Four decades after Footloose made him a household name, Kevin Bacon returned to high school in Payson, Utah, where the movie was filmed.
“I think it’s amazing the power this movie has had in bringing people together,” the star, 65, told the crowd at Payson High School on Saturday.
The video showed that Bacon had not lost his touch, moving his feet along to the film’s theme song as it played over the speakers as he took the stage.
Their appearance was part of a campaign waged by students, Principal Jesse Sorenson said, ahead of massive renovations that will see the school demolished this summer.
‘Let’s go Lions! Here we are in this beautiful, beautiful place on this beautiful, beautiful day. “It’s been a long time, 40 years, and that blows my mind, you know,” Bacon told the screaming fans.
‘Things look a little different around here. I would say that what seems most different is me.
Four decades after Footloose made him a household name, Kevin Bacon returned to high school in Payson, Utah, where the movie was filmed.
He still has it. Bacon, 65, moves his quick feet, albeit with the help of a chair, while the Footloose theme song plays over a speaker.
The 65-year-old actor returned to the small city of about 21,000 people, which is 60 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Principal Jesse Sorenson said some of his students have been trying to get Bacon to return for years, especially since the school will be torn down next spring.
The visit became a charitable effort, and the students agreed to prepare 5,000 care packages for Bacon’s charity, the Six Degrees Foundation.
The charity also filmed Bacon’s arrival at the school, and his speech to those who turned up to help, on their Instagram page.
Payson students and residents started a campaign to get him back called #BaconToPayson, and the actor revealed how he first found out about it.
“When I first heard about this Bacon to Payson thing, I thought, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ But you all were just tireless. Relentless… You convinced me,” Bacon said.
‘I think it’s great to see that kind of commitment to anything. “I also think it’s amazing the power this film has had in bringing people together and connecting the basic ideas behind the film,” he added.
“You know, standing up to authority sometimes, forgiving people who aren’t exactly like you, standing up for your own freedoms and your right to express yourself, and having compassion for other people,” he said. saying.
“That’s what you all have shown here by turning what could just be a movie star coming back for a pat on the back into something really positive and that’s what we’re going to do today when we build these kits,” he added. Bacon.
“So thank you, thank you very much for your commitment to giving back to your community and the people you share this planet with,” he said.
‘Wow, look at this place, look at these people. It’s great to be here. Let’s go Lions!’ Bacon began, referring to Payson High School’s mascot, the Lions.
“Here we are in this beautiful, beautiful place on this beautiful, beautiful day,” Bacon said as he opened his speech to the Payson High student body.
Footloose was released in February 1984, following Ren McCormack (Bacon), a student who moves to the small town of Bormont that has banned dancing and rock music, as he tries to rally students to help lift the ban.
Bacon added that he was “delighted that we’re going to work together here” as the crowd applauded.
Bacon’s Six Degrees foundation aimed to create 40,000 “essential resource kits” for young people and schools.
As part of their visit, the students pledged to create 5,000 on the day of their return, before the school prom.
Footloose premiered in February 1984, following Ren McCormack (Bacon), a student who moves to the small town of Bormont that has banned dancing and rock music, as he tries to rally students to help lift the ban.
