Legends in Concert resumes 2012 season as Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre reopens

With roof work complete, workers are now working on the final phases of the restoriation of "Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theatre."

BRANSON, Mo – (April 6, 2012) “That’s great news, not only for the Dick Clark’s Bandstand Theatre, the Legends in Concert and Brett Family Show, but for Branson visitors too,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. Johnson’s comments were in response to an announcement by the theatre earlier this week that “with roof repairs now complete, the restoration” of the theatre from the impact of the February tornado can proceed to its final phase.

The “celebrated tribute artist production Legends in Concert will resume its 2012 season schedule on April 14 performing six days a week through the end of the year. The Bretts, who also perform at the theatre will open their 2012 season, as scheduled, on April 16.

Jeannie Horton, General Manager for Legends in Concert expressed her delight that the completion of the repairs is just about done and how excited she is that the “state of the art facility, that millions of our fans have always enjoyed during their visits to Branson,” will again be available for them to experience. “The repair team has been amazing, working rapidly and diligently,” she continued.

Horton said that the pleasure of working closely with the theater’s owner, Jim D. Morris and Jerry Carroll, his general manager to assure “that the theater will be better than ever, has certainly taken away much of the sting from the tornado’s fury.” Morris said he is “grateful for the dedication of those working on the repairs to reopen the theater so quickly.” He went on to say how thrilled he was that “our Highway 76 and Fall Creek complex, including the Ramada Hotel, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater, featuring Legends in Concert, and all its activities, the Midtown said Cafe, and the brand new REEL CARS Automobile Museum under the theater, will all be open and working together in harmony in less than two weeks.”

The theatre is holding “a gala fundraising event, benefiting victims of the tornado, which will be held at the theater on April 20″ featuring an 8pm performance by Legends in Concert and special guest performers soon to be announced.” In announcing his support of the event Morris said, “We are pleased knowing that the fundraising will benefit the portion of the Branson community that was most adversely affected by the tornado.”

For additional information or tickets for the “Legends in Concert,” “The Bretts” or any of Branson’s other shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

Championship wakeboarding event makes first Branson appearance

MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour coming to Branson

BRANSON, Mo. The terms “Krypt,” “Tantrum,” “911,” “Tweety Bird” and “Tootsie Roll,” just to mention a few, all have different meanings and connotations to many people, but not to the athletes and who will be competing in Branson on June 8 and 9, 2012 in the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour. “What a testimony to Table Rock Lake and the Branson area that it is able to host championship water events as diversified as the FLW and Bass Masters fishing tournaments and the Pro Wakeboard Tour,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. “The competitors, fans and spectators will experience an action filled exciting event and be just minutes away from Branson shows, attractions, shopping, value priced lodging and all the other fun things Branson has to offer.

“Wakeboarding” is an exciting action filled sporting event involving a rider on a wakeboard being pulled behind of motorboat at speeds of up to 25 miles an hour. Just how fast depends on the skill of the rider, water conditions, the tricks they will be performing and other factors. The terms “Krypt,” “Tantrum,” “911,” “Tweety Bird” and “Tootsie Roll,” are all names from the “trick lexicon of these championship athletes, competing in a sport that combines the excitement of water skiing, surfing and snowboarding into one action filled event.

Ross Summers, CEO of the Branson Lakes Chamber of Commerce and CVB, one of the events sponsors, along with,Ozarks Rivers Heritage Foundation, said, “The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour is one of the premier wakeboarding events in the country.” He also pointed out that this is the first time that the event has been held in Branson and is a new stop for the tour.

The Branson stop is the third stop on the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour and an integral part of winning the Pro Tour Title. Tour competitors accumulate points during every stop on the Tour based on their placement in each contest. The one earning the highest total number of points at the end of the five stop Tour is crowned the “Pro Tour Champion.”

The event will be held at Table Rock Lake’s Moonshine Beach on June 8 and 9, 2012. The Pro Men’s Qualifying, Junior Pro Men’s Quarterfinals and Pro Women’s Semifinals will be held on Friday, June 8. The Pro Men’s Quarterfinals, Junior Pro Men’s Semifinals, Pro Men’s Semifinals and Junior Pro Men’s and Women’s Finals will be held Saturday June 9, prior to the Pro Men’s Finals and the “Big Air Kicker Contest” which will conclude the days competition.

