In the summer of 1979, the Houston news and gossip circles were dominated by the presence of one John Travolta, who lived in the city while filming Urban Cowboy in nearby Pasadena. It was only the fourth leading role for the 25-year-old actor, but he was already arguably the world's biggest movie star.

Did John Travolta really ride the mechanical bull in Urban Cowboy?

John Travolta had a mechanical bull installed in his house two months before production began. He became so good that he was allowed to dismiss the stunt double and do the takes himself.

Was Urban Cowboy based on a true story?

The original Esquire article centered on the romance between two Gilley's regulars named Dew Westbrook and Betty Helmer. Westbrook and Helmer's real-life relationship became the inspiration for the on-screen romance between John Travolta's and Debra Winger's characters "Bud" and "Sissy".

Where was Urban Cowboy filmed?

The majority of the scenes from Urban Cowboy were shot in Houston, Texas, which provided a unique backdrop for the film. The city's expansive skyline of downtown buildings juxtaposed with the lush countryside of nearby ranches gave a stunningly beautiful contrast that could be seen throughout the movie.

What was John Travolta's job in Urban Cowboy?

Synopsis. Bud Davis (John Travolta) moves to Houston for a job in the city's oil refinery industry. He hopes to save enough money to move back to his hometown of Spur, Texas and buy some land. Bud stays with his Uncle Bob (Barry Corbin) and his family, with whom Bud is close.

John Travolta and Princess Diana's dance!

Is Gilley's in Houston still open?

Welcome to Gilley's

Though the club is no longer in operation there are three other Gilley's, in Las Vegas Nevada, Dallas Texas and Durant Oklahoma. The club was a phenomenon back in the day and spawned a movie called the Urban Cowboy featuring John Travolta and Debra Winger.

What was John Travolta's favorite movie?

'Urban Cowboy': John Travolta's favourite John Travolta movie.

Where was the original Gilley's Bar located?

Gilley's Club. Cryer settled in Pasadena, where his large tent-style honky tonk concept developed into what became Gilley's in 1971, located on a sprawling parcel of land at 4500 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, Texas 77504. It was named after country music artist Mickey Gilley.

Why was Urban Cowboy so popular?

He knew Urban Cowboy could impact the way people dressed, ate, danced, listened. John Travolta played Bud: Urban Cowboy was three-dimensional. You could watch it, and then you could go experience it. You could buy a cowboy hat, get on a mechanical bull, go country dancing.

Who was the rich girl in Urban Cowboy?

Attractive actress who has played Sadat's wife and Gloria Swanson in the TV miniseries' "Sadat" (1983) and "The Kennedys of Massachusetts" (1990) respectively. Smith's feature career began auspiciously with the role of John Travolta's rich girlfriend in "Urban Cowboy" (1980).

Who was the real Sissy from Urban Cowboy?

Urban Cowboy (1980) - Debra Winger as Sissy - IMDb.

Where was the trailer park in Urban Cowboy?

Scenes from Bud and Sissy's trailer home in “Urban Cowboy,” released in 1979, were shot at a Pico Rivera trailer park. A scene from the 1988 movie “Tequila Sunrise,” starring Mel Gibson, was shot in a riverbed in Pico Rivera. And a scene from “Collateral” in 2004 was shot in Pico Rivera.

Who auditioned for Sissy in Urban Cowboy?

Travolta turned down another movie, American Gigolo, to work on Urban Cowboy. (The Gigolo role went to Richard Gere.) Michelle Pfeiffer auditioned for the part of Sissy before it went to Debra Winger, becoming her first starring role.

What does Urban Cowboy mean slang?

Noun. Urban Cowboy (plural Urban Cowboys) A person living in the city who dresses in clothes that suggest a film of the western genre. (music, uncountable) Pop-styled country music which became popular during the early 1980s, following the release of the movie Urban Cowboy (1980).

Can John Travolta ride a bike?

In an interview with Collider he said “I've ridden a bike since I was 18. It was the first transportation when I came to Hollywood because it was inexpensive and easy for me.” Travolta owns a Harley, which was said to spur on his film 'Wild Hogs'.

Was Urban Cowboy filmed at Gilley's Bar?

Yes, the movie was filmed in the Houston area, much of it at Gilley's, a honky-tonk that had room for 6,000 people — and one very popular mechanical bull. The entrance to the original Gilley's nightclub in Pasadena. It was named after co-owner and country music star Mickey Gilley.

What is the point of Urban Cowboy?

Urban Cowboy is the story of how a mechanical bull can make or break a relationship. It follows the on-again-off-again romance between Bud—who had just moved to Houston in search of work—and Sissy, who meet and fall in love at a honky tonk called Gilley's.

How old was John Travolta in Grease?

John Travolta, who starred as Danny Zuko in Grease, famously stood out as younger than much of the rest of Grease's principal cast during filming in summer 1977 at age 23.

Who preached Mickey Gilley funeral?

The memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Gilley's cousin and fellow music artist, Reverend Jimmy Swaggart, will be delivering the message at the service.

Why did Gilley's bar close?

When the "Urban Cowboy" trend faded, so did Gilley's stardom. The nightclub closed in 1989 amid a dispute between Gilley and his partner. A year later, it was destroyed in an arson fire. Gilley rebounded by becoming a regular performer in the country music hotbed of Branson, Missouri, where he built a theater.

Why did Gilley's in Texas close?

Cryer had to give up much of his real estate to pay the debt. The club operated under Gilley briefly after the lawsuit, until the judge ordered it closed in 1989 due to loss of profits. Gilley rescued the tapes of the live shows before a suspicious fire burned the club down in 1990.

What movie did John Travolta have a brain tumor?

Phenomenon is a 1996 American romantic fantasy drama film directed by Jon Turteltaub, written by Gerald Di Pego, and starring John Travolta, Kyra Sedgwick, Forest Whitaker, Robert Duvall, and Jeffrey DeMunn.

What was John Travolta's real name?

John Joseph Travolta was born in Englewood, New Jersey, one of six children of Helen Travolta (née Helen Cecilia Burke) and Salvatore/Samuel J. Travolta. His father was of Italian descent and his mother was of Irish ancestry. His father owned a tire repair shop called Travolta Tires in Hillsdale, NJ.

What movie did John Travolta turned down?

John Travolta, Forrest Gump

But I feel good about some I gave up because other careers were created." All's well that ends well: Travolta reportedly turned down Forrest Gump to star in another iconic 1994 movie, Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.