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| General Store • GENERAL STORE HOME • BLUEGRASS NEWS • BLUEGRASS FESTS • OZARK FESTS • GOSPEL NEWS • BRANSON |
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| • HOME • GENERAL STORE • NATURAL HERITAGE • HISTORY, CULTURE & CRAFTSMANSHIP |
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• BRANSON SHOWS
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• PRESLEYS THEATER
PRESLEYS COUNTRY JUBILEE. Call (417) 334-4874. Visit Presleys.com..
• BALDKNOBBERS THEATER
THE BALDKNOBBERS JAMBOREE SHOW. Call (417) 334-4528. VisitBaldknobbers.com.
• THE NEW AMERICANA THEATRE
3 REDNECK TENORS
TODD OLIVER & HIS TALKING DOGS!
JOSEPH HALL ELVIS TRIBUTE
CASSANDRE HAYGOOD & FRIENDS
Call (417) 339-0099. Visit TheAmericanaTheatre.com.
• CLAY COOPER THEATRE
CLAY COOPER'S COUNTRY MUSIC EXPRESS
RED, HOT & BLUE!
RANKIN BROTHERS
BUCKETS N BOARDS
Call (417) 332-2529. Visit Clay Cooper Theatre.com.
• STARLITE THEATRE
THE TEXAS TENORS
RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS’ BILL MEDLEY
CIRQUE MONTAGE
A CHRISTMAS SNOW
Call (417) 337-9333. Visit Starlite Theatre.com.
• THE ANDY WILLIAMS MOON RIVER THEATRE
THE CAT’S PAJAMAS
OH WHAT A NIGHT!
THE FINALISTS LIVE!
DICK VAN DYKE
JACK JONES
RAY STEVENS
PAT & DEBBY BOONE
CHRISTMAS WITH THE LENNON SISTERS
THE ANDY WILLIAMS CHRISTMAS SHOW
Call (800) 666-6094. Visit Andy Williams.com.
• BRANSON VARIETY THEATER
The Branson Variety Theater is currently closed for repairs. Call (417) 334-2500. Visit BransonVarietyTheater.com.
• BRANSON MALL THEATER
The Branson Mall Theater is currently closed for repairs. 2206 WEST 76 COUNTRY BOULEVARD
BRANSON, MISSOURI 65616
(417) 334-5412
• GRAND COUNTRY SQUARE
AMAZING PETS
BRANSON COUNTRY USA LATE SHOW
COMEDY JAMBOREE
DOWN HOME COUNTRY
GRAND JUBILEENEW SOUTH GOSPEL
OZARK MOUNTAIN JUBILEE
SUNDAY GOSPEL JUBILEE
Call (888) 506-6278. Visit GrandCountry.com.
• MUSIC CITY CENTRE
DOUG GABRIEL.
BILL HAILEY & THE COMETS
THE MAGIC & COMEDY OF TAYLOR REED
BARBARA FAIRCHILD SUNDAY WORSHIP
Call (417) 339-7469. Visit MusicCityCentre.com.
• GOD AND COUNTRY THEATER
WADE LANDRY: SWINGIN' CAJUN STYLE
EAGLES TRIBUTE
ALWAYS PATSY with LISA LAYNE
STATLER BROTHERS REVISITED
MIKE WALKER AND FRIENDS
THE TWEED SHOW.
ANGELS OF COUNTRY
ALABAMA REVIVAL
COWBOY CHURCH
Call (417) 334-6806. Visit GACBranson.com.
76 COUNTRY BOULEVARD (WEST OF GRETNA Road)
• JIM STAFFORD THEATER
THE JIM STAFFORD SHOW
MOE BANDY SHOW
Call (417) 335-8080. Visit JimStafford.com.
• THE ICON THEATER
JUKEBOX JOURNEY
THE PLATTERS
THE RAT PACK
THE LENNON MORNING SHOW
CHUBBY CHECKERS
LIVERPOOL LEGENDS
Call (417) 226-4266. Visit TheIconTheatre.com.
• THE HUGHES BROTHERS THEATER
it 2012 SHOW
Hughes Brorthers Christmas Show
Call (417) 334-0076. Visit Hughes-Brothers.com.
• CARAVELLE THEATRE
#1 HITS OF THE 60’S
Call (417) 339-1960. Visit 1Hitsofthe60s.com
• MICKEY GILLEY THEATRE
SIX: AN ORCHESTRA OF HUMAN VOICES
THE MICKEY GILLEY SHOW
THE JOEY RILEY'S COMEDY & MUSIC REVIEW
Call (800) 334-1936. Visit Gilleys.com.
