Roy Rossi Photo Gallery

Roy Rossi Coppermine Photo Gallery

Category Albums Files
1978 (PRIMORDIAL PERIOD)***********************************************************************************
SHOWCASE CINEMAS, Seekonk, MA - Oct, 1978 - Jan 1979 (Weekly Fri & Sat nights)
JANE PICKENS THEATRE, Newport, RI - Spring 1978 - Summer 1978 (Weekly Fri & Sat nights)
***********************************************************************************

Before there were casts, there was just the showing of the movie.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show began showing in the greater Providence area at the Showcase Cinemas in Seekonk, MA in the Fall of 1978. There was an approximate 13 week run on Friday and Saturday nights at midnight. The only account we do have is co-founder Bob Andoscia going to the opening night. Some people came dressed in costume, but no local cast had developed yet. This likely emanated from word that there were the beginnings of other casts "out there" in NYC and Boston.If anyone from that short time period spots this and reads this, please reach out to me.

Meanwhile, beginning in the Spring of 1978 there was also an isolated showing of the RHPS at the Jane Pickens Theatre (JPT) in Newport in Spring and Summers. If accounts of timing are right, this was perhaps the first showing in Rhode Island. My account was from an informal discussion with owner Joe Jarvis. I questioned him to confirm it had began in Spring 1979, and he corrected me and said it was 1978. Again, no cast at first.
1 13
Seekonk - Showcase Cinemas - General


03_Showcase_Cinemas_Ad.jpg

All I have been able to accumulate from that short period are a few stories from Robert Andoscia and the newspaper ad. I've extracted pictures of the facility off an internet video from a later time. The facility did not change in appearance in all it's years, so apart from being closed the current pictures from 2015 reflect what it looked like back then.

The theatre closed in 2010 in favor of a newer Showcase facility in Seekonk. It is now an empty husk.

Scans, accumulation, and photos by Roy Rossi.

13 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2020
Album viewed 2631 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

1979 (PRIMORDIAL PERIOD)******************************************************************************
CINERAMA, Providence, RI - Feb, 1979 - Mar 1983 (Weekly Fri & Sat nights)
JANE PICKENS THEATRE, Newport, RI Spring 1979 - Summer 1979 (Weekly Fri & Sat nights)
******************************************************************************

Before RKO Army, there were other casts that we got our beginnings from.

In February of 1979, the Cinerama on Hope Street in Providence became the regular home of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The area's first cast was the Providence RHPS Cast. Bob Andoscia, who had gone to the first night's showing at the Showcase, was performing with them as Dr. Scott because he had a wheelchair. He explained the cast and audience participation to us. We became fans of the music from his RHPS album. Interested as I was, I held off going until I had attained my college degree. I promised I'd go once I had graduated college.

Meanwhile, the movie scene down at the Jane Pickens Theatre (JPT) in Newport was continuing in Spring/Summer. No cast yet going. At that point, I'm not sure if anyone was dressing up yet there.
2 16
Providence Cast 1979 General


01_Cinerama_RHPS_Ad.png

The Cinerama on Hope Street was where the first cast of Rhode Island, the Providence RHPS Cast, performed.

These are the only available pictures I've gotten, all from the Cinema Treasures website. The pictures of the Cinerama are from it's long history beginning as the Hope Street Theatre in the 1920's.

The last movie ever played at the Cinerama was the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and that show was the only time RKO Army (then the RI RHPS Cast) ever performed there.

Accumulation by Roy Rossi.

7 files, last one added on Dec 23, 2018
Album viewed 2225 times

Providence Cast 1979-12-30


09_LeeW_Elliot_the_Projectionist.png

Photos by G.P. Gregoire.

Date is an estimate.

9 files, last one added on May 31, 2020
Album viewed 2204 times

2 albums on 1 page(s)

1980 (PRIMORDIAL PERIOD)**********************************************************************************
CINERAMA, Providence, RI - Feb, 1979 - Mar 1983 (Weekly Fri & Sat nights)
JANE PICKENS THEATRE, Newport, RI Spring 1980 - Summer 1980 (Weekly Fri & Sat nights)
**********************************************************************************

True to my promise, I made it to my first show on Memorial Day weekend 1980 immediately after graduating college. It was the same week I began my professional career. Finally, I saw all the music I had listened to in the last year come to life. This was like seeing a new color. At first, I did have some concern at first about the rowdiness of the crowd. However, this was Us. As young people, we were suppose to be into the prototypical high school or college party atmosphere. That never cut it for us. This was the ultimate alternative experience - And some of us really needed that.

This was the coolest thing ever. It was a struggle getting involved, but I absolutely wanted to be involved with this phenomena.

Meanwhile, the movie was still showing down at the Jane Pickens Theatre (JPT) in Newport in Spring/Summer. One of the fascinating aspects of Rocky Horror was that this was going on all over the country at the same time. Out of strong curiosity to see what "another" show would look like, I traveled down alone. It was there I meet Chuck Spaulding, who was the lone cast member performing dressed as Riff Raff.
3 26
Providence Cast 1980 General


03_Roy_-_Letter_to_Media_Regarding_Strike_11-10-1980-P1.jpg

Accumulation and scans by Roy Rossi

8 files, last one added on May 31, 2020
Album viewed 2153 times

Providence Cast 1980-03-30 Providence - Cinerama


02_-_Johnny_D.jpg

Photo's by GP Gregoire.

Date is an estimate.

10 files, last one added on Dec 13, 2015
Album viewed 2273 times

Providence Cast 1980-12-20 - Providence - Cinerama


06-GP-Steve.jpg

Photos by G.P. Gregoire.

Date is an estimate.

8 files, last one added on Dec 13, 2015
Album viewed 2252 times

 

3 albums on 1 page(s)

1981 (PRIMORDIAL PERIOD)************************************************************************
CINERAMA, Providence, RI - Feb, 1979 - Mar 1983 (Weekly Fri & Sat nights)
************************************************************************

Bob and I were with the Providence Cast until June 1981. After a year, it did not work out personally for us between antagonistic theatre management policies and eventual cast conflicts. In no uncertain terms, Bob & I were gone. After we left, I gather their were more cast conflicts. Also from what I gather, there was no actual end-point. People just left the scene.

In retrospect, despite the bad ending for us personally, I give the cast members much credit for accomplishing what they did under what became antagonistic theatre management. Everyone was very young and inexperienced in life. They were the beginnings in Rhode Island. It was about a 3 year run. At the time, that was a very long run. This was a cast that was not working off any known tradition. They were part of a growth spurt that was happening around the country of the unprecedented Rocky Horror phenomenon. They lasted long enough that the ending cast membership was very different from the original cast membership.
1 8
Providence Cast 1981 - Newsletters (Cinerama)


1981-04_Lips_V1_01_P1__Preview.jpg

Providence Cast Newsletters (LIPS) distributed at the Cinerama in Providence.

JPG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Accumulation and scans by Roy Rossi.

Edited by John DiTommasso
Published by Steve Corvese

8 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2020
Album viewed 2150 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

1981 (GENESIS)************************************************************************
JANE PICKENS THEATRE, Newport, RI Sprint, 1981 - Aug, 1982 (RKO Army origins are Aug, 1981)
************************************************************************

The true linear trace of RKO Army begins in the summer of 1981. Bob and I were out of Rocky Horror, but despite our bad experience in Providence we still loved The Show. I had transferred to Newport for my job. There, I discovered the Show was again playing at the JPT. Bob & I checked it out. Chuck was still there, but he was no longer alone. We discovered some other newer cast members from the Providence cast that were also not happy with their experience there stop going to the Cinerama and instead went to Newport to get the opportunity to perform. Thus began a 2nd and completely separate Rocky Horror adventure for us.

