Four decades after Footloose made him a household name, Kevin Bacon returned to high school in Payson, Utah, where the film was filmed.
The 65-year-old actor returned to the small town of about 21,000 residents, 90 kilometers south of Salt Lake City.
Principal Jesse Sorenson said some of his students have been trying to get Bacon back for years, especially since the school will be demolished next spring.
The visit turned into a charity drive, with students agreeing to put together 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 came to help, on their Instagram page.
Four decades after Footloose made him a household name, Kevin Bacon returned to high school in Payson, Utah, where the film was filmed.
The 65-year-old actor returned to the small town of about 21,000 residents, 90 kilometers south of Salt Lake City.
Principal Jesse Sorenson said some of his students have been trying to get Bacon back for years, especially since the school will be demolished next spring.
“Wow, look at this place, look at these people. It’s so great to be here. Go lion!’ Bacon began, referring to the Payson High School 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.
“It’s been a long time – forty years – and that surprises me, you know. Things look a little different here. I’d say I’m the one who looks the most different,” Bacon joked.
The students and residents of Payson started a campaign to get him back called #BaconToPayson, with the actor revealing how he first heard about it.
“When I first heard about this Bacon to Payson thing, I thought, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ But you were all just tireless. Relentless… You talked me into it,” Bacon said.
“I love seeing such dedication to anything. “I also think it’s amazing how much power this film has had to bring people together and connect with the basic ideas behind the film,” he added.
“You know, sometimes standing up to authority, and being forgiving of people who aren’t exactly the same as you, and for your own freedoms and your right to express yourself, and for compassion for other people,” he said. said.
“That’s what all of you here have shown by turning what could be a movie star coming back to get a pat on the back into something very positive and that’s what we’re going to do today as we build these kits,” Bacon added to it.
“So thank you so much for your commitment to giving back to your community and to the people you share this planet with,” he said.
“Wow, look at this place, look at these people. It’s so great to be here. Go lion!’ Bacon began, referring to the Payson High School 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 college student who moves to the small town of Bormont where dance and rock music is banned, while trying to rally the students to lift the ban.
Bacon added that he was “excited that we’re going to be working together here,” as the audience applauded.
Bacon’s Six Degrees foundation aimed to create 40,000 ‘essential resource packs’ for young people and schools.
As part of his visit, the students pledged to create 5,000 on the day of his return, before their prom.
Footloose was released in February 1984, following Ren McCormack (Bacon), a college student who moves to the small town of Bormont where dance and rock music is banned, while trying to rally the students to lift the ban.