Branson Tourism Center’s Johnson said the Moonshine Beach area of Table Rock Lake will provide excellent viewing for spectators, both from land and the lake, and is only minutes south of the Branson Strip on State Route 165. It should be noted that although the Wakeboard Tour will span two days, June 8 and 9, Sunshine Beach will be open to the public both days with standard Day Use Rates applying on June 8 and the Wakeboard Tour rate on Saturday June 9.

She points out that Branson’s summer season will be fully underway and suggests that those planning to attend the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour or visit Branson that weekend give consideration to making advance arrangements for lodging and shows. Please feel free to contact the Branson Tourism Center, for information or tickets for any of Branson’s shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements by calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

Canadian Titanic article features Branson Titanic Museum Attraction

The Titanic Museum Attraction's spectacular "Grand Staircase" is a precise replica of the original.

BRANSON, Mo. The R.M.S. Titanic, which thought by some to be unsinkable, hit an iceberg, while on her maiden voyage, at approximately 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912 and sank into the depths of the frigid North Atlantic, and into the pages of history, at approximately 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912. As the 100th anniversary of its sinking approaches there is a rekindling of the ever smoldering fire of interest in the Titanic and a series of events all over the world remembering the tragic events of that voyage.

A recent article entitled, Where to immerse yourself in Titanic history on the 100th anniversary of its sinking, was published on line by Canada’s National Post. While pointing out the memorial events and availability of Titanic information at the “Maritime Museum of the Atlantic,” in Halifax, Nova Scotia and “The Titanic Belfast Festival,” in Belfast, Ireland, where the Titanic was built, the article also featured Branson’s Titanic Museum Attraction .

While expressing that the Branson Titanic Museum Attraction, and its sister attraction in Pigeon Forge, TN, are the “the largest permanent monuments in the world” memorializing the Titanic, the article indicated that guests on the Titanic “can experience what it was like to walk the hallways, parlours, cabins and grand staircase of the Titanic while surrounded by artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the ship’s history and fate.” It also pointed out that there will be special events on April 14 in remembrance of what happened 100 years ago.

On April 14, the 100th Anniversary of when the Titanic struck the iceberg, the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson is hosting A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic, starting at 12:00 p.m. (Noon). It will include a special day full of tributes, musical performances, historic ceremonies, appearances by actual descendants of the Titanic’s passengers, the lighting of the “Titanic Eternal Flame” and the launching of “distress fire rockets” to bring the event to a “solemn end.”

Stephanie Milton, Director of Marketing for the Branson Tourism Center, said that there are still a limited number of VIP admissions to the event, including a special ticket price and a Titanic Coal Coin and money saving packages bundling the VIP Admissions with lodging, the Titanic Coal Coin, a Special 3D viewing of James Cameron’s “Titanic” at the IMAX Entertainment Complex and more. For additional information on the Titanic Museum Attraction or the special Titanic event on April 14, please call 1-800-785-1550.

Limited engagements add even more choice and excitement to Branson show scene

Oak Ridge Boys

BRANSON, Mo. “It’s hard to imagine that any other city anywhere near the size of Branson could offer it visitors the number and variety of live entertainment shows that Branson does, “said Stephanie Milton, Director of Marketing for the Branson Tourism Center. “On a day to day basis, ‘The Official Branson.Com Show Schedule,’ powered by the Branson Tourism Center, shows a schedule of regularly scheduled shows encompassing just about every genre of music and type of live entertainment show from comedy, to magic, outdoor drama, biblical spectaculars and much more,” she continued.

In addition to Branson’s regularly scheduled shows there are a number of national stars and other acts or shows that perform limited engagements in Branson throughout the year. When factored in with Branson’s regularly scheduled shows it’s easy to see why some call Branson, “The live music show capital of the world.”While subject to change, the following list of limited engagement shows, sorted by starting date, is provided. If, as is the case with many, there is only one date shown, the performance is a one day limited engagement.

