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FILM · 1988

Hairspray

24 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026

24 Interesting Facts About Hairspray

Interesting Facts (20)

  1. #001

    Ricki Lake began losing weight rapidly because of the intensive dance lessons she took for the film. She reportedly had to "eat like crazy" in order to stay plump.

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  2. #002

    In Rachel Sweet's title song "Hairspray," Debbie Harry has a line that does not appear in the song's title. When Sweet sings, "Hey, girl, what you doing over there?" Harry answers, "Can't you see? I'm spraying my hair!"

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  3. #003

    In productions of the musical, a man has played the role of Edna as a tribute to Divine's performance.

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  4. #004

    Pia Zadora was offered the role of Amber von Tussle but could not take it because of scheduling conflicts. Writer-director John Waters was determined to have her in the film, so he gave her two days to shoot a cameo as Beatnick Chick.

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  5. #005

    The Von Tussles quote George Wallace (who was not yet Governor of Alabama when the film was shot): "Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!"

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  6. #006

    "Tilted Acres" was based on Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore County, MD, where racial troubles took place. The scenes were shot at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

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  7. #007

    Hairspray (1988) premiered on February 16, 1988 at the Senator Theatre in Baltimore, followed by a Hairhopper Ball at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Nine hundred attendees paid 25 dollars for the screening, and the event raised about 15,000 dollars for the Baltimore AIDS Action charity.

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  8. #008

    The model for Corny Collins (The Buddy Deane Show (1957)) appears as a newsman in front of the Governor's Mansion.

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  9. #009

    Hairspray (1988) screened at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1988. John Waters hosted a discussion after the screening. At this event, Mr. Waters explained that a significant portion of the film's budget was spent on acquiring the rights to the early 1960s pop songs featured in the film.

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  10. #010

    The role of Velma Von Tussle was offered to Mary Weiss of the 1960s group The Shangri-Las.

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  11. #011

    Although Negro Day is an important element of all three versions of Hairspray, it never appears in this film or in the stage musical.

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  12. #012

    This is the only one of his own films in which John Waters appears in an acting role.

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  13. #013

    The school scenes in Hairspray (1988) were shot at Perry Hall High School, in specific locations such as the library, the first-floor English classroom and the principal's office. In the principal's office, the coat of arms of Harry Dorsey Gough (see Perry Hall Mansion), which once hung in the main lobby, can be seen through the doorway. The Tilted Acres amusement park was Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

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  14. #014

    The names Wilbur, Tracy and Inez were originally planned for "Flamingos Forever," the unfilmed sequel to Pink Flamingos (1972). The screenplay of "Flamingos Forever" can be found in John Waters's book "Trash Trio," which contains the screenplays of Pink Flamingos (1972), "Flamingos Forever" and Desperate Living (1977).

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  15. #015

    The principal's office to which Tracy Turnblad is sent was a real principal's office.

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  16. #016

    The book that Beatnik Chick (Pia Zadora) begins to read is Alan Ginsberg's 'Howl'.

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  17. #017

    The Governor of Maryland appears as a character. In 1962 this office was held by J. Millard Tawes.

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  18. #018

    Rhea Feikin, who plays the mean geometry teacher, has been a beloved Baltimore TV personality for decades.

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  19. #019

    This is the second of two films in which Sonny Bono's character uses a time bomb, the other being Airplane II: The Sequel (1982).

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  20. #020

    Hairspray (2007), the second film version of Hairspray (1988) and an adaptation of the stage musical, was released by New Line Cinema in 2007 and contained many changes to the scripted elements of the original.

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Characters & Cast (3)

  1. #021

    In the DVD commentary (at about the 42nd minute), Ricki Lake reveals that she had to change costumes on location; there was no "honey wagon" or private trailer/dressing room (although Divine had one). She also says that although the shoot was difficult, she was happy because she was paid 15,000 dollars as the film's lead actress.

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  2. #022

    The role of Velma Von Tussle was first offered to Mamie Van Doren.

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  3. #023

    Frank Whaley auditioned for the role of Link Larkin.

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Easter Eggs & References (1)

  1. #024

    A scene was shot in which Tracy finds a cockroach in her hair. Although it never made the final cut, it explains all the references to cockroaches in the film's sequel.

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Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

  • IMDb IMDb title page (trivia)

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