This was the unforeseen origin of what we now call RKO Army. It was a coming together of like-minded people who saw Rocky Horror as something unique and special and that could be built upon.

Having a place to do the show was needed, but the most important element of the relationship was at the Top. In complete contrast with the Cinerama manager, we had an owner in Mr. Joe Jarvis who gave us a Home beyond just a theatre. For a cast to go beyond mere existence and into a state of growth and improvement, it requires both cast desire and a positive venue. NOW we had that. Mr. J saw us as friends, not a burden. He cared enough to extend the run thru the fall and winter, which he had never done before. Because of that, we had our first Halloween weekend in 1981 (the year before in Providence the cast was banned from performing on Halloween weekend). That night it all came together. We had become a real cast. Unlike Providence, we experienced the concept of family for the first time that would become the key ingredient that makes all casts run.

We became a real cast instead of people just showing up in this sense - We became organized. This may be a concept that people take for granted today, but previous to this it was a matter of people showing up and finding out at the show what would happen that night. Now, we actually communicated and planned ahead. There was still a separate Friday night group operating on the show-up-and-figure-it-out model, and we eventually brought them into our cast.
4 74
RKO 1981 General


00_Jane_Pickens.jpg

In no uncertain terms, Bob & I's Rocky Horror experience was over upon leaving (i.e. - getting kicked out of) the Providence Cast in early Summer of 1981. I had transferred to Newport for my job. There, I discovered the Show was again playing at the JPT. Bob & I checked it out and discovered a few others also not happy with the Providence experience had been going there. Thus began a 2nd and separate Rocky Horror adventure for us that became the unforeseen origin of what we now call RKO Army.

Accumulation and scans by Roy Rossi.

4 files, last one added on Dec 24, 2017
Album viewed 2041 times

RKO 1981-10-30 Newport - JPT


13a_Sarah-Roy-Patti-Terri.jpg

Kodak Instamatic Photo's by Robert Andoscia.
(Photo's with 'a' or 'b' have had exposure enhanced by Mac ColorSync utility)

15 files, last one added on Dec 26, 2017
Album viewed 2026 times

RKO 1981-10-31 Newport - JPT (Pro)


02_FRONT-Jerry-Michelle-Terri__MID-Lori-Bob-Patti__STAND-TC-Paul-Roy-Ozzi-Sarah-Jason-Chuck.jpg

Photo's by Joe Hussey.

This Halloween show was the first "big night" for us as a cast. Owner Joe Jarvis arranged for a professional photographer to come in.

This was in contrast to one year earlier having the manager of the Cinerama not allow a cast to perform on a sold out Halloween night in 1980.

3 files, last one added on Dec 26, 2017
Album viewed 2010 times

RKO 1981-10-31 Newport - JPT


38a_Bob.jpg

Kodak Instamatic Photo's by Robert Andoscia.
(Photo's with 'a' or 'b' have had exposure enhanced by Mac ColorSync utility)

52 files, last one added on Dec 26, 2017
Album viewed 1939 times

4 albums on 1 page(s)

1982 (GENESIS)************************************************************************
JANE PICKENS THEATRE, Newport, RI Spring 1981 - Aug, 1982 (Weekly Fri & Sat nights)
CINERAMA, Providence, RI - Feb, 1979 - Mar 1983 (Weekly Fri & Sat nights)
************************************************************************

We continued to grow in 1982. We began our own weekly newsletter, a streak that was to continue every week we had a show for over 10 years. We did our first road show at the UA Theatre in Groton, CT. Audience members saw us do a few shows there and formed their own cast ("Hedonistic Theatre"). We did our first non-theatre road show ever at URI on May 1, 1982, a double header.

We were proud of what we had created. We had something special. We had a cast that acted professionally and got along. We proved that being serious and having fun were not mutually exclusive. We had props and could store them. We had regular lights. This was all part of the Genesis of the RKO Army, then called the "Newport Rocky Horror Picture Show Cast" (In those days, there were no cast names).

Meanwhile, we gathered news from Providence that the original cast up there had indeed faded out sometime early in 1982. Later in 1982, a 2nd cast formed in their absence with completely new leadership. Other than perhaps two carryover cast members, it was a completely different group which was established when previous leadership attempted to come back in a few months into it.

Our run ended after a year in August of 1982. We were dead in the water. We did a 3rd road show at the UA theatre as per a previous agreement with that theatre, but a new cast was just getting started there so we knew that would be our last.

Those of us still with a love for Rocky Horror and willing to travel found avenues. Some of us joined up with the newly formed Groton cast and made new friends there while we lost old ones from Newport. Some of us also started to make our way into the 2nd Providence cast. Being part of those two casts kept us going when we had nothing else.
9 183
RKO 1982 General


01_1982-04-26_John_Martin_Letter.jpg

Scanned by Roy Rossi

10 files, last one added on Dec 26, 2017
Album viewed 1854 times

RKO 1982 Newsletters - Newport Rocky V1 (JPT)


1982-04-24_Newport_Rocky_1_01_Orig__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport.

Picking up a good idea the Providence Cast had done occasionally, I began the weekly newsletter. Published everywhere we went every week until 1991. Audience connection before the internet. We handed these out as the audience walked in.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

30 files, last one added on Aug 03, 2020
Album viewed 1816 times

RKO 1982 Newsletters - NE Rocky V1 (UAT)


1982-12-25_NE_Rocky_v1_01__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the United Artists Theatre in Groton, CT.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

10 files, last one added on Aug 03, 2020
Album viewed 1610 times

RKO 1982-01 Newport - JPT


02a_Roy-Sarah-Terri.png

Photo's by Robert Andoscia.
(Photo's with 'a' have had exposure enhanced by Mac ColorSync utility.)

4 files, last one added on Dec 26, 2017
Album viewed 1783 times

RKO 1982-02 Groton - UAT


35_TC-Roy.jpg

Photo's by ?
All photos had exposure and sharpness modified by either Adobe Photoshop Elements or Mac ColorSync utility.

First live performance of a cast at Groton's UA Theatre. Near beginning of a 10-year run of the movie there, with 3 casts.

We did one more show there in June. At that point, the first of 3 Groton casts was just starting - Hedonist Theatre. Photo #2 of the audience shows what i am 90% sure is Jim Fulton, who co-founded and co-lead that cast along with Tony Boucher.

41 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2017
Album viewed 1761 times

RKO 1982-02 Newport - JPT


12_Paul.jpg

12 files, last one added on Feb 11, 2018
Album viewed 1693 times

RKO 1982-06-11/12 Newport - JPT - Anniversary W/E


05_Patti-Jimmy.jpg

16 files, last one added on Dec 18, 2018
Album viewed 1671 times

RKO 1982-07-16 Newport - JPT - Last Weekend - Friday


17_Roy-Sue.jpg

Photo's by Robyn Tierney's Mother.

Last Friday night show at Newport before run had ended.

22 files, last one added on Mar 10, 2018
Album viewed 1643 times

RKO 1982-07-17 Newport - JPT - Last Show


15_Roy.jpg

Kodak Instamatic Photo's by Robert Andoscia.

Last Show at Newport before run had ended. After show, we thought this may be the end for us as a cast.

38 files, last one added on Dec 18, 2018
Album viewed 1557 times

 

9 albums on 1 page(s)

1983 (GENESIS)************************************************************************
HOYT's (?), Hyannis, MA - Winter 1983 (Road show)
CINERAMA, Providence, RI - Mar 1983 (Closing Night)
************************************************************************

A few of us continued to perform in the Groton Cast. However, that 2nd Providence cast also came to an end.

