The Panida Theater celebrates 50 years of Rocky Horror
October 17, 2025
By Reader Staff
Fifty years ago, on Sept. 26, 1975, the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show debuted to small, unresponsive audiences and immediately flopped — but that was just the beginning. The inclusive, queer and bawdy culture that grew around this musical comedy went on to make it the longest-running theatrical release in film history (50 years) and earn Rocky Horror a place in the United States National Film Registry.
In honor of the 50-year anniversary, The Rocky Horror Picture Show will screen in all its camp glory on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m., with an accompanying costume contest, at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).
Courtesy photo
Based on the 1973 stage production by Richard O’Brien, Rocky Horror is a gaudy, raunchy rock ’n’ roll musical that spoofs classic horror and science-fiction B movies. The story follows sweethearts Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon), who happen upon the mysterious estate of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) shortly after their engagement.
Frank, a seductive “transvestite” scientist, is determined to build his own boyfriend, Frankenstein style, and open the naive couple’s eyes to the world of “absolute pleasure.” Along the way, Brad and Janet encounter the house’s strange inhabitants: a rock ’n’ roll biker (Meat Loaf), a hunchback butler (O’Brien), a Soviet maid (Patricia Quinn), a showgirl (Nell Campbell) and Rocky Horror himself (Peter Hinwood).
The film’s cult following blossomed after Fox began midnight screenings of Rocky Horror, which had audiences coming back day after day to sing along and talk back to the screen. Eventually, dressing like the characters, yelling out quips and playing raunchy games became the norm. The Panida’s showing will have lots of audience participation (including props to throw) led by the night’s seductive hosts.
Tickets are $27. Visit panida.org for more information.
Want to support independent local journalism?
The Sandpoint Reader is our town's local, independent weekly newspaper. "Independent" means that the Reader is locally owned and operated by people who were born and raised in Sandpoint. The Reader is owned by Publisher Ben Olson, Editor-in-Chief Zach Hagadone and Senior Writer Soncirey Mitchell. Sandpoint Reader LLC is a completely independent business unit; no big newspaper group or corporate conglomerate or billionaire owner dictates our editorial policy. And we want the news, opinion and lifestyle stories we report to be freely available to all interested readers - so unlike many other newspapers and media websites, we have NO PAYWALL on our website. The Reader relies wholly on the support of our valued advertisers, as well as readers who voluntarily contribute. Want to ensure that local, independent journalism survives in our town? You can help support the Reader for as little as $1.
TIMBER WARS: Six-part series, February-November 2022. GO READ IT»
WHERE ARE THE WORKERS?: Five-part series, September-October 2021. GO READ IT»
THE AMERICAN REDOUBT: Seven-part series, November-December 2017. GO READ IT»
STANDOFF AT RUBY RIDGE: 25 Years Later. Five-part series, August-September 2017. GO READ IT»
Curious about what media the locals use? Check our 2018 Local Media Survey. GO SEE »
Sandpoint in Pictures
Filmmaker Jimmy Matlosz of the Idaho Film Company has made a series of mini documentaries about influential Sandpoint locals, including the late Dann Hall and Erik Daarstad as well as icons Diane Michaels and Dan Shook. He is currently working on a series of interviews connected to the history of the Panida Theater. Jimmy is a 30-year veteran filmmaker who's work can be seen at dpmatlosz.com.
Meet the Reader
Ever wonder who makes the Reader happen? Here's a behind-the-scenes look pieced together by summer 2017 intern McCalee Cain in which Ben, Cameron and Lyndsie explain what exactly about the Reader keeps them coming back to their shabby (but well-loved) office each week.
