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Grand Ole Opry history
Grand Ole Opry company history timeline
At 8 p.m. on November 28, 1925, Hay pronounced himself “The Solemn Old Judge” (though he was actually only 30 years old) and launched, along with championship fiddler, Uncle Jimmy Thompson, what would become the WSM Barn Dance.
Grand Ole Opry, also called Opry, country music show in Nashville, Tenn., United States, which began weekly radio broadcasts in December 1925, playing traditional country or hillbilly music.
Founded by George Dewey Hay, who had helped organize a similar program, the WLS “National Barn Dance,” in Chicago, the show was originally known as the “WSM Barn Dance,” acquiring its lasting name in 1926.
Hay renamed the show the Grand Ole Opry in 1927 and its popularity grew rapidly.
Early 1930’s: After fans would try to get a glimpse of performers in the hallways of the National Life and Accident Insurance Company building, they decided they needed to move the Grand Ole Opry to a much bigger location to house their fans.
1932: The Grand Ole Opry’s popularity started going all over North America, even hitting Canada.
In October of 1934, the Grand Ole Opry picked up and moved from National Life’s offices to a community playhouse just outside of Vanderbilt University.
On October 3, 1934, the Opry moved into a small community playhouse near Vanderbilt University that still operates today as The Belcourt Theatre.
The Opry moved to the War Memorial Auditorium in 1939.
In the summer of 1949, a 25-year-old Hank Williams took the stage for the first time to perform “Lovesick Blues.” The crowd gave him such an enthusiastic reception: He was called back for six encores – a house record.
Honky-tonk angel, Patsy Cline, became an Opry member at the Ryman 1960.
Cline’s life was cut short in March 1963 by an airplane crash that also killed fellow entertainers Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins.
1963: The National Life Insurance Company purchased the Ryman Auditorium for $207,000 to call their home for the next couple of years.
Then in 1969, the insurance company announced they were building a new hotel and theme park to go along with the Opry, as well as a new home for the Grand Ole Opry.
On March 15, 1974, the Opry made its last broadcast from Ryman before moving to its new custom-built home, The Grand Ole Opry House at Opryland.
The show broadcast from the downtown venue, which came to be known as the “Mother Church of Country Music,” until March 15, 1974 when it moved into the larger Grand Ole Opry House across the city.
Then the new Opry House was opened on March 16, 1974.
1980’s: In the 1980’s Country music boomed across America.
Then on 1998 there was a benefit concert at the Ryman hosted by the Opry which was their first return since leaving.
1999: The Opry returned to the Ryman due to construction over at the Grand Ole Opry House.
In 2004, the Opry House surpassed the Ryman as the Opry’s most enduring home.
In May 2010 during the historic flood in Nashville, the Opry House was severely damaged and as a result received a major renovation.
When the Grand Ole Opry House was devastated by a flood in May 2010, War Memorial reopened its doors to the Opry for a stint as repairs were made.
The Opry returned to the Opry House on September 28, 2010 and had a special edition of the performances aired on Great American Country and was titled Country Comes Home
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| Company name | Founded date | Revenue | Employee size | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National A-1 Advertising | - | $320,000 | 4 | - |
| Total Outsource | 1999 | $14.1M | 170 | - |
| A+ Staffing | 1995 | $11.0M | 300 | - |
| Vault.com | 1996 | $550,000 | 5 | - |
| Gold Star | - | $740,000 | 10 | 55 |
| Suarez Industries | 1968 | $120.0M | 750 | - |
| Thibaut Design | 1886 | $48.0M | 50 | 3 |
| USA Mobile Drug Testing | 2008 | $5.2M | 100 | 27 |
| Firefly | 2007 | $15.0M | 170 | 7 |
| Circle International Inc | - | $120.0M | 1,000 | 30 |
Grand Ole Opry history FAQs
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Grand Ole Opry may also be known as or be related to Grand Ole Opry, LLC, Grand Ole Opry and OPRY TRUST FUND INC.