In early 1983, a 3rd very informal "cast" formed. It was known as the "T Shirt and Flashlight" cast as it was basically just an incomplete group getting up and performing what they could. It was made up of a few Newport cast members plus a few from the first Providence cast. No spotlights, just flashlights. Costumes were at a minimum. They were not getting in for free as cast and there was no cast leader. But the movie was still playing their on Friday and Saturday nights on auto pilot.

Then, something unexpected happened. We learned thru the "T Shirt and Flashlight" cast that the Cinerama was coming to an end. We went there on the last night under cover sneaking in as members of the T-Shirt and Flashlight cast. We needed to sneak in because the same management was still there. We did the last movie ever run in that building on 3/19/83. It was an epic night, sold out. We went into the movie expecting to be thrown out as soon as each of us got up and performed but we were at least going to get our "moment". I recall the Jerry the Manager coming in and seeing us, but he just let it go. It was the only show RKO Army could say we did as _this_ cast at that special place in RHPS history.

Ironically, the last ever picture show at the Cinerama was what pulled us and the remaining Providence/Newport community back together and launched us into what would become our history. The Cinerama ending was actually a great opportunity for our cast. We were never going to get it going under Cinerama management, but now it opened up the possibility of getting it going again at another theatre. It's ending allowed us an opening to get a foothold and a fresh start at reviving our cast.

It's unfortunate, but the unforeseen Death of the Cinerama had to have occurred to remove the unmovable roadblock for this cast to Live. The Cinerama was destroyed by wrecking ball in the summer of 1983. From the rumble, we have pieces of it's brick. It was replaced by a CVS, which is still currently thriving there now. The CVS store and it's parking lot are in the same exact spots that the Cinerama had been. Genesis complete.
1 2
RKO 1983 General


01_Cinerama_pieces_after_demolition.JPG

2 files, last one added on Dec 23, 2018
Album viewed 1514 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

1983 (FOUNDATION ERA)************************************************************************

AVON CINEMA, Providence, RI: Apr 1983 - May 1983
CABLE CAR CINEMA, Providence, RI: Sep 1983 - Dec 1983
FAIRLAWN CINEMA, Pawtucket, RI: Dec 1983 - Feb 1984
************************************************************************

This era was marked by 3 relatively brisk runs. Getting back to Providence, we changed our name from the "Newport RHPS Cast" to the "Rhode Island RHPS Cast".

The Avon, located in the midst of Brown University and just down the road from the defunct Cinerama, was not going to let a cast in. A parting gift from the Cinerama management was telling the Avon that having a cast was trouble. The Avon could generate a big house without a cast. It was difficult, but we made our case that we were an asset. We were given one chance. One mistake and we were out. Tough, but for us it was opportunity.

We challenged ourselves to have a full cast both Fri and Sat nights. Previously, Fridays were seldom casted. Not enough people. Many of our Newport-based performers stayed with us. We then recruited previous Cinerama and Groton cast members who shared our vision. For the first time, we had a full cast on both Friday & Saturday nights. For years, that the Friday and Saturday night casts were different sets of people.

The Cable Car Cinema and Cafe was next. A more relaxed venue, we learned how to do the show in a tiny theatre of couches with less space to perform than many living rooms. We were allowed to again run the weekly newsletter that the Avon would not allow, and that was to go on for another 9 years.

Finally, there was the Fairlawn. Local theatre in a run down part of town. Seedy crowd. By any standards, not a "safe place". Torn down soon after we departed. Best thing about this place was the owner. Very friendly man, George Mittsmenn.

After these 3 runs, we were becoming quite resilient by going from one venue to another with little commonality. These experiences taught us to use discomfort as learning experiences and see change as opportunity.
6 123
RKO 1983 General


1983-04-11_Avon_Ad_Expanded.png

I regret that we got no pictures at either the Avon run or the Fairlawn run.

50 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2020
Album viewed 1475 times

RKO 1983 Newsletters - Providence Rocky V1 (Avon)


1983-04-01_Providence_Rocky_1_00_Layout___Preview.png

Intended for distribution at the Avon Theatre. After making this newsletter and bringing it to show, we were told we could not have a newsletter at the Avon. This was a non-distributed edition.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

4 files, last one added on Aug 03, 2020
Album viewed 1443 times

RKO 1983 Newsletters - Providence Rocky V2 (CCC)


1983-09-09_Providence_Rocky_2_01_Orig__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Cable Car Cinema in Providence.

Restriction lifted. It was great to be allowed to pass out a newsletter again.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

30 files, last one added on Aug 03, 2020
Album viewed 1425 times

RKO 1983 Newsletters - Providence Rocky V3 (Fairlawn)


1983-12-09_Providence_Rocky_3_01_Orig__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Fairlawn Cinema in Pawtucket.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

18 files, last one added on Aug 03, 2020
Album viewed 1406 times

RKO 1983-10-08 Providence CCC


01_Laura_Miller2C_Steve_Chadsey.jpg

Photos by GP Gregoire

10 files, last one added on Dec 19, 2018
Album viewed 1398 times

RKO 1983-12-02 Providence CCC


01_Roy.jpg

Photos by Mike Kobar / Bob Andoscia - Kodak Instamatic's

11 files, last one added on Dec 19, 2018
Album viewed 1377 times

6 albums on 1 page(s)

1984 (CONSTRUCTION ERA)************************************************************************
WARWICK MALL CINEMAS, Warwick, RI: Feb 1984 - Oct 1984 (Weekly Friday and Saturday Nights)
CASINO THEATRE, Newport, RI : July 20-28 (Fri, Sat 4 shows)
UA THEATRE, Groton, CT : March 12 (Roadshow)
************************************************************************

The Warwick Mall Cinemas (WMC) afforded us a longer run than the 3 previous cinemas combined, but we faced violence at these shows. It could be that this was the first time the Show had gone to the less artistically-progressive suburbs. Some of the audience came to cause a problem with the fish-net wearing cast. There were fights. There was theater destruction. There were cast walkouts on 2 nights. There were calls to police. Once, there was an ambulance for a severed artery in a customer's arm. Hard for people today to imagine. Large audiences. Inept management.
17 387
RKO 1984 General


1984-02-17_Warwick_Mall_Ad.png

9 files, last one added on Dec 20, 2018
Album viewed 1339 times

RKO 1984 Newsletters - Warwick Rocky V1 (WMC)


1984-02-17_Warwick_Rocky_1_01___Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Warwick Mall Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

70 files, last one added on Aug 03, 2020
Album viewed 1312 times

RKO 1984 Newsletters - Newport Rocky V2 (Casino)


1984-07-20_Newport_Rocky_V2_01__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Casino Cinema in Newport.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

4 files, last one added on Aug 03, 2020
Album viewed 1188 times

RKO 1984 Newsletters - RICONN Rocky V1 (UAT)


1984-10-12_RICONN_Rocky_V1_01__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the United Artists Theatre in Groton, CT.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

2 files, last one added on Aug 03, 2020
Album viewed 1162 times

RKO 1984-02-17 Warwick WMC - Opening Night


04_Roy_Sheilarae_AbbyS_JD.jpg

Photos by Jesse Correa

4 files, last one added on Dec 19, 2018
Album viewed 1256 times

RKO 1984-03-23 Warwick WMC


19_Roy_Candace_MaxB.jpg

Photos by Jesse Correa

24 files, last one added on Dec 19, 2018
Album viewed 1239 times

RKO 1984-04-13 Warwick WMC


01_MaxB_Sheilarae_MissyB_Candace_JulieM.jpg

Photos by Sheilarae Carpentier

11 files, last one added on Dec 19, 2018
Album viewed 1222 times

RKO 1984-05/06 Warwick WMC 3 Nights


01_JD_Candace_JulieM_Sheilarae.jpg

23 files, last one added on Dec 19, 2018
Album viewed 1220 times

RKO 1984-06-30 Warwick WMC


10_Andy_Kathy_JD_Roy_Sheilarae_DaveJ_KarenJ_RusselB_JonW_RayP.jpg

11 files, last one added on Dec 19, 2018
Album viewed 1196 times

RKO 1984-07-20 Newport Casino Theatre


50_JD.jpg

Photos by Mike Kobar.

Pull together of an old and new collection. They were not identical, so they were synced. The old collection was scanned in at a high pixelation level. To fit, each picture was optimized thru Adobe Smart Fix and then downsized to Med to make them reasonable.

61 files, last one added on Dec 20, 2018
Album viewed 1191 times

RKO 1984-07-28 Newport Casino Theatre


22_TOP_RussB_KarenJ_FaveJ_AndyL_Sheilarae_2ND_RayP_MIDDLE_PaulR_GeirgeMarshall_JD_SueA_Roy_BOT_KathyL.jpg

23 files, last one added on Dec 21, 2018
Album viewed 1163 times

RKO 1984-07-28 Warwick WMC Amature Cast


01_Ken_Rawlinson.jpg

Cast that performed while we were on road show in Newport.

6 files, last one added on Dec 20, 2018
Album viewed 1132 times

RKO 1984-10-12 Groton UA Theatre


36_Mike.jpg

Beginning of our friendship with the new (2nd) Groton cast. They had us guest perform down in their theatre. Our last show here had been before they formed their first cast.

One of 3 sets of photos. While there was some overlay, there were too many non-synced differences to one common link.

36 files, last one added on Dec 20, 2018
Album viewed 1131 times

RKO 1984-10-12 Groton UA Theatre - Separate Set


img042.jpg

Beginning of our friendship with the new (2nd) Groton cast. They had us guest perform down in their theatre. Our last show here had been before they formed their first cast.

One of 3 sets of photos. While there was some overlay, there were too many non-synced differences to one common link.

43 files, last one added on Dec 21, 2018
Album viewed 1109 times

RKO 1984-10-12 Groton UA Theatre - MK (Possibly Negatives)


52_Pete_Sue_Robyn_Mike_Sheilarae_Roy_Paul_Jon.jpg

Photos by Mike Kobar.

Beginning of our friendship with the new (2nd) Groton cast. They had us guest perform down in their theatre. Our last show here had been before they formed their first cast.

Based on the large scan size, these may have been from negatives. I forget. To fit, each picture was optimized thru Adobe Smart Fix and then downsized to Med to make them reasonable.

One of 3 sets of photos. While there was some overlay, there were too many non-synced differences to one common link.

55 files, last one added on Dec 21, 2018
Album viewed 1087 times

RKO 1984-10-31 Providence Halloween Party


01_Sheilarae_Roy.jpg

Cast party at Sheilarae's apartment on east side of Providence.

3 files, last one added on Dec 21, 2018
Album viewed 1074 times

Boston Trip with Groton Cast 1984-11-23


01_Tandy_Charley_Roy_SteveM_Lynn.jpg

Photo's by Sheilarae Carpentier.
Roy's house in Johnston, RI.
Tandy D, Charley A, Steven M, Lyn R. Roy looking on.
Looking at maps figuring out how to drive to Harvard Square Theatre in Cambridge.

2 files, last one added on Dec 20, 2018
Album viewed 1062 times

 

17 albums on 1 page(s)

1985 (CONSTRUCTION ERA)************************************************************************
CUMBERLAND TWIN CINEMAS, Cumberland, RI: Apr 1985 - Aug 1987
************************************************************************

We had a 6-month gap before our next theatre. It was not wasted. We developed a sense of community by working and exchanging with the 2nd Groton cast and reaching out to the advanced Boston Cast. It was a very big moment for us that we performed a show at their Harvard Square Cinema in front of them. We looked up to them. It brought out our best.

We took better charge of the violence problem at the Cumberland Twin Cinemas (CTC), instituting the "search" as people walked in. This was finally a place we could call "home" again. Ownership was the ultimate Mom & Pop, Paul & Barbara Anderson. They cared about us. We were treated well for the first time since Mr. Jarvis. We could actually store props again in the theatre instead of bringing them to/from the theatre every show. We started MC-ing before the shows (Previously, shows began with audience screaming "Lips!" until the movie started.) At this point, we had gotten beyond the challenge of filling the roles every night two nights a week.
16 344
RKO 1985 General


01_1985-04_CTC_Casting_1.jpg

Casting sheets
Letters from fans
Groton Cast News Article

Published by Roy Rossi

13 files, last one added on Apr 19, 2020
Album viewed 1017 times

RKO 1985 Newsletters - RI Rocky V2 (CTC)


1985-06-14_RI_Rocky_2_008_Dist__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Cumberland Twin Cinemas in Cumberland.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

75 files, last one added on Aug 01, 2020
Album viewed 903 times

RKO 1985 Newsletters - SMU Rocky V1 (SMU)


1985-10-18_SMU_Rocky_V1_01_Orig__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Southeastern Massachusetts University in Dartmouth, MA.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

2 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2020
Album viewed 878 times

RKO 1985-04-26 Cumberland CTC - Opening Night


31_JulieM_KevinB_Candace.jpg

Photos by Mike Kobar

70 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 978 times

RKO 1985-04-26 Cumberland CTC - Opening Night


15_KevinB_Candace.jpg

Photos possibly from Sheilarae Carpentier

36 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 943 times

RKO 1985-04-26 Cumberland CTC - Opening Night


06_KevinB_JulieM.jpg

Photo's by Mike Kobar.

Copies optimized by Adobe.

10 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 922 times

RKO 1985-05-31 Cumberland CTC


22_Candace.jpg

Photo's by Mike Kobar.

Copies optimized by Adobe.

22 files, last one added on Dec 29, 2018
Album viewed 918 times

RKO 1985-07-26 Cumberland CTC


09_MikeK_StellaN.jpg

Photo's by Mike Kobar.

Copies optimized by Adobe.

9 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 906 times

RKO 1985-10-?? Cumberland CTC


04_DarrylF.jpg

Photos by Darryl Foster.

Exact date unknown.

6 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 898 times

RKO 1985-10-11 Cumberland CTC


02_LouC_Sheilarae.jpg

Photos probably by Mike Kobar

35 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 894 times

RKO 1985-10-18 North Dartmouth SMU


05_Audience.jpg

Photos by Mike Kobar

20 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 883 times

RKO 1985-10-26 Cumberland CTC


01_Roy~2.jpg

Photo's by Darryl Foster

3 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 858 times

RKO 1985-12-21 Cumberland CTC


21_Sheilarae_Roy_JimD_LouC_sandyD.jpg

Photos by Darryl Foster

27 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 877 times

RKO 1985-12-27 Cumberland CTC


02_JD_LouC.jpg

Photos by Darryl Foster

6 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 834 times

RKO 1985 Cumberland CTC


02_Dick_The_Cop_at_CTC.jpg

Photos by various people.
Multiple nights.
Could not match these up with any one date.

