Music Mountain Jamboree

Music Mountain Jamboree cast, 1980s or 1990s
From the autographs, I can only read Ron Castleberry
(possibly a relative of Hot Springs singer Leo Castleberry?)

The Music Mountain Jamboree in Hot Springs, Arkansas, was one of many, local, family-friendly music shows that were held all around the United States. Following the golden age of radio and the demise of big live stage shows that aired over radio, many smaller shows emerged. These were often operated by a single person or a family, often held at small theaters, and were not broadcast over radio. One of those later shows was the Music Mountain Jamboree in Hot Springs.

The actual founding and persons behind the shows are unclear to me. There was Ted Mullinax, entrepreneur and politician, who claims to have founded the Music Mountain Jamboree in 1982. Also, there were Tony Rex and Geraldine Crabtree from Hot Springs, a couple who also dabbled in various business affairs, who claimed to have opened the Music Mountain Jamboree. It is unclear to me at the moment, who of them were the first or if these were even separate shows.

There are several hints to artists that appeared on the Jamboree. David Ray Altom, "Granny" Messenger, Bruce Allen Smith, Ronnie Neighbors, and Ted Mullinax himself pop up as musicians that have performed on the show. The theater was located on 1555 East Grand Avenue (U.S. Highway 70) in Hot Springs.

According to Mullinax, he operated the show for two decades, which means it came to an end around 2002. If anyone has more info on the Music Mountain Jamboree or can set things straight, feel free to leave a comment!

Sources
• Obituaries for Geraldine Crabtree and Tony Rex Crabtree
• Interview and article on Ted Mullinax
• David Ray Altom obituary
• Ronnie Neighbors obituary
• Bruce Allen Smith obituary
• Granny Messenger Find a Grave entry