Number 14: Hollywood Bowl Sing-along

  The Soundtrack to Grease was my first album, and I would spend hours singing along to all the songs. It was in 1978 in Stockholm, Sweden, and since I didn't learn English in school until 1979, I just mumbled my way through, making up words that sounded like what they were singing. I also "made out" with John Travolta on the cover, which made it funnier to meet him a few years ago. Unfortunately, he looked nothing like the Danny Zuko whose lips had been pressed against mine so many times, but I still giggled to myself. 

Sara's internship at B&S was way more exciting than mine

  Aaaah, to be Sandy... I got my wish the other night. My date? Sara Sugarman. For those of you who don't know her, she is one of the most vivacious and fun people to be around and we have a lot in common. A Welsh Jew, which is about as rare as a Swedish one, Sara went to the AFI screenwriting program a year ahead of me. She gave me the best advice for how to make it the most valuable experience possible and has proven to be a sweet and loyal friend, always ready to pimp me out. Already an accomplished writer/director, Sara also interned at Brothers & Sisters so she shares my love for John, Studs, Cliff, Molly and everyone else over there. 

  And by the way, she made the best Danny Zuko a girl could ask for. I went for the "bad Sandy" look and wore fake leather pants, a tight top and curled my hair before picking Sara up, who had no idea where we were going. "Is it a strip club?" she nervously texted me as I was on my way. She was beyond excited when I told her we were going to the Hollywood Bowl for the Grease Sing-along. 

  When we got to our seats, Didi Conn, who played Frenchie, was up on stage talking to people who had dressed up for the movie. There were Sandys, Dannys, Frenchies, Rizzos, Beauty School Dropouts and a family who were dressed as the drive-in scene (!) There was a little Danny Zuko on a swing and behind him a hotdog struggling to get into its bun, an ice cream and popcorn, from the snack commercial that runs behind Danny on the big screen when he sings "Alone at a Drive-in Movie." Unbelievable.

  But wait, that's not all. There were also pink goodie bags on every chair. We each got a pom-pom, a comb, a yellow scarf, bubbles and a whistle. We didn't quite understand what to do with them but as the movie started, it got clear that there were be parts in the movie where we were supposed to use these things.      

  The movie started and it was really something. People hissed and booed when The Scorpions drove up with Crater Face at the wheel, shook their pom-poms at the football game and blew bubbles during "Beauty School Dropout." Sara looked in her goodie bag for a condom to break when Kenickie is about to have sex with Rizzo and his breaks, but no such luck. 

Bad girl Cha-Cha DiGregorio from St. Bernadette's

  The best use of the goodie bag came when Crater Face and Danny got ready for the drag race. The yellow scarf was a replica of the one Cha-Cha DiGregorio wore and subsequently took off her neck to start the race. So there were thousands of people swinging their yellow scarves as the race started....

    

  We laughed our asses off, we screamed, clapped, whistled, and sang all our favorite songs...from "Summer Lovin'" to the somewhat pathetic "Hopelessly Devoted to You" to "Greased Lightning," all with lyrics scrolling across the bottom of the screen so we could sing along. I must say, in 1978, I had no idea they sang "the chicks will cream" in that song...and I suppose, even if I had, I wouldn't have understood what it meant, so that was an interesting revelation. We did the "Hand Jive" at the school dance until our hands were sore, we danced, I cried for Sandy, and Sara used her comb throughout the evening. 

  Best of all was to go with someone who is as crazy about singing and dancing as I am, and who isn't afraid to look completely ridiculous. Because, let me tell you, we really did. Especially Sara. Thanks for an ACES evening, SUGE!

Comments

[Mercy Donovan]

Thanks for one's marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you're a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will often come back someday. I want to encourage that you continue your great work, have a nice morning!

[Jackie]

LOVE IT!

[karen]

AWESOME!!!!