7 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 838 times

Extra 1985-10-17 Smithfield Pizza Hut - Roy BDay


03_STAND_SandyD_JimD_Sheilarae_SIT_Candace_LouC_Roy_MikeK.jpg

Photos from Sheilarae Carpentier

3 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2018
Album viewed 819 times

16 albums on 1 page(s)

1986 (CONSTRUCTION ERA)************************************************************************
CUMBERLAND TWIN CINEMAS, Cumberland, RI: Apr 1985 - Aug 1987
HARVARD SQUARE THEATRE, Cambridge, MA
AVON CINEMA, Providence, RI: 1986 - 1987 Various 2-3 week runs
************************************************************************

We also had grown to the point we could take on the occasional road performances at a 2nd cinema (the Avon again) while still casting the primary one.
22 360
RKO 1986 General


1986-10_CTC_Casting_4.pdf

4 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2020
Album viewed 690 times

RKO 1986 Newsletters - RI Rocky V2 (CTC)


1986-06-21_RI_Rocky_2_061_Dist__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Cumberland Twin Cinemas in Cumberland.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

108 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2020
Album viewed 693 times

RKO 1986 Newsletters - URI Rocky V1 (URI)


1986-10-30_URI_Rocky_V1_01_Dist__Preview~0.png

Newsletters distributed at the University of Rhode Island in Kingstown.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

2 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2020
Album viewed 673 times

RKO 1986 Newsletters - RICONN Rocky V2 (UAT)


1986-06-07_RICONN_Rocky_V2_01O__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the United Artists Theatre in Groton, CT.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

2 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2020
Album viewed 661 times

RKO 1986 Newsletters - Boston Rocky V1 (Harvard Square)


1986-03-22_Boston_Rocky_V1_01_DistP__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Harvard Square Theatre in Cambridge, MA.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

2 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2020
Album viewed 647 times

RKO 1986 Newsletters - Newport V3 (Casino)


1986-08-02_Newport_Rocky_V3_01__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Casino Cinema in Newport.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

2 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2020
Album viewed 647 times

RKO 1986-01-24 Cumberland CTC


01_LouC_LeaD_JD_Sheilarae_DarrylF.jpg

Photos by Darryl Foster

1 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 738 times

RKO 1986-01-25 Cumberland CTC


08_Roy_GinaA_Candace_KathyL_28LouC29.jpg

Photos by Darryl Foster

8 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 729 times

RKO 1986-02-07 or 08 Cumberland CTC


13_Sheilarae_LouC.jpg

13 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 710 times

RKO 1986-02-21 Cumberland CTC


08_DarrylF.jpg

Photos by Darryl Foster

8 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 702 times

RKO 1986-03-29 Cambridge HSC


46_Craig_JimD_Sheilarae_Roy_JD.jpg

46 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 711 times

RKO 1986-03-29 Cambridge Quality Inn


23_Lorna_SandyD__Sheilarae_28CraigS29.jpg

23 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 701 times

RKO 1986-06-14 Cumberland CTC Dress Black Night


08_EddieT_LouC.jpg

8 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 671 times

RKO 1986-08-02 Newport Casino Theatre


38_TOP_Q_JD_PaulaB_DarrylF_CraigS_AndyL_PaulR_MID_Roy_Sheilarae_GinaA_Lorna_BOT_Q.jpg

Photos by Sheilarae Carpentier

38 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 651 times

RKO 1986-09-12 Cumberland CTC Toga Night Fri


17_Roy_Candace_TommyJ_Sheilarae_28CraigS29.jpg

17 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 648 times

RKO 1986-09-13 Cumberland CTC Toga Night Sat


05_EddieT_TommyJ_Roy.jpg

5 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 628 times

RKO 1986-09-19 Providence Avon


06_AngelaA_MikeF_GinaA.jpg

Terrible pictures

6 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 614 times

RKO 1986-10-31 Cumberland CTC


02_Audience_DressUp.jpg

2 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 599 times

RKO 1986-10-31 Kingstown URI


23_TOP_MikeK_DDunphy28substitute29_JayStG_Sheilarae_Roy_LoriM_Candace_KNEEL_LinnyC_PhilP_AndyL_MaxB_KennyF_FRONT_MikeF.jpg

Photos by Sheilarae Carpentier

23 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 2237 times

Extra 1986-08-02 Fall River Lincoln Park


05~0.jpg

5 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 589 times

Extra 1986-12-27 Johnston Sheilarae's Apartment Cast Christmas Party


19_Roy.jpg

19 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 541 times

Outcast 1986-10-24 North Dartmouth SMU


18.jpg

Photos by Mike Kobar

18 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2019
Album viewed 517 times

22 albums on 1 page(s)

1987 (CONSTRUCTION ERA)************************************************************************
CUMBERLAND TWIN CINEMAS, Cumberland, RI: Apr 1985 - Aug 1987
AVON CINEMA, Providence, RI: 1986 - 1987 Various 2-3 week runs
************************************************************************

CTC was forced to close due to economic reasons after a 2 1/2 year run. A tearful ending, but great memories.
6 93
RKO 1987 - General - Construction


1987-03_CTC_Casting_5.jpg

6 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2020
Album viewed 418 times

RKO 1987 Newsletters - RI Rocky V2 (CTC)


1987-03-20_RI_Rocky_2_100_Dist__Preview~0.png

Newsletters distributed at the Cumberland Twin Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

70 files, last one added on Aug 05, 2020
Album viewed 394 times

RKO 1987-00-00 Cumberland CTC - Misc


05_AndyL_Lorna_.jpg

5 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2020
Album viewed 410 times

RKO 1987-02-06 Cumberland CTC - Cripple Night


05_JayB_KennyF_Candace_MikeF.jpg

5 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2020
Album viewed 408 times

RKO 1987-02-14 Cumberland CTC - 2 Guys Per Girl Night


05_MikeK_AndyL.jpg

5 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2020
Album viewed 398 times

RKO 1987-12-99 Cumberland CTC - Carpet Store


02_CTC_Build_to_Carpet_Store.jpg

2 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2020
Album viewed 392 times

6 albums on 1 page(s)

1987 (APP ERA)************************************************************************
MEADOWBROOK CINEMAS, Warwick, RI: Oct 1987 - Feb 1993 (Cast departure)
JANE PICKENS THEATRE, Newport, RI: Jun 1991 - Sep 1991 ("B" cast)
JANE PICKENS THEATRE, Newport, RI: Jun 1992 - Sep 1992 ("B" cast)
JANE PICKENS THEATRE, Newport, RI: Jun 1993 - Mar 1994
ATTLEBORO HOUSE, Attleboro, MA: Aug 1994 - Apr 1995
************************************************************************


Given the trend of cast names, we decided on the "Absolute Pleasure Players" ("Creatures of the Night" was used but never stuck). The A.P.P. Era marked a first great age for the cast. All of the experience came together as we started at the Meadowbrook Cinemas (MBC). We built better props and had better lighting. We developed a tech crew. Before that, Riff Raff moved all the props. If you had no one on Lights, Eddie and Dr. Scott handled it. We had the Show running like a business. We were attracting talented and wide-ranging people. We began doing live preshows. We started doing 4th of July parades. Some cast members were going to cons and seeing a bigger picture. The MBC run broke the seemingly unbeatable Cinerama 4-year record. We also starting sending a 2nd "B" cast down to the again-running Jane Pickens Theatre in the summers. We were bigger and better than ever.

Unfortunately, we were not wise enough to manage some of the internal issues that success and popularity can bring. Part of the reason the cast was getting better was because it was larger and bigger. It was no longer a close-knit group. Our managerial experience of today was not present then. Conflicts exceeded solutions. We had great internal upheaval, but we did learn and eventually handle it. We replaced rules that could be twisted with reason that we could openly communicate about.

Having gotten past internal issues, soon external issues with ownership were reaching intolerable levels. A more experienced and wise cast is going to see and be less tolerant of bad practices. Self-destructive tendencies and policies by the owner were limiting our ability to get better. At best, we were stagnant. We decided almost unanimously to leave in 1993 after 5 1/2 years with no sure prospect that we had anywhere to go. However you look at it, it said something unique that this large cast decided almost unanimously that cast death was preferable to stagnation.