• DUTTON FAMILY THEATER
THE DUTTONS' SHOW
GEORGE DYER
Call (417) 334-8873. Visit TheDuttons.com.
• RFD-TV THE THEATRE
THE HAYGOODS
BUCK TRENT
ROY ROGERS JR
SPECIAL GUESTS:
MOLLIE B POLKA PARTY
MARTY STUART
Call (417) 332-2344. Visit RFDTVTheTheatre.com.
SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS EXPRESSWAY (WEST SIDE)
• IMAX LITTLE OPRY THEATRE
GEORGE STRAIT: A TRIBUTE
A TRIBUTE TO JOHN DENVER
HANK WILLIAMS REVISITED
SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN
SANDERS FAMILY CHRISTMAS
A TRIBUTE TO MARTY ROBBINS
PETERSEN FAMILY BLUEGRASS
SUNDAY SERVICES
Call (417) 335-4832. Visit BransonIMAX.com.
• PIERCE ARROW THEATER
THE PIERCE ARROW SHOW
Call (417) 336-8742. Visit PierceArrowTheater.com.
• THE SHOJI TABUCHI THEATER
THE SHOJI TABUCHI SHOW.
Call (417) 334-7401. Visit SHOJI.com.
• HAMNER BARBER THEATER
THE HAMNER BARBER VARIETY SHOW
THE DALENA DITTO SHOW
THE WINGS OF CHRISTMAS
Call (888) 335-2080. Visit HamnerBarber.com.
WEST OF BRANSON (HIGHWAY 76 AND ALSO LAMPE, MO)
• SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS
THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS OUTDOOR DRAMA. SONS OF THE PIONEERS CHUCKWAGON DINNER SHOW
SUPER SUMMER CRUISE
THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS
Call (800) 653-6288. Visit Old Matt.com.
• SILVER DOLLAR CITY
WORLD- FEST
(April 12 to May 6)
BLUEGRASS & BBQ
(May 10 to June 3)
NATIONAL KIDS FEST
(June 9 to July 22)
SOUTHERN GOSPEL PICNIC
(August 24 to September 3)
NATIONAL HARVEST FESTIVAL
(September 13 to October 27)
AN OLD-TIME CHRISTMAS
(November 3 to December 30)
Call (800) 475-9370. Visit SilverDollarCity.com.
• BLACK OAK MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATER
For 2012 schedule, call (417) 779-1222. Visit BLKOak Amp.com.
Above, Dick’s Old-Time 5 &10 illuminated in an early evening rain, Historic Downtown, 03/20/12. Photo credits, J. Heston. Branson, Missouri.
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Old-time dime stores are no longer a dime a dozen. Just a generation ago, the hometown five-and-ten experience was common throughout the country. Today, changing economies and the rivalry of gigantic box stores have made dime stores — complete with candy counters, wooden shelves, green tile floors and every item imaginable — nearly a thing of the past.
Not in Branson, Missouri. Dick’s Old-Time 5 & 10, owned by the Hartley family and manned by a dedicated staff of long-time employees, proves the classic dime-store experience still touches hearts and provides good business.
The store was founded by Dick Hartley, a Springfield, Missouri-native and World War II veteran. After the war, Hartley graduated from Springfield’s Drury University with a degree in economics — thanks to the GI Bill — and learned the ropes of retail by working for the S.S. Kresge Company and the T G & Y Variety Stores.
In 1961, the Ozarks called Hartley and his growing family home and — when the opportunity allowed — the move to Branson was made. Son Steve Hartley remembers, “He opened up the location as a Davis Paint Store but soon bought enough pencils and paper and a few other things to qualify it as a variety store. Money was tight but he believed in his mission.”
Down the street, downtown was dominated by a Ben Franklin Dime Store. However, in 1973, “Wal-Mart came to town and the Ben Franklin store came up for sale. My father said at the dinner table, ‘This is a great opportunity so we are going to tighten our belts and we will make a go of it.’”
Hartley purchased the store. Now, 50 years later, Dick’s Old-Time 5 &10 is a thriving icon in America’s live music capital. Dick would pass away on December 9, 2006, at the age of 80, but his personal touch is faithfully preserved by Steve.
