Grease 40th Anniversary

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Grease Is Still the Positively Energized Way We Are Feeling!

By Scott Aber

As I started to research material to include for this article, I certainly had a plethora to pick from. Grease is an institution that's been celebrated for the past 40 years. And the aforementioned plethora of sources certainly includes my own experiences with, and feelings about, this originally- dismissed-by-everyone-including-its-creators masterpiece. For me, my love of Grease started at 6 years old, when I received the original 2-disc vinyl release as a birthday present. Of course, I had heard of Grease from both radio airplay of the chart-topping songs, and my aunt Kelly, who was our family's resident John Travolta disciple. But I had never actually seen the movie itself, until it came to HBO (one of only two then-competing premium cable channels) sometime later. Since album cover art didn't contain Parental Advisories back then, my mom - who also had not ever seen the movie yet - wasn't too happy when she heard the lyrics to Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee or Greased Lightning.

The one thing that I remember most about seeing Grease for the very first time, is Sandy being presented during the film's finale. The reason this particular moment sticks out in my mind more vividly than any other, is because although I had seen Olivia Newton-John made up this way on the cover of the soundtrack album, I had absolutely no idea who she was when she came on screen. It just didn't register.

Grease has been re-released to home video and TV outlets various times, each time containing subtle changes in the audio track. The first time Grease was shown on ABC TV in 1981, the sound had a more ceramic quality, with Olivia Newton-John's second moan as John Travolta kisses her at the beach, being turned up. Bowser also does more MC'ing as Danny and Sandy take over the floor during the Hand Jive. The opening credits in this version were missing Vince Vontaine's patter over the instrumental intro of Frankie Valli's title track, during which he hits the post. And Stockard Channing's delivery of the line, You pig! in response to Jeff Conaway's remarks about hickies, was also slightly different. That different delivery of Rizzo's line is actually heard in the film's original theatrical trailer.

This is the version that TV channels used for decades, until networks that were then-owned by mogul Ted Turner started showing more current TV versions, that weren't as censored. These later TV versions contained a still-edited, but longer version of Greased Lightning, allowing Danny to still utter the line, The chicks'll cream.

But the biggest changes to Grease's spectacular sound came in 1997, when a very well-meaning George Lucas contacted his former college room mate and director of Grease, Randal Kleiser. George had just given all three Star Wars movies a THX digital makeover, and re-released them to theaters in celebration of the original film's 20th anniversary. The project was so well-received, that George suggested to Randal that he do the same thing with Grease, for its own 20th anniversary.

In effort to do it right, Randal went into the Paramount vault to get all of the original celluloid sound reel elements, to be remixed and mastered from scratch. Unfortunately, some of those sound reels had become gooey from decades of storage. A slow low-temperature baking process to dry them out worked to a great degree, but some elements were ultimately unsalvageable.

In attempt to both replace the sound elements that could not be saved, and provide 5-channel surround sound, new sound effects were added. Some sounds were added just for the heck of it, like the bushes audibly rustling when Sonny pushes Putzie into them, and the chains on the drive-in swings rattling when Danny bumps against them during the song Sandy. One of the missing-for-exact-reasons-unknown original sound effects from the drive-in scene, was the car horns that tell Danny he's casting a shadow on the drive-in screen. Also among the now-missing sounds, was the cymbal that enhances the wave crashing into Sandy and Danny at the beach.

The most disheartening change for me about the new 1997 audio mix, was how the once-background music now often drowned out dialogue. Some cast members had been quite vocal about their disappointment over the fact that some of their dialogue could no longer be heard. The worst example of drowned-out dialogue for me personally, was during Olivia's iconic delivery of Tell me about it, stud.

The new mix also left a lot of the original music sounding weaker, while the newer sound effects stood out in front. This is partly due to the fact that digital sound is cleaner than analog, because it breaks up and then reassembles what it processes. While analog sound is one continuous stream, and therefore has much more punch to it. From 1998 on, TV stations licensed and played the digitally remixed 1998 version of Grease, and it looked like the original 1978 version was lost in oblivion forever. Even 2010's sing along release was an enhanced version of the 1998 remaster.

