The movie was Urban Cowboy, based on the life and loves of Pasadena's own Dew Westbrook, whose fortunes have come full circle since Aaron Latham wrote the “Urban Cowboy” story for Esquire magazine in 1978 as well as the screenplay for the 1980 movie that featured the world's most famous mechanical bull.
Did John Travolta really ride the 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.
Urban Cowboy, as well as the Esquire cover story that inspired it, was based on the lives of actual people. In real life Bud and Sissy were called Dew and Betty.
Gilley won the court case, and Cryer was ordered to pay Gilley $17 million. The dispute permanently closed Gilley's, ending an 18-year run that saw country music become mainstream in large part due to the club's widespread fame. On July 5, 1990, a fire quickly spread throughout the main building, destroying the club.
CMT Docs - Urban Cowboy: The Rise and Fall of Gilley's - Trailer
Did they ever rebuild Gilleys?
But the mechanical bull tells visitors they're in the new version of Gilley's, the rowdy honky-tonk made famous by John Travolta's 1980 movie "Urban Cowboy" -- the saloon that made country cool. "People have never forgotten about Gilley's," said Doug Keller, the new club's general manager.
The hype ruined the club for Gilley's regulars and started a rift between Cryer and Gilley. The club closed after the two broke up their partnership and an arson fire later destroyed the huge structure in 1989.
What happened to the actress that played Pam in Urban Cowboy?
Her last TV appearance was in a 1994 episode of Due South, after which she formally retired. Smith later provided some narration in the 2010 documentary film Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture.
Who is the girl that Bud cheated on with in Urban Cowboy?
To make Sissy jealous, Bud introduces himself to a beautiful girl named Pam (Madolyn Smith) and dances with her, while Sissy dances with Wes. Bud and Pam leave together but Sissy, upset, declines Wes' sexual advances. Soon after, however, Sissy moves in with Wes, who lives in a run-down trailer behind Gilley's.
The movie was Urban Cowboy, based on the life and loves of Pasadena's own Dew Westbrook, whose fortunes have come full circle since Aaron Latham wrote the “Urban Cowboy” story for Esquire magazine in 1978 as well as the screenplay for the 1980 movie that featured the world's most famous mechanical bull.
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.
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.
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.
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.
NEW YORK (AP) — Country star Mickey Gilley, whose namesake Texas honky-tonk inspired the 1980 film “Urban Cowboy” and a nationwide wave of Western-themed nightspots, has died. He was 86. Gilley died Saturday in Branson, Missouri, where he helped run the Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre.
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).
Urban Cowboy is a 1980 American romantic Western film directed by James Bridges. The plot concerns the love-hate relationship between Buford Ewing "Bud" Davis (John Travolta) and Sissy (Debra Winger).
Michelle Pfeiffer auditioned for the part of Sissy before it went to Debra Winger, becoming her first starring role. Patsy Swayze, actor Patrick Swayze's mother, taught Travolta how to dance the Texas two-step for the movie.
Wes is the main antagonist of the 1980 movie, Urban Cowboy. He was played by veteran actor Scott Glenn who played Roger in Training Day, John "Axe" Adcox in Backdraft, and J.P. Stiles in Tall Tale.
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.
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.
