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A taste of Branson's musical legacy

Randall Murphree - Guest Columnist - 6/27/2008 4:20:00 PM

Randall Murphree Authentic Branson family fun fills the stage at the Baldknobbers Country Music Theatre in the heart of the city's entertainment strip. I'm sorry I didn't meet the Mabes and get to their show on an earlier trip to the Ozark vacation destination.

The Mabe (rhymes with "babe") family and company are the real deal, the reason Branson can still lay claim to being the nation's live family entertainment capital. "What makes us unique is the family history behind the show," said Brandon Mabe in this exclusive interview. The third-generation performer talked humbly and quietly, but with a clear sense of purpose and pride in his family and what they do.

Authentic? Well, yes, they're authentic. Pioneers of sorts. Mabe brothers Bill, Jim, Lyle and Bob began performing in 1959 in historic downtown Branson. They rented city hall, set up 50 folding chairs, and then combined country music, comedy, and gospel to entertain a handful of visitors twice a week.

Their unique name? They borrowed that from an infamous vigilante group which roamed the Ozark Mountains in the 1880s.

Their marketing strategy? The marketing department pretty much consisted of Katie and Joyce (wives of Bill and Jim). I guess you could call it direct marketing. The two young wives donned country dresses and climbed up and down the steep hillside of Branson's small downtown area with signs announcing their husbands' show. Boy, did they start something big!

Katie Mabe, Brandon's grandmother, is owner of the show today. Two of the original Mabe brothers have passed away and the other two retired, but their onstage legacy continues. Tim and Patty, Brandon's parents, and Brent Mabe represent the second generation.

Baldknobbers musical group Cousins Denton, Joy, Brandon and Garrett are the next. The Mabe family talents are enhanced by a stage full of outstanding vocalists and instrumentalists. More Mabes work behind the scenes and in the business end of things. And Brandon promises there's no danger of running low on the supply of Mabes for the future. I think he's right.

"The family's growing like crazy," he said. "A lot of it's because of me. We've got a lot of third and fourth generation kids running around now. I've got a son, 2, and a daughter, 8 months. And I've got twins on the way!"

Variety prevails

The Baldknobbers Jamboree Show still combines old country favorites, soul-stirring gospel and their own unique brand of slapstick comedy – three tried and true ingredients that have entertained young and old alike for almost 50 years. Now, the new generation adds a touch of youthful vigor that appeals to those in the middle as well.

Brandon's signature vocal this season is a gut-wrenching cover of Tim McGraw's "If You're Reading This," the plaintive ballad of a soldier. Immediately following that, the cast launches an emotional tribute to veterans, recognizing those who have served in each branch of the U.S. armed services.

Denton puts his unique touch on being a "Ramblin' Man"and Garrett delivers an energy-packed "That's Country." Joy is featured numerous times in the two-hour show, and she brings the house down with "I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy" in the finale of a rousing gospel medley showcasing the talents of the entire cast.

The top-level musical numbers are interspersed with short comic routines starring long-time Baldknobber characters Droopy Drawers, Stub and Hargus. Their hillbilly humor assures countless belly laughs throughout the show. The contrast between that kind of down-home comedy and the polished musical performances are still a part of what makes the Baldknobbers show work.

Their stage backdrop today bears witness to their half-century legacy, stamped with a brand proclaiming, "Branson's 1st Show." The theatre they built in 1968 is hardly more than a mile away from downtown, but it's light years away from 50 folding chairs in the city hall. The upgraded, state-of-the-art theatre seats 1,500 in comfort. I'll sure go back again.

The Mabes are a gifted family committed to entertaining families with a fun, clean show that evokes nostalgia, laughter, tears, emotion and gratitude. "We've stayed true to our tradition from day one," Brandon said. "The foundation they built the show on is still what we go by today – family, God and country."

Watch for Randall Murphree's interview with Brandon Mabe of the Baldknobbers next week.

Randall Murphree, a regular contributor to OneNewsNow, is editor of AFA Journal. The AFA Journal is a division of the American Family Association, the parent organization of the American Family News Network, which operates OneNewsNow.com.

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