Hairspray Stage Show Question?

Question

Guys, I am a Chinese and am working on the translations of Hairspray's subtitle for its run in Shanghai in July. Here I got 2 questions so far that I'd like to get your help for.

During the audition scene:

1) Tracy told the council members: "Well, I brought my own '45s,' so if you put 'em on, I'll show you my stuff".

--What is '45s'? A dance term? Or the size of her shoes?

2) In Velma's song "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs", there is "Those broads thought they'd win if a plate they would spin in their dance".

--What does "broads" stand for? Women?

--What does "if a plate they would spinn in their dance"? Is it about the game of spinning a plate? But I still don't get it.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer 1

45's are vinyl records used before 8 tracks, cassettes, and cds.

broads are indeed women, with curves

plate ----shrug can't help you there.

Answer 2

First question; a '45' is a record from back a long time ago when music was played on a record player.

Second question; When she says broads, she means the other people in the competition who she feels are below her. "The plates they would spin in their dance", refers to a certain type of acrobatics. Have you ever seen people who have long poles with plates on the ends that they balance?

Basically, what she is saying that the other contestants thought they could win by showing off their fancy tricks, but they could never win compared to her.