Branson Bulletins
The hottest news from Showtown

Breaking News:

Hot Winter Fun: January thru March 2005 Branson's winter fun festival kicks off with the BIG SHOW on Valentine's Day, (always a sellout). The BIG SHOW, held at The Jim Stafford Theatre, is an all-star revue of nearly all the shows playing in town during this cozy Ozarks season guaranteed to chase out the winter blues! It's a time to chill out, shop the outlet malls, visit the winter attractions, enjoy the music, laughs, and thrills of the shows, relax in a nice restaurant, or in that bubbling Jacuzzi back at your Branson lodging. Just a few ways to picture what we mean by How Winter Fun!

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Three Dog Night: March 4 & 5, Welk Resort Theatre: Joy to the World! Sullivan Shows is bringing the legendary 60s/70s super group to the Welk Resort Theater for two power-packed shows. Read all about it!

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BransonFest: April 5-9, 2005 Branson's celebration of local culture, and local fun! Here's your chance to meet the stars up close, sample local food delicacies, see all the brand new shows, and visit tents and booths showcasing the art, crafts, entertainment and fun of the Ozarks. It all takes place at the Welk Resort. The American Bus Association recently named BransonFest one of the top 100 Events in North America! Come see over 500 world class performers, plus such other featured events as "The Tastes of Branson", "Student Showcase", and more!

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*World Fest: Apr 7-May 15 At Silver Dollar City theme park. America's largest international festival features performers, music, dance, native costumes, pageantry and food from around the world. www.silverdollarcity.com

*Welcome Home: America's Tribute to Vietnam Veterans: Jun 13-19 Mark your calendar today! Over 50,000 Vietnam Veterans expected in this summer event: Named Operation Homecoming USA, the celebration honoring Vietnam vets will include visiting guest stars, flyovers, displays, golf and fishing tournaments, the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, a Vietnam Homecoming Parade, Grand Finale Extravaganza, and many more events to be announced. For more information contact Paul Wannenmacher (417) 869-4848 or Jerry Adams (417) 334-3345, or visit www.cityofbranson.org

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Indoor Mini Golf Tournament: Where else, but at Grand Country Square's beautiful indoor links! Slated April 9 & 10 of this '05, the $35 registration fee includes a free Thursday practice game, a show ticket, a free buffet at Papa Grand's pizza, and even a hat! Competitors are shooting for a $500 cash prize, lotsa other prizes, and the chance to qualify for US Open in May where winners can then qualify for the 2009 Olympics! For info: call 417-334-3919. Sponsored by the US Pro MiniGolf Association www.usprominigolfassn.com

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Cedric Benoit Presents Mardi Gras! in Branson: 2005 Right out of Louisiana Cajun Country, Cedric and Cajun Connection hosts a festival of food, fun, Cajun entertainment and aiyeeeee! "Laissez les bons temps roulez"...(translation: 'let dem good times roll!') June 2-4

Showbiz: 
Sullivan Shows and The Welk Resort are serving up a Spring surprise with the return of Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, April 13 to June 3! Of special interest to us, Family Gospel Favorites, the latest CD from the Grammy-winning trio. Folks, this one's a keeper!. The boys come back (September thru October 22) to share the stage with country music superstar Pam Tillis. Speaking of those Gatlins, we couldn't help but notice glimpses of the boys in the presidential entourage of late, sometimes flying on Air Force One, sometimes at The White House, or at a certain Inauguration Jan. 20!. Although our President certainly attracts his share of criticism, no one can fault him for his musical taste! We'll be talking to the boys in an upcoming issue and (promise) we'll try to tapping into a little of Larry's "preaching" side!

Sullivan's other star attractions at the beautiful Welk Resort Theatre include the return of The Voice of Magic: Darren Romeo appearing March 11-December 11...a major coup for our town. Besides being the one and only protégé of "Magicians of the Century" Siegfried and Roy, Romeo was recently named International Magician of the Year in Hollywood, as well as Branson's Best Show 2004". In his premier season, Branson audiences loved him, the kids loved him, and with a name like Romeo, and with a magic in his voice as well as his illusions..., high praises are also coming from the ladies, who are reporting he is also quite "easy on the eyes." Then, come fall, America's Sweethearts of Song, The Lennon Sisters join The Gatlins for a star-studded Christmas Show, (Nov. 2-Dec. 10.) But that's not all: Sullivan Shows and Welk Productions will be bringing guest stars to town throughout the season, so visit their website often, (as well as ours), for all the latest bookings. (www.sullivanshows.com, www.bransonchurchgroups.com)

Longest Running Show in Branson: Can you trivia players guess who it is? Answer: Why of course it's The Baldknobbers Jamboree; now heading into their 46th season as "Branson's First Show". Now, any guesses why the show continues to be so successful, still packing audiences into their 1500 seat theater nightly? Come see for yourself. Experience two hours of power-packed country, bluegrass, gospel and patriotic music; beautiful costumes and the side-splitting comedy antics of Stub Meadows and Droopy Drawers Jr. All in all, it's the show biz formula the set the bar very high for all Branson shows to come, which is why the show remains at the top of the list for audiences and critics alike.

