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By Jimmy Lancaster
Jimmy has been covering the Branson "Stars" for
more than 14 years and is the Entertainment Editor for the "Branson
Daily News," the best source of news and information about
the Branson Tri-Lakes area paper. Call 1-800-280-3211 for Subscription
information.
The Patch group now has a new TV channel - Channel 15 in the Springfield area. Not only that, but there is all-new programming for TV 5 in Branson and Channel 15 with the United Paramount Network. The switch was thrown earlier this week for Springfield's station at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Congratulations on this new station and new programming. Incidentally, you can see yours truly on TV 5 in Springfield and Branson on the morning show, "Rise and Shine," which is now simulcast.
There are two new films at the Ozarks Discovery IMAX Theatre, Fires Of Kuwait and Destiny in Space.
Fires of Kuwait, is about when the Gulf War ended in the middle east in 1991. There was 27 teams from 10 countries that had to put out the 607 blazing oil wells that were left after the war. Get ready to see how it was done. Destiny in Space takes a look at the history of space exploration. Both of these movies are shown on the six-story IMAX screen. Call the IMAX box office for show times.
Yakov Smirnoff will return to the Grand Palace next year. Currently he is performing his morning breakfast show there.
He will be having a new evening show there starting Feb. 14. That show will help support Hot Winter Fun to encourage visitors to come to Branson during the winter months. Then, in April, Yakov will add his morning show to his schedule.
Starting in May, the evening show will be replaced with a matinee. He will continue his matinees through July and August and will be performing his morning show on Saturdays. In Sept. and Oct. more shows will be added to the schedule and in Nov. and Dec. of '96 he will have a full schedule of morning shows.
John Davidson, who will be returning to the Glen Campbell Theatre next year, has been doing well with his �State Fair� Broadway show on the road, according to Arno Wehr of the Tribesman Resort. Wehr and his family went to see Davidson in Peoria, Ill., and the show as a sellout. In his show, John has an invitation to meet the audience after the show �in the tradition of Branson� and it is really an experience for the playgoers, according to Wehr.
State Fair has set attendance records in Des Moines, Iowa and was number four in attendance at Wolf Trap in Virginia. The show will go to Broadway in 1996 and Wehr said that John will be in it. Wehr said in his note that the show will also go to England to give more exposure to the Branson area. Congratulations to John Davidson on State Fair.
I understand that we are only a few stores away from being declared the shopping outlet mall capital of the world. Not only have our theaters, restaurants, motels and attractions exploded with lots of opportunities, but so has the retail. It will not be long until we have this title because another group of stores, Factory Stores of America, have opened their doors in the new Branson Meadows. Welcome to Branson.
The Showboat Branson Belle has added yet a fourth cruise to its schedule. This time it's a breakfast cruise with an entirely different show. The show, "Mark Twain and Me," is about legendary writer, Samuel Langhorn Clemons and his wife, Olivia. Olivia tells the story about her husband with music, speech and song.
It's a nice little show and fits in with an early-morning cruise which starts at 8 a.m. Cruises are Tuesdays through Saturdays for breakfast.
A neat thing about this production is that you see Mark Twain age in about 40 to 45 minutes from a young man in his '30s to a man 70 years old. The acting and singing by Karly Kerley and Jack Nelson, who portray Olivia and Mark Twain, is excellent. I especially loved the singing of Kerley and the funny, one-line zingers that Nelson does as Mark Twain.
Incidentally, Kerley also is the understudy and portrays the role of Annabelle Layton on the evening and day cruises on the Showboat Branson Belle several days a week.
The food is also a pleasure with sweet rolls, egg casserole, ham and potatoes with juice and coffee. It is a good way to get your day going.
Another great feature about the cruise is that there is a lot of time after you eat to explore the Showboat Branson Belle and hear some interesting facts about the vessel and Table Rock Lake.
You might say this early-morning cruise is like the mini-skirt It's long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to be interesting. Be sure to check this out because it's yet another way to squeeze in another attraction in a busy day in Branson.
And don't forget the other cruises at lunch time and two at evenings on the Showboat with the Showboat Jubilee Show.
Mel Tillis is now stuttering mad after this Labor Day. He went on his sailboat that he inherited from his late friend - Burl Ives (Ives passed away a few months ago) He was maneuvering his sailboat and lost his wallet in Table Rock Lake, according to his wife, Judy Tillis.
Judy said that if anyone catches a fish and comes up with the Masonic symbol it's because Tillis is a Mason. Be sure to return it to Tillis. Mel, I wish you luck in finding your billfold.