Dino & Cheryl in Concert, 4-11
Branson’s Birthday Spectacular – The Show of the Century, 4-15
Oak Ridge Boys, 4-17 through 4-19
Sawyer Brown, 4-20
Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest, 4-21
See The World in Branson, 4-25 and 4-26
Heaven or Hell Conference, 4-26 through 4-28

Sawyer Brown

Dudu Fisher, 5-1 through 5-20
Ray Price and BJ Thomas, 5-5
Dino & Cheryl in Concert, 5-7 through 5-16
John Conlee & Bobby Bare, 5-12
Ronnie Milsap, 6-2
The Thorn, 6-2 through 6-16
Oak Ridge Boys, 6-12 through 6-14
Veggi Tales, 6-20 through 7-7
Merle Haggard, 6-23
A Festival of Praise, 7-2
Three Dog Night, 7-14
Neal McCoy, 7-19
Neal McCoy, 8-24 and 8-25

Veggi Tales

Air Supply and Maxine Nightingale, 9-15
Oak Ridge Boys, 9-18 through 9-20
Bill Anderson – A Night With A Legend, 9-21
Neal McCoy, 9-21 and 9-22
Restless Heart, 9-22
Teen Idols, 9-29
Dudu Fisher, 10-1 through 10-21
Neal McCoy, 10-5
Don Williams, 10-6
Oak Ridge Boys, 10-9 through 10-25
George Jones, 10-12
Bill Cosby, 10-13
David Frizzell & Shelly West, 10-13
Down From His Glory, 10-16 through 10-18
Lone Star, 10-18
Marty Stuart, 10-19 and 10-20

George Jones

Sawyer Brown, 10-19
Tim Conway and Friends, 10-19 and 10-20
Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius, 10-20
Midwest Country Stars, 10-26
Janie Frickie, 10-27
Gatlin Brothers & Debby Boone Together,11-1 through 12-8
Oak Ridge Boys, 11-1 through 11-15
Daniel O’Donnell, 11-2 through 12-8
Tim Zimmerman and The Kings Brass, 11-6 through 11-16
George Jones, 11-9
Crystal Gayle, 11-10
Neal McCoy, 11-10
Tim Conway and Friends, 11-10 and 11-11
Mollie B Christmas Show, 11-11 and 11-12
Johnny Mathis Christmas Show, 11-16 and 11-17
Neal McCoy, 11-16, and 11-17
Classic Country Super Show, 11-23

Branson Tourism Center’s Milton also points out that additional information, specific scheduling information, prices and tickets for each of these limited engagement shows, as well as Branson’s regularly scheduled shows, can be obtained through the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services. BTC can be reached by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

Branson’s Centennial Concert just might be “The Branson Show of the Century!”

Presleys' Country Jubilee comedian "Herkimer," Gary Presley, in the red shirt and drummer, Steve Presley, have been performing on a continuous basis since the show first opened on the Branson Strip in 1967.

BRANSON, Mo. “Although there will be other special events in connection with Branson’s Centennial celebration, the show billed as ‘Branson’s Birthday Spectacular – The Show of the Century’ will truly be one of the most popular highlights of the Centennial,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. “It might very well be the most unique and entertaining show ever presented in Branson,” she added.

Bill Lennon, the show’s producer concurred adding, “It’s a show that will be full of history, nostalgia and entertainment, but most of all fun. After all, it’s a birthday celebration!” From the show’s original overture, incorporating 100 years of Branson history and music, to its historical elements, entertainers and the way it is all woven together, it is truly a once in a hundred year event of special significance.

There will be some special and unique performances. How often have the Baldknobbers Jamboree, acknowledged as Branson’s first show, and the Presleys’ Country Jubilee, Branson’s first show on the Branson Strip, performed together? How about a jam session with Jim Stafford and Ronnie Prophet and perhaps another special guest performer? Is there a possibility that the “Foggy River Boys” might be singing with “New South?” The unique possibilities and potential surprises for this once in a lifetime show are as endless as they are exciting.

