I still remember seeing those bumper stickers all over Houston and Urban Cowboy is still a guilty pleasure of mine. Former owner of iconic honky-tonk Gilley's dies Sherwood Cryer was partner of singer Mickey Gilley at Pasadena bar By TODD ACKERMAN Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle Aug. 17, 2009, 11:18PM Sherwood Cryer, whose honky-tonk Gilley's created a lasting image of the Houston area as a blue-collar, redneck boomtown after it was immortalized in the movie Urban Cowboy, has died. He was 81. Cryer died Thursday at Bayshore Medical Center, Rosewood Funeral Home confirmed Monday. At the family's request, the funeral home would release no other details. “He was dumb like a fox,” said Sandy Brokaw, the public relations manager for Cryer and his partner Mickey Gilley, for whom the bar was named. “He didn't say much, but he was one of the smartest people I ever knew, a welder by day who put that club together at night. He was a marketing genius.” Cryer's genius was most evident in the mechanical bull he invented, the bucking, spinning mechanical ride that brought lines of people into the Pasadena bar and made for Urban Cowboy's most memorable scenes — John Travolta, Debra Winger and Scott Glenn taking turns atop it. He and employees would scour area streets for padding for it. Gilley's bumper stickers were a common sight in those days, plastered by Cryer's employees on vehicles parked in the club's lot. Patrons who didn't want the stickers, which featured a red Gilley's logo on a white background that glowed when illuminated by headlights, were advised to leave their sun visors down. The bar was founded in 1971 after Cryer discovered Gilley singing at a Pasadena club where he was making so little money he could barely pay his three-member band. Cryer told Gilley, “How would you like to have a club of your own?” the singer was quoted as saying five years ago. Made Gilley a star With Cryer running the club and Gilley performing, the club became a hot spot to characters like Travolta's Bud in Urban Cowboy, refinery workers who risked their lives during the day, then donned cowboy boots and Stetsons to two-step and ride the mechanical bull. Gilley's also pulled in some of the biggest country acts of the day, from Loretta Lynn to Alabama, and made Gilley a star. Esquire did a cover piece on Gilley's titled “The Ballad of the Urban Cowboy” and Paramount bought the rights. They planned to shoot the movie in Hollywood. “Sherwood was instrumental in keeping the filming here,” said Gator Conley, a Gilley's patron from way back. “He convinced the filmmakers they would never duplicate the atmosphere anywhere else.” The movie made Gilley's a tourist attraction and Cryer sold mechanical bulls to bars across the country. Even as new riches poured in, Cryer was still unstopping the toilets with his own hands. 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. Gilley, still recuperating from a July fall that injured his back, was not available for comment, said an official at his company. But Johnny Lee, a frequent performer at Gilley's who also fought with Cryer, said his heart broke when he heard of his death. “We all had our differences, but he was the one who made Gilley's operate like it did,” said Lee, 63. “He pulled a lot of strings for me and Mickey Gilley. He made a lot of things happen. He and I had a lot of laughs and a lot of arguments. My sympathy to his family.” Lee described Cryer as a good businessman who always told him, “Never show everybody what you got because somebody may want to take it from you.” Lived in a trailer Cryer later opened another bar in Pasadena, G's Ice House, now closed. He made millions as a result of Urban Cowboy, but filed for bankruptcy after losing a suit to Gilley and in later years lived in a trailer behind G's, walking with a cane and still dressing in his signature coveralls and athletic shoes. The only way to reach him by telephone was the pay phone at G's. Conley said that when Cryer died, he always wanted it to be kept quiet “Just bury me in the backyard,” Conley recalled Cryer saying. “That way, his friends would have the hope of seeing him again and his enemies wouldn't have anything to celebrate.” Fine...FER-GIT IT!!!
Sux. I knew his sons and was able to ride the bull back in the early 80's when I was a kid and also got to watch filming of the movie as I lived 1/2 mile down the road. I still remember him hiding all of his money in the walls of his house as he didn't trust banks. Had many a drunken nights off Highway 225 at G's back in high school too as he would bring us out buckets of Lonestar. Received my first broken nose there. Dope! RIP big guy.
"Damn, Bud, ya'll live like pigs." I'd have sworn I'd read he died a few years ago. Thirtieth anniversary for the movie next year.
I went to the place a few times in the early days for the great music, but it was a bit dangerous for a hippie. I had a cowboy hat for those adventures! I grew up in Southeast Houston, so it was in my backyard. And yeah, that flick is a guilty pleasure of mine. I always watch it when it comes on late at night, on cable. Great acting by Travolta. He worked like a hero to look so freakin' dumb. Seriously, it is one of the best acting jobs of his career. Not Pulp Fiction, but up there. Dumb was never portrayed so well before.
Did you ever run into this guy? Agreed about Travolta's acting job. I always thought it was one of his best roles. I heard a story that when he first got to Gilley's to make the movie, he asked Cryer to teach him how to dance and Cryer said "I don't dance with men."
I heard of him, for sure, but there were quite a few strange characters hanging around. (including me. ) I can't remember.
I saw Urban Cowboy for the first time a couple years ago and liked it a lot. One of my best friends was almost a carbon copy of Bud, just a little smarter. I don't think he's ever seen the movie. Would have liked to have seen that bit of Greater-Houston history. It was before my time.
That's Gator Conley in the photo. A former co-worker of mine appeared in the movie, he's a dance contestant. Had some other friends that were extras in the club.
It was dangerous for long hairs like myself and friends but there was always the Nesdel Club across the street from Gilley's that catered to rock. I was working at a huge record store and head shop called Texas Tapes 'n Records on Spencer during this time. Anyone remember it?
My friends and I got in to the Nesadel club on beer bust night with fake ID's several times. Nesadel was actually farther down Spencer. It's a Mamacitas restaurant now. I camped out in line for concert tickets in front of TTR many times.
No doubt, that was my second home from 79-89. I knew all the people that worked there and partied with them many a time....met many a band at the signings there.. wasnt a fan of the rednecks that frequented Gilleys(I'm another hippie), and never got along with Greg Gilley(pretentious little ****)...but Gilleys put my hometown on the national and international map and I guess thats saying something. My mom has tons of stories about Sherwood and his cronies from her days working for the City of Pasadena...you wouldnt believe some of the stuff that went on behind the scenes in those days. anyway...RIP Sherwood
We probably crossed paths.Did you know the owner Jeff "The Doo Dah Man"? I ran his little appliance shop next to his office during the first year of business. When I decided to go back to college, Jeff got me a job with a friend of his who owned a record store/head shop in Nacogdoches.
