Helen Benziger and her service dog "Brojan" at the foot of the Titanic's Grand Staircase.

BRANSON, MO, June 18, 2013 – Helen Benziger, the great-granddaughter of one of the heroines of the Titanic, the “unsinkable” Margaret “Molly” Brown will be making a special two day appearance at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson on Thursday, June 20 and Friday, June 21. John Joslyn owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction said, “Benziger ‘s great-grandmother proved to be ‘unsinkable’ in life and on Titanic. And, as the guardian of her famed relative’s legacy, so too has her remarkable, great- granddaughter. We urge all Titanic fans to make plans to meet Helen and to hear first-hand, the real inside stories she has to tell about her bigger-than-life ancestor.”

During an interview in the Spring of 2012, when Benziger was in Branson at the Titanic Museum Attraction for the dedication of the “museum’s extensive ‘Margaret Tobin Brown Gallery’ honoring her famous ancestor,” she said that she had never met her great grandmother and that she first became interested in the Titanic when she attended the movie, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” starring Debbie Reynolds,” with her sisters and mother at the age of 13. In the movie there is a scene in a bar where Reynolds sings “Belly Up to the Bar, Boys” and, among other things, starts dancing on the bar. At that time Benziger’s mother said, “And by the way that’s you’re great grandmother.”Benziger recalled thinking “How cool was this.”

She points out that while the movie showed one side of her great grandmother’s spirit that she was actually a very sophisticated woman of great substance. She points out that she spoke five languages, played the piano like “Horowitz,” was involved in the woman’s suffrage movement and actually ran for the U.S. Senate eight years before women had the right to vote.

When asked why she believes that people are so enthralled by the Titanic she said, “If you think about it the Titanic was the absolute first global disaster. It involved people from just about every country.” She goes on to say that people seem to be able to relate to the disaster on a personal level and that when she goes through the museum and sees all the phenomenal artifacts and exhibits she sees them as a vehicle for people to understand that it’s all about the people who were on the ship.

In talking about the exhibit that has been dedicated to her great-grandmother she said, “I am just so humbled and honored that for the first time they have dedicated a room to one of the passengers and that it was my great-grandmother.” Along with items from the movie “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” the exhibit contains Benziger’s “Unsinkable Molly Brown’ Artifact Collection” featuring furniture, crystal glass ware from Ireland, artwork, photographs, Titanic memorabilia and many other treasures gathered from around the world to grace her great-grandmother’s homes which are being displayed publically for the first time.

Joslyn recommends that those interested in seeing the exclusive exhibit do so soon because it will only be on display until December 31 of this year. He reminds that those coming to the attraction on Thursday, June 20 or Friday, June 21 that they will also have the opportunity to “meet “Molly” Brown’s fascinating great-granddaughter, in person.”

For additional information or tickets for the Branson Titanic Museum Attraction, or for any of Branson’s other attractions and shows or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services by calling 1-800-785-1550 or through its website, www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

The iconic violin played by bandmaster Wallace Hartley as the Titanic sank.

BRANSON, MO, May 20, 2013 — “The Titanic Museum Attraction has always been noted for the excitement and freshness of the experience it provides its guests,” said Lianne Milton, one of the owners of the Branson Tourism Center, “but this is out of the box. Imagine, the very violin that played ‘Nearer My God To Thee’ as the greatest maritime tragedy of all time was unfolding, over 101 years ago, will have its first and only American displays at the Titanic Museum Attractions in Pigeon Forge and Branson; how special is that?” Milton’s comments followed the press release by Titanic Museum Attractions earlier this morning that the long lost violin of the Titanic’s bandmaster, Wallace Hartley, commonly referred to as the “Titanic Violin” will be displayed in America exclusively and for a limited time only at the Titanic Museum Attractions, first in Pigeon Forge, TN from May 23 to July 27 and in Branson, MO from August 1 to September 7.

The band and their courageous act of continuing to play “Nearer My God To Thee” in the midst of the frantic and hectic activity taking place all around them as the doomed ship gradually sank into her frigid watery grave was described by one newspaper at the time as an act that “Will rank among the noblest in the annals of heroism at sea“ and has played a pivotal role in the memory of that horrific night in books, movies and other depictions of the event. News accounts indicate that Hartley’s body was found floating 10 days after the sinking with his violin in his leather valise, with some jewelry, strapped to his chest above his life vest.

