'''Branson''' is a small town in the Ozark mountains in southwest Missouri, famous as a major tourism center featuring clean entertainment with a Christian and patriotic tone. The full-time population of 7500 7,500 in the town, and 70,000 in the two-county area, operates over 40 live theaters, 400 restaurants with 35,000 seats, and 200 motels with 18,000 rooms.
[[Image:Branson.jpg|thumb|230px]]
==History==
Branson was hard to get to until 1903 when the Missouri Pacific Railroad came through. The town was an originally center of the lumber industry, which faded after 1930. Paved highways were built in the 1920s, making Branson a jumping off point for city folk who made recreational trips to the mountains, lakes and fishing spots. Entrepreneur Jim Owen opened the Hillbilly Theater in 1934, revealing the demand for live entertainment with an Ozark theme. Chicago businessman Hugo Hischend opened a cave attraction in the 1950s. After his death his family, inspired by Disneyland, opened the Silver Dollar City theme park in 1960 that replicates an old mountain village. Besides numerous rides, it continues to feature a chapel, regular church services and a saloon that serves only soft drinks. Two country music theaters opened in the late 1950s. Starting with Roy Clark's Celebrity Theater in 1983, country music became dominant. Country musicians rushed to Branson, seeing the opportunity to set up their own theater. Johnny Cash, Louise Mandrell, Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers and many others came, often looking for a second chance after their earlier stardom had peaked. As more performers arrived, more tourists came and attended the other shows as well. By the early 1990s Branson was the world's country music performance capital, second perhaps only to Nashville.
Branson had limited access until 1903, when the Missouri Pacific Railroad laid tracks there. The town was an original center of the lumber industry, which faded after 1930. Paved highways were built in the 1920s, making Branson a jumping off point for city folk who made recreational trips to the Ozark Mountains, lakes, and fishing spots. Entrepreneur Jim Owen opened the Hillbilly Theater in 1934, which demonstrated demand for live entertainment with an Ozark theme. [[Chicago]] businessman Hugo Hischend opened a cave attraction in the 1950s. After his death his family, inspired by [[Disneyland]], opened the Silver Dollar City theme park in 1960 that replicates an old mountain village. Besides numerous rides, it continues to feature a chapel, regular church services and a saloon that serves only soft drinks. [[Presleys' Country Jubilee]] opened the still-operating theater in 1967 on the Highway 76 "Strip." Now in their fourth generations, the Presleys performed some five times weekly as the theater. [[Image:Branson, MO, City Hall IMG 1731.JPG|300px|right|thumb|Branson City Hall]] Starting with Roy Clark's Celebrity Theater in 1983, [[country music]] became dominant in Branson. Country musicians rushed to Branson, seeing the opportunity to set up their own theater. Johnny Cash, Louise Mandrell, Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers and many others came, often looking for a second chance after their earlier stardom had peaked. As more performers arrived, more tourists came and attended the other shows as well. By the early 1990s Branson was the world's country music performance capital, second to [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]]. The area remains a major outdoor recreation center. Thousands of city folk urban residents have summer cabins in the area, and retirement homes are growing. Factory outlet stores have grown. A major new airport opens opened in the spring 2009, making as Branson became more accessible to distant visitors.
==Tourists==
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==
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, prostitution, or off-color venues. The Osmonds, Yakov Smirnoff, Tony Orlando and Andy Williams have all drawn enormous crowds in Branson. Wayne Newton, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson all flopped. Native Texan [[Clay Cooper]] performs up to five times per week at his own theater in Branson.
===Baldknobbers===
==Further reading==
* Francaviglia, Damien. "Branson, Missouri: Regional identity and the emergence of a popular culture community." ''Journal of American Culture'' Summer 1995, Vol. 18 Issue 2, pp 57–74, with a good history Online in [[EBSCO]]
* Harkins, Anthony. ''Hillbilly: A Cultural History of an American Icon'' (2005) [httphttps://www.amazon.com/Hillbilly-Cultural-History-American-Icon/dp/0195189507 excerpt and text search]* Ketchell, Aaron K. ''Holy Hills of the Ozarks: Religion and Tourism in Branson, Missouri'' (2008) [httphttps://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], a scholarly study * Murphy, Dennis. ''Welcome To Branson: A Visitor Guide to the Branson Area'' (2006) [httphttps://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Branson-Visitor-Guide-Area/dp/0595405738/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237554386&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Pfister, Fred. ''Insiders' Guide to Branson and the Ozark Mountains,'' (7th ed. 2009)
[[Category:Missouri Cities and Towns]]
[[Category:Missouri]]
[[Category:Bands]][[Category:Musicians]][[Category:Theater]]
[[Category:Tourist Attractions]][[Category:Vaudeville]]