Mammoth Spring in Fulton County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

George D. Hay

The Solemn Old Judge

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2021

1. George D. Hay Marker

Inscription. Dedicated Sept. 3, 1988 in memory of
George D. Hay • The Solemn Old Judge

He was inspired by the enthusiasm and genius of country musicians at a hoedown in Mammoth Spring in 1920 to originate the world famous Grand Old Opry in 1925

Erected 1988.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.

Location. 36° 29.743′ N, 91° 32.342′ W. Marker is in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, in Fulton County. It is at the intersection of Main Street (Arkansas Route 9) and 2nd Street, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Ground-level granite marker is located near the northeast corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 165 Main Street, Mammoth Spring AR 72554, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Arkansas’ Ozark Plateau.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Ozarks.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds

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itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Civil War in Fulton County / Action at Salem (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Big Gun (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Soldier's Reunion (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mammoth Spring (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dam Site #1 and Mammoth Spring Milling Company (approx. ¼ mile away); The Development of Mammoth Spring (approx. ¼ mile away); What Am I Standing On? (approx. ¼ mile away); Arkansas-Missouri Power Company (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mammoth Spring.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. George D. Hay

Also see . . .
1. George D. Hay: Founder of The Grand Ole Opry. WHRO Public Media website entry:

George D. Hay first experienced rural mountain music as a reporter when he had been on assignment in the Ozarks — what he called “a real backwoods community.” As a radio programmer at a time when
via Wikipedia, unknown

2. George D. Hay
stations like WSM could be heard coast to coast, he realized that there was a high demand for traditional mountain music and old-time tunes.

(Submitted on February 16, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. George D. Hay. Wikipedia entry:

On November 9, 1925, Hay's 30th birthday, he moved on to WSM-AM in Nashville. Getting a strong listener reaction to 78-year-old fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson that November, Hay announced the following month that WSM would feature "an hour or two" of old-time music every Saturday night. He promoted the music and formed a booking agency. The show was originally named WSM Barn Dance, and Hay billed himself as "The Solemn Old Judge."

(Submitted on February 16, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. George Dewey “Judge” Hay. Find A Grave website entry:

He was noted for being the first announcer on the world renowned, Grand Ole Opry radio program. In November 1925, when NBC aired the first Grand Ole Opry program from Nashville, he was at the helm as the show's MC. He was an announcer with the radio show during the 1940s and toured the country with
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2021

3. George D. Hay Marker
(looking north from Main Street)
Opry acts. In 1966, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

(Submitted on February 16, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 15, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 662 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 16, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on June 5, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on February 16, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.