On the set of Hairspray Live!, which transforms California’s Universal Studio lot into 1962 Baltimore, Easter eggs are strewn throughout the street that Maddie Baillio’s Tracy Turnblad will walk down as she sings the show’s opening number, “Good Morning Baltimore.”
While on set in Los Angeles, CA, Harvey Fierstein (the musical’s Tony-winning original star and the television broadcast’s screenwriter and star) took us through the secret references embedded in Derek McLane’s set. Below, he explains the inspiration behind each building.
The Baltimore Oriental: Baltimore Oriental was the last one I named. I wanted to call it something else. I wanted to call it The Pussycat, but I came up with it, and I just said, “Let’s go generic.”
Hefty Hideaway: Obviously, Hefty Hideaway is from the show.
O’Donnell’s Gems: Mark O’Donnell was the original book writer of Hairspray, so that’s named for him.
Bud’s Duds: Bud’s Duds is [after] Buddy Deane’s show. The Corny Collins Show, the real show [that it is based on] was called the Buddy Deane Show. That’s for him.
Divine Pet Food: Divine with the dog poop… That’s why there’s a pink flamingo on there. [Divine, who starred as Edna Turnblad in the original Hairspray film, also starred in the John Waters film Pink Flamingos, in which her character, Babs Johnson, ate dog feces in the infamous final scene.]
Bud’s Duds: Bud’s Duds is [after] Buddy Deane’s show. The Corny Collins Show, the real show [that it is based on] was called the Buddy Deane Show. That’s for him.
Divine Pet Food: Divine with the dog poop… That’s why there’s a pink flamingo on there. [Divine, who starred as Edna Turnblad in the original Hairspray film, also starred in the John Waters film Pink Flamingos, in which her character, Babs Johnson, ate dog feces in the infamous final scene.]
Greenblatt’s Baltimore Crabs: Greenblatt’s is for Bob Greenblatt, [chairman of NBC Entertainment].
Ruth’s Place: Ruth Brown played Motormouth in the original John Waters movie [Hairspray], and she also used to hang out with us, especially when we were in Las Vegas [doing Hairspray]. She used to hang out backstage. But in the show Black and Blue, she’d go, “This ain’t Saint Vincent de Paul’s. This is Ruth’s Place,” so I gave her Ruth’s Place.
Ruth’s Place: Ruth Brown played Motormouth in the original John Waters movie [Hairspray], and she also used to hang out with us, especially when we were in Las Vegas [doing Hairspray]. She used to hang out backstage. But in the show Black and Blue, she’d go, “This ain’t Saint Vincent de Paul’s. This is Ruth’s Place,” so I gave her Ruth’s Place.
Baltimore Bail Bonds: Baltimore jail—there’s no story there!
Baltimore Bail Bonds: Baltimore jail—there’s no story there!
Crazy Dickie’s: The next one is Crazy Dickie’s because Dick Latessa played my husband [Wilbur Turnblad] originally, so that’s for him.
Edies Farm Fresh Eggs & Dairy: The very last one, set designer [Derek McLane] named that himself, and I don’t know who it’s for. Now you’ve got the story!
