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…