Is the Grand Ole Opry on it's way out?

Nick Reed · Post by **Nick Reed** » 27 Sep 2000 6:43 pm

I'm speaking as a former employee of Gaylord Entertainment so try to
see my point. I've lived around the Nashville area all my life, and it
just ain't like it used to be when I was growing up. The days when
the National Life & Accident Insurance Company owned and operated
the Grand Ole Opry, WSM-TV & Radio, TNN, & Opryland Park. This
great Company gave Nashville the gifts of Country Music
Entertainment. They made Stars out of people like Porter Wagner, Jim
Ed Brown, Lester Flatt, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Bill Anderson and
others.
My point is that times change and the Gaylord Company has changed
our herritage. They've bought and sold out the Country Music
Entertainment Industry here around Nashville. First after 25 years of
operation they closed down Opryland Theme Park to build a Mall. Now
they've sold TNN & CMT. TNN, no longer Mr.Tom Grissom's brainchild
Cable network to take Nashville Country Music into peoples
living-rooms across the country.
So whats next? I talked to a man the other night who predicts in the
next 5 years the Grand Ole Opry will shut it's doors forever. This is
very sad for me to think about. I realize that change happens for a
reason, but I feel Nashville is becoming a town for Pro Sports and
less for Country Music & The Opry. I guess Larry Cordell sure knew
what he was doing when he wrote "Murder on Music Row". Just my
opinion. . .OK Boys, let the Flames Begin!

Nick

My Steel Guitar Website:
http://personal.bna.bellsouth.net/bna/a/m/am1070/page12.html [This message was edited by Nick Reed on 27 September 2000 at 08:53 PM.]

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 27 Sep 2000 7:22 pm

Only if the Opry has a closed mind to the new country music! Theresa

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 27 Sep 2000 7:31 pm

It wouldn't please me more than for the Opry to move back to the Ryman where it belongs.Never enjoyed playing the Opry after it moved to that behemoth of an auditorium they now call the Opry.And no,I don't think the Opry would be digressing by going there.[This message was edited by Earl Erb on 27 September 2000 at 08:39 PM.]

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 27 Sep 2000 7:41 pm

Earl,
Wecome back! The opry isn't on it's way out yet!

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 27 Sep 2000 8:38 pm

The powers that be at the Grand Ole Opry should research what happened to the Big D Jamboree in Dallas and the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport when these two shows changed their format to "what was happening" music. Keep on pickin', keep it country, and I'll see you down the road. Jody.

Andy Alford · Post by **Andy Alford** » 28 Sep 2000 3:03 am

WWHS?What would Hank say about the future of the opry?Williams might not be welcome on the tv portion.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 28 Sep 2000 3:12 am

The Opry was always the bastion of Traditional Country Music and was always sold out. There was always a mystique associated with the opry for both the fans and many musicians. The opry was also a radio show that happend to have a live audience.

That is not the case anymore. The bastion of Traditional Country music is gone, and it is now a live show that happens to broadcast on radio (and the internet).

I do not see the Opry continuing as a viable entity unless the management is changed and possibly moved back to the Ryman. It won't close tomorrow but given the track record of Gaylord "Entertainment" it is a real possiblity.

To those that feel the current Nashville music is "whats happening" or the greatest thing since ice cream, it may be keeping musicians in work (which is great) and it may be selling to a certain age group (but according to industry reports sales are down), but it isn't selling to the LOYAL Opry audience. You can't have a show that is leaning toward the current product and try to attract an audience that wants traditional.

Finally, moving the Opry back to the Ryman would allow it to have more "color" since everyone could run over to Tootsies for liquid refreshments between performances.

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Franklin D-10
Fender Nashville Tele
A Country Musician

Andy Alford · Post by **Andy Alford** » 28 Sep 2000 4:07 am

AMEN JACK

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 28 Sep 2000 4:35 am

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the area around the Ryman pretty run down?
The current Opry is beautiful and very accomodating...why on earth would anyone want to give that (physical location) up?

I don't see why both traditional and contemporary styles can't share the same stage. The Opry isn't some religious organization, it is big business and always has been. IT HAS TO PAY THE BILLS or it will close.

I attended a performance a year or so ago with a convention. Entertainment included were tickets to the Opry. Two guys in the late twenties with the conv. were in front of me watching a very traditioal performance. After 15 minutes they looked at each other and said "We're out of here!" I'm sure if there was a more modern performance that night they would have stayed.

It's true, times are changing and if the Opry doesn't change with the times it will be gone.

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 28 Sep 2000 4:57 am

Tony....

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the area around the Ryman pretty run down?

You ain't been down to Nashburb lately, have you ??

It's different down here now. All cleaned up and lots of show & glitter. We have A "Planet Hollywood", A "Wild Horse Saloon", and sever other name brand places now.

Unfortunatly tho, It's all a big rip-off. Too little show for too much money spent. It's a tourist trap like none other. All the "Good" stuff is sadly and woefully gone nowadays. Most of the places play the DJ thing as opposed to a live band. Keroke (sp?) tapes and one man acts replaced the live bands in most of the bars and establishments.

