Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre — Attraction in Branson

October 8, 2024 - As our Maryland bus rolled past the many restaurants, hotels, shops, kid’s adventure theme parks and Music Theaters. . . my wife and I realized why so many of our friends would vacation here in Branson! 😃👍🏼 Hard to believe this vacation destination spot started 142 years ago . . . when Reuben Branson opened a General Store & Post Office in 1882.

Our travel group pulled into the Mickey Gilley Shanghai Theatre for our 7:30 pm show , Texas Tenors! My wife & I hadn’t heard of this Country Music group. Seems they appeared in 2009 on “ America’s Got Talent”! Hard work over 15 years, they’ve made 5 studio albums, earned 3 tv Emmy awards, inducted into Texas Country Music Hall of Fame! The show wasn’t sold out, but 3/4 full audience. We enjoyed their show!😃👍🏼 I don’t believe they write their own music, but have talented singing voices! Themes included upbeat Patriotic songs, support for American soldiers & Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. As they performed, videos on a giant screen streamed to the audience. One observation seemed that almost no minorities were in the videos. For a $51 ticket, the show was almost 90 minutes, with 20 minute intermission.

*Note: The Mickey Gilley Shanghai Theater offers several shows, currently they offer Rick Thomas Illusionist, Acrobatics Circus, and Texas Tenors ( which they also have a Christmas Show coming ) !

Who’s Mickey Gilley ? ( Brief Bio)

Born 1936 in Mississippi. Moved to Houston , TX in 1940’s. Grew up playing guitar. Enjoyed Gospel & Boogie-Woogie music at young age. Started singing pro in 1950’s & 60’s. Opened a music club in Pasadena, TX 1971 Over next 20 years made 17 Country hits!

In 1980, his club was set for Urban Cowboy movie with John Travolta! By 1990, he opened Mickey Gilley Theater in Branson! In 2022, Mickey Gilley died ! He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011! 😃👍🏼

How did Branson grow ?

1882 - Reuben Branson opens store & Post Office

1894 - William Lynch buys Marvel Cave, renames to Marble Cave, sells tickets

1907 - Harold Bell Wright wrote story about Ozarks . . . “The Shepherd of the Hills”

1912/13 - Powersite Dam constructed, Branson is incorporated

1934 - Branson Mayor Jim Owen built Hillbilly Theater

1959/60 - Herschend Family builds Silver Dollar City . . . Opens square dancing

1960 - Old Mill Theater music shows of the Ozarks from story by Harold Bell Wright’s book !

1961 - Mabe Brothers Band opened show

1962 - Paul Henning inspired by his Boy Scout trip to Ozarks, developed Beverly Hillbillies TV show

1967 - Gary Presley builds Underground Theater, with country music from “Ozark Jubilee “

1969 - Baldknobber Hillbilly Jamboree Theater opened ( characters from Wright’s book )

1983 - Roy Clark Theater opened

1990 - Hollywood Wax Museum opens

1990 - Jim Stafford Theater, Mel Tillis Theater opens

1992 - Willie Nelson Theater, Osmond Brothers Theater

1994 - Ripley’s Believe It Or Not opened

1995 - Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede opens

1999 - Water Park at Silver Dollar City opens

2000 - Branson Creek Golf Course opens

Note: Over 7 million people visit Branson each...

I saw John Schneider and Johnny Lee at the Mickey Gilley/ Shanghai Theater. The show was 5 stars. Went back again for the veterans day show and took my parents, my brother and my niece. Again, 5 stars all the way! John Schneider ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was a pleasure to see. He is friendly, entertaining and a patriot who loves his country. We enjoyed hearing things about his life's story. Amazing! Johnny Lee was great, he has Parkinson but he is still singing and giving it his all. We loved hearing some of our Johnny Lee faves. His daughter helped him and sang with him. Great show! The Theater itself (4 stars) was nice. They have a clean theater, clean bathrooms and friendly staff. They struggled a bit with the sound system and video feeds for the show. Between songs and sometimes while they were speaking there was a low volume hum. (May have been my excitement from seeing John Schneider. Lol kidding) We enjoyed seeing some Mickey Gilley pictures around the theater. The staff was friendly both times but we purchased our tickets at Branson 1/2 price tickets. We asked them if they offered the VIP (front middle section) options. They said some theaters do, you just have to pay the difference when you take your vouchers to the theater and pick your seats. When we asked about paying the difference to upgrade to VIP, the staff at the theater looked at us like we were speaking a different language. She couldn't, even after explaining we would pay the VIP upcharge, wrap her mind around what we were asking. We gave up and got regular seating, which was fine. I can't say enough about the show - John Schneider and Johnny Lee.... awesome!

From the time I was a kiddo, I have been a fan of John Schneider. I spent countless hours pretending to be Beauregard "Bo" Duke from the Dukes of Hazzard and pretending to drive the General Lee. (Probably like most boys my age) Then to see John Schneider and his General Lee in person and to know he is such a great person, a true gentleman and a patriot in real life, who speaks truth and honors our flag and our country was a big treat!

FYI- The General looked to be unlocked and was unattended! It was only my great amount of respect for John Schneider that kept me from hopping in for a selfie.. but I was so tempted! Haha

Thank you Renee (my wife) for an...

Nestled amongst the Russell and bustle of the strip in Branson, Missouri lies this subtle little theater that you would almost miss if you did not pay attention, which is exactly to me what this performance was. To the untrained eye and the unfocused you’ll miss so many great details that will leave you missing out but even at that it is a great show but what you must do when you arrive here is pay close attention because it is a subtle details that you will miss Until the performers recognize and make it a little bit more obvious. This is such an entertaining show regardless, but I thought I would emphasize how many subtle details go missed that are put into a performance. These are very talented and physical performers that I’m afraid are not fully recognized for their talents. You will see the show and you want to go home and try to balance on your chair. I strongly recommend that you do not do that but I strongly recommend that you go see this performance because you will not be let down. When you’re done swing by the little gift shop it has some very unique gifts that you do not see other parts of Branson. It is the same way you must look closely.

One more detail that I failed to mention is the feng shui for instance, the small windmills outside that might go unnoticed but if you spend them, they bring good fortune and good vibes . Again like I said so many small details go unnoticed. I...