Make no doubt about it - We did pay a price by not having a regular venue. There was no immediate reward for doing the better thing. We did eventually get into the JPT with our old friend Mr. Jarvis, but it took 5 months. It was a nice run, but it only lasted 9 months. Like 12 years earlier, year-round attendance simply couldn't support it. And then there was nothing.

During this open period of time, there was no home theatre on the horizon. We did many road shows in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire at theaters, colleges, and clubs. We truly learned the ways of heavy duty travel during this time. It was a practice that would serve us in later years. The one we visited most was the Attleboro Movie House, where we showed it in 16mm, until we found out the manager was bilking the revenues and it ended. The one good thing that did come from that manager was a tip on another theatre in Framingham that led to the creation of the Teseracte Players.
5 80
RKO 1987 - General - APP Era


Meet_Me_At_The_Meadowbrook_Sticker.jpg

5 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2020
Album viewed 387 times

RKO 1987 Newsletters - RI Rocky V3 (MBC)


1987-09-25_RI_Rocky_3_001_Orig__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

28 files, last one added on Aug 05, 2020
Album viewed 357 times

RKO 1987-10-31 Roys House Prep for Avon Show


03_MikeF_Sheilarae_28GinaA29.jpg

3 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2020
Album viewed 375 times

RKO 1987-11-21 Warwick MBC


12_Sheilarae.jpg

12 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2020
Album viewed 372 times

RKO 1987-11-27 Warwick MBC - Gender Switch Night


31A_PhilP_Candace_KennyF_MarieR_DaveM_MissyS_BOT-JanetC.jpg

32 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2020
Album viewed 378 times

 

5 albums on 1 page(s)

1988 (APP ERA)
14 428
RKO 1988 - General


1988-03_MBC_Casting_2__Preview.jpg

Scans by Roy Rossi

Casting sheets from Roy Rossi

4 files, last one added on Aug 08, 2020
Album viewed 365 times

RKO 1988 Newsletters - RI Rocky V3 (MBC)


1988-06-10_RI_Rocky_3_038_Dist__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

106 files, last one added on Aug 08, 2020
Album viewed 364 times

RKO 1988 Newsletters - PreShow Preview V1 (MBC)


1988-03-26_Pre-Show_Preview_V1_01__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Jay Brooks and Norm Chipman

6 files, last one added on Aug 05, 2020
Album viewed 358 times

RKO 1988 Newsletters - Rocky Review V1 (MBC)


1988-11-25_Rocky_Review_V1_01__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Mike Frongillo

6 files, last one added on Aug 05, 2020
Album viewed 367 times

RKO 1988-02-05 Warwick MBC


12_DaveM_AmyS.jpg

Photos by Mike Kobar

52 files, last one added on Apr 19, 2020
Album viewed 409 times

RKO 1988-07-04 Bristol 4th of July Parade


47_Roy_MikeK_JonW.jpg

Photo's by Sheilarae Carpentier.

First parade for the cast.

47 files, last one added on Apr 19, 2020
Album viewed 415 times

RKO 1988-07-04 Bristol 4th of July Parade


05_Almacs.jpg

Photos by Eva Rossi

7 files, last one added on Apr 12, 2020
Album viewed 393 times

RKO 1988-07-04 Bristol 4th of July Parade


041_AmyS_Candace_GinaA_PaulaB_28Others29.jpg

Slides by Russ Pedro.

Russ Pedro, projectionist at the Meadowbrook Cinema, created a slide show of our cast doing the Bristol 4th of July Parade and doing RHPS at the Mishnok Barn. These are the slides from part one of that slide show, which focused on the Bristol parade.

The slide show was set to music. It was only shown once. It was the precedent that inspired me to create many of my own slides show used in future preshows and presentations.

49 files, last one added on Apr 19, 2020
Album viewed 411 times

RKO 1988-09-?? Warwick MBC


05_MattD_MikeK_Roy.jpg

Scattered photo's from unknown sources

7 files, last one added on Apr 13, 2020
Album viewed 413 times

RKO 1988-09-16 Warwick MBC - Sex Switch Night


15_KenF_PhilP.jpg

Photographer unknown

31 files, last one added on Apr 14, 2020
Album viewed 426 times

RKO 1988-10-27 Providence Johnson & Wales


03_MarieR_KrisC_AmyS.jpg

10 files, last one added on Apr 14, 2020
Album viewed 430 times

RKO 1988-10-31 Mishnok Bar


078.jpg

Slides from Russ Pedro

43 files, last one added on Apr 14, 2020
Album viewed 448 times

RKO 1988-12-30 Warwick MBC


30-JayB.jpg

Negatives by Lee Ann Wilber

35 files, last one added on Apr 19, 2020
Album viewed 450 times

RKO 1988-12-30A Cosmic Pizza


60-Cosmic_Pizza-BradD_John_Donavan_MikeF.jpg

Negatives by Lee Ann Wilber

Cosmic Pizza became the unquestionable after-show meet-up after shows at the Meadowbrook.

25 files, last one added on Apr 19, 2020
Album viewed 514 times

14 albums on 1 page(s)

1989 (APP ERA)
27 382
RKO 1989 - General


1989-03_MBC_Casting_4__Preview.jpg

Scans by Roy Rossi

Casting sheets from Roy Rossi

4 files, last one added on Aug 08, 2020
Album viewed 507 times

RKO 1989 Newsletters - RI Rocky V3 (MBC)


1989-05-05_RI_Rocky_3_085_Orig__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

96 files, last one added on Aug 09, 2020
Album viewed 529 times

RKO 1989 Newsletters - Rocky Review V1 (MBC)


1989-04-28_Rocky_Review_V1_11__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Mike Frongillo

26 files, last one added on Aug 08, 2020
Album viewed 525 times

RKO 1989 Newsletters - RI College Rocky V1 (RIC)


1989-04-13_RI_College_Rocky_V1_01__Preview.png

Newsletters distributed at Rhode Island College in Providence.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Linnie Upton

2 files, last one added on Aug 08, 2020
Album viewed 524 times

RKO 1989-00-00 - Multiple Event (Untrackable)


02_Mike_K_in_MBC_lobby.jpg

7 files, last one added on Aug 09, 2020
Album viewed 542 times

RKO 1989-00-00 Warwick MBC - Suggestion Box Cards


07-Suggestion_Box_Card.jpg

12 files, last one added on Aug 09, 2020
Album viewed 547 times

RKO 1989-00-00 Warwick MBC - Preshow - Don't Touch Me There


03_Sheilarae~1.jpg

Photos by Mike Frongillo

6 files, last one added on Aug 09, 2020
Album viewed 552 times

RKO 1989-03-11 Warwick MBC


01a-MarieR_Mike_F.jpg

2 files, last one added on Aug 09, 2020
Album viewed 562 times

RKO 1989-03-25 Warwick MBC


10-JonW.jpg

19 files, last one added on Aug 10, 2020
Album viewed 564 times

RKO 1989-03-31 Warwick MBC


02-28RussP_Tracey29-RobbieL_28MikeC_SteveR29.jpg

6 files, last one added on Aug 10, 2020
Album viewed 581 times

RKO 1989-04-01 Warwick MBC


34a-KrisC_JonW.jpg

34 files, last one added on Aug 10, 2020
Album viewed 600 times

RKO 1989-07-14 Warwick MBC


06a-SandiP_Lee_Ann_MarieR.jpg

(Will not upload 13)

20 files, last one added on Aug 10, 2020
Album viewed 598 times

RKO 1989-07-21 Warwick MBC


12a-MarieR_Celina_Lee_Ann_Roy_MikeC_MikeK.jpg

(Will not upload 8, 14, 17)