There is general agreement that it was returned to Maria Robinson, who was Hartley’s fiancée and had given it to him in 1910 when they became engaged. Reports indicate that after her death in 1939 the violin was given to “a Major Renwick of the Bridlington Salvation Army” who then gave it to a violin teacher who gave it to the mother of the current owner, in whose family it has been in for the last 70 years, many of them in an attic, until it was discovered by her son in 2006 when he found it in a leather case with the initials “WHH” engraved on it.

He, while remaining anonymous, turned it over to the auction house of Henry Aldridge and Son of Wiltshire, England, because of their expertise in dealing with Titanic artifacts and memorabilia, for authenticity. That process has taken a number of years and involved both extensive forensic testing of the violin and its silver engraved plate reading “For Wallace on the occasion of our engagement from Maria” as well as the examination of a trail of documentary evidence.

The results have led experts to much the same conclusion as that expressed by Craig Sopin, owner of one of the largest private Titanic collections of artifacts and memorabilia. He said, “To say that I was skeptical at first would be an understatement. But after I conducted an exhaustively detailed investigation into the history and forensics of the instrument, I became convinced beyond a doubt that this violin belonged to Wallace Hartley and that is was with him on the Titanic.”

John Joslyn, the owner of Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, TN and Branson, MO said, “After careful review of all the facts, we agree with the experts that this violin belonged to Wallace Hartley, bandleader on RMS Titanic. We’re honored our museums are the only two in the United States to display this important artifact and share the Wallace Hartley story.”

After the violin’s final American display at the Branson Titanic Museum Attraction from August 1 through September 7 it is scheduled to travel back to England for auction by Henry Aldridge and Son on Saturday, Oct. 19. Due to this historical exhibit, for the first time the museum will host a special VIP preview at 8:30 a.m. everyday starting, in Branson, on August 1 which will be limited to 25 people per day. Regular admission tickets will begin daily at 9 a.m. Reservations are required for all tickets and may be purchased through the Branson Tourism Center by calling 800 785-1550or through its website, www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

Rhonda Vincent, described by the Wall Street Journal as "the Queen of Bluegrass," and her band "The Rage" will be performing at the festival.

BRANSON, Mo., May 9, 2013 — The smell of Ozark style cooking and the sound of people having fun are a routine part of a day at Silver Dollar City (SDC), but when those smells take on a BBQ aroma and the music has a distinctly bluegrass sound it can only mean one thing, it’s time for Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass & BBQ Festival which will run through Memorial Day, May 27 and has been recognized by the “International Bluegrass Music Association” having received its “Bluegrass Event of the Year” award.

“What a combination of fun, excitement, music and food,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. She said that the festival activities are in addition to everything one expects from the 1880s styled award winning theme park such as 30 rides and attractions, including its new world breaking wooden coaster “Outlaw Run,” with its initial 162 foot 81 degree drop; dozens of demonstrating craftsmen; unique shopping and great live shows and entertainment. “When coupled with hundreds of performances by some of the best Bluegrass groups and artists in the country and the opportunity to taste just some of the finest BBQ and sauces around there’s simply no other experience like it anywhere,” she added.

The Bluegrass portion of the festival will include “more than 40 bands and hundreds of performances, from international award-winning musicians to the hottest new bands in bluegrass today.” These include Rhonda Vincent and her band “The Rage, ” as well as “the Grammy-nominated Grascals; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, 6-time IBMA Vocal Group of the Year winners; Blue Highway, the IBMA Vocal Group of the Year; the Boxcars, featuring 9-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year and 5-time Grammy winner Adam Steffey; and the Gibson Brothers, winner of the 2012 IBMA Entertainer of the Year and up-and-coming bands in bluegrass, such as The Bankesters, the Snyder Family Band, the Hillbenders, Monroeville and more.” In addition there will be two national Bluegrass competitions, The Youth In Bluegrass Band Competition on May 25 featuring “amateur bluegrass musicians 21 years of age or younger” and the 7th Annual National Single Mic Championship” on May 18 which “highlights the performance skills” of each band as they perform “around a single microphone and balances their sound by moving toward or away from the microphone.”

