Presented by Friends of River Oaks Theatre - Mobile Movie Palace: SATURDAY, APRIL 27

To celebrate Sam Houston’s Park 125th Anniversary, The Heritage Society, and Friends of the River Oaks Theatre present a movie that showcases Houston’s culture in the 1980s at a free showing of Urban Cowboy, dancing, and live country music on Saturday, April 27, from 7 - 10:15 p.m. in a hoe down on the sprawling lawns at 1000 Bagby Street.

Guests can dance in the park to Sam Turner and the Cactus Cats - Rowdy country crooners from the honky-tonk heartland of HTX as part of the movie preview activities and enjoy snackies and drinks. Dance performances will be announced shortly.

The Gilley family of Gilley’s Club will have a pop-up authentic Gilley’s shop with the famous “red ringer” t-shirt as seen in the movie. Gilley's retail store is based in Pasadena, TX not far from the original location of the world-famous honky-tonk! Though the club is no longer in operation, there are three other Gilley's, in Las Vegas, Dallas, and Durant, Oklahoma. The club was a phenomenon back in the day and spawned the movie Urban Cowboy. Mickey Gilley was an owner of the club and had 17 #1 song hits in his career. The t-shirts, hats, and bumper stickers are inspired by Mickey Gilley's music, the Urban Cowboy soundtrack, and the world's largest niteclub. The Gilleys are all about carrying the heritage and entertainment legend of their famous father!

Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston is the Master of Ceremonies. He was also interviewed on TV for knowing the history behind the movie, so get ready for Houston movie history trivia. He is also a founding advisory board member for Friends of River Oaks Theatre and a board member of The Heritage Society.

COSTUME CONTEST: Dress like Bud, Sissy, Mickey Gilley, or Pam and win a one-year membership to The Heritage Society that gives you access to free tours and museum gallery visits to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo History Exhibit. Winners will be announced at around 7:30 PM in between the band break.

Bring your blankets, cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and Houston Spirit to see Bud and Sissy filmed throughout Houston and Pasadena as they portray a beautiful couple with a soap opera romance in this classic and unforgettable PG-13 movie.

Special thanks to St. Arnold Brewery for donating brew, so guests can imagine they are at Gilley’s drinking with Bud and Sissy.

Free parking is available at 212 Dallas Street and paid parking is available at The Heritage Clay Garage.

This public celebration is made possible from our generous underwriters Minnette & Peter Boesel. Thank you to the Mayor’s Office of Special Events and SSE Tents and Rentals for helping us create a movie theatre in the park.

Step back in time last century when Hollywood was in Houston at the premiere party of Urban Cowboy at Sharpstown in this article by the Houston Chronicle.

(Photo credits in header: 1. Larry Reese, 06/05/1980 - actor John Travolta arrives at the Houston movie premiere for "Urban Cowboy" at Gaylynn Theater in Sharpstown Center 2. Larry Reese, 06/05/1980 - Gilley's mechanical bull was a popular attraction at the Houston movie premiere party for "Urban Cowboy" at Gilley's club.)

URBAN COWBOY

(Movie Information Source: Wikipedia) Urban Cowboy is a 1980 American romantic Western film directed by James Bridges. The plot concerns the love-hate relationship between Buford "Bud" Davis (John Travolta) and Sissy (Debra Winger). The film's success was credited for spurring a mainstream revival of country music.[2] Much of the action revolves around activities at Gilley's Club, a football-field-sized honky tonk in Pasadena, Texas.

Historical Background and Production

The film's screenplay was adapted by Aaron Latham and James Bridges from an article by the same name in Esquire written by Latham. The original Esquire article centered on the romance between two Gilley's regulars named Dew Westbrook and Betty Helmer. Westbrook and Helmer's relationship became the inspiration for the romance between John Travolta's and Debra Winger's characters "Bud" and "Sissy".[3] The movie was directed by Bridges. Some film critics referred to the movie as a country music version of Saturday Night Fever. The film grossed almost $47 million in the United States alone and represented a temporary recovery for Travolta from 1978's poorly received Moment by Moment, but the film was not nearly as successful as either Saturday Night Fever ($94 million) or Grease ($188 million). While filming Urban Cowboy, Travolta had a private corner at the Westheimer Road location of the Ninfa's restaurant chain in Houston.[4] Urban Cowboy was the first motion picture to be choreographed by Patsy Swayze, which launched her career as a film choreographer.[5]

Critical Reception and Legacy

The film received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 70% "Fresh" rating based on 23 reviews.[6] "Urban Cowboy is not only most entertaining but also first-rate social criticism," said Vincent Canby of The New York Times.[7] Variety wrote: "Director James Bridges has ably captured the atmosphere of one of the most famous chip-kicker hangouts of all: Gilley's Club on the outskirts of Houston."[8]

The film gave Pasadena and Houston a brief turn under the Hollywood spotlight. Andy Warhol, Jerry Hall and many other celebrities attended the premiere in Houston.[9][10] Mickey Gilley's career was revived after the film release, and the soundtrack started a music movement.[11]

As a result of the film's success, there was a mainstream revival of country music.[2] The term "Urban Cowboy" was also used to describe the soft-core country music of the early 1980s epitomized by Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Johnny Lee, Mickey Gilley, Janie Frickie and other vocalists whose trademarks were mellow sounds of the sort heard in the movie. This sound became a trademark in country music from the early to mid '80s, in which record sales for the genre soared.

Co-Hosts: Friends of the River Oaks Theatre

Built in 1939, River Oaks Theatre became a destination for arthouse and independent film fans over the years. The Art Deco theater closed in March 2021 when its lease ended, and tenant Landmark Theatres and then-owner Weingarten Realty failed to come to an agreement.  Concerned fans rallied to form the non-profit Friends of River Oaks Theatre as a movement to save Houston’s historic film sanctuary. Members include artists, filmmakers, historians, preservationists, cinema enthusiasts, and everyday citizens. Houstonians, including rapper Bun B and Oscar-winner Richard Linklater, protested the closure and the building's possible demolition of the historic theatre. The theatre was saved and will re-open in 2024 under the management of Culinary Khancepts. 

Our mission is to enrich the hearts & minds of a diverse community through the facilitation of art, the moving image, & preserving Houston's arthouse theatre. For more information about film-related projects such as hosting “Mobile Movie Palace” events in Houston for film lovers, please see https://saveriveroakstheatre.org/.