Baldknobbers - The First Show in Branson
by: Joshua Clark
Branson Daily News
Ozark Mountain Visitor Guide (March 2010)
Click here to download the article (PDF)
Ozark Mountain Country has a long history of live entertainment and country music shows, but none have the staying power of Branson’s first show, “The Baldknobbers Jamboree.”
It was exactly 10 years after Hugo and Mary Herschend bought the Marvel Cave from William Henry Lynch’s family and began square dances in the cave that brothers Bill, Jim, Lyle and Bob Mabe began entertaining visitors in downtown Branson on the Taneycomo lakefront.
“My dad and uncles chose downtown mostly because in the late 50s that was where the action was because there was no ‘strip,’” said second-generation Baldknobbers Tim Mabe, son of Bill and Katie Mabe. “Marvel Cave was a couple of miles outside of town and 76 did not look like it does today. Table Rock Dam had just been completed, so downtown Branson was where the biggest concentration of resorts, guests and visitors mainly came to fish.”
The brothers eventually took the name “Baldknobbers,” after an Ozarks vigilante group from the late 1880s that held secret meetings on treeless hilltops, or Bald Knobs.
“Most of us from the Ozarks know what the Baldknobbers were,” Tim Mabe said. “Dad said that everyone who came to the area wanted to see a hillbilly, and with the rich history of the area, it just made sense to call themselves the Baldknobbers.”
The Baldknobbers were an immediate hit with fishermen and tourists to the Branson lakes area.
“Grandpa used to say that if the fisherman brought their wives to the show, then they got to stay and fish another day,” said Joy Bilyeu, granddaughter of Bill Mabe and third-generation vocalist. “So I guess they loved it.”
The Mabe brothers performed old-time country, bluegrass and gospel music with a washtub bass, banjo and dobro, plus an old washboard and the jawbone of a mule for rhythm.
The show began to become a full-time enterprise, with Katie, Betty and Joyce, the wives of several of the Mabe brothers, handling the advertising. The trio donned country dresses and walked around Branson’s small downtown area with signs announcing the show.
“Our moms would sell souvenirs, take tickets, usher, sell concessions, sew costumes and what they called ‘check out,’ which meant they counted the money,” Tim Mabe said. “Our dads were on stage, so our moms had to handle everything else. They were an integral part of the show, they were just not on stage.”
The first venue the Baldknobbers called home was in the basement of the old downtown community building. The “Baldknobbers” were also the band who played square dances at the Shepherd of the Hills during their first year of operation in 1960.
“In 1960, my dad and uncles performed as the Baldknobbers on opening day at Silver Dollar City and they were in the original cast of the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama,” said current cast member Brent Mabe, son of Lyle and Betty Mabe. “We all believe 1960 was a pivotal year for Branson. Without Silver Dollar City and Shepherd of the Hills, Branson would not be what it is today.”
After quickly running out of room, the brothers moved upstairs at the old community building, then the old Sammy Lane Pavilion on the lakefront.
As the Baldknobbers began to gain popularity, the brothers left the pavilion and converted an old skating rink on the Taneycomo lakefront. Branson’s first live entertainment theater was born in 1964.
“By 1962, the show was regularly scheduled in the evenings through the summer and early fall and I think it was just a natural progression of events,” Brent Mabe said. “It was a real theater, with a stage and theater seats. Stage lights were either on or off and there was not the production value we have today, but it was a real live music theater.”
Throughout the next four years, popularity began to soar once again and there was even more need to expand the venue. In 1968, The Baldknobbers Jamboree Theatre was built on 76 Country Boulevard.
“That was when our dads quit their day jobs,” Tim Mabe said. “That was when they took the leap of faith to make Baldknobbers and Branson a major part of our family’s lives.”
As the Branson entertainment scene began to grow by leaps and bounds in the late 80s and early 90s, the Baldknobbers retained their spot as one of the most popular shows in the area, even though they went through several changes.
“In 1994, when my dad retired from the stage, I became Droopy Drawers Jr, and that was also a big leap for me,” Tim Mabe said. “Then in 2006 our cousin Dennis Mabe died. He was the best entertainer Branson had ever seen, and I know today that dad, Bill and Dennis would be proud, and would’ve loved that our 50th anniversary went
so well.”
While the original Mabe brothers have long since retired or passed away, the current generation of Mabes still take the stage each night at the theater, carrying on the legendary name of not only the Mabe family, but the Baldknobbers, as well.
“Even in the very first show, the Baldknobbers sang gospel music,” Tim Mabe said. “Our grandfather Mabe was a Baptist minister who instilled in all 11 of his children,
and all 60 something of us grandkids, a love for Christ and how important family and faith are to our everyday lives. And that has not changed in over 50 years and
never will.”
After 50 years of performing in Branson, the new generations of Mabes do whatever they can to keep the show fresh and new.
“We do an all-new show each year. It’s always country music and comedy, but it has all-new music, comedy and costuming,” Tim Mabe said. “I think that is why so many of our guests see our show year after year. Plus, we have more third- and fourth-generation family members that want to make music a part of their lives.”
Now the oldest show in Branson, the “Baldknobbers” celebrated 50 years last season, and are showing no signs of slowing down.
“My dad said it best when he said, ‘We don’t have a star, the show is our star.’ And that really sums up the Baldknobbers and why I think we will be going strong in 50 more years.
