When the popularity of the show outgrew the seating capacity of the old City Hall, the Mabe family opened Branson's first theater. In the 1980s, the Mabes invited big-name country music artists like Dolly Parton and Mel Tillis to open their shows. The rest, you could say, is history. Today, the town hosts entertainers ranging from Andy Williams and Glen Campbell to Yakov Smirnoff and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. But big-name entertainers haven't overshadowed Branson's hometown values.
Most residents remain opposed to allowing gambling in town and are supportive of community projects.
Thirty years ago, local women turned a box of discarded books into the Taneyhills Community Library by plucking chickens, organizing box socials, and collecting cast-off clothes. Pete and Jack Herschend, owners of the Silver Dollar City theme park, maintain their parents' vision of an organization built on family values. Their Silver Dollar City Foundation makes the community a better place to live. If you like what you see of our magazine, but don't get it supplied with your local newspaper, simply call, write, or e-mail your publisher and suggest they carry us every week. It will make a difference.