Box Car Willie has his new autobiography out at his theater and I understand that Saturday, Sept. 9, he will be autographing his book at the Branson K-Mart. I have read this book. It is really an eye opener and there are some stunning moments in the book.
Look for a future Hot Spot which will tell you more about this fascinating book, written by one of Branson's top country artists.
Better hurry, the show "Titanica" goes off in early Sept. at the Imax Theatre to be replaced by "The Fires of Kuwait" and "Destiny in Space."
I went to see the "Ozark Legacy and Legend" - and it was even better the second time around than it was, the first time I saw it. Make sure you see both of these emotional movies on a six-story screen.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Country Tonite Show with the high energy and great country music that this large cast can do at the Country Tonite Theatre.
They do everything from Billy Ray Cyrus to country classics. There is great clogging and all sorts of effects. They have even added a new song or two and some special lighting effects since their season opener.
I also enjoyed the singing of Jimmy Chandler, Kimberly Caldwell, Okie Brown and Dawn L McArthur. The cast, the cloggers and the comedy just brought the audience to their feet.
Another special Point on the show is David Bradley who yodeled and sang in the western tradition. Emcee Clay Cooper does a fantastic job of not only singing but emceeing the show. Johnny Lonestar can really crack the whip and do all sorts of rope tricks, too.
And to think, half of the cast was down with a bronchial infection and viruses - and they went on stage like real troupers.
For those that have missed some of the news in the Branson Daily News, I will provide a brief update.
First of all, the Charley Pride Theatre announced that Janie Fricke and Jimmy Travis will team up for some 70 shows next year at the Charley Pride Theatre. Don Williams and Skiles and Henderson will not be back at the theater next year. Fricke has won CMA Female Vocalist of the year in the early 1980s and has had hits such as "He's a Heartache," "She's Single Again" and "It Ain't Easy Being Easy." Travis is a comedian and had been doing morning shows at the theater. Charley Pride will be back, and the Oak Ridge Boys will be performing for more dates at the theater in 1996.
Ray Price will be performing 26 dates at the Gettysburg Theatre this fall starting on Sept. 19 and running through Nov. 3. Price has had many hits including the 11 million selling hit "For the Good Times."
Chisai Childs called to tell me that Chisai and the Starliters are not performing at the Ozark Jubilee Theatre, and for now they are in retirement. She told me that competition is tough in Branson. We wish, Chisai luck in whatever she does in the future. Chisai brought a lot of some of our current stars to town - most notably Shoji Tabuchi and Doug Gabriel during the '80s.
I did talk with the Jubilee Theatre, and they said they were putting a Jubilee show together with a few of Chisai's former members and calling it a Jubilee Show. Also the Masci Family will be returning to the Jubilee Theatre on Sept. 5.
The Legends in Concert will be coming back on Oct. 2 with a breakfast show at the Osmond Family Theatre at 9 a.m. They will go through sometime in December. The Osmonds will continue to do the afternoon and evening.
If there is a lot of action, comedy, dance and fun, it has to be the Shoji Tabuchi Show. Every song is a production number with special lighting, sets, costumes and music. The audience really got into the Caribbean music segment with the steel drums and the conga line. I enjoyed the tribute to Broadway, too.
One thing I wanted to point out, is that the Shoji Tabuchi dancers are some of the best dancers that I have seen. They can do everything from tap and big band to country line dance. They put a lot of hard work and extra effort in Shoji's Show.
Dorothy Tabuchi does a top notch job in producing the show and the production required.
Shoji has some excellent segments. In addition to the big band segments, I enjoyed the Bob Willis segment, his request segment and the Phantom of the Opera routines. Shoji and .his band - it really is an orchestra - is one of the best in Branson. If you want to see a high energy show with loads of talent - Shoji Tabuchi Show is the one to see.
There will be a big weekend next weekend at Mutton Hollow with Cruisin' Branson Lights which will feature classic cars, super hot rods and '50s and '60s rock 'n' roll, too. These cars will be everything from rods, trucks, sports and street machines. I also understand that there may be 500 of them. Also there are plans that on midnight Saturday, Aug. 19, the hot rods will cruise down 76 Country Boulevard in an unusual and funny parade.
These fantastic cars will be appearing at Mutton Hollow from Thursday, Aug. 17, through Sunday, Aug. 20. On Saturday, Aug. 19, there will be a special concert with the Platters and the Boxtops with shows on Saturday, Aug. 19, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Platters are known for such hits as "Only You" and "The Great Pretender." The Boxtops are known for "Neon Rainbow" and "The Letter."
This is going to be a big WOW! for Mutton Hollow and Branson. Be sure to attend this very nostalgic weekend at Mutton Hollow.