15 files, last one added on Aug 10, 2020
Album viewed 598 times

RKO 1989-08-04 Warwick MBC


01-BertVanarse_MikeK.jpg

10 files, last one added on Aug 10, 2020
Album viewed 603 times

RKO 1989-08-19 Warwick MBC - Week 100


27_Roy_AmyS_Lee_Ann.jpg

50 files, last one added on Aug 10, 2020
Album viewed 632 times

RKO 1989-08-19 Warwick MBC - Week 100


05a-MarieR_MikeF_MikeC_Kurt.jpg

19 files, last one added on Aug 10, 2020
Album viewed 638 times

RKO 1989-08-26 Warwick MBC


08a-JayB_KurtJ.jpg

49 files, last one added on Aug 11, 2020
Album viewed 648 times

RKO 1989-09-02 Warwick MBC



0 files
Album viewed 1 times

RKO 1989-09-22 Providence CCC



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1989-09-23 Warwick MBC Two Year Anniversary



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1989-10-15 Providence Louie Louie for Lukemia Parade



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1989-10-15 Providence Louie Louie for Lukemia Parade



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1989-10-27 Warwick MBC



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1989-10-28 Johnson & Wales



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1989-10-28 Providence Johnson & Wales



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1989-10-28 Warwick MBC



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1989-10-30 Providence RIC


05_MikeC-Missy_28Kurt29.jpg

5 files, last one added on Aug 13, 2020
Album viewed 742 times

 

27 albums on 1 page(s)

1990 (APP ERA)
3 0
RKO 1990 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1990 Newsletters - RI Rocky V3 (MBC)



Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1990 Newsletters - Rocky Review V1 (MBC)



Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Mike Frongillo

0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

3 albums on 1 page(s)

1991 (APP ERA)
6 0
RKO 1991 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1991 Newsletters - RI Rocky V3 (MBC)



Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1991 Newsletter - Erotic Nightmares (MBC)



Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Jason Caminiti

0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1991 Newsletters - Rocky Review V2 (MBC)



Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Mike Frongillo

0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1991 Newsletters - Rocky Review V3 (Bryant)



Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Mike Frongillo

0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1991 Newsletters - Sensual Daydream V1 (MBC, Jo-Mor)



Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick and the Jo-Mor Stoneridge Theatre in Rochester, NY.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by ... someone in Rochester, NY

0 files
Album viewed 0 times

6 albums on 1 page(s)

1992 (APP ERA)
2 0
RKO 1992 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1992 Newsletters - RI Rocky V4 (MBC)



Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Roy Rossi

0 files
Album viewed 0 times

2 albums on 1 page(s)

1993 (APP ERA)
3 0
RKO 1993 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

1993 Newsletters - Night Creature (MBC)



Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Bert Vanarse

0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1993 Newsletters - RI Rocky V5 (JPT)



Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Sandi Prosnitz

0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

3 albums on 1 page(s)

1994 (APP ERA)
2 0
RKO 1994 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

RKO 1994 Newsletters - RI Rocky V5 (JPT)



Newsletters distributed at the Meadowbrook Cinemas in Warwick.

PNG versions are presented for preview purposes since PDF versions will not display.
To get PDF version, you will need to click on the Adobe icon and then next on the Adobe "picture" on top.

Edited and Published by Sandi Prosnitz

0 files
Album viewed 0 times

2 albums on 1 page(s)

1995 (APP ERA)
1 0
RKO 1995 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

1995 (COMMUNION ERA)************************************************************************
STARLITE DINNER THEATRE - East Hartford, CT: December 1995 - August 1996
AS220 - Providence, RI: March 1996 - August 1998
MEADOWBROOK CINEMAS, Warwick, RI: April 1996 - February 2000
************************************************************************


Parallel operations becoming one mark this transitional time.

The APP operation was without a home theatre doing what needed to be done to keep the cast alive. All difficulty aside, we did learn a lot. We continued to seek the semi-regular road shows and got them in Southern New England. Now the most visited venue was the Starlight Dinner Theater in Hartford, CT. We also worked with the new cast, the Teseracte Players. We even developed a 47 minute Rocky Horror slide show that was built for small venues and generated a dozen performances at AS200 in Providence. We were still able to land those really "big" road shows like The Guarde in New London and continued big events like the Bristol Parade. We could do a lot when we had a place to do it. Also, without a regular theatre, some cast members began to fade away in availability.

The other operation was going on back at the MBC. In the 3 years since we had left, the movie was shown but none of the new casts emerging stayed around for long. In that time, there had been multiple casts and 12 different cast directors that came and went. However, finally, one young group did emerge and stay that was refreshing and impressive. They were called the "RKO Players" who began in 1996. The one improvement that they had since we had left the MBC was that ownership had taken a step back and management was thus able to do a better job.

In 1997, the RKO Players had a group of disciplined young actors. APP had experience and equipment. The Absolute Pleasure Players and the RKO Players just ... became one. This was the greatest non-story in our history. It was not planned, negotiated, or agreed upon. There was no "agreement" or "merger" to settle anyone's ego or role. There were no proclamations. This was not "2 casts working together". There was no period of adjustment. There was no identity of being "RKO" or "APP". All cast members just started doing all operations either one had previously developed as if they had been together all along. It was all about the Show and the focus was on the events rather than the group or any individuals.

We had more memorable nights again here. The biggest was week 600, when we first did Shock Treatment.

In early 2000, the almost 13 year run of RHPS at the MBC, and the MBC itself, came to a grinding financial end.
1 0
RKO 1995 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

1996 (COMMUNION ERA)
1 0
RKO 1996 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

1997 (COMMUNION ERA)
1 0
RKO 1997 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

1998 (COMMUNION ERA)
1 0
RKO 1998 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

1999 (COMMUNION ERA)
1 0
RKO 1999 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2000 (COMMUNION ERA)
1 0
RKO 2000 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2000 (REBUILDING ERA)************************************************************************
PARK CINEMAS, Cranston, RI: Feb 2000 - Feb 2001
LIMELIGHT CINEMAS, Warwick, RI: Feb 2001 - May 2001
CASTLE CINEMAS, Providence, RI: Jun 2001 - Sep 2003
PASTIME CINEMAS, Bristol, RI: Jun 2002 - May 2003
************************************************************************

The Park Cinemas was a one-year run. It was dusty and starting to decay, but it served it's purpose as a place to go after the long running MBC had ended. There is nothing eventful to report here except the ending. Without warning, right during a show, we discovered the cinema was abruptly closing and we had to clear out at the end of that show. The theatre was closing for renovations (that would go on for 8 years).

Next, it was back to the building that had been the Meadowbrook, now under new ownership and called the Limelight Cinemas. This was a short but positive run. Unfortunately, the business ended there after 4 months.

We next went to the Castle Cinemas with high hopes of another "home". It was a small cinema in disrepair but about to get remodeled. Ownership had dreams of "maitre d". After the first few months, we took time off while the remodeling was done. After remodeling and opening a restaurant/bar, it became Castle Cinemas & Cafe. We were excited to be part of all this. Unfortunately, promises made were broken. Ownership was a disaster with ill-conceived business plans. They dribbled out one good manager after another until finally at the end they achieved a management level equal to their own ineptitude (aka "Crazy Burger"). We were at the Castle for 2 1/3 years. It ended terrible with management asking us to leave as an unwanted element. We cleared out, and they predictably went out of business a few months later.

