Throwback Thursday: Urban Cowboy

With Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show right around the corner, it makes many yearn for the days of local honky-tonk Gilley’s. Back in 1979, Gilley's reputation as an enormous and raucous honky-tonk got Hollywood's attention, as a big budget movie made Gilley’s the star in a film with John Travolta and Debra Winger entitled Urban Cowboy. Urban Cowboy made hanging out at places like Gilley's cool to a newer kind of crowd.

The world premiere of Urban Cowboy was held right here in Houston at the Gaylynn Theater in the Sharpstown Center, now known as PlazAmericas. Present were John Travolta, Mickey Gilley and local socialite Lynn Wyatt, all decked out in western attire. In their August 1980 issue, Texas Monthly dubbed this event, held in sweltering heat on June 5, 1980, as “the day that cowboy chic ended and cowboy schlock began”.

There have been rumors Gilley’s will return in Pasadena. According to a recent Houston Chronicle article, a proposed new Town Center in La Porte would come with an official licensing agreement from country music legend Mickey Gilley to open a new Gilley's-branded restaurant, bar and music venue.

Were you at the premiere? Have memories of boot-scootin’ at Gilley’s? Share your memories with us.

Editor’s Note: Writer Russell Weil provides nostalgia posts weekly as part of our Throwback Thursday series. Read some of his past, popular nostalgia stories: Restaurant Memories: A look back at Houston’s dining past, Mealtime Memories: Childhood hits and misses, Rodeo Memories: Then and now at Houston’s big show and Amusement Parks: Where Houston used to play. We invite you to share your Houston memories in the comments section below or submit your story here.