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One of Branson's most award-winning performers Doug Gabriel is making a move to certainly one of Branson's favorite venues; that classy and cozy Jim Stafford Theatre right at the heart of the Branson strip! Of course Doug is teaming up again with country legend Roy Clark for the '05 season, (providing we can pull Roy off the local golf courses by showtime!

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Those Incredible Acrobats of China will soon be in their own theatre, right there on 165 just a little South of the strip and next to the Ain't Misbehavin' Theatre, (which old timers will remember as the venue for The Pump Boys and Dinettes. The stunning new venue, dubbed The New Shanghai Theatre, is a glorious tribute to modern Chinese architecture. Built by Branson showman Bill Dailey and his wife, famous novelist Janet Dailey, the beautiful interiors and exteriors were designed by renaissance man Bill Lennon, (star of The Lennon Brothers Show and is the brother of those "little Lennon Sisters" of the famed Lawrence Welk TV Show), and Tom Gass of Backstage Productions. The New Shanghai Circus, for 8 years has brought their celebration of Chinese pageantry and acrobatic theatrics to the American shores; with Branson audiences being their home away from home. The show, already a spellbinding trip into another world, will certainly be enhanced with a setting as enchanting as its performances.

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Check your TV listings for Branson Jubilee, a new show rolling out in early summer. Described as "a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n roll," the show is produced in Branson and stars such local luminaries as Jimmy Osmond, Mickey Gilley, Debra Moreno Lowther, Jim Stafford, Jim Owen, The Lennon Sisters, Jimmy Rogers, and those Incredible Acrobats of China!

Coming Attractions:
Look out...the Powder Keg is about to explode at Silver Dollar City Theme Park! Billed as "a blast in the wilderness," this dynamite ride blows riders into the sky from 0 to 53mph in 2.8 seconds, then has 'em floating, spiraling, and dropping 110 feet! It's another one of those multi-million dollar contraptions guaranteed to thrill, and it's all about to be detonated this Spring!

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Up, Up and Away, the Branson Balloon now offers sky rides to folks forty at a time. The mini-zeppelin came all the way from Germany and now presents the area's best view of the Ozarks. (Great place to try out that new digital camera you got for Christmas!)

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While the big balloon probes the Branson sky, Branson visitors can also explore the mysteries of the deep at the new Titanic Museum: The Legend Continues, where over 450 actual artifacts will be on display from the great, storied wreck of 1912.

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Branson Landing Update: Construction of the town's giant redevelopment of the Lake Taneycomo waterfront will be in high gear throughout '05. The project includes a hotel and convention center, boardwalk, shopping, restaurants, a town square venue for concerts and more! Check out the progress at www.bransonlanding.com

Branson Buzz:
Silver Dollar City's Jack and Peter Herschend have been inducted into the Hall of Fame of the amusement industry's largest organization worldwide, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions at the annual convention in Orlando, Florida! The dynamic duo of fun-makers are co-owners and founders of Herschend Family Entertainment , whose 19 properties in 9 states include The Showboat Branson Belle, White Water, The Grand Village Shops, Talking Rocks Cavern, Celebration City, and are operating partners for Atlanta's Stone Mountain Park, Dollywood Theme Park of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Dixie Stampede in Branson, Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach and Orlando. In addition, The Brothers Herschend are heavily involved in community service, charitable works, and Christian endeavors. Peter Herschend recently gave his testimony at the October '04 Billy Graham Crusade in Kansas City. Congratulations and a big God bless! The Herschends are great witnesses for Christ!

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Myer Hotels Honored: The Myers family of Branson recently had four of their Branson lodgings honored: The Comfort Inn & Suites and the Comfort Inn West each received Choice Hotels Gold Award, while the Best Western Center Pointe Inn and Best Western Music Capital Inn received the Best Western Director's Award. Additionally, for the third consecutive year, Myer Hotels has been named a 2004 Top Hotel Company in Hotel and Motel Management Magazine. Congratulations to Myers! See their award-winning properties in our lodging section!