Then in late 2017, it was announced that Grease was again being re-released theatrically and on home video, in celebration of its 40th anniversary. Thankfully, a 70mm master mix of the original 1978 audio had been discovered, and this master mix was used to completely restore Grease's sound to its original luster. In fact, it's actually improved. Background elements are once again properly in the background, but some of them — like back up vocals during You're the One That I Want — have been turned up slightly, to show that they are once again in proper sync.

Some dialog that was more buried in the original 1978 release has actually been turned up, particularly during tl1e high school dance scene. And while they are now more properly in the background, some sound effects that weren't present until 1998 still hang around, particularly during Greased Lightning. They include the sound of the engine as Danny descends on it, and Kenickie's cigarette lighter audibly lighting.

Lastly, while VHS, Betamax, and Laserdisc releases from the 1980s featured a Phil Spector- esque simulated stereo sound, Grease's 40th anniversary audio is actually in true stereo. the picture quality in the new 40th anniversary release has also been tremendously improved. The original negative has been scanned and given meticulous color restoration. You'll now clearly and correctly see that the guys‘ T-Birds insignias actually contain white, blue, yellow, and red elements.

The only visual edits between this spectacular restoration, and the original 1978 release, are the erasing of the microphone that once glared in the jukebox as Danny apologizes to Sandy, and the once- blurred Coke poster in the Frosty Palace, now replaced by a should-have-been-there-all-along Pepsi poster. The poster issue was reportedly due to a Pepsi deal the producers had struck, although dancer Sean Moran has a slightly different take [or possibly a mere enhancement] on that in his book, The Diary of a Movie Greaser.

John Travolta has said that he feels he was the only one who really had any real faith in the film. But he is also shocked that after 40 years, people are still talking about Grease. John can't believe the attachment that fans still have to it. They want to dress like the characters, they still sing the songs, etc. John is very humbled by the affection still shown for this fabulous musical after four decades.

John also says that he was the only real choice to play Danny Zuko. No auditions were held to cast his part. For the past 40 years, rumors circulated that Henry Winkler — who played biker Arthur Fonzarelli on Happy Days — had been considered to play Danny, but Henry didn't want to be typecast as a greaser. That rumor is partially true, and John Travolta recently set the record straight. He explained that he loved the idea of Henry Winkler in the role of Kenickie, so he had suggested him to producers Robert Stigwood and Allan Carr. John was very happy with Jeff Conaway playing Kenickie though, since the two of them were already friends since the time they had both lived in New York.

John had some influence while making Grease, on matters that many actors never get a say in. These included casting decisions, and there was nobody that John felt would be more perfect to play Sandy, than Olivia Newton-John. So John went to her house to convince the apprehensive Aussie to do the film, after producer Allan Carr had already approached her about it during a dinner at friend and fellow Australian Helen Reddy's house. While producers are normally the ones who request a screen test to see if actors will have the right chemistry, Olivia was the one who wanted to do a screen test of herself with John Travolta, to make sure that she really could act. Her hesitation was due to her appearance in a failed Australian sci-fi musical movie called Tomorrow.

Director Randal Kleiser has recalled that while Olivia absolutely relished in playing bad Sandy at the end of the movie, she absolutely hated having to smoke. Randal also remembers that her cigarette had to be prepped with a bobby pin, so that it would drop at the right spot and not be caught up in the breeze.

Barry Pearl, who played T-Bird Doody in Grease, has fielded questions from many fans asking if anybody knew how successful the film would become. Nobody knew, Barry says. Anybody who says they knew... I'd like to see their crystal ball. He also adds, What we did know, is that we were having a lot of fun.

On the subject of the T-Birds originally being called the Burger Palace Boys in the stage production, Barry once joked, They could have been called The Frosty Palace Boys, but that sound a little froo-froo for tough guys of the '50s.

