30 years on ... Grease is STILL the Word

Grease starred John Travolta as Danny Zuko and Olivia Newton-John as Sandy Olsson. It was originally released to theatres on June 16 1978 (having been set in 1958). Can you believe 30 years have passed??

But did you know?

• Danny's blue windbreaker at the beginning of the film was intended as a nod to Rebel Without a Cause (1955).
• Because of a zipper breaking, Olivia Newton-John had to be sewn into the pants she wears in the last sequence (the carnival at Rydell), and was unable to remove the trousers until the filming of that scene was over.
• Voted the best musical ever on Channel 4's 100 greatest musicals.
• Henry Winkler, who was playing Fonzie on Happy Days, was originally supposed to play Danny but didn't for fear of being typecast.
• Marie Osmond turned down the role of Sandy because she did not like the fact that Sandy had to "turn bad" to get the boy.
• Lucie Arnaz was first choice for the role of Rizzo but was rejected after her actress mother Lucille Ball refused to allow her to screen test at Paramount Studios (she wrongly claimed that she used to own it).
• Jeff Conaway ("Kenickie")had to walk slightly stooped so that John Travolta would appear taller.
• Carrie Fisher was considered for the role of Rizzo.
• For a time, it was the third highest grossing movie of all time behind only Jaws and Star Wars.
• The official premiere after-party was at Studio 54.
• Adult film star Harry Reems was originally signed to play Coach Calhoun. Producers got cold feet weeks before filming and replaced him with Sid Caesar.
• In the song "Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee", it originally references Sal Mineo in the stage version. However, due to Mineo's murder the year before shooting began the reference was given to Elvis Presley.