On November 28, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry was founded as the WSM Barn Dance.
In 1924, a Chicago radio station began airing the National Barn Dance, one of the first country music radio programs in the country. The following year, producers at WSM radio station decided to make their own version. They hired the Chicago show’s longtime announcer George D. “Judge” Hay and produced their first episode of the WSM Barn Dance. The radio program was produced in the fifth floor studio of the National Life & Accident Insurance building in downtown Nashville. Their first guest was 77-year-old fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson.
Early performers on the program included the Fruit Jar Drinkers and the Crook Brothers. Uncle Dave Macon became the show’s first star the following year. The show adopted its famous name on December 10, 1927. That night, announcer George D. Hay opened the program with, “For the past hour, we have been listening to music taken largely from Grand Opera. From now on, we will present the ‘Grand Ole Opry!’” (The show followed an NBC music appreciation hour.)
Over time, audiences attending the shows grew and they could no longer accommodate such large crowds in their small venue. The show changed venues four times between 1934 and 1943, finally settling at the Ryman Auditorium. To reduce crowd sizes, they began charging a 25¢ admission fee, but fans still filled the seats. During this time the show also grew from one hour to four, and began hiring professional performers.
The Grand Ole Opry made its national debut in 1939 on NBC Radio. Roy Acuff served as the first host of the segment, known as The Prince Albert Show (after its sponsor). In the coming years, a number of country music stars took the Opry stage. Among them were Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Marty Robbins, the Carter family, Bill Monroe, Ernest Tubb, Kitty Wells and Minnie Pearl.
In the 1970s, the Opry once again outgrew its home and began planning an even larger venue. In June 1972, they opened Opryland USA Theme Park and the Opryland Hotel. The new 4,000-seat Opry House opened two years later. President Richard Nixon attended the event and played a few songs on the piano. Though the theme park closed in 1997, the Opry House continues to serve as the show’s home. Also in the 1990s, the Opry renovated its former home, the Ryman Theater, where it presents its winter performances for three months every year.
The Grand Ole Opry is the longest-running radio broadcast in in American history. It’s known as “The Show That Made Country Music Famous,” the “Home of American Music,” and “Country’s Most Famous Stage.”
Discover what else happened on This Day in History.
I am not a big fan of Country music but I grew up listing to it as my father did not listen to anything else. I am however a big fan of old time radio and have some of these old broadcasts so I found this to be a very good article on the subject, Thanks!
Something I look forward every day.
Some of my best memories of my young adulthood were going to Opryland amusement park which is no longer in existence. Probably some of the best stage shows I’ve ever seen at an amusement park venue.
Great article on the Grand Ole Opry. People like me who love music and collect musical instrument stamps should add this to their collections.
I love your articles and have learned a lot from them. Keep them coming.
Happy Holidays to everyone at Mystic Stamp.
You don’t have to be a fan of country music to love the Grand Ole Opry.
Great town and facility. We were there in October. Thanks Mystic.
Great feature. Very entertaining to learn facts of history I never knew. thanks for providing the e-mails about stamps.
The great state of Tennessee! Thanks for the information. I always think of my friend Jack Daniels who lives there.
As a young man I did not appreciate country western music;however, that changed as I “matured”! Had the privilege of visiting the Grand Ole Opry a few years ago—magical!
I was at a Nursing Conference in Nashville in 2003 and stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Conference Center. We spent a night at the Grand Old Opry and it was awesome, plus we went on a riverboat dinner cruise with great entertainment. Nashville and the Opry will always be a great memory. Thanks for the additional information about the Opry and it’s origin, Mystic.
Great seeing the daily post grow each day. I’m a big fan of CW music. I think the USPS is a little over due honoring CW artis…..one sheet with 20 CW singers
I too, did not apreciate country music until later in life, and really enjoy listening to the older music.
Love the coment about Elvis not giving up his day job.
Sorry about the spelling mistakes. Should have re-read my comments.
interesting reading. better than n.y. Daily News, or n.y. Post.