Route 66 - The Crossroads of Country Music in Springfield, Missouri
Discover the musical legacy along Springfield's Mother Road!
By The State Historical Society of Missouri
By Haley Frizzle-Green, Archivist, State Historical Society of Missouri
Springfield, MissouriThe State Historical Society of Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri, once rivaled Nashville, Tennessee, as the nation’s “Country Music Capital” due to its success in radio and television broadcasting. Springfield’s music scene rose to prominence starting with the vision of Ralph Foster in 1932.
Ralph Foster
Ralph Foster was a radio and television pioneer from St. Joseph, Missouri. After operating a radio station in St. Joseph, he brought the industry to Springfield, eventually establishing KWTO radio station, RadiOzark Enterprises, and the popular television show Ozark Jubilee.
Local entertainment
KWTO’s mission was rooted in promoting the Ozarks, leading to rapid and long-lasting success. The station’s broadcasts were a unique combination of local news, entertainment, and most importantly, selling the Ozarks to the world.
Keep Watching the Ozarks
Broadcasting from it's studio on Route 66, KWTO’s signal reached north of the Missouri River, east to Rolla, northwest to Kansas City, and south to northwest Arkansas. Accordingly, the station’s popularity rose, and a slogan was adopted: "Keep Watching the Ozarks"
RadiOzark Enterprises
With KWTO dominating the airwaves in southwest Missouri, Ralph Foster needed more performers to fill airtime and bring in advertisers. He founded RadiOzark Enterprises, Inc., in 1944 to book live performances throughout the Ozarks.
The Dial
In addition to talent booking, RadiOzark also created and sold books of songs, music, and square dance instruction. By the late 1940s, RadiOzark added KWTO's The Dial to its list of publications.
Syndicated programming
RadiOzark eventually became best known for producing prerecorded radio shows, which they aired first over KWTO and then leased to other stations as syndicated programming. Called “transcriptions,” the phonograph records were mailed to stations across the country and Canada.
The Dial (1951) by KWTO Radio StationThe State Historical Society of Missouri
"Chuggin' On Down '66"
Inspired by the Mother Road, country music star and comedian Smiley Burnette wrote "Chuggin' On Down '66" in 1954. Listen as Smiley performs the song as a guest on The Red Foley Show, part of the RadiOzark Record Collection at the The State Historical Society of Missouri.
Television success
After their success in radio, RadiOzark executives turned their attention to a new form of media. First airing locally on KYTV, the Ozark Jubilee television show premiered on December 26, 1953.
Jewell TheatreThe State Historical Society of Missouri
Jewell Theatre
The show later moved to the Jewell Theatre, located half a block away from Route 66, in downtown Springfield. The Jewell provided more than 1,000 seats to accommodate the Jubilee’s live audience. With Red Foley hosting, the show was so popular that ABC-TV picked up the program.
National spotlight
Viewership grew quickly for Ozark Jubilee, with more than 12 million viewers during the show’s first year. During live broadcasts, the Jubilee averaged 2,000 visitors a week, with as many as 34 states represented on a single night.
Homegrown talent
Regular performers included Slim Wilson and the Tall Timber Trio, Porter Wagoner, and the Foggy River Boys. Many country music artists began their career on Ozark Jubilee, including Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, and Chet Atkins.
End of an era
By 1956, Springfield had become the nation’s third-largest production center for live TV behind New York City and Hollywood. Sadly, after nearly eight years and almost 300 shows, Ozark Jubilee's last broadcast was on September 24, 1960.
KWTO Staff by KWTO Radio StationThe State Historical Society of Missouri
Lasting legacy
After the curtain fell on Ozark Jubilee, KWTO was sold in 1974, leaving RadiOzark to exist only on paper. Although Springfield's entertainment empire had come to an end, it leaves behind a lasting legacy that won't be forgotten.
Located across from the Colonial Hotel on South Jefferson Avenue, the Jewell Theatre (left) was the home of ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee from 1955 to 1960. After the Jubilee ended, the building was sold and subsequently razed in 1961. Today, the site is home to a small park and an adjoining parking lot (right).
Authored by Haley Frizzle-Green, Archivist, State Historical Society of Missouri
Read more about Ralph Foster on his Historic Missourians page.
Find more Missouri Route 66 images in SHSMO Digital Collections.
See other Missouri locations along the Mother Road on this Missouri Route 66 History StoryMap.
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