“His philosophy was to make shopping fun again,” notes the younger Hartley, “to provide the widest assortment of merchandise anywhere and top it off with all our very interesting collections. The arrowhead collection came from a local barbarshop. Lou Schafer, the former mayor, encouraged my father, saying, ‘You need more than just merchandise.’”
It was advice the business owner took to heart. Amidst a nearly unfathomable number of items for sale, near-museum-level collections are tidily scattered throughout the store. Classic aircraft paintings, many of vintage 1940’s warbirds, hang over aisles. A hand-made track encircles much of the store upon which a toy train rattles merrily overhead. Native American arrowhead collections, toy trains, and a baseball wall of fame are only part of what is on display.
“He was a brilliant man,” says Hartley of his father. “He was excited about people having a fun shopping experience.”
To that end, Steve Hartley travels to 15 different markets each year to develop inventory. Nothing is purchased online. All store records are kept by hand. “We don’t spend time in the back of the store looking at a computer. We are out on the floor all the time, interacting with customers. It is what gives our store its personality.”
Personality it has in abundance. Yearly travel to markets as significant as the New York City Toy Market and the Chicago Candy Market result in an unmatched selection of... everything. “We have 20 feet of cap guns, 60 feet of games, 20 feet of puzzles. Everything we do here is in honor of my father. If you do not have heart and passion in business these days, it will be very difficult to survive.”
With that in mind, Dick’s Old-Time 5 & 10 has a bright and secure future.
Joshua Heston, editor
May 11, 2012
76 Country Boulevard, The Strip, 07/4/08. Photo credits, J. Heston. Branson, Missouri.
DOWNTOWN BRANSON
• OWENS HISTORIC THEATRE
TWICE BORN
For the 2012 schedule, call (417) 336-1114. Visit Owens Theater.com.
• BRANSON LANDING
For the 2012 schedule, call (417) 239-3002. Visit Branson Landing.com.
NORTH SIDE OF BRANSON (248 AND ALSO GRETNA Road)
• TRI-LAKES CENTER
For 2012 schedule, call (417) 336-0219. Visit TriLakesCenter.com.
• SIGHT & SOUND THEATRE
JOSEPH
Call (417) 335-7900. Visit Sight-Sound.com.
• WHITE HOUSE THEATRE
LEGEND OF KUNG FU
Call (417) 335-2396.Visit KungFuBranson.com.
• THE MANSION THEATRE
RED: TOM MULLICA’S RED SKELTON TRIBUTE
GEORGE JONES
(October 12 & November 9)
TIM CONWAY & FRIENDS
(October 19-20 & November 10-11)
JOHNNY MATHIS CHRISTMAS SHOW
(November 16-17)
Call (866) 707-4100. Visit TheMansionTheatre.com.
248 SHEPHERD & HIGHWAY 65
• THE OAK RIDGE BOYS THEATRE
THE OAK RIDGE BOYS. Select dates, April, June, September, October & November. Call (866) 707-4100. Visit OakRidgeBoysTheatre.com.
SAWYER BROWN
(April 20 & October 19)
• YAKOV'S THEATRE
YAKOV LIVE! SHOW!
YAKOV'S DINNER ADVENTURE
A BRADY LUNCH W/ GREG BRADY (BARRY WILLIAMS)
Call (417) 336-4546. Visit Yakov.com.
76 COUNTRY BOULEVARD & FALL CREEK Road
• DIXIE STAMPEDE
DIXIE STAMPEDE DINNER & SHOW
Call (800) 520-5544. Visit DixieStampede.com.
• DICK CLARK'S AMERICAN BANDSTAND THEATER & AREA 57
LEGENDS IN CONCERT
THE BRETT FAMILY SHOW
Call (417) 336-4222. Visit BrettFamily.com DickClarksABBranson.com or LegendsInConcert.com.
SOUTH SIDE OF BRANSON (165 AND ALSO 265)
• BRANSON CENTRAL THEATRE
CIRCLE B SUPPER SHOW
MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE.
Call (417) 336-1828. Visit CircleBShow.com.
• NEW SHANGHAI THEATRE
ACROBATS OF CHINA
Call (417) 336-8888. Visit AcrobatsofChina.com.
• WELK THEATER BRANSON
WIT & WISDOM TOUR: RED GREEN (A HILARIOUS ONE-MAN SHOW) APRIL 29 2PM
Call (800) 505-9355. Visit Welk Branson.com.