Eddie Deezen, who played Eugene, loves to tell the religious story of how he landed his iconic role in Grease. He was very excited to be cast. But after a rewrite of the script, the Eugene character had been completely omitted, and Eddie was devastated. Eddie is Jewish, but after he explained his disappointment to a Catholic friend of his, his friend went to church and lit a candle to pray for him. Shortly thereafter, Eddie received a call that Eugene had been written back in, and the part was still his. Eddie fondly remembers his entire experience while filming Grease. One fellow actor in particular who was especially nice to him, was Dennis C Stewart, who played the leader of the T-Birds' rival gang The Scorpions, Leo Balmudo. A role he also reprised in Grease 2. Eddie remembers that upon learning that he took the bus to work every day, Dennis said, No more, and became Eddie's daily ride to the set of Grease from then on.

Lorenzo Lamas played jock Tom Chisum in the movie Grease. He fondly recalls how star struck he was in the presence of Olivia Newton-John.

Didi Conn, who played second-in-command Pink Lady Frenchy, recalls that there were many on-set hook ups in those trailers. Fellow cast member Susan Buckner who played cheerleader Patty Simcox has confirmed this, by adding that she acted upon the crush she had on fellow cast mate Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie.

Jeff's part kept getting reduced, due to John Travolta's status in Hollywood at that time. Since Greased Lightning is Kenickie's car, it's Kenickie who originally sings the song. But John Travolta loved it, and asked to sing it. John once recalled, I really wanted to do the number, and I knew that I could get it, because I was the boy of the moment.

Jeff Conaway passed away in 2010, but has previously recalled, God bless John, he did a great job on Greased Lightning. Upon remembering how character Danny also drives Kenickie's car in the drag race, Jeff commented that in the film version of Grease, If Danny could have gone to the bathroom for Kenickie, he would have.

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting some of the amazing cast members of Grease during their appearance at Chiller Theatre in Parsippany, NJ back in April, 2018. Upon those appearing, was Dinah Manoff, who played Pink Lady Marty. She had not yet seen the recent 40th anniversary restoration, and was physically taken aback when I revealed to her that those diamond-framed glasses actually shimmered when you watch the movie projected on a theater screen. The other cast members thatI met and had the most pleasurable experiences with were Didi Conn [Frenchy]; Barry Pearl [Doody]; Eddie Deezen [Euguene]; Edd Byrnes [Vince Vontaine]; Jamie Donelley [Jan]; and Susan Buckner [Patty Simcox].

I was also in the presence of one of the actual T-Birds jackets worn in the movie. It belonged to Barry Pearl, who brings it to all such appearances that he does. I know not to overstep bounds, but man, how I wanted to ask if I could actually slip that on for just two seconds!

Director Randal Kleiser was also present at Chiller Theatre. He was quite the gentleman. Very humble, and conversational, and was very considerate of my criticism regarding the 1998 remix. Said criticism followed my sincere heartfelt gratitude for the recent full restoration, which also includes Grease's original Paramount logo, complete with the original Grease-exclusive fanfare music. When my friend Brenda, who accompanied me to Chiller, told Susan Buckner that I can do John Travolta's Greased Lightning routine incredibly well, she didn't believe it. So, Susan pulled it up on her Spotify list in her laptop, and dragged me out into the middle of the room to perform the dance in front of director Randal Kleiser, who recorded it on his cell phone. I'm still waiting to hear if he ever showed that video to John Travolta, as I had suggested [wink].

For what started as an incredibly gritty stage play penned by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey — based partially on people in Jim Jacobs’ high school that he was actually scared of — that went on to be toned down for a Broadway audience, and then even further toned tone to acquire a PG rating on the movie version, Grease still receives a lot of criticism regarding some controversial dialogue, lyrics, and situations.

But no matter how you analyze it, Grease will always be just a flat-out feel good piece for many people of generations to come. Frankie Valli still performs the song Grease during live concert appearances, and it still gets a big reaction. And as a DJ who still fills the dance floor every time I play songs from Grease, I definitely speak with some authority here myself.