Lee Mace Ozark Opry

Lee Mace & His Ozark Opry

"How many of you folks here came to have a good time?"

by Kelly Warman-Stallings

Published to WTTP on 6 April 2026

Lee Mace was born near Brumley, Missouri, on July 30, 1927, to Lucien T. and Anna J. “Clare” (Buster) Mace. Growing up in Miller County’s Glaize Township, he spent much of his childhood joining his parents at friends’ homes for lively musical gatherings filled with singing, dancing, and the sounds of instruments carrying through the house.

Mr. Mace was from a musical family; his mother was an accomplished fiddler. She taught her son the fine art of the fiddle and by the time he reached adulthood, he became known for his "rousing, slapping, free-wheeling bass fiddle".

While serving in the U.S. Army with the 28th General Hospital Unit in France, Mace started a band as he awaited deployment to Korea. He was supposed to be the bass player, but there wasn’t a bass available.

His nephew, Dave Webb, recalls that Mace found one in a dump with a broken neck. He hauled it back, and a fellow soldier who’d worked in his dad’s cabinet shop fixed it—using a baseball bat. The repair held up, and if you look closely, you can still see where the bat was used. Mace went on to play that bass in countless shows both overseas and in the U.S.A. Built in 1938, it was a rare Key bass fiddle, with fewer than 50 ever made according to a bass fiddle registry.

On August 25, 2022, before a crowd of more than 30 family members, friends, and former Ozark Opry performers, Lee Mace’s old bass fiddle was placed on display at the Missouri State Museum in Jefferson City.

After finishing his tour in Korea, Lee Mace returned to Miller County. He married Margaret Joyce Williams (1925-2021) on 16 August 1950. She was born in Linn Creek, Missouri. In 1953, Lee and Joyce rented a building near the Bagnell Dam in Lake Ozark, and that was the start of the Ozark Opry. Wanting to preserve old-time traditions, the Maces brought in local musicians, singers and comedians, with Lee Mace as the showman who drew crowds of people with his special bass fiddle performances.

Two shows a week were offered in the beginning, then the schedule rose to four shows a week while the Opry remained in the Lake Ozark location. By 1957, the need for a bigger building arose, and Mace had a new building erected in Osage Beach (Camden County). The auditorium held up to 1,000 people, with the show now running six days a week.

During the off-season, Lee Mace hit the road with his show, starting out with two cars before upgrading to a bus. Eventually, he added an airplane to his lineup of vehicles. Most of the time, he’d fly with two members of the show while the rest traveled by bus. A passionate pilot, Mace often took to the skies just for the sheer joy of flying in his spare time.

The Ozark Opry was a stage for local talent, offering a mix of music, comedy, and showmanship. Over its 53-year run, it welcomed about 10 million guests. For the Maces, the real value wasn’t in the numbers, but in the joy and community the Opry brought to life.

In 1957, the Maces built the Ozark Opry Auditorium along old Highway 54, and its popularity quickly soared. Mace was credited with creating the first live half-hour family show in America, an achievement recognized by Senator Kit Bond, who entered the Ozark Opry into the Congressional Record. The show became a model still used in the Branson entertainment industry today. The Ozark Opry aired on KRCG in Jefferson City, and KMOS in Sedalia every Thursday at 6:30 p.m., with seasons running from mid-April to mid-October.

On June 16, 1985, he and a friend took off in a small experimental plane, but they did not make it home. The two were killed when the plane crashed near Gravois Mills (Morgan County). Mace was 57 and had made more than 10,000 consecutive appearances in his 37-year career.

After Mace's passing, his wife, Joyce, ran the Ozark Opry for over 20 years before closing it in 2006. A savvy businesswoman, she preferred working behind the scenes but stepped into the spotlight whenever needed.

Mr. Mace built Lee Mace’s Ozark Opry into one of Missouri’s most influential cultural landmarks. With a natural gift for showmanship and a deep respect for Ozark traditions, he shaped the Opry’s signature mix of string music, clean comedy, and family‑friendly atmosphere. He was a cultural leader, a seasoned entertainer and a shrewd businessman. Mace’s steady leadership and personal style turned the show into a regional institution that drew millions over four decades. Through the Opry, he became the defining public voice of the Lake of the Ozarks, giving the region a recognizable identity and setting the tone for its early tourism era.

It was an era that made the Ozark Opry the second‑oldest in the U.S., with Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry being older. On the 50th anniversary of the Ozark Opry in 2002, Congress passed a resolution thanking the Maces for their long record of community service. Lee Mace's Ozark Opry operated from 1953 to 2006. Today, in 2026, the old Opry building houses a Harbor Freight store.

For many, Lee Mace was more than just an entertainer—he represented economic progress and was a true trailblazer for the lake area. As two of the original Lake of the Ozarks pioneers, Lee and Joyce Mace believed deeply in the region’s potential. Mace invested early in local businesses and tirelessly championed growth. With their community-minded values, popular music, and genuine hospitality, they paved the way for future prosperity—not only for fellow musicians, friends, and family, but for the entire community.

When people think of Lee Mace, those who knew him or watched his show instantly picture him with a bass fiddle. Fittingly, his headstone was crafted in the shape of one. Weighing over 3,500 pounds, it was delivered in two pieces and today stands proudly in the Gott Cemetery, where he is buried.

"How many of you folks here came to have a good time?"

This was Lee Mace's catchphrase, spoken before every show.