Actor John Travolta, through his roles in Saturday Night Fever and Welcome Back, Kotter, has been noted for bringing renewed fame to Brooklyn. The New York City borough welcomed him back on Tuesday.
"Travolta changed the culture of Brooklyn and America forever in both fashion and music. The movie Saturday Night Fever brought millions of Americans to the dance floor to the rhythm of disco," New York State Sen. Marty Golden said in a press release announcing "John Travolta Day."
Golden honored him on Tuesday in an event held at Lenny's Pizza in Brooklyn's Bensonhurst neighborhood. Fans crowded the streets in anticipation of Travolta's arrival.
Many shared their excitement on Twitter:
"86th Street packed for John Travolta Day!!!," John Wilson tweeted.
86th Street packed for John Travolta Day!!! pic.twitter.com/XGbeoY3WIO
— john wilson (@jjwilson333) June 12, 2018
Some even got to snap selfies with the star, who wore an outfit similar to his Saturday Night Fever character.
Marina Kopf tweeted "#JohnTravolta welcomed back to Brooklyn and Lenny's Pizza celebrating Saturday Night Fever and promoting his new movie #gotti" and attached her photos.
#JohnTravolta welcomed back to Brooklyn and Lenny’s Pizza celebrating Saturday Night Fever and promoting his new movie #gotti pic.twitter.com/uMDrnLQmOd
— Marina Kopf (@marinakopf) June 12, 2018
Lenny's became a famous tourist spot soon after Travolta's famed scene from Saturday Night Fever was filmed there. In the scene Travolta asks for two plain slices on top of each other — also known as double-decker — and begins strolling down the Brooklyn streets as he eats.
Local radio personality Joe Causi emceed the event alongside Will DeMeo, Travolta's co-star in a John Gotti biopic being released Friday.
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