I don't know why I'm writing all this weird, random stuff. Right now I need to write but I haven't been able to think. So I'm just writing what's in my mind. That's random knowledge I've picked up here or there. Writing but not showing it to everyone is not the same, I'm sorry to say.
Though I also feel horribly guilty for not doing as much writing as I 'should'. It hurts. I'm not writing proper stories or poems like I should. Though at least I'm writing something.
Science Fiction:
Michael Rennie was a British actor, chosen to play Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still because of this. They wanted the alien to be played by somebody unknown to American audiences. The Day the Earth Stood Still was very popular for a B-movie and soon became a classic. The robot Gort was particularly memorable. We get a common sci-fi phrase from here: "Klaatu! Barada Nikto!". The actual meaning of this remains unknown. It's been referenced in much sci-fi media including the 'old' Star Wars Expanded Universe (now called the Legends) where it forms the names of a few characters.
The Flash Gordon serials of the 1930s were quite iconic. A certain Mr. George Lucas attempted to make a remake but never managed to obtain the rights to it. Eventually the project evolved into Star Wars (1977). Looking back, a lot of StarWars seems ripped off from Flash Gordon. I'm pretty sure Richard O'Brien was in the remake (when it did happen, in 1980 or so).
Doctor X is a pre-code horror film. I've never seen it because it sounds horribly violent. Though I'm pretty sure he doesn't build a creature. There's the theory that 'doctor x' just means any mad scientist with a doctorate. That would make more sense. Though it could be interpreted as a sign that The Usherette/Trixie doesn't know as much about movies as she thinks. Either way, I'd like to point out that the original mad scientist Victor Frankenstein wasn't actually a doctor. This was the late 18th/early 19th century, you know. He just went through a phase of inspiration not unlike some sort of phase seen in bipolar people. He didn't really speak to anyone until a while after his creation was born – let alone recite some grand speech like we see in movies. Most of the things associated with him and his creation would seem unfamiliar to Mrs. Shelley. It's all from the 1930s Universal films.
Double Feature:
The double feature is a way of picture-showing that's become a novelty thing due to a number of factors. It used to be you'd pay for one ticket to see the A-picture, the B-picture, some cartoons, trailers, and even the news. Before people had televisions in their homes it was the only place they could see that sort of thing. Watching a film at the local theatre was more exciting than hearing a radio show. Even by the 1950s, when people were able to watch the news or Lucy at home, double features were a place to socialize. Kids would be supervised there so you didn't need to worry about them getting into trouble. The a-pictures were big budget stuff with the stars in it.
Some things we consider b-pictures are actually exploitation films. Those were often about women in prisons or other weirdness. What made a film an exploitation film was that it was very shocking. Sometimes. When Frank says 'we could take in an old Steve Reeves movie' he might've been referring to Reeves' first credit, Jail Bait. That was Ed Wood-directed and therefore very strange… and could either be part of a double feature bill or something shown at an exploitation grindhouse.
Eventually the blockbuster – first Jaws (1975) and then Star Wars (1977) – was invented. The very same year Rocky Horror, beloved tribute to b-movies, was released a major contributor to the double feature's downfall also appeared in theatres. It's sort of sad, like they were saying "goodbye".
Please say what you think of this.