Trivia for
Hairspray (1988) More at IMDbPro »

• Director Cameo: [John Waters] the psychiatrist.
  
  
• The role of Edna Turnblad was originally written for famed transsexual Christine Jorgensen. However, when the role of Tracy had to be rewritten, John Waters also rewrote the role of Edna in order to keep his friend and muse Divine in the production.
  
  
• "The Corny Collins Show" was based on the local television show "The Buddy Deane Show" (1957) and from several elements of "Bandstand" (1952).
  
  
• "Tilted Acres" was based on "Gwynn Oak Amusement Park" in Baltimore County, MD, where racial problems occurred.
  
  
• The Tilted Acres scenes were shot at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
  
  
• Remade on the Broadway stage in 2002 as a musical starring Harvey Fierstein (and later, Bruce Vilanch, Michael McKean and John Pinette) in the role of Edna Turnblad (played in the film by Divine) and 'Marissa Jaret Winoker' in the role of Tracy Turnblad (played in the film by Ricki Lake)
  
  
• Ricki Lake began rapidly losing weight due to the intense dance lessons she had to take for the film. She reportedly had to "eat like crazy" in order to stay plump.
  
  
• John Waters' first PG-rated film.
  
  
• The von Tussles are quoting George Wallace when they say, "Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!"
  
  
• Edna Turnblad says that "The times, they are a-changin'. Something's blowin' in the wind." Both lines are quotes from Bob Dylan songs.
  
  
• The role of Velma Von Tussle was originally offered to Mamie Van Doren.
  
  
• There was a scene filmed where Tracey finds cockroaches in her hair (which was based on the urban legend about a girl whose brain is eaten by cockroaches that were living in her beehive hairdo). While it never made it into the final cut it does explain all the references to roaches in the latter part of the film.
  
  
• The inspiration for Corny Collins, Buddy Deane, appears as a Governor's Mansion newsman.
  
  
• The musical Hairspray opened at the Neil Simon Theater on August 15, 2002 and ran for 2641 performances.
  
  

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