Shoji Tabuchi and his daughter Christina are just two of the many Branson stars, present and past, scheduled to perform in the show.

That’s even more so when performances by the incredible Shoji Tabuchi and his daughter Christina; the Lennon Sisters; Yakov Smirnoff and a host of other Branson entertainers including “local songstress and portrayer of Aretha Franklin at the Legends in Concert, Nedgra Culp…; The Haygoods; Roy Rogers, Jr. and the High Riders; a special pre-show welcome from noted ventriloquist Jim Barber; a Happy Birthday sing-along with ‘Marilyn Monroe’, who also appears at Legends in Concert” and other surprises are factored in. It is easily one of most star studded shows Branson has seen in its 100 year existence.

To add to the enjoyment and fun, the live performances, Carrie April Tillis will act as the mistress of ceremonies and there will be a live 11 piece house band. Other special events and surprises will be incorporated into the show highlighted by an interactive performance of historical pictures and videos, music and a live narration presented by an “Original Ozark’s Mountain Gem,” Greg Pyron.

“In a sense, it has taken 100 years for this show to come to fruition and it’s not something most of us will see again in our lifetimes,” said Branson Tourism Center’s Johnson. She points out that there will only be one performance of this show, starting at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday April 15, tickets are selling fast and suggests that those wanting tickets get them as soon as possible. She expects large crowds in Branson that weekend because of the combination of Silver Dollar City’s WorldFest and the Titanic Museum Attraction’s “A Night to Remember” on April 14 in addition to Branson’s Birthday Spectacular – The Show of the Century and all the fun and excitement Branson offers on a regular basis. For additional information or tickets for any of Branson’s shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center either by calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

“Speech, Song and Celebration” to start Branson Centennial

Branson Centennial Logo

BRANSON, Mo. It is not an April fool’s joke, the City of Branson was incorporated as a city on April 1, 1912 and will be celebrating “100 years of Heritage, Harmony, and Hospitality” with special events throughout 2012, starting with the kick off of its “Centennial Celebration” (Centennial) on April 1, 2012. Although many events will be tied into the Centennial such as the Titanic Museum Attraction’s, “A Night to Remember” on April 14, the “The 52nd Annual Plumb Nellie Days” May 17-19 and others; the primary Centennial events will be the “Centennial History Museum Grand Opening and Celebration,” in Historic Downtown Branson on Sunday, April 1; “Branson’s Birthday Spectacular – The Show of the Century,” on Sunday April 15 and “Branson’s 100th Fest and Street Dance,” at a place TBD, on Saturday, July 7.

The first official event of the Centennial will be the “Centennial History Museum Grand Opening and Celebration,” which will be held at the Museum, located at the corner of Main Street and Veterans Boulevard, Business Highway 65, in the heart of Historic Downtown Branson, on Sunday, April 1, with the actual ceremony starting at 2:00 p.m. The short ceremony will include “a blessing of the crowd by Bob Hubbard, the National Anthem, performed by renowned tenor George Dyer, and a Color Guard presentation by local Veterans will set the tone for an earnest, but uplifting celebration for its citizens. Celebrity Ventriloquist Jim Barber will serve as Emcee, and featured Speakers in addition to Mayor Presley include Museum Supporter Leon Combs and Katie Danner, Department of Missouri Tourism.”

After the ceremony the crowd can follow a Dixieland band into Historic Downtown Branson for more music, fun and festivities until 5pm. This will include an afternoon of street musicians, walking tours, and story tellers and other entertainment.

The Branson Centennial Museum will remain open throughout 1912 and is made possible through the combined efforts of “The Downtown Branson Main Street Association,” The White River Valley Historical Society, the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce (BLACC) and the City of Branson. It will be located at 101 Veterans Boulevard in a building formerly housing the Morris Oil Company and donated for the Centennial by Jim D. Morris, philanthropist and local merchant.

Some of the Museums initial exhibits are planned to include “Early Branson, prior to its 1912 incorporation,” “The White River,” “The Roots of Tourism” “School Days” and others. With its prime visibility, visitors and locals alike will find the museum attractive and engaging. To keep the exhibits fresh, interesting and exciting many will be rotated “on a six-eight week basis.”

