Hairspray Then and Now
Does anyone use hairspray anymore? My Mom used it when I was a kid. I remember how I used to choke on it if I walked into the bathroom after she had sprayed her hair.
Hairspray, the award-winning musical, has been made into a movie twice, once in 1988 and now this year. The new film opens July 20.
Click on the photo above. On the right is “Tracy Turnblad” (played by newcomer Nikki Blonsky). On the left is mom “Edna Turnblad.” Guess who plays the mom’s part. Here’s a hint: It’s a baby boomer (1954) from Englewood, New Jersey. By the way, this film is a baby boomer bonanza, because it involves writer John Waters (1948) and actors Michelle Pfeiffer (1958) and Allison Janney (1959).
In case you don’t know the story, here’s a synopsis:
Set in Baltimore during the 1960s TV dance craze, Hairspray tells the story of plus-sized teenager Tracy Turnblad, who goes from outsider to celebrity when she stars on a dance show.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I’ve always meant to see that.
June 26th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
John Travolta. Everybody is raving about the new movie. Could just be the usual ‘hype’. A relative saw the musical on broadway and said it was ‘thee best ever’. I’m not too keen on this movie though. hated the first one. John Walters wanted a gay man to play the drag mother. How John got the part, I don’t know. defeats the purpose. probably trying to appeal to a larger audience. Again, that defeats the original concept of the movie.
Hollywood! ha!
June 26th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Adorn!
Aqua Net!
Final Net!
Alberto VO5!
White Rain!
Flips, Farrahs, and spikes…
::sigh::
Those were the days! (daze?)
June 26th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Rhea, I like it that you found one of my two blogs because in turn I found yours. Please come and visit anytime, I love making new friends.
I remember watching Hairspray a long time ago and I forgot most of the plot, so watching it again will be like watching it for the first time.
June 26th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Boomie: You got it right! I couldn’t stand the first movie. It was sort of sickening in a John Waters-type of sickening way. I only watched a few minutes. But I loved the trailer on the new one. I am going to see it.
Lois: Wow, you really know your hairspray. I could only think of Aqua Net.
June 26th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Hi – thanks for the visit this morning
great blog here!
Yes I use hairspray some – but not real often .. i’d say once a month maybe..
June 26th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Loved the first film (ricki lake!) and can’t wait to see the new one. I hardly know anyone anymore who actually uses hairspray!
June 26th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
My daughter and her friends used hair spray a few years ago but not aerosol. It was pump.
June 26th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
The original HAIRSPRAY movie is one of my all-time favorites! Anyone who hasn’t seen it should run out and rent it! My review: Sweet and funny – thumbs up.
After what happened to LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, I tend to stay away from such musical re-makes.
June 26th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
The first “Hairspray” sickening? As compared to Waters’ earlier work?
Whereas I’m sitting here and thinking there is absolutely no reason to make another Hairspray movie because how could you top perfection?
June 26th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Yes, yes, yes, I use hairspray. At my age I need all I help I can get to keep my hair in place. Hairspray, like a lot of other products have come along way baby since the FinalNet days. Thanks for visiting.
June 26th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Jose: Welcome! The music is amazing on the trailer for the new version.
Shelby: Welcome to you, too!
Vivi: A few readers here do use hairspray. Wow.
Nessa: Aerosol is better for the environment.
Craig and Adam: There was something really gross (can’t even recall now) in the first few minutes of the first Hairspray film that I just never could get over.
Linda: Well, obviously someone’s using it. They still sell it!
June 26th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
John Travolta never looked so good. Certainly better than his disco days! And the newcomer reminds me, just a little, of Rosanne Barr. Now there’s a blast from the past.
June 26th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Hi Rhea! Glad to meet a new friend. I don’t use hairspray at all. The only time I see one or smell one is when I’m at a beauty/hair salon. I do not like the smell though. C U.
June 26th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Thanks, for visiting my blog! I am past Baby Boomer’s but maybe some of my kids are! at least my 50 years old! My son will be 48 in Nov. Nancy my special needs girl was 45 yesterday,and another girl is 40 and I have a 28 year old daughter! WOW. I know ,I have a whole bunch of wonderful kido’s! when you write all their ages, out like that,whew!
Grams
June 26th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I still use hairspray, if I didn’t my hair would be all over the place. Thanks for popping by. I have never been to Boston but I have been to New York and down the eastern side of US but for some reason we missed coming to Boston.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Of course I use hairspray–but that’s mostly to counteract humidity & keep my wavey hair from sponging.
June 27th, 2007 at 12:18 am
I loved the movie. It’s one of my all time favorites.
Rhea: I’ve tagged you for a meme, “Things you don’t know about me yet,” over at my blog. Take a look.
June 27th, 2007 at 5:37 am
My daughter saw the trailer for this July 20 release and said. Oh, look they made American Dreams into a movie. She loved that Dick Clark show that had a good but short run on Sunday nights. It was going along well and then POOF they pulled it. I think its cancelation had something to do with DC’s stroke.
June 27th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Rick: He is definitely stockier now.
Twilite: Welcome!
Grams: Oh, yes, 2 of your kids are baby boomers.
Vic: Thanks for stopping in.
KGMOM: I’ve got to look up ’sponging’ because I wonder if that’s ever happened to my hair.
Hattie: I am looking forward to the new version.
Tom: I agree it could have caused his stroke.
June 27th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Rhea: Something really gross in the first few minutes?
Sounds like Amber VanTussel’s “blemish” scene.
There are maybe two other things I can think of that might be a problem (one involving a rat and another involving motion sickness). I can see your point.
Seek out the soundtrack album regardless! Lots of great, great early 60s dance tunes are included.
June 28th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I haven’t watched the original Hairspray in probably a good 15 years, but I was surprised they were remaking it as well.
I wish they’d come up with some new ideas in Hollywood, haha.
I’m also glad I’m past my hairspray phase. My best friend and I used to lie on our backs on the bed, heads hanging off the edge towards the floor, and spray our hair until it stood straight up. And we smoked; God, our lungs are really thanking us for getting over both of those bad habits, I’m sure.
June 28th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
OK, gotta chime in with the rest of the John Waters fans. One of my favorite directors of all time. The ads for this remake kill me – “First it was a Broadway musical, now it’s a movie!” Hey, wasn’t it a movie FIRST? And a darn good one at tha?. Sorry, but John Travolta will never top Divine. THAT was pure genius.