History Film Forum: Hairspray (1988)

The History Film Forum presents Hairspray (1988) as part of Indepen’Dance!

It’s 1962, and TV dance shows are sweeping the nation. Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad’s (Ricki Lake) dream of becoming a local dance queen kicks off more than a dance battle —-it ignites a fight for racial desegregation within the city itself.

Written and directed by John Waters, Hairspray is a sweetly satirical look back at the conventions, structures, and challenges of the 1960s. While only a moderate success at the box office at the time, the film became a cult classic on VHS. It was adapted into a Tony Award-winning musical in 2002, which itself was adapted into a musical film of the same name in 2007. In 2022 the Library of Congress selected Hairspray (1988) for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Hairspray is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association.
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The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible. Captioning and assistive listening devices will be provided. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.

Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Seating will be opened first to Eventbrite-registered attendees and then to walk-in visitors. When we reach maximum capacity, the event will be closed to the public.