Mutton Hollow will not be the only event happening that weekend. Also on Friday, Aug. 20, is the MDA taping for Jerry's Lewis at the Glen Campbell Theatre from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Portions of this will be aired on the MDA Broadcast on Labor Day weekend.
The talent lineup includes Dino Kartsonakis, the Osmond Brothers, Moe Bandy, Osmond 2nd Generation, the Baldknobbers, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Kirby VanBurch, Philip Wellford, Buck Trent, Jim Stafford, Anita Bryant, Barbara Fairchild, Box Car Willie, Peter Lemongello, Pierce Arrow, the Braschlers and Yakov Smirnoff. The event will be hosted by Jim Barber, Eddie Rabbitt and Merrill and Alan Osmond.
For reservations for this taping and benefit call the Campbell Theatre at 336-1220 or 1-800-884-GLEN.
It was August 1977 when the king of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley, died. Now, there is an Elvis show in Branson called "Elvis and the Superstars" with Dave "Elvis" Ehlert with shows Tuesday through Sunday at the Owen's Theatre at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dave will do a full hour of Elvis' music and memories. Joining Dave on stage is James Principe who was on tour with Elvis in the '70s as a percussionist and drummer.
Also the second half of the show features impersonations of Willie Nelson, Michael Jackson, Liberace, Jerry Lee Lewis, Julio Iglesies and Tom Jones.
I recently attended the Lawrence Welk Show at the Champagne Theatre at the Welk Resort. The show was great. That night Arthur Duncan and Dick Dale were performing in addition to the Lennon Sisters and Jo Ann Castle. Jack Imel and Tom Netherton are the guest entertainers at the Champagne Theatre from now until Aug. 28.
The show has tightened up since opening this season. I still enjoy the County Fair segment. Get ready to play with beach balls during this one. The kids really enjoy this portion too.
I also liked the Lennon Sisters and their daughters' segment, and I especially liked the Cabaret segment and the Big Band segment. Another addition I enjoyed was the Cathcart Brothers (Peggy Lennon's boys). They can really do a hot Mills Brothers medley.
Jo Ann Castle is her hilarious self doing comedy and playing the boogie woogie music on the piano.
And don't forget the Welk Orchestra, under the direction of Larry Cansler. They do an excellent job of backing the performers and perform an outstanding big band section. Ken Delo, the emcee, does a very good job of keeping the show moving. I also enjoyed his rendition of "Music of the Night" from "Phantom of the Opera."
I feel like the entire family will enjoy the Welk Show.
There will be a benefit concert for the Muscular Dystrophy Association at the Glen Campbell Theatre on Sunday, Aug. 20, for the fourth consecutive year in a row. Segments from the "Best of Branson" benefit concert will appear on the Jerry Lewis, "Stars Across America" Labor Day Telethon for MDA.
Entertainer Eddie Rabbitt of "1 Love a Rainy Night" fame will co-host the concert with Merrill and Alan Osmond, which will feature many of the country music performers and other stars who are based in Branson.
During the past three years, MDA benefit concerts in Branson have raised more than $200,000 for the fight against neuromuscular diseases.
Thus far the entertainers committed to perform on this special show include Pierce Arrow, Moe Bandy, The Baldknobbers, Jim Barber, the Braschlers, Anita Bryant, Barbara Fairchild, Dino Kartsonakis, Peter Lemongello, The Osmond Brothers, Osmond 2nd Generation, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Yakov Smirnoff, Jim Stafford, Buck Trent, Kirby VanBurch, and Philip Wellford.
This is going to be a big show and for a big cause. Tickets are $20 and may be ordered from the Glen Campbell Theatre by calling 417-336-1220.
Cloggers from all over the country will be at Mutton Hollow today and tomorrow (Aug. 5 and 6) at Mutton Hollow Entertainment Park and Craft Village concluding the talent competition in clogging which started on Friday. Competition starts at 9:30 a.m. each day - There will be all kinds of dancing with $4,000 to be awarded in prize money and trophies.
Christian entertainer Kathy Troccoli will be performing at White Water Theme Park with shows at 3 and 6 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 19. Tickets can be obtained in advance at White Water, KLFJ Radio and area Christian Sports Stores.
Coming in October to the Grand Palace parking lot is the Branson RV Fan Fair. The event will feature a live country music extravaganza rally and tour on October 4-7. Boats, travel trailers and motor homes all will be on display as well as RV products- Also there will be a large entertainment tent featuring some of -Branson's top entertainment from area theaters. So mark you calendars for this special event.
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