Kevin Bacon returns to ‘Footloose’ high school to celebrate 40th Anniversary of movie
Actor Kevin Bacon recently returned to ‘Footloose’ high school in Utah to celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary. The students started a social media campaign called #BaconToPayson inviting the actor to visit the school’s Payson, Utah campus where the smash hit movie Footloose was filmed. Footloose hit the big screen 40 years ago, propelling Bacon to superstar status. The film has become a classic known for its iconic songs and dance scenes.
The social media campaign with the hashtag #BaconTo Payson began last fall to catch the actor’s attention and invite the Bacon to visit the fictional campus of the movie Footloose before the real campus is demolished. Reacting to the onslaught of videos of students learning the Footloose dance and social media postings, Bacon replied on a live interview seen by all the students—“I have to come, I will come to visit!”
At the event, Bacon stated, “It’s been 40 years…that just blows my mind. You were all tireless, unrelenting in your desire to have me return. I think it’s great to see that kind of commitment to anything. I also think that it’s amazing, the power that this movie has had to just kind of bring people together and connect on the basic ideas that are behind the movie.” (Source: ABC News/SixDegrees.Org).
Yet another reason for Bacon’s visit was to help support his charity SixDegrees.org. Bacon is a Golden Globe winning actor, musician and philanthropist who founded SixDegrees.Org in 2007, a non-profit organization which supports impactful initiatives to sustain and enrich local communities. The organization’s work centres around youth empowerment, justice and equality and improving a sustainable living environment.
Inspired by Bacon’s visit to Payson High School, more than 1,000 volunteers assembled and distributed 5,000 Essential Resource Kits to young people in need of resources throughout Utah, Colorado and Nevada. In honour of the 40th anniversary of the film Footloose, Bacon’s foundation has set a goal to deliver 40,000 kits to those in need.
Bacon’s visit also came in partnership with the Utah Film Commission which is celebrating 100 years of TV and film in the state.
Kevin Bacon tours Payson High School in Utah on the 40th anniversary of the film, Footloose. Bacon met with students, toured the school and participated in fundraising activities for SixDegrees.Org, a non-profit organization which supports impactful initiatives to sustain and enrich local communities.
photography by Melissa Majchrzak, @melissamajch
The Utah Office of Tourism (UOT), the Utah Film Commission, along with other representatives, were in Toronto recently to celebrate 100 Years of filming in Utah. The UOT made a charitable donation to SixDegrees.org which was announced at the event. Utah is working to keep its state Forever Mighty – their ethos for responsible travel and stewardship – and since the pandemic, UOT has started the practice of making a donation in lieu of giving out “free stuff” at their Canadian media events. Air Canada representatives Viktor Spysak, Manager of Sales & Tourism Partnerships and Caleigh Alleyne, Public Relations, were also on hand to promote their new four times weekly flights from Toronto to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Tessa Day, Communications Manager from Rocky Mountaineer also attended the Toronto event, excited to promote the new Rockies to Red Rocks train journey from Denver to Moab, Utah. Guests journey through two days of extraordinary landscapes including vast canyons, deserts, natural archways and enchanting hoodoos as they cross the Continental Divide. See the “unseen west” by train on this epic journey to Utah on the iconic Rocky Mountaineer.
For more information visit film.utah.gov, #Film Utah, @visitUtah #Visit Utah, rockymountaineer.com, aircanada.com.
by Laurie Wallace-Lynch
photography by Melissa Majchrzak, @melissamajch
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