Combining the failures of the Castle ownership, the tininess of the theatre, the lack of parking, and the high crime in the area, we could only do so much there. Internally, the negative of this time was that we were reverting back to being a more insular cast. That stymied growth. On the positive side, the cast did have a rejuvenated enthusiasm level. There was "buzz" in the cast that had been missing. We had become balanced enough that we could start doing some one-off alternate movies. This success set the ground for later productions. We also had a concurrent monthly run at the Pastime Cinemas. It was during this period that the cast changed it's name to the "RKO Army". By the very end of this run, upon exiting the Castle, we were poised for major change.
1 0
RKO 2000 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2001 (REBUILDING ERA)
1 0
RKO 2001 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2002 (REBUILDING ERA)
1 0
RKO 2002 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2003 (REBUILDING ERA)
1 0
RKO 2003 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2004 (REBUILDING ERA)
1 0
RKO 2004 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2005 (REBUILDING ERA)
1 0
RKO 2005 - General



0 files
Album viewed 0 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2004 - 2011 MODERN ERA************************************************************************
HOLIDAY / ISLAND 10 CINEMAS, Middletown, RI: Feb 2004 - Oct 2010
TRIBORO CINEMAS, Attleboro, MA: May 2004 - Aug 2005
EAST BRIDGEWATER CINEMAS, East Bridgewater, MA: Nov 2005 - Oct 2011
ENTERTAINMENT CINEMAS, South Kingstown, RI: Sep 2007 - Oct 2010
THE ORPHEUM, Foxboro, MA: Jul 2008 - Jan 2015
************************************************************************

What created the Modern Era was a decision to take control of what we were going to be, instead of being whatever happened to us. If we were going to continue to put time into the Show after all these years, it had to be a worthwhile. What I say here is not a reflection on other cast practices. It is a reflection on where WE were, how we felt about it, where we wanted to be, and what we needed to do in our own situation to get there in Southern New England without the support of a big city to perform in. Gone would be the days of weekly shows for us. They would become monthly to make an event out of it rather than a hangout. Gone were the midnight start times. The earlier the better, to get more people in. Gone were the days of letting anyone into the cast just because they wanted to be in. Now it was a matter of who *we* wanted in the cast. Gone were the days of tolerating characteristics that caused failure and distracted us from achievement.

It took 6 months to find a new home. It began with a 1st Friday of the Month at the Holiday (later Island 10) Cinemas. Given that we had 3 other open weeks, we eventually started doing 2nd Fridays at the Triboro Cinemas. That theatre closed, but soon we replaced it with East Bridgewater Cinemas, where we meet another true manager, Carrie, who always fought for RKO Army. Two years later, we followed Carrie to a 3rd cinema for the 3rd weekend at South Kingstown's Entertainment Cinemas. This was enough. However, the opportunity to do a 4th theatre at The Orpheum opened up. We could not pass that facility down. One cast. Four regular run theaters.

We built props for all theaters. We upgraded technology for all theaters. The talented people in the cast attracted more talented people. The show and preshows grew to a level beyond the past. We also went beyond the traditions of Rocky Horror and Shock Treatment. We added REPO!, Dr. Horrible and Buffy. This attracted even more people, and it contributed to made our Rocky production better. Theme shows took on a new level of quality. Cast retention also was at its best ever.

After 3 full decades, I'd never seen it better. This was a 7 year train ride up the mountain. We just "did it". RKO Army also began attending more and more cons in increasing numbers. It became a bigger world out there for us. The larger community taught us and inspired us to keep getting better.
2011 - Present : CON ERA************************************************************************
THE ORPHEUM, Foxboro, MA: Jul 2008 - Jan 2015
PARKADE CINEMAS, Manchester, CT: Sep 2012 - Mar 2017
LINCOLN CINEMAWORLD, Lincoln, RI: Jul 2012 - Present
COURTHOUSE COMMUNITY ARTS, South Kingstown, RI Sep 2013 - Feb 2016
THE NARRAGANSETT THEATRE, Narragansett, RI Nov 2013 - Oct 2014
MYSTIC LUXURY CINEMAS, Mystic, CT Nov 2014 - Present
MARILYN RODMAN CENTER FOR PERF. ARTS, Foxboro, MA Sep 2017 - Present
************************************************************************

"CON ERA" is not due to RKO CON in 2013. The "Modern Era" ended with the loss of 3 of our 4 monthly run cinemas and with the tremendous influx of opportunity to perform at conventions. Given the 5 aforementioned productions we do, and with the addition of Firefly and Serenity and The Devils' Carnival, we found quite a commonality in the convention community where we can share passions with other like-minded people. Among others, RI Comic Con, Connecticon, Temple Con, Total Con, and Arisia Con have provided great audiences. SuperMegaFest provided the greatest audience because it included Pat Quinn and Barry Bostwick in the front row. The Pride Parade is a wonderful celebration to be part of. Local universities and clubs and comic stores have provided great audiences. Shows at the Zeiterion and Mendon Drive-In provide a massive audience and experience.

No two RKO shows are the same anymore. We have regular runs, semi-regular runs, annual shows, all the cons, and all the one-offs. I wrote for the con booklet in 2013 "I don't know how long this era will last, but it's taking the excitement of what we built and letting us display it to greater audiences." Nothing to change on that.

There's less to analyze here because it's too soon to look back. This has been the most interesting period of our existence. This period has gone beyond our visions. As we go deeper into it, we know less what to expect. We are grateful to the people who come to our shows. We are honored by members of other casts who come to perform with us. In the beginning, we knew this "Rocky Horror thing" was special and we enjoyed it locally. It has developed and grown around the world giving us experiences we never imagined.

Random files
01_Ken_Rawlinson.jpg
01_Ken_Rawlinson.jpg
31_Robyn_Peter_Jon_Max.jpg
31_Robyn_Peter_Jon_Max.jpg
36_MaxB_KevinB.jpg
36_MaxB_KevinB.jpg
12_SandyD_JD_Roy.jpg
12_SandyD_JD_Roy.jpg
04_MikeF.jpg
04_MikeF.jpg
23_28Roy29_DaveM_MikeF_KrisC_AmyS.jpg
23_28Roy29_DaveM_MikeF_KrisC_AmyS.jpg
28_KrisC_Roy_DaveM_MikeF.jpg
28_KrisC_Roy_DaveM_MikeF.jpg
1984-03-09_Warwick_Rocky_1_04_Orig.pdf
1984-03-09_Warwick_Rocky_1_04_Orig.pdf
1987-11-27_RI_Rocky_3_010_Dist.pdf
1987-11-27_RI_Rocky_3_010_Dist.pdf
44_AmyL.jpg
44_AmyL.jpg

Last additions
05_MikeC-Missy_28Kurt29.jpg
05_MikeC-Missy_28Kurt29.jpgAug 13, 2020
04_MikeC-Missy.jpg
04_MikeC-Missy.jpgAug 13, 2020
03_JeffN-MikeC.jpg
03_JeffN-MikeC.jpgAug 13, 2020
02_Audience.jpg
02_Audience.jpgAug 13, 2020
01_Casting.jpg
01_Casting.jpgAug 13, 2020
32a-AmyS_Roy_Lee_Ann_MikeK_NormC.jpg
32a-AmyS_Roy_Lee_Ann_MikeK_NormC.jpgAug 11, 2020
32-AmyS_Roy_Lee_Ann_MikeK_NormC.jpg
32-AmyS_Roy_Lee_Ann_MikeK_NormC.jpgAug 11, 2020
31a-NormC_Lee_Ann_MikeK_KurtJ_AmyS.jpg
31a-NormC_Lee_Ann_MikeK_KurtJ_AmyS.jpgAug 11, 2020
31-NormC_Lee_Ann_MikeK_KurtJ_AmyS.jpg
31-NormC_Lee_Ann_MikeK_KurtJ_AmyS.jpgAug 11, 2020
30a-Lee_Ann_NormC_MikeK_KurtJ_JayB.jpg
30a-Lee_Ann_NormC_MikeK_KurtJ_JayB.jpgAug 11, 2020

Debug Info 
Debug Output: show / hide