Stephanie Milton, Director of Marketing for the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services, said, “The Centennial Celebration activities and events will be another unique and exciting thing for Branson visitors to experience in Branson during 2012.” For additional information on Branson’s Centennial Celebration or for information or tickets for any of Branson’s other shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements please contact the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services, by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

Branson’s “acrobatic” action, spectacle and excitement

The synchronized unicylists are just one of the many exciting and colorful acts in the Acrobats of China.

BRANSON, Mo. “Branson’s acrobatic shows provide everyone in the family, from preschoolers to grandparents, or just about anyone else who enjoys watching the color, action, and excitement of shows featuring skilled acrobats and performers doing unusual feats of grace, daring, physical prowess and dexterity, with a wonderful and different Branson entertainment experience,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. “Like its music shows and other entertainment, Branson is all about giving its visitors a choice of quality entertainment options and fun for the whole family even within entertainment categories.”

Johnson points out that there are at least four Branson shows that fit within the genre of acrobatic type shows described above. Although each is unique, “The Acrobats of China,” “Cirque Montage,” “Legend of Kung Fu,” and “Yakov’s Dinner Adventure,” all fall within that genre.

Branson’s longest running show of this type, the Acrobats of China has been amazing Branson audiences since 1998. In a 2011 review of the show this writer said, “Everything involved with this show is about excellence, synchronization, excitement, precision, skill and entertainment. Even something as seemingly mundane as the beating of Chinese drums is turned into a colorfully synchronized entertainment experience that is amazing to see and hear. Acrobats of China is a virtual cornucopia of one amazing, entertaining, and exiting act after another that seamlessly melds into one grand choreographed entertainment experience for both adults and children.”

Cirque Montage made its premier Branson performance in 2009 and has been bringing its unique cirque style excitement back to Branson ever since. Its combination of the skill, daring, strength, grace, and agility of former artists with various Cirque du Soleil shows into one show, showcasing each individual performers unique talent, makes it unique among cirque shows. Judy Blake, one of the promoters of Cirque Montage has pointed out that in the typical cirque show there is a lot of other things going on concurrently while the individual artists are performing She has referred to Cirque Montage as “cirque lite” because the show emphasizes and focuses on the individual artists themselves as they perform and interact with the audience.

One of the spectacular sets from The Legend of Kung Fu.

The Legend of Kung Fu is a spectacular and colorful production of a simple story about a very young boy who is left at the temple by his mother to apprentice as a monk and learn the art and culture of Kung Fu. The story is told with beautiful choreography, spectacular sets, costuming and an extremely talented Chinese cast of dozens.. Factor in the mystique, culture and heritage of China along with the excitement and action of Kung-Fu and the result is an exciting and unique show with something for everyone to enjoy.

Yakov’s Dinner Adventure combines the skills “from 15 international acts” into an original “fairy tale” story involving relationships, love between sisters, young love found, betrayal, redemption, and, as would be expected, a happy fairy tale ending. The story is set in the exciting environment of a Russian Circus and, as it unfolds, is artfully woven around the acts in the circus and its characters. From the graceful performance on the aerial hoop high above the stage to the final act, a beautiful and exciting combination adagio dance and aerial silk act, Yakov’s Dinner Adventure is constant action, variety and entertainment for the whole family. As the title of the show suggests, dinner is also part of the show and its presentation is as wonderful as the food is tasty.

Experience the excitement and awakening of Spring in Branson

View the beauty of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake from the top of "Wildfire." SDC's world class coaster.

BRANSON, Mo. From a temperature perspective, it seems as if the Winter of 2011-2012 forgot to come to a large part of the country including Branson, except in name. The unseasonably mild weather since Fall almost mutes the fact that the official first day of Spring begins at 12:14 (CDT) on March 20. Temperatures and weather aside however, as the other harbingers of Spring begin to manifest themselves, Branson’s Ozark Hills come to life, not only with their natural beauty, but with the sounds and sights of people simply having fun and enjoying themselves as they bask in the first natural blush of Spring.

