To get in shape for his groundbreaking role as disco-dancing Brooklyn teen Tony Manero, John Travolta reportedly ran two miles (3 km) and danced three hours every day (he lost 20 lb. [9 kg] in the process). It showed each time he made his way to the dance floor to do the hustle and other dance moves that had largely been underground in the 1970s until the movie gave them national prominence. Travolta got so involved in the scenes that he threatened to quit when the studio wanted to shoot the “You Should Be Dancing” portion in close-up shots rather than full-body ones. Later, as disco waned in American culture, the original New York City club where the film was shot was renamed and closed, and the dance floor was sold in 2005 for $188,000. (Fun fact: Movie critic Gene Siskel bought the white polyester suit worn by Travolta at auction. Siskel often said it was his favorite movie.)
