Changes

As a country music center, Branson evolved through three stages of development: use of local talent, introduction of nationally recognized veteran performers, and an infusion of a younger generation of stars. For the country music artist, Branson provides a music setting historically associated with traditional country music, an opportunity to perform on a regular basis in a permanent location, cultural and physical landscapes ideally suited for establishment of residence, and investment possibilities. For the country music fan, Branson's advantages over Nashville, Tennessee, include low-cost, family entertainment clustered in one area, multiple theaters with greater seating capacities, and additional tourist-oriented amenities.<ref> George O. Carney, "Branson: The New Mecca of Country Music." ''Journal of Cultural Geography'' 1994 14(2): 17-32. 0887-3631 </ref>  

As a country music center, Branson evolved through three stages of development: use of local talent, introduction of nationally recognized veteran performers, and an infusion of a younger generation of stars. For the country music artist, Branson provides a music setting historically associated with traditional country music, an opportunity to perform on a regular basis in a permanent location, cultural and physical landscapes ideally suited for establishment of residence, and investment possibilities. For the country music fan, Branson's advantages over Nashville, Tennessee, include low-cost, family entertainment clustered in one area, multiple theaters with greater seating capacities, and additional tourist-oriented amenities.<ref> George O. Carney, "Branson: The New Mecca of Country Music." ''Journal of Cultural Geography'' 1994 14(2): 17-32. 0887-3631 </ref>  

==Culture==

==Culture==

Branson has remained ethnically and religiously homogeneous and has used its image as a simple and safe country town with strong family values to attract increasing number of tourists. There is little liquor and no casinos or off-color venues.  The mountain roots offer the promise and possibility of relating to the unhurried, happy-go-lucky lifestyle of the hillbilly, a way of life far removed from the complexities of the outside world. Branson celebrates them as "baldknobbers," with suggestions of the old popular image of barefoot, lanky country "hicks" standing beside ramshackle outhouses, wearing overalls, sporting toothy-grins, and clutching corncob pipes and jugs of moonshine.<ref> The word "hillbilly" dates to 1900, when the ''New York Journal'' explained that "a Hill-Billie is a free and untrammelled white citizen of Alabama, who lives in the hills, has no means to speak of, dresses as he can, talks as he pleases, drinks whiskey when he gets it, and fires off his revolver as the fancy takes him." Quoted in Archie Green, "Hillbilly Music: Source and Symbol." ''Journal of American Folklore'' 1965. 78: 204–227. The term "hillbilly music" was first noticed in the 1920s.</ref>

Branson has remained ethnically and religiously homogeneous and has used its image as a simple and safe country town with strong family values to attract increasing number of tourists. There is little liquor and no casinos or off-color venues.  The mountain roots offer the promise and possibility of relating to the unhurried, happy-go-lucky lifestyle of the hillbilly, a way of life far removed from the complexities of the outside world. Branson celebrates them as "baldknobbers," with suggestions of the old popular image of barefoot, lanky country "hicks" standing beside ramshackle outhouses, wearing overalls, sporting toothy-grins, and clutching corncob pipes and jugs of moonshine.<ref> The word "hillbilly" dates to 1900, when the ''New York Journal'' explained that "a Hill-Billie is a free and untrammelled white citizen of Alabama, who lives in the hills, has no means to speak of, dresses as he can, talks as he pleases, drinks whiskey when he gets it, and fires off his revolver as the fancy takes him." Quoted in Archie Green, "Hillbilly Music: Source and Symbol." ''Journal of American Folklore'' 1965. 78: 204–227. The term "hillbilly music" was first noticed in the 1920s, and became "country music" in the 1930s.</ref>

Branson entrepreneurs wove Christian sentiment into a fabric of nostalgia, romantic traditionalism, and whitewashed rusticity that downplays the extreme hardships of mountain life and plays up 21st century family values.<ref> Jerry Rodnitzky, "Back To Branson: Normalcy and Nostalgia in the Ozarks." ''Southern Cultures'' 2002 8(2): 97-105. 1068-8218 </ref>   

Branson entrepreneurs wove Christian sentiment into a fabric of nostalgia, romantic traditionalism, and whitewashed rusticity that downplays the extreme hardships of mountain life and plays up 21st century family values.<ref> Jerry Rodnitzky, "Back To Branson: Normalcy and Nostalgia in the Ozarks." ''Southern Cultures'' 2002 8(2): 97-105. 1068-8218 </ref>   

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Ketchell, Aaron K. ''Holy Hills of the Ozarks: Religion and Tourism in Branson, Missouri'' (2008) [http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Hills-Ozarks-Religion-Religions/dp/0801886600/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237536559&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]  

* Ketchell, Aaron K. ''Holy Hills of the Ozarks: Religion and Tourism in Branson, Missouri'' (2008) [http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Hills-Ozarks-Religion-Religions/dp/0801886600/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237536559&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]  

[[category:Missouri Cities and Towns]]

[[category:Missouri Cities and Towns]]

[[Categories: Tourist Attractions]]

[[Category: Tourist Attractions]]