The first wave of those celebrating Spring Break in Branson are just in time to experience the explosive natural beauty of the Ozarks with a spectacular display including the Bradford Pears, Dogwoods and Redbuds along with the opening of Branson’s great live shows, activities, shopping and attractions, including the opening of “Silver Dollar City.” The majority of Branson’s major attractions such as the Titanic Museum Attraction, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum,” “Hollywood Wax Museum,” “Veterans Memorial Museum” and many others are open year round, but Spring brings the excitement of the reopening of many of Branson’s other exciting seasonal attractions such as “Ride the Ducks,” “Branson Scenic Railway,” Branson’s many outdoor mini golf courses including “Shoot for the Stars Mini Golf” and of course, its biggest and most popular attraction, Silver Dollar City.

Silver Dollar City, Branson’s largest and most popular paid attraction, is an internationally recognized 1880’s style theme park that opened its 2012 season on March 15. The park features over 30 rides and attractions including its high-flying multi-looping world class roller coaster “WildFire” reaching speeds of up to 66 miles per hour; demonstrating craftsmen working at crafts that have been passed down from generation to generation; some of the best live shows in Branson; unique shopping and food and a series of world class festivals starting with “World-Fest,” the country’s largest international festival, running from April 12 through May 6

Spring brings freshness and renewal to most of Branson’s live shows as they present their new 2012 shows. From the addition of “Rumble in the Tree Tops” at “Dixie Stampede,” the spectacular new production of Joseph and shows as varied as the Acrobats of China, “The Baldknobbers Jamboree,” Presleys’ Country Jubilee, Haygoods, “it presented by the Hughes Brothers,” “the Duttons,” SIX, “George Dyer,” “Grand Jubilee,” Shoji Tabuchi, Pierce Arrow, “Jim Stafford,” “Doug Gabriel,” “Legends in Concert” and “Amazing Pets,” just to mention a few, Branson’s offers a variety of live entertainment that is unrivaled in any destination city of its size anywhere.

Branson is almost as famous for its shopping as it is for its live shows, attractions and other activities. “Branson Landing,” with its lakeside location, fire and water show, restaurants, “Bass Pro Shop” and 100 other retail shops, two factory discount malls, countless specialty shops in historic downtown Branson and throughout Branson provide a unique and unparalleled shopping opportunity.

Spring activities for a lot of people include golf. The mild winter and excellent course maintenance has Branson’s world class golf courses, including the Payne Stewart Golf Course at Branson Hills, Thousand Hills, Pointe Royale and Branson Creek, among others, ready to provide a great golfing experience for the seasoned champion tournament player and challenge for the beginner as well as.

Stephanie Milton, Director of Marketing for the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services, also reminds potential visitors that the Spring of 2012 will be very special in Branson. The city of Branson is celebrating its Centennial with special activities on April 1 and 15 and the Titanic Museum Attraction is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic during 2012, including a Night to Remember on April 14 and other events. For additional information on any of the shows, attractions, events or activities mentioned in this article please feel free to contact the Branson Tourism Center by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

The “Dogs of Branson”

Informal moment with Todd Oliver and his "talkative" canine friends Irving, left, Elvis and Lucy

BRANSON, Mo. For everyone who has heard about the “Dogs of the Dow” investment strategy, there are probably hundreds, if not thousands, that haven’t heard about the “Dogs” of Branson.” It’s time to change all that and introduce you to some of the “Dogs of Branson,” the most talkative “Irving,” “Lucy,” and “Elvis;” the cutest “Molly” and Carter” and the zaniest “Chico Pete.”

“Irving,” a Boston Terrier; “Lucy,” a West Highland mix and “Elvis,” a Basset Hound are “talking dogs” who work with their partner, Todd Oliver in the Todd Oliver and Friends show . They present one of the most unique and funny entertainment experiences not only in Branson, but anywhere. As Irving says, “If you can’t laugh at a talking dog you probably own a cat!”

