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.

What is Urban Cowboy based on?

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".

How did Mickey Gilley inspire Urban Cowboy?

In 1971, Gilley sparked the urban cowboy movement when he opened his Pasadena honky-tonk Gilley's, which launched a chain of popular nightclubs.

What article inspired the Urban Cowboy?

Adapted from Aaron Latham's 1978 Esquire article “The Ballad of the Urban Cowboy: America's Search for True Grit” by Lathan and director James Bridges, Urban Cowboy attempts to dramatize that tension via the story of Bud's romance with Sissy (Debra Winger), a Gilley's habitué who captures his eye and, in short order, ...

What is the story of the musical Urban Cowboy?

Urban Cowboy follows the ups and downs of the whirlwind romance of out-of town dreamer Bud and the unlucky-in-love local Sissy. The couple instantly hit it off and marry, but when a little bit of jealousy and a lot of hubris mix in, the newlyweds find their (mobile) home is not as strong as expected.

CMT Docs - Urban Cowboy: The Rise and Fall of Gilley's - Trailer

Where was Urban Cowboy based out of?

About Urban Cowboy

The film takes us on Bud's captivating journey from his humble Texas hometown to the bustling city of Houston, where he secures a job at the renowned Gilley's Club, a local honky-tonk bar.

Who taught John Travolta to dance in Urban Cowboy?

Patsy Swayze, Patrick Swayze's mother, taught John Travolta how to do the two-step for the movie. John Travolta had a mechanical bull installed in his house two months before production began.

Who auditioned for Urban Cowboy?

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.

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).

Why is it called Urban Cowboy?

Origin of Urban-cowboy

The term is borrowed from the title of a popular 1980 movie starring John Travolta and Debra Winger and featuring several country music performances.

Why did Mickey Gilley pass away?

The incident left him temporarily paralyzed from the neck down, but after intense physical therapy he was able to walk again and return to the stage a year later. However, he still lacked the hand-eye coordination necessary to play the piano. Gilley died on May 7, 2022, of complications from bone cancer.

What was the relationship between Mickey Gilley and Jerry Lee Lewis?

Lewis and Gilley are first cousins. Gilley and Swaggart are first cousins once removed. The men are related through maternal and paternal lines that Davis details in his 2012 book Unconquered: The Saga of Cousins Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart, and Mickey Gilley.

Did Mickey Gilley own a bar in Texas?

Welcome to Gilley's

Mickey Gilley was an owner of the club and had seventeen #1 hits in his career. Take a moment to two step inside our store that features many shirts and hats inspired by Mickey Gilley's music, the Urban Cowboy soundtrack, and the world's largest niteclub.

How old was John Travolta in the movie Urban Cowboy?

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.

Who was the real Sissy from Urban Cowboy?

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

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).

What bar was Urban Cowboy filmed in?

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.

Who does Bud end up with in Urban Cowboy?

At the club, Bud meets Sissy (Debra Winger), who asks if he is a real cowboy. They fall in love, and soon after Bud asks Sissy to marry him. Their wedding reception is held at Gilley's, and they immediately move into a brand new mobile home.

What do you call a cowboy but a girl?

A cowgirl is the female equivalent of a cowboy.

What job did John Travolta have in Urban Cowboy?

Bud Davis (John Travolta) is a simple small town kid who moves to Houston and lives with his Uncle Bob (Barry Corbin)'s family. He gets a low level job at the refinery with Bob's help.

What is Buds truck in Urban Cowboy?

The white Texas BUD and SISSY License Plates are produced as seen in the back window of the black 1978 F-250 driven by Bud Davis (played by John Travolta) in the 1980 romantic Western film directed by James Bridges, Urban Cowboy.

Is John Travolta considered a good dancer?

He was a trained dancer and intended to become a professional dancer but due to a knee injury he gave up on that path. He once said that he is actually a much better dancer than his character Johny Castle was in Dirty Dancing.

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.

What happened to Gilley's bar?

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.