It has been nearly two decades since the roar of motorcycles and the glitz of Hollywood descended upon downtown Ocala for the premiere of a film that would become a career milestone for the city’s most famous resident, John Travolta.
Wild Hogs, a star-studded biker comedy starring Travolta, Tim Allen, William H. Macy, and Martin Lawrence, held a special premiere at the Marion Theatre in 2007. The film features a supporting cast that includes the late Ray Liotta, Marisa Tomei, and Jill Hennessy, with special appearances by Paul Teutul, Sr. and Paul Teutul, Jr. of the former hit show “Orange County Choppers.“
Although Wild Hogs officially premiered on February 27, 2007 at El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles, California, the local event, which was spearheaded by Travolta himself, took place in the days that followed on March 2, 2007.
In addition to being a local philanthropic success, Wild Hogs was a global box office phenomenon, generating over $253 million in theaters worldwide. The movie earned $39.7 million during its opening weekend, which still marks the biggest debut of Travolta’s career.
Travolta’s premiere in Ocala and the subsequent events he hosted served as a massive celebration and a high-profile fundraiser for the community.
While the festivities were originally envisioned as a benefit for the film commission and the historic Marion Theatre, the planning phase took a turn when tornadoes struck nearby Lady Lake.
According to the commission, in response to the tornadoes, Travolta and his late wife, Kelly Preston Travolta, expanded the event’s mission to include support for local victims.
The premiere successfully raised $15,000 for those affected by the Lady Lake tornadoes, a total that was personally matched by the Travoltas to bring the final donation to $30,000.
Travolta’s personal website notes the deep connection between the actor and the city, referring to Ocala as his hometown and highlighting how he presented a personal check to assist victims of the regional weather disasters.
In addition to its box office earnings, Wild Hogs also earned a nomination for Best Picture at the 2007 People’s Choice Awards.
Do you remember attending the Wild Hogs premiere at the Marion Theatre in 2007? Share your memories of the event in a comment or a letter to the editor.
Photos for this story were retrieved from the Ocala Marion County Film Commission online.