Like another post said:
"The music has been replaced by sports and hi-dollar Malls !"

Just my 2cents

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 28 Sep 2000 5:14 am

Folks calm down,The OPry will be around as long as their are fans to support it. Although I am a strong traditionalist I agree that it's the new artist that will have to carry the ball. The only exposure the Older artist get come from brief appearances and small venue tours. That kind of exposure has been enough so far.The Older Artist have done a yoemans work up to now.Some have outstayed their talent but still give 100%.People have flocked to the Opry to see and hear the history and tradition of Country Music.Shopryland Park will die before the Opry because people are not traveling to Nashville to spend Vacation Monies on things they get cheaper at home.It will have to survive with the support of it's own residents. Nothing wrong with Nashville becoming a sports town.It will have Major League Baseball down the road and Basketball.Nashville is growing and no one can stop progress.It's not the same place it was 20 years ago.And it's not the same people there as was 20 years ago except at the Opry.Lower Broadway has changed but it's like adding a fur-lined cover to a Toilet seat.

It's more likely some other town will become the major recording venue (New York LA) for Country music.The Opry still has plenty of Tradition to keep it self going....

The real enemy is TIME and lack of support. If ShopryLand should close what a great place to build a Theme Park.

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CJC

[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 28 September 2000 at 06:25 AM.]

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 28 Sep 2000 5:32 am

"A fur lined cover to a toilet seat."
Now that's funny![This message was edited by Tommy White on 28 September 2000 at 06:36 AM.]

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 28 Sep 2000 5:51 am

When the TV camera panned the audience last weekend during the televised portion, the opry was packed, even the cheap seats! Remember the story about the little boy that cried wolf? Well, enough said.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 1 Oct 2000 3:00 pm

ahchoooooo

Eddie D.Bollinger · Post by **Eddie D.Bollinger** » 1 Oct 2000 4:54 pm

My last visit to the Opry was on June 17,
2000. My wife and I spent our anniversary
in Nashville. My main objective, of course,
was to hear Tommy White live and in person.
There were a few distractions that night
such as Montgomery/Gentry with LOUD distorted,SCREAMING guitars. There were also
some golden moments with Ricky Skaggs, Vince
Gill, Ray Pillow,and Jimmy Dickens.
My point is that while Montgomery/Gentry
was jumping and dancing and screaming all over that famous stage, there was a portion
of the crowd that wasn't all that excited.
I don't care how much NEW country is presented to the world. That is entirely
not my business. However I do think that the
music that put Nashville on the map should
be preserved. The Opry mystique has always
been it's very classy,professional,almost
reverend,time slotted presentation. This
presentation has been altered somewhat
by NEW country IMHO.
I hope there is at least one place in Nashville where the real thing is presented
publicly,professionally, and in Opry fashion.
All these thoughts are simply my very humble
honest opinions.

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Eddie B.
Carter D-10
8 & 2many
msm@tycom.net

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 2 Oct 2000 6:54 am

It wouldn't please me more than for the Opry to move back to the Ryman where it belongs.

I can agree with that. Although I haven't seen the new place, I have seen the Ryman. To say the least, I was stunned at the acoustic qualities of the Ryman. Why would anybody even dream of shutting down that place (like they did)?

Now if they could just somehow limit the volume. One of the guides there told me that Geore Jones had just played (this was last year around August), and practically brought the roof down with all the loud speakers.

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Garryharris · Post by **Garryharris** » 4 Oct 2000 6:36 pm

The Opry used to consist of farmers, mechanics and other trades people. The Opry wasn't commercial in that sense. When some of the members became somewhat famous the National Life and Accident Insurance company which owned the Opry began to print brochures or tracts with the picture of some of these people on them. The insurance man would knock on the door and when his knock was answered, he would make sure that the person saw the brochure with the picture of one of the Opry members. This was how they got their foot in the door so to speak. WSM or "We Shield Millions". For a long time the insurance company didn't know what they had. The early Opry allowed a consession stand to be in the back of the Opry house and after several years they found out that the person running the consession stand was making more money than the Opry. Insurance was their business not music or entertainment.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 5 Oct 2000 5:33 am

SleepyJohn just tell the Solemn old Judge to come back and straighten out the mess. Ask him if he's got any pull up there.I heard tell Jesus is a Country music fan. Now theres a song.

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CJC

Ray Jenkins · Post by **Ray Jenkins** » 5 Oct 2000 6:00 am

Joe,write that puppy,I'll buy it.

Ray

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Steeling is still legal in Arizona

Boomer · Post by **Boomer** » 5 Oct 2000 6:04 am

Sleepy John - I know there is a tremendous amount of things wrong with country music today; I could pontificate till the proverbial cows come home. But at the gravesite, please relate to the Judge that there is still a light at the end of the tunnel. Brad Paisley is one newcomer to help carry the torch, and there is a movement again to put country back in country music.
There will always be corporate structure to try for the younger audience; but they are learning now that the young are fickle and not an audience to rely on. Hang in there SJ, and I promise we will see a marked improvement. Best, Boomer