Area Entertainment: The Baldknobbers, the legends!

This week Luanna and John Fullerton are compiling their two stories into one. John is sharing his part on the history of the Baldknobbers, and Luanna is sharing her part on the current Baldknobbers. Please enjoy the read.

Looking back at this week in history, May 1, 1960, was the opening day of Silver Dollar City. The Baldknobbers hillbilly band was hired to perform at the event.

It was sometime in April 1960 when Jack Herschend approached the group to see if they could do an afternoon performance for the City's opening day, providing background music for a few hours. But Jack had a special request. He wanted a band that had a banjo player. Out of the five-piece band which included Chick Allen, his son-in-law Bob, with his brothers Jim and Lyle, and fiddler Raymond Bruffett, none of them had any banjo experience. What could they do?

Bob Mabe recalled, "If we couldn't come up with a banjo player, we wouldn't get the job. So, I went to a pawn shop in Springfield, purchased a used banjo for twenty bucks, and spent the next two weeks teaching myself how to play the thing!" The Baldknobbers band had been together for around a year, and Bob had been the group's guitarist, playing simple rhythm, so taking on the banjo was a real challenge. Jack Herschend was happy when he learned what Bob had done, their gig was a good, and Bob would often be the group's banjo picker in the early years of the band.

The official opening day at Silver Dollar City, May 1, 1960. The Baldknobbers performed as afternoon entertainment out in front of the Silver Dollar City General Store. On the wagon are Chick Allen, Raymond Bruffett, Bob Mabe and up above, Jim Mabe and Lyle Mabe. (Photo courtesy John Fullerton)

The year 1960 was a busy one for the Baldknobbers. In addition to doing their own show in the Sammy Lane Pavillion along Lake Taneycomo a few nights a week, the group also performed during the party scene several nights a week in the new Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor drama.     

Chick Allen was a major influence in getting the group started. Not only did he name the band after the post-Civil War era vigilante group that was Christian and Taney County based, Allen also served as the group's producer and agent, a position that he held for the first ten years of their existence. His instrument was the jaw-bone of the mule, used as a percussion instrument, played with small sticks. The Mabes called it the "Jack-assaphone" in their early programs, and Chick Allen was believed to be the only member of the musician's union that was a jaw-bone player!

It's truly wonderful that we have these three Branson area icons still with us and going strong today, the Baldknobbers at 66 years strong, Silver Dollar City and the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama, both celebrating their 65th anniversaries. Absolute legends!

Currently, the Baldknobbers are performing two versions of their shows. One is the vintage, where they have compiled a list of songs that are favorites from the past sixty-six years, along with some history thrown in there. The other version is more of an updated country version, with some dirt rock, soft rock and gospel thrown in. Attending either of these shows will have your feet tapping and hands clapping, along with big smiles!

Tonight's show cast was, of course, Brandon and Megan Mabe, Shane Van Camp, Ashley Dawn, and Mayham (Paul May). The band: Tina Sibley - violin and keys; John Lance - vocals, keys, steel and guitar; Bob Roth - bass guitar; Grant Moody - lead guitar; Garrett Massengale – drums (Photo courtesy Luanna Fullerton)

They have an awesome harmony and chemistry sound together, with some of the best comedy out there today. Brandon has taken what he grew up with and threw in what the people are wanting to see and hear today, and he has created a great show with all of his singers and musicians. The singers that appear are some top-notch vocalists and the musicians are some of the finest in town. All of them have backgrounds in other music and bands and bring the talent to the stage here. On any show that you may attend of theirs you will find musicianship and vocalist that want to be onstage strutting their stuff and it shows, whether it's the main people or "fill-ins" for the show. When John and I attended, they had a couple of fill-ins, but they have played with the Baldknobbers in the past and you wouldn't have known any difference if it would not have been told from the stage.

Mayham will have you belly laughing at the comedy and there is audience participation, so be prepared! You may even want to bring a tissue to wipe away laughter tears. What a great way to spend a couple of hours. Whether you choose the vintage or current show you will not be disappointed, or just make plans to see both as it will be completely different shows with the same wonderful talent onstage. To do two completely different shows takes a lot of talent, so give it a try! Go help them celebrate 66 consecutive years of performance in Branson. 

The show schedule and ticket information may be found at the website or in person at the theatre. Branson's Famous Baldknobbers Show is located at the Hughes Brothers Theatre, 3425 W. 76 Country Blvd., Branson. Phone 417-231-4999, baldknobbers.com, or on other media: Facebook and Instagram.