The original Summer Nights - a recreation

I know this is a recreation of the original, which I appreciate, but it's kind of awful.

I was reading an interview with Carole Demas and she said that at one point in the show's run an executive from WPIX-TV here in New York went to see the show. Towards the end of the show, her character utters a 4 letter word, she didn't reveal what that word was, but the executive took offense and asked her if she could ask the show's creatives to change it.

At the same time she was in "Grease" she was filming the local children's television program "The Magic Garden" for WPIX-TV and the executive felt it would hurt that show's image.

She flat out refused at first but then went on to mention it to the-powers-that-be and they wound up changing it.

I think it may have been the word "stud" the executive objected to, but I'm not sure.

Updated On: 2/2/16 at 02:30 PM

Aaaaaah, thank you so much g.d.e.l.g.i. !! I was thinking it may have been "stud.

That's not even the worst censored line in the original script. Here, have a look at the comparison between the censored (licensed) lines and the originals.

Cool g.d.e.l.g.i. I will definitely read it and compare. I have never read the un-censored version, only the licensed version.

With all due respect, that is from an early 80s TV Special where many Broadway luminaries performed, in many cases original cast members performed something from their associated musical. It looks 80s-ish because there was no effort to use full set/costume recreations. Most performed their numbers in regular gowns/suits - no costume. The American Dance Machine troupe plays the background roles.

This is by no means is a recreation of how "Summer Nights" was performed in the Broadway production of GREASE. The use of hand microphones is the only concept recreated here as those were used in the Broadway production.

THIS is what "Summer Nights" looked like in the original Broadway production of GREASE (this isn't the original cast, though):

Updated On: 2/2/16 at 02:59 PM

A tale of 3 Dannys: John Travolta, "Grease" producer Maxine Fox, Barry Bostwick and Jeff Conaway. I believe this photo was taken on the night "Grease" became the longest running show on Broadway.

To heck with the original New York production. Here is an article on the first Chicago production, which preceded the New York version.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-grease-live-original-stage-play-fox-ae-0131-20160128-column.html

Here are the original Doody and Rizzo from the original 1971 Kingston Mines production: James Canning, who would reprise his role on Broadway and Susan Williams, who was replaced by Adrienne Barbeau.

Another poster from the original 1971 Kingston Mines production.

Kind of amazing that this little "fringe" theatre show from Chicago would not only evolve into one of the longest running shows on Broadway but also one of the highest-grossing movie musicals.