The history of Branson began when the Presleys opened the first theatre on Highway 76, and it’s been 23 years since 60 Minutes visited Branson to chronicle the amazing growth of the small Midwest town.
When 60 Minutes originally broadcast “The Sound of Music” in 1991, Branson had approximately 3000 residents and received four million visitors each year. It was dubbed the “Live Country Capital of the Universe” and only had 22 live music theatres at the time. A number of stars had their own theatres, including Ray Stevens, Boxcar Willie, Christy Lane, Roy Clark and Mel Tillis.
In 60 Minutes’ broadcast, Mel Tillis said he came to Branson because it was a place to work and make a living after having been on the road for 34 years. Many stars came to Branson for similar reasons – they came to Branson for a more relaxed lifestyle than touring the country.
The stars who built their theatres on the historic Highway 76 got their own little piece of the pie as well. In “The Sound of Music,” Mel Tillis said he made close to $6 million in only six months, but he had to “work two shows a day and sign autographs.”
Quite a few things have changed about Branson since 1991. The number of theatres in Branson has more than doubled with more than 50 theatres in town. Between all of them, there are over 60,000 theatre seats. The population of the once small town has jumped to over 7,000. There are over 200 lodging facilities and over 400 restaurants, plus more than 200 outlet stores. The whole town is bustling with action.
In addition to growth in size and scope, Branson’s shows have also changed their tune slightly. While country music shows still dominate, there are more variety shows and other acts available for your entertainment. The Texas Tenors deliver a wonderful mix of country, gospel, pop and other music styles. The Acrobats of China amaze audiences with their incredible feats of balance and coordination. Sight and Sound Theatres bring the glory of God to the stage by bringing the Bible to life in productions like Jonah and Noah.
Residents of Branson have something to be proud of as they look back at what the town used to look like. At one time it was a tiny town in the Midwest without any claims to fame. In 1991, it had grown to accommodate four million visitors each year and had 22 theatres for entertaining those guests. Now, the number of visitors has doubled from four million to eight million, and Branson just keeps going strong.
Branson is no longer the sleepy little Midwest town everyone remembers from the 90s. It’s a mecca of live music, unique shops, delicious dining and family atmospheres. You can bring your family and never worry about hearing profanities or anything else. You just get to enjoy the beautiful Ozark mountains and the environment that continues to bring visitors to Branson, Missouri.
