Random Cool Details About 'Grease' That Rule The School (17 items)

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  (#1) Frenchy Wasn't Acting When It Came To Her Teen Angel

  According to Didi Conn (Frenchy), she didn't know Frankie Avalon was going to be in the number until the day of shooting "Beauty School Dropout." She had a crush on him for many years, so her shock and awe was very real. 

  In an interview with Female First, Conn stated:

  That was exciting because we rehearsed for the movie for about three weeks prior to filming and Frankie Avalon wasn't there. So I did the scene until the morning we were actually going to shoot. It was really great because they shot my reaction first. I hadn't seen him before and he was so handsome, really beautiful, sexy, and delicious. All I had to do was look at him. I look so  weird, shall we say, with that pink hair. I just let myself just take it all in. I enjoyed myself and I actually get a giggle when I watch that scene because I was literally drooling and I wasn't acting either.
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  (#2) A Family Affair

  Posted by u/Numerous-Lemon:

  In Grease (1978), one of the waitresses is played by Ellen Travolta, the sister of actor John Travolta. She’s the one who says “Oh, there's Danny and Sandy."
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  (#3) Forgotten Reference

  In "Beauty School Dropout," the Teen Angel tells Frenchy:

  "Wipe off that Angel Face and go back to high school..."

  Angel Face was a popular brand of make-up in the 1950s.
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  (#4) 'Greased Lightning' Contains A Hidden Reference To Prophylactics

  The plastic wrap used during the "Greased Lightning" dance number was a reference to condoms, in a sly attempt to undermine the censors. In the '50s, some misguided teens were said to use plastic wrap as a substitute for condoms. This was a reference to that practice. 
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  (#5) Rizzo's Hickeys Were Real (And From Kenickie)

  According to actress Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway insisted on applying the love bites himself so they looked realistic on camera. 
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  (#6) In The Original Film, The Posters Were Blurred Out In The Malt Shop Scene

  Due to a deal with Pepsi, the Coca-Cola posters in the malt shop were blurred out for the original release of Grease. However, the images were later replaced for the film's 20th anniversary release. 
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  (#7) A Little Over-The-Top Symbolism Occurs At The Drive-In

  Posted by u/AspireAgain:

  In Grease (1978), the closing seconds of the "Stranded at the Drive-In" song, where Danny yearns for Sandy, has some over-the-top Freudian Symbolism in the background [with the] "Visit our Refreshment Center" promo.
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  (#8) Fonzie Could Have Been Danny

  Henry Winkler was offered the role of Danny but turned it down because it was too similar to Fonzie. 

  In an interview with AARP magazine, Winkler said:

  I turned down the lead role in Grease. Didn’t want to be typecast. But you’re typecast anyway. And it’s not now that I’m, like, 'Oh, I should’ve done the role.' It’s that I turned it down intellectually instead of [instinctively]. Listen to your gut — it knows everything. Your head knows only some things. So I went home and had an orange juice. Travolta went home and bought a plane.
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  (#9) Danny Has A Few Missteps In 'We Go Together'

  Posted by u/rhcpjess:

  In Grease for the song at the end of the movie "We Go Together," you can see John Travolta mess up the words twice in the beginning of the song. First one is at 0:24 and second mess up is at 0:40.

  Watch it here: 0:24 and 0:40 are the mess ups

  Posted by u/pluck-the-bunny:

  Sandy actually laughed at the second one.
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  (#10) Vi Misses Her Mark

  Posted by u/jadenz98:

  In Grease (1978), when Frenchie is talking to Vi right before "Beauty School Dropout," Vi misses the light switch, but the lights still turn off.

  Watch the clip here.
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  (#11) Most Of The Actors Were Just A Tad Older Than Their Teen Counterparts

  Olivia Newton-John was 28 when she cast to play teen dream Sandy in Grease, while John Travolta was 23 and Jeff Conaway was 26. Most of the cast were in their 20s except for Stockard Channing, who was 33. Dinah Manoff was the only main cast member who was actually of high school age.
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  (#12) Rydell High Gets A Shout Out In Another Classic High School Musical

  Posted by u/Abberline1888:

  In Rock n' Roll High School (1979), Vince Lombardi High School [where the movie is set] has an upcoming football game against Rydell High, the school from Grease (1978).
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  (#13) The Lyrics To 'Greased Lightning' Are Changed To Create A More Family Friendly Production

  In both the 2016 Fox live musical event and most high school productions of the musical, there somewhat dirty lyrics to "Greased Lightning" are changed to "The chicks will scream" (instead of "cream") and "She's a real dragon wagon" (instead of "p*ssy wagon").
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  (#14) Cut Musical Numbers Can Be Heard In The Background

  Several musical numbers from the stage version were cut from the film version, but a few were used as background music in certain scenes. These songs include "It's Raining on Prom Night" (can be heard on the jukebox at the malt shop), "Freddy, My Love" (originally sung by Marty Maraschino), "Mooning" (cut but still listed on the official soundtrack) and "Those Magic Changes" (sung by Sha-Na-Na at the school dance).
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  (#15) Kenickie Was Supposed To Sing 'Greased Lightning'

  From Songfacts:

  Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey wrote "Greased Lightning" for Kenickie and the T-Birds to sing while they dream of fixing up his rundown car, but Danny (John Travolta) took the lead in the 1978 film at Travolta's request.

  The single was a much bigger hit in the UK, where it peaked at #11.
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  (#16) Seeing Double

  Stockard Channing and Dinah Madoff, who play Rizzo and Marty, also appear in "Beauty School Dropout."
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  (#17) Objects In The Slumber Party Scene Move In And Out Of Shots

  

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