Charles Sherwood Cryer was from Diboll, Texas, and worked as a welder for Shell Oil for a few years after his service in the Air Force during World War II.

In addition to operating Gilley's, Cryer owned and managed convenience stores, bars, sign shops, and vending machines in the Houston area.

Latham captured the spirit of Gilley's in a cover story for Esquire magazine titled "The Ballad of the Urban Cowboy: America's Search for 'True Grit'" for the September 1978 issue.

The film's soundtrack showcased a collection of country music's top artists and songs, including the hit "Lookin' For Love" by Johnny Lee.

With Gilley's indoor rodeo arena as an added attraction, the 48,000 square feet (4,500 m2) club hosted a packed house of thousands every night.

The space fielded oversized bars and dance floors to accommodate crowds, and the club was so big that visitors could not see from one end of the building to the other.

Cryer supplied the mattresses that surrounded the mechanical bull, often driving around Pasadena collecting discards based on tips on where to find them.

Gilley's staged everything from Dolly Parton look-alike contests to tricycle races, with cowboys often falling off of the trikes to the amusement of the crowd.

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.