Branson Theaters
Although the Branson theater explosion began in 1980s, the trend was not as sudden as some people think it was. The seeds were sown long ago in Ozarkian folk music, but they began sprouting in the late 1950s when the Baldknobbers and the Presleys began performing for local audiences on the weekends. Each group claims a first: the Baldknobbers have the distinction of being Branson's first country music show, and the Presleys have the distinction of building the first theater on Highway 76.
The Baldknobbers got their start in the late 1950s. Jim, Bill, Lyle, and Bob Mabe began jamming together as children. In 1957 sister Margie joined the group and they performed three days a week on KWTO, a Springfield radio station. When the radio ceased broadcasting live music in 1959, the Mabes moved their show to the Branson City Hall, where they played every Friday and Saturday between May and October.
Because there was not an established audience in those days, all of the musicians needed full time day jobs. Creative advertising was also essential. For example, the Mabe brothers would often drive through Branson with a loudspeaker announcing the evening's show time. Their daytime performances at Silver Dollar City and Shepherd of the Hills also provided opportunities to meet fans and book additional gigs for special occasions. In 1968 the Baldknobbers built a 865-seat theater on Highway 76. In recent years the group has expanded the seating to 1,700.
Like the Baldknobbers, the Presleys' Mountain Music Jubilee began as a family affair. Father and son, Lloyd and Gary, were the heart of the group. For three years in the early 1950s, Lloyd's group performed on KGBX in Springfield. The show aired just before the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights. Gary's debut came when he was four years old and sang "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" during one of those Saturday night shows.
Between 1961 and 1966, the Presleys performed at Fantastic Caverns near Springfield on the weekends and at the Underground Theater in Kimberling City during the week. These cave performances were quite popular and generated enough prestige that the Presleys were able to invite Slim Wilson, Speedy Haworth, and Red Foley as guest performers.
In 1967 the Presleys built a theater on Highway 76 in Branson. In time the Presleys' Mountain Jubilee expanded from a Saturday night show in a 363-seat theater to a nightly show in a 2,000-seat theater. In addition to enjoying good country music, audiences continue to laugh at the antics of Herkimer, a hillbilly character created by Gary Presley in 1962 (Lancaster and McGill 46).
The Foggy River Boys--Bob Hubbard, Denzel Koontz, Bob Moskop, Dale Sullens, and John Shepherd--joined the Baldknobbers and Presleys in Branson in 1974. Prior to settling in Branson, though, the Foggies performed in Kimberling City and in Joplin. Not to be outdone by the Baldknobbers and Presleys who had already grabbed two important firsts (first group and first theater), the Foggies were the first to experiment with multimedia projection and season tickets.
Other firsts were won by the first woman emcee Chisai Childs. After buying the Starlight Theater in 1982, Childs was also the first to install revolving stages for set changes and to schedule both Christmas and New Year's Eve shows. In 1983 several new theaters were built: Roy Clark opened a theater in Branson, the Swiss Villa Amphitheater opened in Lampe, and Silver Dollar City opened Echo Hollow Amphitheater. All three of these theaters bought in nationally-known performers like Lee Greenwood, Conway Twitty, Reba McEntire, the Beach Boys, Pat Boone, Johnny Cash, and Tom Jones.
Branson frequently promotes itself as the Country Music Capitol, but actually there are several very successful performers who are not known as country performers. Andy Williams, best known for his soft ballads and televised Christmas shows, came to Branson in 1991. The Osmond Brothers--Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, and Jimmy--came in 1992. In addition, the Osmond show often includes performances by The Osmonds Second Generation, four of Alan's sons who enjoy a more contemporary sound.
Branson is also the home of two international performers, Shoji Tabuchi and Yakov Smirnoff. Shoji came to the United States in 1967, hoping to fiddle for American audiences. For several years Tabuchi traveled around the country as a solo performer. In 1981 Tabuchi joined Chisai Childs's show, and in 1990 he opened his own theater. Yakov Smirnoff came to Branson in 1993. Smirnoff, who had gained his reputation by satirizing both the Societ Union and the United States, first performed at the Christy Lane Theatre in 1992 and then at the Grand Palace in 1995. In 1998 Smirnoff opened his own theater.
It is difficult to keep an accurate list of the shows in Branson because performers come and go. And while they are here, they often switch locations, form new partnerships, and build new theaters. According to a tally in the 1999 summer issue of The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette, there are "55, 000 theatre seats" in Branson, along with "22, 000 lodging rooms; 300, 000 restaurant seats; 200 retail outlets, dozens of attractions and three beautiful, crystal clear lakes" to entertain the steady stream of vistors to southwestern Missouri (Ray 7).
Works Cited
Images of lights and piano player from http://www.arttoday.com. member page. July 1999.
Lancaster, James D., Jr. and Robert McGill. "Branson: A Country Music Phenomenon." In the Heart of Ozark Mountain Country: A Popular History of Stone and Taney Counties, including Branson, Missouri. Reeds Spring, MO: White Oak Press, 1992, pp. 37-46.
"76 Country Boulevard: Over 25 years of music history." Branson Beacon, 20 Feb. 1986, progress ed., p. 18+.
