As Grease began filming, in June 1977, it had several strikes against it—a modest budget, an indifferent studio, and largely untested young (and not-so-young) leads. But producer Allan Carr caught lightning in a bottle, to make it one of the largest-grossing American movie musicals (and soundtrack LPs) of all time and the launching pad of a mega-star. As Fox broadcasts a live-event version, John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and other cast members tell MICHAEL CALLAHAN about the epic party Carr started