David Letterman has proclaimed Oliver one of the “Top Ventriloquists in The World!” He and his canine friends have appeared on Letterman’s show, “The Today Show”, “Walker Texas Ranger” and many more. In addition to his talking dogs, Oliver’s Branson show also includes the “Smiling Eyes Band,” and a “cast” of characters including “Pops,” “Miss Lilly,” and “Joey.”

The cute Molly and Carter with Titanic First Class Maid Jaynee and Captain Smith.

Any of the other “Dogs of Branson” would be hard pressed to displace the Titanic Museum Attraction’s “Molly” and “Carter” as Branson’s cutest dogs. The two adorable King Charles Spaniels are the Titanic’s mascots.

As part of their duties, when the ship’s whistle blows at noon, they come around the bow and promenade down the winding walkway and past the waterfall to the iceberg by the museum’s entrance where they “greet” the ships guests and pose for pictures. In addition, passengers on the Titanic are likely to meet them either as they walk through the ship with their handlers or while they spend time relaxing in their lavish climate controlled “kennel” aboard the ship.

Jim Barber and the zany Chico Pete

“Chico Pete,” unlike the other “Dogs of Branson,” is not actually a “dog,” but “he” is probably the most zany, unique and funny “Chihuahua” most will ever meet. Chico sings, talks and performs in the Hamner Barber Variety Show with his buddy, nationally known ventriloquist and comedian, Jim Barber. Barber, has been on the Dave Letterman Show and won numerous awards and together, in the opinion of this writer, the crazy, entertaining and audience pleasing antics of “Chico” not only qualifies “him” to join the ranks of “The Dogs of Branson,” but makes him their zaniest member. It should be pointed out that “Chico” is just one small part of the great magic, comedy and entertainment making up the Hamner Barber Variety Show.

Tornado shouldn’t interrupt Branson Spring Break or vacation plans

Titanic Museum Attraction earlier today in all her Spring Break splendor

BRANSON, Mo. In the wake of the tornado that hit Branson during the early morning hours of February 29 some might ask, “Why should I plan to visit or vacation in Branson?” The answer is simple. For the same reason that you would have come to Branson before the tornado, to have a great time with your family and enjoy the unique exciting experience that only Branson can provide.”

That potentially raises another question, “But is it the same experience after the storm as before?” Without diminishing in any way the anguish and damage suffered by those whose lives or property was impacted by the storm, Stephanie Milton, Director of Marketing for the Branson Tourism Center, one of the largest providers of Branson travel services says, “The answer to that question would have to be a resounding, ‘Yes.'”

Yesterday, while at Scotty’s Trout Dock in downtown Branson, I received confirmation of that fact from a chance encounter. A man came into the office with his two sons and rented a pontoon boat. As he was out in the boat rigging up the rods they would use to fish we started to talk and “shoot the breeze.”

I did not get his name, because we just talking and shooting the breeze at the time, but he is from Memphis, TN and had never been to Branson before. He and his family decided to come and spend their “Spring Break” in Branson because they had heard a lot of great things about it and, although they own a lake property nearer to Memphis, they decided they wanted to try something different this year.

When asked if the tornado had almost caused them not to come he said that it had not, because when they “checked it out” they decided that they could do anything they wanted to do. During their week in Branson, among other things, they plan to go trout fishing and can check that one off their list; see SIX; visit the Hollywood Wax Museum, the Titanic Museum Attraction and go to Silver Dollar City later in the week.

Given that Branson was hit by an EF-2 tornado, the blessing is that it’s direct impact on the lives, property and economy of the area it tracked over was no greater than it was. Media sensationalism to the contrary, the reality is that there were no fatalities; relatively few injuries and, as this family found out, the vast majority of the property over which the tornado passed was left undamaged including the vast majority of the attractions, shows, shopping and other activities that are the foundation of Branson’s tourism based economy and provide the fun, excitement and adventure for which Branson is famous.

Branson Tourism Center’s Milton adds that from a fun and entertainment perspective, the Branson named as one of 2012’s Best Family Vacation Destinations by Away.com, a division of Orbitz.com, is ready to provide your family with one of the most exciting, unique and entertaining vacations they will ever experience. For additional information about Branson and all it has to offer, please contact the Branson Tourism Center one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services BTC can be reached by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.