On Saturday, the “Footloose” actor returned to the site used to film the 1984 movie, KUTV reported. His visit to the school in Payson, Utah, coincided with the 40th anniversary of the film. The school is scheduled to be demolished in the spring of 2025.
Bacon danced a few steps as he made his way to the stage set up at the high school’s football field, KSL-TV reported.
“Go Lions! Here we are on this beautiful, beautiful spot on this beautiful, beautiful day,” Bacon, 65, said in his opening remarks to the Payson student body, the television station reported, “It’s been a long time -- 40 years -- that just blows my mind, you know. Things look a little different around here. I’d say the thing that looks the most different is me.”
Bacon’s appearance was the culmination of an effort, called “Bacon to Payson,” to get Ren McCormack back to the school for a final time, according to KUTV.
“When I first heard about #BacontoPayson, I was like, ‘Wow, this is crazy,’” Bacon told the students, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. “But you were all just tireless, unrelenting in your desire to have me return, and you talked me into it.
“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 there are behind the movie,” Bacon continued. “You know, standing up to authority sometimes, and to being forgiving to people who are not exactly the same as you, and for standing up for your own freedoms and your right to express yourself, and for having compassion for other people.”
Bacon’s visit was part of the community kit-building program, BKxKB, with his charity, SixDegrees.org, the Tribune reported. The nonprofit, created in 2007, “supports impactful initiatives to sustain and enrich local communities,” according to its website. SixDegrees has a goal of creating and distributing 40,000 resource kits nationwide this year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Footloose.”
Students in Payson contributed 5,000 kits on Saturday, KUTV reported.
“I had the goosebumps when he came out; I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is actually happening,’” said Deborah Smith, a Payson High School alumni.
Seniors at Payson High had been trying for months to get Bacon to return to Utah and attend their prom. The effort began with a “Footloose” pep rally earlier in the school year and a stage version of the movie put on by the school’s drama department.
Students took photographs with a cardboard cutout of the actor and posted video clips of the film’s iconic dance scenes, KSL reported.
It worked.
Jim Rowland, president of the Payson Chamber of Commerce, told KTVX that the economic impact of “Footloose” on the city has “probably been more beneficial (this year) than the other 39 years combined.”
So, let’s dance.
Well, almost. Bacon did not attend the actual prom, KSL reported.
Through the years Portrait of American actor and musician Kevin Bacon, New York, 1980. (Photo by Jack Mitchell/Getty Images) (Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)
Through the years PAYSON - FEBRUARY 17: The movie "Footloose", directed by Herbert Ross and written by Dean Pitchford. Seen here, Kevin Bacon as Ren MacCormack. Initial theatrical release February 17, 1984. Screen capture. Paramount Pictures. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images)
Through the years PAYSON - FEBRUARY 17: The movie "Footloose", directed by Herbert Ross and written by Dean Pitchford. Seen here, Kevin Bacon as Ren. Initial theatrical release February 17, 1984. Screen capture. Paramount Pictures. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images)
Through the years Kevin Bacon and Roger Daltry 1985 (Photo by Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images) (Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
Through the years American actor Kevin Bacon poses for a portrait in a jean jacket in Los Angeles, California, January 14, 1987. (Photo by Bonnie Schiffman/Getty Images) (Bonnie Schiffman Photography/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK CITY - APRIL 27: Actor Kevin Bacon and actress Kyra Sedgwick attend the "Illuminations: An AIDS Benefit" Revue for the Northern Lights Alternatives on April 27, 1987 at the Limelight in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years CIRCA 1991: Actor Kevin Bacon, Joe Mantegna, John Malkovich, and Ken Olin on set of the movie "Queens Logic" , circa 1991. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK CITY - OCTOBER 25: Actor Kevin Bacon, wife Kyra Sedgwick and son Travis Bacon attend the Big Apple Circus Special Performance to Benefit the Scott Newman Center on October 25, 1991 at Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years Kevin Bacon of Bacon Brothers during Bacon Brothers at Bottom Line - 1996 at Bottom Line in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Patti Ouderkirk/WireImage) (Patti Ouderkirk/WireImage)
Through the years Bacon Brothers (Kevin Bacon and his brother) on 2/5/00 in Chicago,Il. (Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage) (Paul Natkin/WireImage)
Through the years Kevin Bacon during 'Hollow Man' Los Angeles Premiere at Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, California, United States. 2000 (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years Kevin Bacon, Elisabeth Shue and Josh Brolin during Hollow Man Premiere in Westwood, California, United States. 2000 (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
Through the years CIRCA 2000: Actress Diane Lane, actor Frankie Muniz and actor Kevin Bacon pose in a scene from the Warner Brothers movie "My Dog Skip" , circa 2000. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Through the years HOLLYWOOD - JANUARY 15: Actor Kevin Bacon accepts the Joel Siegel award onstage during the 15th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards held at the Hollywood Palladium on January 15, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for VH1) (Kevin Winter)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 04: Actors Kevin Bacon (L) and Kyra Sedgwick attend the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Performers Peer Group Emmy reception at Chakra on August 4, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) (David Livingston/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - MAY 25: Actor Kevin Bacon attends the "X-Men: First Class" New York Premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre on May 25, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 13: Kevin Bacon, Paula Deen and Liev Schreiber perform onstage at Comedy Central's night of too many stars: America comes together for autism programs at The Beacon Theatre on October 13, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Through the years PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 24: Actor Kevin Bacon from "Cop Car" poses for a portrait at the Village at the Lift Presented by McDonald's McCafe during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2015 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images) (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 15: Kevin Bacon performs onstage at the Second Annual LOVE ROCKS NYC! A Benefit Concert for God's Love We Deliver at Beacon Theatre on March 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for God's Love We Deliver) (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for God's Love We D)
Through the years PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 31: Kevin Bacon of the television show 'City on a Hill' speaks during the Showtime segment of the 2019 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 31, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 27: Kevin Bacon attends the "THEY/THEM" New York Premiere at Studio 525 on July 27, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 17: Kevin Bacon and SAG-AFTRA members and supporters protest as the SAG-AFTRA Actors Union Strike continues on Day 5 in front of Paramount Studios at 1515 Broadway on July 17, 2023 in New York City. Members of SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood’s largest union which represents actors and other media professionals, have joined striking WGA (Writers Guild of America) workers in the first joint walkout against the studios since 1960. The strike could shut down Hollywood productions completely with writers in the third month of their strike against the Hollywood studios. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 07: Kevin Bacon performs onstage during the Artist For Action Concert Benefit for Sandy Hook Promise at NYU Skirball Center on December 07, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)