Lee Mace

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.

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.

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

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

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

This museum has a few videos (converted to DVD) of some of these shows. For at least a $25 donation to this museum we will send you the DVD of one of his TV shows, including the local TV commercial spot advertising the show. View this video for a preview.

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:

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.

Lee Mace remembered through Expressway

By Mark Slavit
Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 4:57 p.m.

OSAGE BEACH -- A stretch of highway at the Lake of the Ozarks will now honor one of Missouri’s greatest country music legends.

MoDOT officials held a dedication ceremony to name the new Osage Beach Expressway on Highway 54 in memory Lee Mace.

Friends and Family cheered during a ceremony unveiling Lee Mace Memorial Highway. The $130 million expressway will wind around Osage Beach on Highway 54.

Mace founded the Ozark Opry in 1957.

Through the years his Opry entertained more than 30 million-people. Lee Mace died in a plane crash in 1985.

Even though he died more than 20 years ago, those responsible for Mace’s name on the eight-mile stretch of highway say their dedication is timely.

“As we move and take the next step in the lake area of getting this expressway to honor the man who sort of opened up this area," said State Re[resentative of the 155th District Rep. Wayne Cooper (R-Camdenton). "I think is very appropriate.”

After more than 50 years of pleasing audiences, Lee’s wife Joyce Mace closed the Opry in 2005. Before every show, Lee asked members of his audience, "How many of you came here to have a good time?"

Joyce says if her husband were alive today, he would have a good time knowing his name is now a part of Missouri highway history.

“I just appreciate everybody coming," said Joyce Mace. "I knew all of them. I’ve probably lived here longer than anybody in town.”

Lee Mace is one of the pioneers of entertainment at the Lake of the Ozarks but he’s also one of the founders of entertainment on KRCG. From 1955 to 1985 Lee Mace’s Opry was on our airwaves.

The show was live during the first 14 years. One of the most memorable characters was “Goofer” played Bill Atterbury.

“I really enjoyed working with everybody at KRCG," said Atterbury. "They were just so nice. They tolerated us. While they were doing the news live, we were setting up to do the show while they were doing live news. They had to be a little distraction.”

Lee Mace is no longer with us, but his tradition continues at many of the country music shows across the country. His name on the Osage Beach Expressway will be with us for many years to come.

MoDOT officials say the Lee Mace Memorial Highway is scheduled for completion within the next two years.

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.

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

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

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

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