LAKE OF THE OZARKS

Osage Beach, Missouri

 

In 1950, Lee Mace married his square dancing partner Joyce Williams of Linn Creek, Mo. And the Army drafted him for 2 years of service. Upon his discharge in 1953, Lee became program director for KMRS Radio, a new country station in the Lake Ozark Area. As a promotion for the station, he and others presented a daily, 30-minute country music program. That show was called the OZARK OPRY. The show as we know it today, grew from that thirty minute program and has endured over fifty years. That same year, Lee and Joyce rented a small building next to Bagnell Dam, which would seat about 200 people and a stage.  The first year they presented two shows per week, the next year three shows, and the following year four shows.

Lee Mace and the First Ozark Opry Group (circa) 1953

In 1957, the Mace’s built the OZARK OPRY auditorium on Highway # 54, with seating for 650 people. This concept for a family type entertainment stage show and involving the enjoyment of Country Music was given birth on that day in 1957. Two years later, this Country Music Show everyone was talking about nation wide enlarged its capacity to 1200 seats and twelve shows per week. In the early days you could fine Joyce selling tickets, Lee parking cars and both of them cleaning up the auditorium.

Lee Mace Auditorium on Hwy #54 Built  (circa) 1957

 

Through the years Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry has entertained or been seen by over thirty million people in their own auditorium and appearances through-out the Midwest. In 1955 the TV show was being seen in more than 100,000 homes weekly thru KRCG-TV Channel, 13 in Jefferson City, Mo, and KMOS TV Channel #6, Sedalia, Mo. The TV show was done live each week for fourteen years, and then the station got videotape equipment. This was welcome by Lee as it looked as if a vacation might be in sight by being able to tape our TV programs ahead. But after nine more years of taping the shows, Lee always said “I still say I’m going to take that vacation just as soon as I get around to it. The Ozark Opry TV show was on the air for over 25 years and always captured Neilson ratings in the top 10

KRCG TV Studio doing a “live” show (circa) 1955

 

For thirty-three years OZARK OPRY AND country Music had been a way of life and livelihood for the Mace’s. Many of the Stars of Country Music today have stood on the stage of the OZARK OPRY of yesterday and shared the teaching of a master showman. In all thirty three years and over nine thousand performances

Lee Mace never missed a show.

Before Every Performance, Lee Mace always asked the members of his audience:

 “How Many Of You Came Here To Have A Good Time?”

Unfailing, almost everyone in the crowd raises his hand and just as unfailingly, when the Ozark Opry’s show was over,

The people go home happy and satisfied, knowing they had what they came for.

 

For 24 years Lee Mace conducted annually an OZARK OPRY SEARCH FOR TALENT on the stage of the Ozark Opry. It was not a talent contest. There were no entry fees charged or prizes awarded. It simply was to give performers (amateur and professional alike) the chance to present their talent to a large audience. The shows would last six to eight hours and often longer. These shows produced talent from a ten state area. When Lee Mace, MC and Host would introduce each of the talent participants he would say:

“THIS IS YOUR DAY”…and it was!

 

                                          

Lee Mace is no longer with us, but his teachings and mentoring still linger with all the pickers, grinner’s, entertainers, and singers who had the privilege of “sharing” the stage with him. He is missed very much by his fans, entertainers, friends and most of all the audience, who came to be entertained by the master showman.

It Was An Honor and a Privilege To Work With Lee Mace, And The Ozark Opry Group.

 

“Build It And They Will Come”, and Boy Did They…The Crowd At An Opry Show….Most Of The Time It Was SRO.

 

 

 

 

Joyce Mace continues the tradition of the good, clean, family style original “OPRY’ stage show that she and her husband started in 1953. The Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry Auditorium and Entertainment complex is located in Osage Beach, Missouri. If you have never been to a Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry Show, stop in, reminisce a moment, take in a great show or just say “Hello” to Joyce, and all the Ozark Opry entertainers…It will be appreciated.

 

Plato once said: “Music Is A Moral Law. It Gives Soul To The Universe, Wings To The Mind, Flight To The Imagination, A Charm To Sadness, Gaiety and Life To Everything. It Is The Essence Of Order And Leads To All That Is Good, True, and Beautiful”. Lee and Joyce Mace understood these words, and the gift to share the meaning of these words with all people who came to the Ozark Opry, through “Ozark Mountain Music” and Dance.

 HISTORICAL OZARK OPRY RECORDINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO ORDER.

 (1)   An Evening On Buford Mountain (Traditional/Authentic Ozark Mountain Music)

(2)    Lee Mace Presents The Ozark Opry

(3)   Music Down Home Style

(4)   A Night At Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry (Vol #1 and #2)

(5)   25 Year Anniversary Album

(6)   Songs We Sing

(7)   Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry (Down Every Road)

The Above Recordings Are Available In:  Original 33/1/3 L.P – Cassette- CD

 

Also Available To Order:

 

“THE TRADITION CONTINUES”

Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry

 50th Anniversary Reunion 

Video Tape’s

Vol.#1-Vol.#2-Vol.#3-Vol.#4

uncut/unedited Recorded October 26th, 2002

All 4 Tapes For $50.00 Plus Shipping and Handling

   Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry
P.O. Box 242,
Osage Beach, Mo. 65065

Phone: (573) 348-2270 

 Credits and Acknowledgements

 

For writing, editing, researching, documentation of history:

Harold L. Luick, CEO, CMSI

Historian, Curator of Iowa/ Midwest Country Music Heritage Museum, Library, Hall Of Fame.

  Excerpt’s Writer Credit: Shirley Altoff-St. Louis Globe Democrat

Documentation: Harold Luick, Personal, Private Interviews With Lee & Joyce Mace (circa) 1970-1980.

Picture Credit: 25th Anniversary Souvenir Album-Ozark Opry Picture and Autograph Souvenir Book

Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry Web Site.

 

© 2004 CMSI- Iowa/Midwest Country Music Heritage Museum, Library, Hall Of  Fame, Harold L. Luick , Author/Publisher.

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