http://www.bostonherald.com/news/inside_track/trak04262000.htm

John was less than Civil to press

by Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa
Wednesday, April 26, 2000
Boston Herald

What happened to John Travolta, the glad-handing Hollywood heartthrob who wowed women - and men - in Boston three years ago while shooting ``A Civil Action''?
Because yesterday, while in town to promote his Church of Scientology-inspired sci-fi flick ``Battlefield Earth,'' Travolta was downright Terllike - at least to the media!

No, there were no dreadlocks or breathing tubes in his nostrils. But the artist-formerly-known-as-Vinnie Barbarino laid down the law during this press stop. He did a couple of TV interviews, but refused to chat with the print media.
Because the actor, a devout Scientologist, knows that a Face/Off with the ink-stained wretches would turn into an inquiry about the controversial cult and the late L. Ron Hubbard, the Scientology founder who wrote the book ``Battlefield Earth'' which John labored mightily to make into a movie.
But that's not all. When Travolta did a small sit-down with a few radio stations at the Ritz-Carlton, he decreed that he'd only answer questions about the $80 million post-apocalyptic flick - nothing else.
Following the round of interviews, John headed off to a packed ``Battlefield'' book-signing at Borders in Downtown Crossing where he would only sign - you guessed it - ``Battlefield'' books and no other Travoltaobilia. Well, gotta support the mother church and all. Anyway, the fans - mostly women in their 30s and 40s - went wacky for the blue-eyed actor.
``It wasn't like a book-signing by the Backstreet Boys or anything,'' said one curious business gal who blew into Borders to buy a book. ``But there was a big line of women. They were all gushing and he was very gracious.''
One final note: Travolta's PR peeps didn't want the actor to pose for pictures, but he broke ranks and snapped photos with every gal packing a disposable camera (probably bought minutes earlier at CVS) before blowing off - with a police escort - to his waiting 727 at Hanscom Field.

File under: Battlefield Boston.