Original 'Footloose' lives on in Utah town

LEHI — Not a day goes by that someone doesn't want to see where "Footloose" was filmed or stand where Kevin Bacon stood.

"The power of that (movie) is amazing," said Sherm Robinson, owner of Lehi Roller Mills, where part of the 1984 movie was filmed. "It was a lot of fun."

It's been 27 years since the "Footloose" hit theaters, and a remake is scheduled for release Oct. 14. But the filming of the original is still memorable for those Utahns who watched it happen in their hometown.

Robinson was approached by the film's executive producer, Daniel Melnick, who often drove by the mill at sunset on his way to his home in Sundance and noticed the glow around the building.

"He said he'd always wanted to film a movie here, so he stopped in and spoke to me directly," Robinson said. "I said, 'Sure.’ ”

At the time, Robinson wasn't sure how OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) would react to having a movie crew in industrial space. But the filmmakers cut through all the red tape and got clearance in record time.

"The thing is, they took me in and I was invited to be on the set and meet the actors," Robinson said. "It did disrupt the work, particularly when they filmed a scene with a fire three nights in a row, a scene that never made it into the movie."

Robinson met Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer and Sarah Jessica Parker. After a short while, he realized they were just regular people with lives outside the movies.

"I remember Sarah Jessica Parker asking if she could use the telephone and hearing her make plans for a date that night," he said. "It was somewhat of an eye-opener to me.

"It was a very good experience. Paramount Pictures was very professional, good to work with. And they compensated us enough to offset the expense."

Even today, "Footloose" is helping sell Lehi Roller Mills products as Robinson travels the country.

"Lots of times I get an interview or an opportunity simply because of the movie. I just wish I was known for milling flour!" he quipped.

Longtime local retailer Connie Nielsen remembers vividly the filming of "Footloose" in Lehi.

The whole community was excited to see the actors — if only from a distance. The dressing room trailers were parked in the storage area to the side of the Lehi Roller Mills. There was a race to the sugar factory down what is now known as 850 East. And there were dance scenes filmed inside the mill.