You'd never imagine that underneath the cute, quiet, shy exterior of Joshua Grannell lies the outrageous Peaches Christ. Until recently, Grannell was general manager of San Francisco's Bridge Theatre, the 1930s-era neighborhood movie house on Geary, one of the city's few remaining single-screen venues. For the past decade, Grannell has pulled double duty at the Bridge, screening art-films by day and hosting Peaches Christ's Midnight Mass on weekends.

Over the years, the Midnight Mass series has grown into a cult/social event. Its success has enabled Grannell to quit his day job. He is now employed by Landmark full-time as Peaches Christ. A decade ago, when theatre manager Grannell pitched the Midnight Mass idea to Landmark, he was told that Midnight movies were dead in San Francisco. But Grannell had more in mind than merely screening films at the witching hour. Midnight Mass would be a live audience participation spectacle where anything goes. The more shocking, the better. The shows were anchored around screenings of films Grannell loved: B horror movies, drive-in trash, soft-core 60s porn, and camp classics like the Divine/John Waters collaborations or the hilariously raunchy Showgirls .

Landmark was intrigued, and agreed to give Midnight Mass a try. The very first Mass featured Russ Meyer's T&A action flick Faster Pussycat Kill! Kill! (1965), and included a look-alike contest of Tura Sutana, the film's big-bosomed star. In the weeks that followed, audience makeovers were offered to attendees of John Waters' classic Female Trouble (1974), and an onstage wet Speedo contest was held before screening Sal Mineo's surreal Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) Almost immediately, Landmark could see that Midnight Mass was selling more tickets to the 400-seat theatre than the main features.

A decade later, Grannell now appears with the film icons of his youth. He was thrilled to attend Sutana's birthday bash in LA, and has had dinner at the home of Cassandra Peterson, aka Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. John Waters and Mink Stole have become pals. All are now seasoned Mass regulars. Midnight Mass has also gone on the road, appearing in Seattle and New York.

Peaches Christ is poised to receive international fame and acclaim. In September, the de Young Museum will host A Decade of Peaches Christ. Also in the Fall, Christ will be hosting a television version of Midnight Mass for the HDNet Movie Channel. The 30-minute show will be shot at the Bridge, and will feature clips from the stage shows. Each show will be followed by an uncut HD screening of one of Peaches' favorite movies. (Local cable providers Comcast and RCN, plus Dish Network and Direct TV, offer HDNet Movie Channel to its High-Def customers.)

Meanwhile, Midnight Mass returns to the Bridge for its 10th Anniversary season. Many of the screenings sold out weeks in advance. I asked Grannell if he'd ever take the shows to a larger venue like the Castro, to accommodate the crowds.

"Midnight Mass belongs at the Bridge," he said. "At a bigger venue, the shows would lose their cabaret-style intimacy. When Peaches is onstage, you need to be able to see things like the roll of her eyes, which would be lost in a stadium-sized theatre." Peaches and company have dealt with audience growth by adding shows. Many Midnight Mass attractions are now seen on both Fridays and Saturdays.

Season 10 promises to be as outrageous as ever. At the Showgirls screening, for example, free lap-dances will be offered to anyone purchasing a large popcorn.

"The lap-dancers might be traditional showgirls," said Grannell. "They might, or might not, be female. In years past, we've had amputees and women in burkas perform the dances! We're always trying to push the envelope, to see how far we can go to shock people."

But is anyone really shocked? Aren't these kinds of antics what the audience expects and wants?

"You'd be surprised. As our fame has grown, we've had straight families with children show up. I don't think they knew what they were in for!"

In spite of her Christian moniker, Peaches tends to keep religion out of the shows. "It's about worship of the movies. A huge crowd of people watching a film becomes a religious experience unto itself. But I'm happy to take people's confessions!"

Peaches Christ's Midnight Mass, 10th Anniversary kicks off on July 13 at the Bridge Theatre, 3010 Geary, SF. Info: (415) 267-4893.

Midnight movies

July 13: John Waters' Desperate Living, with guest Mink Stole.

July 14: Waters' Female Trouble, with the director as guest.

July 21: Sing-along Xanadu, featuring Drag Queen Roller Derby.

July 27 & 28: The very naughty Showgirls. Buy a large popcorn & get a free lap-dance!

Aug. 4: Flash Gordon. Compete to save the universe, and your own ass! Featuring Miss Thing, the Merciless Peaches!

Aug. 10 & 11: Mommie Dearest. Trannyshack's Heklina joins Peaches for Tranny Dearest. Special guest: Mrs. Christ, Peaches' Mom!

Aug. 18: The incomparable Pam Grier in Coffy! Join Peaches for a Night of 1,000 Afros! Compete in the Best Afro contest!

Aug. 24: Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3-D, hosted by Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

Aug. 25: Dead Alive, an old-fashioned spook show with Elvira.

Sept. 1: The San Francisco Underground Short Film Festival.