Branson Daily News
Ozark Mountain Visitor Guide (March 2010)
Click here to download the article (PDF)
Ozark Mountain Country has a long history of live entertainment and country music shows, but none have the staying power of Branson’s first show, “The Baldknobbers Jamboree.”
It was exactly 10 years after Hugo and Mary Herschend bought the Marvel Cave from William Henry Lynch’s family and began square dances in the cave that brothers Bill, Jim, Lyle and Bob Mabe began entertaining visitors in downtown Branson on the Taneycomo lakefront.
“My dad and uncles chose downtown mostly because in the late 50s that was where the action was because there was no ‘strip,’” said second-generation Baldknobbers Tim Mabe, son of Bill and Katie Mabe. “Marvel Cave was a couple of miles outside of town and 76 did not look like it does today. Table Rock Dam had just been completed, so downtown Branson was where the biggest concentration of resorts, guests and visitors mainly came to fish.”
The brothers eventually took the name “Baldknobbers,” after an Ozarks vigilante group from the late 1880s that held secret meetings on treeless hilltops, or Bald Knobs.
“Most of us from the Ozarks know what the Baldknobbers were,” Tim Mabe said. “Dad said that everyone who came to the area wanted to see a hillbilly, and with the rich history of the area, it just made sense to call themselves the Baldknobbers.”
The Baldknobbers were an immediate hit with fishermen and tourists to the Branson lakes area.
“Grandpa used to say that if the fisherman brought their wives to the show, then they got to stay and fish another day,” said Joy Bilyeu, granddaughter of Bill Mabe and third-generation vocalist. “So I guess they loved it.”
The Mabe brothers performed old-time country, bluegrass and gospel music with a washtub bass, banjo and dobro, plus an old washboard and the jawbone of a mule for rhythm.
The show began to become a full-time enterprise, with Katie, Betty and Joyce, the wives of several of the Mabe brothers, handling the advertising. The trio donned country dresses and walked around Branson’s small downtown area with signs announcing the show.
“Our moms would sell souvenirs, take tickets, usher, sell concessions, sew costumes and what they called ‘check out,’ which meant they counted the money,” Tim Mabe said. “Our dads were on stage, so our moms had to handle everything else. They were an integral part of the show, they were just not on stage.”
The first venue the Baldknobbers called home was in the basement of the old downtown community building. The “Baldknobbers” were also the band who played square dances at the Shepherd of the Hills during their first year of operation in 1960.
“In 1960, my dad and uncles performed as the Baldknobbers on opening day at Silver Dollar City and they were in the original cast of the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama,” said current cast member Brent Mabe, son of Lyle and Betty Mabe. “We all believe 1960 was a pivotal year for Branson. Without Silver Dollar City and Shepherd of the Hills, Branson would not be what it is today.”
After quickly running out of room, the brothers moved upstairs at the old community building, then the old Sammy Lane Pavilion on the lakefront.
As the Baldknobbers began to gain popularity, the brothers left the pavilion and converted an old skating rink on the Taneycomo lakefront. Branson’s first live entertainment theater was born in 1964.
“By 1962, the show was regularly scheduled in the evenings through the summer and early fall and I think it was just a natural progression of events,” Brent Mabe said. “It was a real theater, with a stage and theater seats. Stage lights were either on or off and there was not the production value we have today, but it was a real live music theater.”
Throughout the next four years, popularity began to soar once again and there was even more need to expand the venue. In 1968, The Baldknobbers Jamboree Theatre was built on 76 Country Boulevard.
“That was when our dads quit their day jobs,” Tim Mabe said. “That was when they took the leap of faith to make Baldknobbers and Branson a major part of our family’s lives.”
As the Branson entertainment scene began to grow by leaps and bounds in the late 80s and early 90s, the Baldknobbers retained their spot as one of the most popular shows in the area, even though they went through several changes.
“In 1994, when my dad retired from the stage, I became Droopy Drawers Jr, and that was also a big leap for me,” Tim Mabe said. “Then in 2006 our cousin Dennis Mabe died. He was the best entertainer Branson had ever seen, and I know today that dad, Bill and Dennis would be proud, and would’ve loved that our 50th anniversary went
so well.”
While the original Mabe brothers have long since retired or passed away, the current generation of Mabes still take the stage each night at the theater, carrying on the legendary name of not only the Mabe family, but the Baldknobbers, as well.
“Even in the very first show, the Baldknobbers sang gospel music,” Tim Mabe said. “Our grandfather Mabe was a Baptist minister who instilled in all 11 of his children,
and all 60 something of us grandkids, a love for Christ and how important family and faith are to our everyday lives. And that has not changed in over 50 years and
never will.”
After 50 years of performing in Branson, the new generations of Mabes do whatever they can to keep the show fresh and new.
“We do an all-new show each year. It’s always country music and comedy, but it has all-new music, comedy and costuming,” Tim Mabe said. “I think that is why so many of our guests see our show year after year. Plus, we have more third- and fourth-generation family members that want to make music a part of their lives.”
Now the oldest show in Branson, the “Baldknobbers” celebrated 50 years last season, and are showing no signs of slowing down.
“My dad said it best when he said, ‘We don’t have a star, the show is our star.’ And that really sums up the Baldknobbers and why I think we will be going strong in 50 more years.
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