The decision to change the name of the town, the names of those involved and to film a docudrama was inspired by Stanley Kramer's 'Inherit the Wind." This film and the 'Crucible' were written in response to McCarthyism, an on-going reference throughout 'Small Town Culture War.'
The small town high school's production of 'Grease' sparked the controversy. Some interviewed also comment on the film's story line and effect on the teenage population.
When "Grease' was deemed unsuitable for their high school play roster, the school superintendent cancelled their next play 'The Crucible." This decision raised a few eyebrows at the New York Times, prompting their front page story covering the events of the Grease/Crucible situation.
High School Theatre Student Tina Davies points out that the circumstances surrounding their production of 'Grease' elicited two SNL sketches, a TV pilot based on the story, and mention in a teen blockbuster. She refers to the character "Mr. Fulton" in 'High School Musical II' -- the bad guy whose motivation is to squelch the young actors from participating in a theater production. It is generally known that Mr. Fulton is named after Fulton, Missouri where the actual true events of 'Small Town Culture War' took place.