It was in the late 1950s near the time of Table Rock Dam's organization. Bob Mabe's father-in-law, 'Chick Allen' gave Bob, and his brothers a number of genius ideas of how to portray their image, and they developed their characters from that. Chick, who came up with the 'Baldknobbers' named from the late 1800s’ local vigilante group, would finance the band to get them started and going in the early years and also assisted with the bookings of the band.
Chick helped get the band booked into more of a permanent theater setting by renting the Sammy Lane Pavilion, located on Branson's Main Street along Lake Taneycomo. Performing four nights a week, they charged a dollar for the big'uns and fifty cents for the little'uns.
By 1964, the group had outgrown the pavilion space, so they moved a short distance to the skating rink building along Lake Taneycomo. This was in the vicinity of where Bass Pro is today at the Branson Landing. Four years later, the Baldknobbers moved again, this time, after purchasing land and building a theater along Highway 76, which they were at for over fifty years. WonderWorks is located at that site today. Brandon stated, "The theater is no longer there, but the memories will always be there! As times have changed and cost has risen it was difficult to maintain a theater. We didn't want to stop performing, but just couldn't continue maintaining a theater and trying to spend valuable family time with our kids as they were involved in activities and growing. We love continuing this legacy and not planning on stopping. This is why we do two shows: Vintage - To honor the past and Modern: To move forward with the future! We want to appeal and give a choice to all our great fans out there!"
Continuing to expand, the Baldknobbers’ legacy of performances is well on its way to great success. They have some of the finest, seasoned musicians around and it's my great pleasure to introduce them to you now. I attended the Vintage show this week and oh, my goodness…it takes you back to the sound and fun of the beginnings, too. The Christmas part was vintage sounds as well. Don't forget how personable they are with you, during and after the show; they will visit with you after the show. You really need to attend both of the shows - Vintage and Modern. The most disappointing part was that YOU were not there with us!
Questions I asked the band this round:
1. Where are you from and how long in the Branson area?
2. What or who influenced you to get into show business?
3. What has been a memorable moment for you while performing?
4. What is a dream or goal you have?
5. What is a funny moment that you've had?
Tina Sibley: Violin, keyboards
1. I'm from the Ozarks, a Springfield, MO, native
2. Music artists coming to the Branson area and the opportunities to perform live music
3. Realizing you’re playing for legends and meeting your musical heroes
4. To write and perform original music and to support other talents - a citizen musician
5. Every day at work in a band is fun…a musical sandbox with friends.
Josh Gabriel: Drums
1. I was born and raised right here in Branson, MO.
2. My dad Doug Gabriel is who influenced me to get into music.
3. The opportunity I had getting to film an HBO special drumming for Terry Bradshaw
4. I'm so blessed to be already living my dream!
5. The time I didn't realize the countdown for the second half had ended and everyone was waiting for me to start the second half of the show!
John Lance: Lead guitar, keyboard, lapsteel, vocals
1. I am from Smithfield, PA. I moved to the Branson area with the Ray Stevens show in 1991 and fell in love with the Ozarks!
2. My family. My sister was a country recording artist, and my brother was a classically trained opera baritone.
3. Observing the unique parade of celebrities drawn to visit our Branson shows—from the Chrysler Chairman to notable media personalities
4. The will to avoid Andy's Pumpkin Concrete, while it is just next door to the theater!
5. I was injured by a falling pirate ship. (Luanna needs to hear this story - ha!)
Bob Roth: Bass
1. I consider O'Fallon, MO, my hometown. My dad pastored there and started a Christian School there. My grandmother named some of the streets of the town, including the intersection of Hollywood and Vine streets.
2. We moved to the boot-heel town of Malden, MO, for a year when I was 15 years old. The mayor has a gospel group and asked my dad if I could start traveling with them. Later, I traveled playing and singing with the PR Group from Mid-America Nazarene University. Meeting the gospel group, "The Hemphills" and getting my first full-time Nashville job with "McKeithen Family Whiners Rebates" to the "The Hemphills"… so, in short answer: Mayor Phil Santie and Mid-America Nazarene Public Relations Dept. and James Gordon Freeze, who is currently with "Bill Anderson."
3. Playing dozens of Southern Gospel and Country Gospel sessions with Bob Ashley at Briarcreek Studios, Governor Attorney General John Ashcroft's Gospel Project and some Vacation Bible School curriculum for Regular Baptist Press.
4. My goal has been to play sessions on Southern Projects for DayWind, and choral projects for Lifeway, Lillenas, and Prism Music groups and those types of groups or companies. I received my marketing degree hoping that perhaps I would be able to promote and be a part of the Gospel Music Industry and to help keep its roots in the Ministry and yet maintain excellence! I'm pretty passionate about Christian Music.
5. Falling asleep on a tour bus while touring with 'The Texans,' and being recorded snoring, then during a concert the next day the sound tech played the recording of my snoring through the monitors during the concert, and we kept cracking up the whole show, as the audience couldn't hear it.
Kevin Allen: Lead guitar, vocals
1. I'm from Quincy, IL. I have been in Branson for twenty-five years now.
2. I don't really know. I wanted a guitar at six years old and have played ever since. It's what I've always wanted to do.
3. There's been so many over the years, but two of the most memorable times were playing on the Grand Ole Opry stage and at President Reagan's Inauguration.
4. My dream, and goal, is to be the best husband, dad, and person that I can be, while continuing to play music for many years to come.
5. Being a working musician presents funny moments on a daily basis. I'm sorry, I can't really pick just one out over another.
Well, there you go, you have had your introduction to this wonderful group of the Branson's Famous Baldknobbers Show cast. Now it's your turn to go find out for yourselves what fun and talent they are!
The year is drawing to an end, and the time is right now to attend their shows. I hope that you have enjoyed reading just a little about them and the history of Branson's Famous Baldknobbers Show.
The Baldknobbers show is located at The Hughes Brothers Theatre, 3425 W. 76 Country Blvd., 417-231-4999; website baldknobbers.com.
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