Footloose captivated viewers from the moment it hit screens thanks to its stylish footwork and popular tunes.
In the 1984 release, Kevin Bacon took on the role of a teenager who suffers major culture shock after moving from the big city of Chicago to a small town in rural southeast Texas.
He attempts to overturn a ban on dancing and rock music instituted through the efforts of a local minister, played by John Lithgow, before successfully instigating a graduation party.
But how many Footloose fans know that the movie was actually inspired by a real city?
Elmore City, Oklahoma, had banned dancing since 1898 in an attempt to control the amount of alcohol consumed and associated drunken antics.
Surprisingly, the ban was not lifted until 1980, after the city’s high school students protested that they were not allowed to dance.
As Footloose celebrates the 40th anniversary of its release on February 17, FEMAIL takes a look at the real story behind the blockbuster.
Footloose, starring Kevin Bacon, captivated viewers from the moment it hit screens thanks to its elegant footwork and popular tunes.
Elmore City, Oklahoma, had banned dancing since 1898 before finally allowing the first prom to take place (left) 82 years later – it was the inspiration behind the blockbuster (right)
Elmore City is a farming and oil town with a current population of over 700.
But before becoming a state, it implemented a strict law prohibiting public dancing within the city limits in an attempt to crack down on revelry.
The movement had been led by a local minister who considered the practice to be a satanic cult and would remain in effect for 82 years, across 15 presidencies.
But everything changed during the 1979/1980 school year when students began to feel itchy feet.
The members of the junior class, who were responsible for planning the annual non-dance banquet, set out to change the law.
“We just wanted to dance in a safe place,” class member Mary Ann Temple-Lee said previously. Oklahoma Gazette. “So we came up with a plan for everyone to win.”
But it was not all smooth sailing, as much of the resistance to overturning the ban came from the clergy.
Rex Kennedy and Leonard Coffee, who were prom organizers and junior class officers, told the outlet: “They told us that the school board was afraid things would get out of control, so they condemned us before we did anything.” bad”.
Afterwards, the students (pictured at the prom) were “ecstatic” and “excited to death,” when one added, “We were all so proud of them for taking a stand.” It was just time’
In the film, which was later remade in 2011, protagonist Ren McCormack gave a climactic speech to the school board, telling the town’s elders, “There was a time for this law, but not anymore.” Look, this is our time to dance’
‘Living in the Bible Belt, I understood their point of view, but I didn’t see why that should stop those of us without religious convictions from dancing.
“But once we all started talking, we had the support of several teachers and our sponsors, and from there everything just snowballed.”
The city was bitterly divided.
One of the people most opposed to lifting the ban was the Reverend FR Johnson of the United Pentecostal Church in the nearby town of Hennepin.
Nothing good has ever come out of a dance. If you have a dance, someone will interrupt it and look for only two things: women and alcohol,” she said.
‘When boys and girls hug each other, they become sexually aroused. You can believe what you want, but one thing leads to another.
However, the students were undeterred and brought the matter before the five-member Elmore city school board.
In the film, which was later remade in 2011, protagonist Ren McCormack gave a climactic speech to the school board, telling the town’s elders, “Ecclesiastes assures us that there is a time for every purpose under heaven.” A time to laugh and a time to cry. A time to cry and a time to dance.
‘And there was a time for this law, but not anymore. Look, this is our time to dance.
The reversal of the ban attracted media attention from across the United States and beyond, as film crews flocked to the now-infamous prom.
Footloose, which had the working title Cheek To Cheek, soon went into production in Provo, Utah, with a budget of $8 million and grossed 10 times more at the box office.
In real life, the initial count came out two in favor and two against, until Raymond Lee, board president and local rancher who was also the father of Mary Ann Temple-Lee, cast the tie-breaking vote.
He simply declared, “Let them dance.”
Afterwards, the students were “ecstatic” and “excited to death,” as one of them added, “We were all so proud of them for taking a stand.” It was time.’
The reversal of the ban attracted media attention from across the United States and beyond, as film crews flocked to the now-infamous prom.
The story of Elmore City caught the attention of American screenwriter Dean Pitchford
It even caught the attention of American screenwriter Dean Pitchford.
The creative, who won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song for writing Fame’s title track around the same time, headed to Elmore City for a week.
He collected real-life testimonies that ultimately formed the basis of his script for Footloose, for which he co-wrote every song on the soundtrack.
The curious name of Ren was created as an amalgamation of the names Rex and Leonard.
Footloose, which had the working title Cheek To Cheek, soon went into production in Provo, Utah, with a budget of $8 million and earned 10 times that at the box office.
Elmore City never saw the benefits of great success, but it hasn’t shied away from its legacy.
In 2010, the city made national news again by recreating the infamous prom for its 30th anniversary.
And, just a year later, the city hosted its first Footloose Festival, which has become an annual tradition ever since, packed with activities including a pancake breakfast, a 5K run, and a car show.