Branson, Missouri: Postcards

Long Haul: Public Radio Documentaries to Go!

Branson is home base for aging country and pop stars such as Mickey Gilley, Roy Clark, Wayne Newton, Tony Orlando, and Charlie Pride. With a population of 5,000, Branson boasts over 50,000 theater seats (more than on Broadway), four times more motel rooms than residents, and scores of restaurants. The "Branson Boom," as it is called, happened virtually overnight. "Branson Postcards" explores how and why the town went from relative obscurity to entertainment mecca and the social and economic implications of such rapid growth for the community and its residents. (Originally produced in 1995; this description is from that broadcast.)