Reuniting the Alumni of Ol’ ‘Grease’ High

The Scene: The weekend-long 20th-anniversary reunion at the Sheraton Universal for the myriad Broadway stage and touring companies of “Grease.” Activities included a rooftop cocktail party Friday and dinner Saturday at the Sheraton Universal, then brunch Sunday at ‘50s cultural shrine/restaurant Ed Debevic’s. “Three days!” said one observer. “It’s like a tribal wedding.

Raison d’Etre: The 1972 rock musical exalting 1950s nostalgia ran on Broadway for 3,388 performances; the 1978 film version went on to gross $153 million. It’s still being performed all over the world. “ ‘Grease’ is no longer a play,” said co-writer Jim Jacobs. “It’s an annuity.”

Who Was There: More than 225 Greasers and Greasettes, including John Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, Olivia Newton-John (OK, so she was only in the film version) with husband Matt Lattanzi, Barry Bostwick, Adrienne Barbeau, director Tom Moore and producer Ken Waissman. Although many alums are by no means wealthy, they paid their own way from cities across the country to the reunion. It demonstrated that the brotherhood of the theater is truly one of the amazing show-business phenomena.

Historical Context: Sociologists can now point to “Grease” as the beginning of the “Beverly Hills, 90210” syndrome--steadfastly youthful actors in their mid- to late-20s portraying hormonally turbocharged high school students.

Dress Mode: Some came in black tie to the dinner; most were in cocktail-party garb. Very conservative when you consider that the women actors propelled a generation of gum-snapping teen-age girls into spandex pants and off-the-shoulder blouses.

Fashion Statement: Two off-duty San Pedro cops provided security at the ballroom door. Their hair was slicked back, each had a cigarette tucked behind one ear, and they wore black satin jackets with “The Flaming Dukes” embroidered on the back. After retirement, a career awaits them at Johnny Rockets.

Entertainment: A group sing-along of the Rydell High School song, performances of songs cut from the show, and a homemade video of “Grease” highlights. It included pictures of Richard Gere in the London production, Patrick Swayze in the New York run and a shot of the poster for the Mexico City production, where it was called “Vasolina.”

Quoted: “All I know is ‘Grease’ makes people happy,” Travolta said. “They feel better when they walk out than they did when they walked in.”

Also Quoted: “I feel like I got out of high school a year ago,” Jacobs said. “You’re looking at a 49-year-old teen-ager. I’m the Dick Clark of the ‘Grease’ run.”

Favors: A survival kit of sorts. At each place setting was a brown lunch bag holding two plastic combs, one piece of Bazooka bubble gum, a pack of candy cigarettes, one condom, a pair of paper sunglasses adorned with palm trees, and a package of pink Hostess Sno Balls that one guest said would “be as fresh eight years from now as they are today.”

Unmentioned: There was also an unfortunate film sequel in 1982, “Grease 2.” It is spoken of only in the hushed tones usually reserved for discussing an ax murderer in the family.