Click image for hi-resolution version. Photo courtesy Gaylord Entertainment.
Many acts have graced the stage of Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, and their influence has reverberated beyond country and rock 'n' roll circles to the fabric of American culture. While their musical styles have varied, since 1951 they have shared one constant: the Ryman's oak stage.
Frequent use by the pantheon of American music gods and goddesses—Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Garth Brooks, the list goes on—has worn out the stage, and the building's owner, Gaylord Entertainment, has opted to replace it with a stage made from FSC-certified Brazilian teak. The new stage will carry a 120,000-pound load-bearing capacity, whereas the current stage can bear 40,000 pounds of weight. Gaylord Entertainment also chose Brazilian teak when it replaced the stage at the Grand Ole Opry House in 2010 after the historic Nashville flood.
Contemporary country star Keith Urban, returning from vocal surgery, will have lead billing during the final performance on the current stage on Friday when the Grand Ole Opry closes out its annual winter series of performances at the Ryman, which was the home of the Opry from 1943 to 1974. Joining Urban on stage will be Grand Ole Opry members Charley Pride and The Oak Ridge Boys, and rising stars Eden's Edge. The stage replacement will take two weeks; construction crews will begin work on Saturday in order to complete the work by Feb. 20, when Grammy nominee The Band Perry makes its sold-out debut at the Ryman.
In addition to the new wood floor, existing hickory support beams will be strengthened with concrete at their bases, joists will be reinforced with steel brackets, and new cross-beams will be put in place. The size of the stage will remain unchanged at 60.5 feet by 36.5 feet.
Pieces from the current stage will be saved and re-installed in an 18-inch strip at the new stage's front. Gaylord Entertainment has not announced plans for the rest of the oak material from the current stage.
Here's a video of Bob Dylan performing on the first episode of The Johnny Cash Show, which was recorded at the Ryman Auditorium and aired June 17, 1969.
Here is a brief history of the Ryman, courtesy of Gaylord Entertainment:
1892 - When the Union Gospel Tabernacle opened its doors in 1892, it was used primarily for religious revivals, most notably those by Reverend Sam Jones for whom the building was built. Although without a stage at the time, the building did host concert performances by artists ranging from Fisk Jubilee Singers to John Philip Sousa. It wasn’t until Tom Ryman's death in 1904 that the venue was renamed Ryman Auditorium in honor of the man who was the chief benefactor and driving force behind its construction.
1901 - At the special request of the Metropolitan Opera, funds were raised and the first stage was finally built so that the Ryman could accommodate performances of "Carmen" and "The Barber of Seville." The addition of a stage made it possible for the Ryman to host luminaries from every facet of the entertainment business including the likes of Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, Helen Hayes, Katherine Hepburn, Bob Hope, Harry Houdini, Orson Wells and Mae West. Speeches were made by presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft as well as Williams Jennings Bryant and Booker T. Washington. The Grand Ole Opry moved to the Ryman in 1943 and for 31 years its broadcast served as a beacon to bring the pioneers of classic country music to the Ryman. Bluegrass music traces its origin to the Ryman where on December 8, 1945 Earl Scruggs joined Bill Monroe and Lester Flatt on the Opry for the first time. It was during an Opry show in 1949 that Hank Williams made his debut and was called back for six encores.
1951 - The Ryman's existing stage was removed and replaced by a larger, more durable stage that allowed the venerable building to meet the production needs of performances at the time. The Grand Ole Opry entered the realm of television in 1955 bringing the likes of Roy Acuff, The Carter Family, Dolly Parton, Minnie Pearl, Marty Stuart and Porter Wagoner into homes coast to coast. Johnny Cash was among those who got his start on the Opry during this time. He would go on to film “The Johnny Cash Show” at the Ryman, bringing an eclectic mix of guests to the Ryman ranging from Neil Diamond to Stevie Wonder and from Eric Clapton’s Derek & The Dominos to Linda Ronstadt.
1994 - During the Ryman's major renovations in the early nineties, stage improvements included the addition of a proscenium as well as accommodations for modern audio and lighting systems. The Ryman's diverse programming has continued with the biggest names in show business including The Black Keys, Harry Connick, Jr., Kris Kristofferson, Lady Antebellum, The Raconteurs, Robert Plant, Van Morrison and more. The Ryman also has been featured in many television and film projects including "American Idol," Levon Helm's "Ramble at the Ryman," Neil Young's "Heart of Gold," "Coal Miner's Daughter," O Brother, Where Art Thou? concert film "Down from the Mountain" and Austin City Limits Live "Americana Music Awards."
|
