Book Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Musical 'Grease'

This image released by the Chicago Review Press shows "Grease, Tell Me More, Tell Me More: Stories from the Broadway Phenomenon That Started It All." The book culled from stories submitted by some 100 cast and crew from the 1972 musical. (Chicago Review Press via AP)

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By Associated Press

June 6, 2022 at 2:04 PM UTC

New York (AP) -- On Valentine's Day 1972, a musical opened off-Broadway needing a lot of love. It was already $20,000 in debt and the reviews were mixed to poor. A decision had to be made: Keep going or give it the kiss off?

The choice to continue was a risky but fateful one, not only for the investors but also for the actors who would subsequently use it as a career incubator, including John Travolta, Richard Gere, Patrick Swayze, Treat Williams, Marilu Henner, Peter Gallagher, Alan Paul, Judy Kaye and Barry Bostwick.