Scatter Brained

C H A P T E R   1
10
 Grease (the Musical) 
and Other Tales From Broadway
First staged in an abandoned trolley barn in Chicago, 
Grease
 
went on to become a surprise Broadway hit. With its satirical 
jabs at ’50s teenagers and irresistibly catchy songs, the show 
ran for 3,388 performances (approximately equal to the 
number of bad movies John Travolta has since starred in). 
When the Broadway musical became a movie in 1978, the 
satire was taken seriously by some, and a brief rebirth of 
greaser style followed. Danny Zuko and his heartthrob, 
Sandy Olsson, played by Travolta and Olivia “Let’s Get Physi-
cal” Newton-John, respectively, became 
the
 couple to emu-
late, and the movie grossed some $380,000,000. Four years 
later, 
Grease 2
 came out and grossed approximately $380. 
Th
  e sequel, which had an inferior director and unmemorable 
By the Numbers: