply and have a good time.
We are in the process of putting together information pages on various costumes themes, and singalongs are included. Take a look at what we’ve done so far…
You may have realised that we’ve been trying to give you some alternative fancy dress suggestions for themes as we head up to the BIG DAY, aka Halloween. So we thought a
Frank n Furter Fancy Dress Outfit
sporting theme could come into play, particularly as it is the legendary Argentinean footballer, Diego Maradona’s 50th birthday. However, it is also the anniversary of that unique body builder Charles Atlas, who was born in 1892 (although some sources suggest it as 1893). So, realistically we just had to make Rocky Horror our featured theme. Why you ask? Well, if you’re not into Rocky Horror, you might not know that Frank N Furter’s creation ‘Rocky/Charles Globe was an obvious spoof based on the Charles Atlas adverts of the 50s.
Dressing up as a Rocky Horror character is a favourite all year round, they also make a great Halloween costume choice for both men and women. There is normally a Rocky Horror event near you and the National tour (both the sing-a-long and muscial version) keep bringing in the crowds. We had The Rocky Horror Pictue Show playing very locally to us a couple of weeks ago, and we actually got used to 6′ men walking around the shop in fishnet tights! There are 4 licensed Rocky Horror Costumes and we stock them and the wigs for each of the characters. You do not need to be restricted to these 4 costumes, basically if it’s weird and wacky, it will do for the Rocky Horror Picture show.
If you want to know more details about The Rocky Horror Show, take a look at our information page.
You might have noticed recent press coverage about world record attempts involving fancy dress costumes – 5th August saw the ‘Greatest number of pirates in one place’ at Hastings. Props n Frocks stocks a huge range of pirate costumes and accessories if you think about trying to break this particular record. Earlier in the year we had ‘The greatest number of Star Trek characters in costume’ at the Millennium Bridge, London. There was also ‘The greatest number of people doing the Time Warp (from the Rock Horror Show)’ at Brighton. Of course, we also stock all the Rocky Horror Costumes. Check out our Rocky Horror page that will give you all the information you will need if you are brave enough to attend! All this effort at massed costuming is, of course, aimed at getting into the Guinness Book of Records.
On September 2nd, we celebrate two individuals of relevance to this topic. On this day in 1994, Roy Castle died. In his foreshortened career he helped many to great deeds – he was a popular all-round entertainer, an inspiration to many and host of the TV show ‘Record Breakers’, in which he attempted and broke several records himself – notably for tap-dancing. Rather longer ago, in 530BC the Athenian herald and Greek hero Pheidippides was born. It was he who ‘invented’ the marathon run, Firstly he ran 150 miles over two days to get help from the Spartans, when the Persians invaded at Marathon. Then, after the battle was won, he ran to Athens (about 25 miles) to announce the victory, then collapsed and died. These days the marathon is a less arduous affair, even when people insist on doing the event in costume to benefit a worthy cause. Perhaps we’ll see a renewed interest in this novel sport-form because of the new Weetabix advert which involves Mascot fun-runners beating the athletes to the finish line, but in the meantime you could browse the relevant Guinness World Records site http://community.guinnessworldrecords.com/_Records-set-at-Flora-London-Marathon/blog/257326/7691.html which has a section on fancy dress records for the 2009 Flora marathon – ‘Fastest dressed as a vegetable’, Fastest dressed as a cartoon character’ and so on.
This is the week for a Rocky Horror Fancy Dress Party. The film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show premiered in London on August 14, 1975, so it will be celebrating its 35th anniversary. (It did not get to the US until 26th September the same year). The film was originally not a success at the box office until someone had the idea (as outlined in the film itself) to show it as a ‘Late Night Double Feature’. Here in Britain, for many years, it was paired with Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’ and played at the cinema adjacent to Baker Street tube station. So in celebration, it’s just a step to the right, the right step being to come and see us here at Props n Frocks, where you don’t just dream it, you be it!
We have an information page giving you all the details you need regarding Rocky Horror Costumes. If you need inspiration on costumes, show dates and even tips on what props you should really take along to join in the fun, take a look at our Rocky Horror Picture Show costumes & ideas page
mentioned yesterday that Saturday can often be our busiest day, but we are starting to find that Sunday is getting to be quite popular. This is possibly because we are one of the few fancy dress shops in the area that do open on Sundays.
