HISTORY

Branson has long been an extremely popular destination for vacationers from all around the country. An impressive collection of entertainment theaters offer a wide variety in entertainment styles, all along MO Hwy 76, we call it “The Strip!” Many popular “off stirp” venues also exist, around the city.

The City of Branson was officially incorporated in 1912, getting its name from Rueben Branson, a local shop owner and labeled as “Branson’s First Postmaster,” due to the US postal station located in his general store.

Harold Bell Wright published his novel about the Ozarks, “The Shepherd of the Hills” in 1907. The novel became an international best seller, making Wright the first millionaire author and established “Shepherd of the Hills Country” (Branson and Southwest Missouri) as a tourist destination. The Old Mill Theater began its first outdoor production based on the novel in 1960. The show, known as The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama continues in its 61st season for 2021.

In 1962, Paul Henning created “The Beverly Hillbillies,” which ran on first-run television until 1971. Henning later donated 1,534 acres for the Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area, on Hwy 76 just off the famous 76 Strip in Branson. He also donated Jethro’s truck used as the vehicle in the series to a local museum, where it is still on display.

The first performing family of Branson began singing for early tourists in 1957. They later built a theater on what would become “Country Music Blvd.” This talented family, who inspired a theatrical revolution, are still performing today in the Branson Famous Baldknobber Theater located on Hwy 165.

In the early 1980s, Chisai Child’s Starlite Theater (not to be confused with the current theater by the same name) was one of the first to introduce stage sets, horn section, elaborate costume changes, and music outside of the traditional country music normally played.

In 1983, Branson began its transformation into a major tourist attraction when local developer Jim Thomas built Roy Clark’s Celebrity Theater. Jim then began the new trend of bringing famous country music stars to Branson. Many of the performers who have had their own theaters in Branson first discovered Branson when they performed at this venue. The Roy Clark Celebrity Theatre at the Lodge of the Ozarks has been called the “birthplace of Branson celebrity theatres”.

In 1987, Box Car Willie, the “World’s Most Famous Hobo,” became the first internationally known entertainer to purchase a theater in Branson and have a permanent performance schedule there.

In 1989, Shoji Tabuchi opened his first theater in Branson. He then built a new theater on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in 1990, while Mel Tillis moved into Shoji’s old theater. In 1990-1991 several nationally known stars such as Jim Stafford, Ray Stevens, Mickey Gilley, and Moe bandy opened their own theaters. Along with these national stars, many home-grown shows also had theaters. The Lowe Family featured their show and hosted nationally known stars like Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings, and others. 76 Music Hall (now known as the Grand Country Music Hall) became the first theater to have three different shows a day performing in different time slots. In 1991, local producer and entertainer Bob Nichols opened the first morning show and the following yea, Buck Trent became the first nationally known star to star in a morning show when he joined Nichols’ Ozark Morning Show in Campbell’s Jubilee Theater on the famous Highway 76 Strip.

The increasing number of theaters and other attractions opening in Branson drew the attention of “60 Minutes” which aired an episode about Branson on December 8, 1991. The highly rated TV show named Branson, Missouri the “live music capital of the entire universe”.

Andy Williams built his theater in Branson, opening on May 1, 1992, calling it the Moon River Theatre. The Glenn Campbell Goodtime Theatre opened in 1994, starring Glen along with his “Goodtime Band”. Also headlining their own theaters were Tony Orlando (Yellow Ribbon Theater) and Bobby Vinton, Blue Velvet Theater). In 1998, the Acrobats of China arrived in Branson, making them one of the first international shows to call Branson home. They opened their theatre, the New Shanghai Theatre, in 2005. In 2006, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre opened and is now the home of Legends in Concert, the largest production company in the world offering the best tribute acts on the planet. Branson has continued to add theaters (the most recent being the Sight & Sound Theatres) and shows; it refers to itself as “The Live Entertainment Capital of America.”