The “BBQ” part of the festival includes the cooking and serving of thousands of  pounds of mouth watering BBQ prepared on “large outdoor charcoal grills and a custom-made 9-foot smoker.” In addition to Silver Dollar City’s famous flavor feast with “St. Louis ribs and smoked chicken to Texas brisket and sweet roasted corn on the cob” to the “all you-can-eat BBQ rib feast each afternoon” the flavors of two award winning BBQs, “Hawgwild BBQ” out of Aurora, Missouri and “Dickey’s Barbecue Pit” from Texas will also be featured. Guests will be able to sample over 100 different BBQ sauces including Silver Dollar City’s new Outlaw Run Zesty Honey sauce with a kick. The festivals BBQ offerings are in addition to the excellent food service normally available throughout the park.

Branson Tourism Center’s Johnson also points out that those purchasing their Silver Dollar City tickets through the Branson Tourism Center will receive a two day pass for the price of a one day pass. For additional information or tickets for Silver Dollar City, any of its festivals or any of Branson’s other shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

Material Connection

World champion fire-knife dancer from the "Island Fire" show.

BRANSON, MO, April 15, 2013 — “A wonderful part about Spring in the Ozarks is the blending of the Spring beauty of the Ozarks with the cultures, adventure, color, fun and entertainment of America’s largest international festival, Silver Dollar City’s ‘World-Fest,'” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. “The recent opening of Silver Dollar City’s new record setting wood coaster ‘Outlaw Run’ adds even more excitement to an already spectacular event,” she added.

World-Fest, is the first of Silver Dollar City’s six world class festivals held throughout the year and will run Wednesday through Sunday from April 17 – May 5 at the award winning 1880’s styled theme park. Information received from Silver Dollar City indicates that this year’s international celebration will include “new shows with drummers and aerialists from Argentina, fire-knife dancers from Samoa and a Russian folk trio, plus the Italian show Spettacolo Musicale and the return of Viva Italia, an entire plaza filled with Italian entertainment. Guests can travel the world and see groups from Switzerland, Peru, Ireland and more throughout the festival.

The Los Pampas Gauchos Drummers and dancers from the "Amamos Argentina "show.

“The new show Amamos Argentina presents the Los Pampas Gauchos drummers and dancers, featuring Argentinian National Folk Dancing Champion Andres Sosa, plus aerial dancers from Buenos Aires who soar above the stage. Also new, Island Fire presents the rhythms, music and dances from Samoa, Fiji and the South Sea Islands, and features world-champion fire-knife dancers twirling flaming ceremonial knives. ‘The popular Viva Italia showcase of Italian entertainment returns, presenting Spettacolo Musicale, with tenor Aaron Caruso and Sicilian soprano Cristina Corollo accompanied by the 7-piece live band, The Gondoliers. Viva Italia, a “Little Italy” plaza, comes alive with Italian theatrical entertainment, including “living florals” and statues, stilt walkers, interactive musical comedy, live “music box” performers and colorful costumed characters. Returning groups also include Streichmusic Alder, alphorn players and yodelers from the Swiss Alps, Ireland’s premier harpist Dearbhail Finnegan and English musician Robin Slater, Austrian yodeler Kerry Christensen, plus the melodic pan flute music of Ecuador Manta.”

World-Fest’s Taste of the World Menu, served in addition to the great selection of food normally available throughout the park, will be served in the “Tastes of the World Food Pavilion.” This will include a wide variety of food from around the world such as English Isles Scottish Eggs and Fish and Chips, Naples Nachos, Mexican Fajitas, French Crepes and Italian Calzone plus desserts such as French Eclairs, German Apfel Dumplings served with Cinnamon Ice Cream and much more.

Branson Tourism Center’s Johnson shares that all the activities of World-Fest are in addition to the 30 rides and attractions, including its brand new “Outlaw Run,” a world class record setting multi-looping wood roller coaster that reaches speeds in excess of 66 miles per hour; some of the best entertainment and live shows available in Branson; dozens of demonstrating craftsmen and much more that Silver Dollar City routinely offers on a day to day basis. “Especially unique and adding to the overall experience of a visit to Silver Dollar City is the way the park is seamlessly integrated into the natural wonder of the Ozarks hills surrounding it,” she adds.

She also reminds those planning to go to World-Fest that when they buy their Silver Dollar City tickets from the Branson Tourism Center they get a “2 Day Pass for the price of one day.” For further information on World-Fest, Silver Dollar City or any of Branson’s other shows and attractions please contact the Branson Tourism Center by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.