Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce to host the 177th Annual Meeting in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Gilley’s and the 42nd Anniversary of Urban Cowboy
GALVESTON, TX (June 14, 2021) – The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce will revive the legendary fun of the iconic, 1980-hit movie “Urban Cowboy” and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Gilley’s at the 177th Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at the Galveston Island Convention Center.
The event, presented by UVC Powersports Tractors & Outdoors, will feature a performance by Mickey Gilley, whose namesake bar was featured in the movie, and Johnny Lee.
Mickey Gilley and Johnny Lee have earned an outstanding 38 Chart singles with 20 #1 hits including Gilley’s “Room Full of Roses,” “Don’t the Girls all Get Prettier at Closing Time,” and Lee’s “Cherokee Fiddle,” and “Lookin’ for Love.” Sharing 10 years of their music careers together, these two are sure to put on an evening of great music, fun memories, and incredible entertainment.
“Urban Cowboy” featured John Travolta as Bud, a young man who moves to Houston to find better work. He embraces the local nightlife and finds a rocky relationship with Debra Winger’s character, Sissy. Much of the action happened at Gilley’s, a popular honky tonk in Pasadena, Texas.
The event will include a dance contest judged by Gator Conley – smoothest dancer at Gilley’s and still an awesome dancer today, a Dolly Parton contest, and memorabilia from Gilley’s.
Attendees will have an opportunity to meet famous figures from the film including Barry Corbin (aka Uncle Bob), Jessie Mapes as herself (Sissy’s best friend), Gator Conley (dance contest winner), Norman Tucker (the famous punching bag contest winner), Dew Westbrook (the real-life Bud) and Tracy Gelhardt Kuehn (Bud’s little sister).
The mechanical bull that played a central role in the film – dubbed El Toro – will also be at the event for photo ops.
More surprise guests will be announced later, so hang on to your cowboy hat and get ready to experience the movie that permeated pop culture.
The 177th Annual Meeting will take place on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at the Galveston Island Convention Center in Galveston, Texas.
For more information, visit GalvestonChamber.com or contact Gina Spagnola, president and chief executive officer for the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce at (409) 763-5326 or by email at gspagnola@galvestonchamber.com.
