MAGICAL CHRISTMAS IN THE OZARKSText and Photography by Sandy KatzMerry Christmas Rockettes - File Photo 
|
||
|
The Branson Lakes area is located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, only 35 miles from Springfield, Missouri where my TWA flight from St. Louis landed. The city of Branson was founded in 1881, and the downtown area has more than 20 historic sites dating back to the early 1900s. Two such buildings are the old Branson Hotel and the Main Street Railroad Depot.
Branson boasts more than a century of growth as a vacation destination. Now ranked 18th among all leisure vacation |
|
|
|
destinations, this Mid-western community has captured America's heart with its combination of small-town charm and big-name entertainment acts.
Known for country music, the city has more than three dozen venues for musical performances, comedy acts, and magic shows. The Baldknobbers Jamboree, founded in 1959, is the original Branson music show. The brothers combined popular country tunes with Ozark Mountain music and threw in a dash of comedy to entertain audiences whenever they could find them. In 1968, the Baldknobbers built a theater on Highway 76 making their act the longest continuously running show in Branson. In the 1960s, the Presley family began a music show at Underground Theatre (Talking Rocks Cavern) near Kimberling City with special guests from "Ozark Jubilee" including Red Foley himself. They then made history in 1967 when they opened the first music theater on what is now Highway 76. Today, the Presley County Jubilee is a favorite among Branson visitors.
A few miles east of Silver Dollar City sits "Shepherd of the Hills". The amphitheater was purposely located on the site where the models for author Harold Bell Wright's characters lived. In 1976, minister-turned-novelist's book depicting an earthly paradise in the hills of the Ozark Mountains sold more than one million copies. Around 1908 a tourist movement began as more fans of the novel flooded into Branson by the thousands to view the setting for The Shepherd of the Hills and meet some of the "hillbillies" described in the book. The outdoor pageant grew into one of the nation's most popular ongoing, outdoor, historical dramas. A theme park was subsequently developed on the old homestead's acreage. Today, Branson is called the "Live Entertainment Capital of the World" (seven million visitors per year)and is known as a one-of-a-kind experience - a unique blend of neon and nature where big-name performers, breathtaking scenery, myriad outdoor and lake activities and attractions galore all combine into a truly unique vacation destination. CHRISTMAS TIME
Patriotism is alive and well in Branson and throughout the year veterans are honored at the shows and with special events. During the week surrounding Veteran's Day, Branson hosted thousands of veterans from all branches of the military for a week of parades, festivities and remembrance. Veterans, young and old, are honored by the town of Branson for their courageous service to the country. Branson is a gift for visitors of all ages. During November and December, Ozark Mountain Christmas offers guests the unique opportunity to experience the Branson/Lakes Area adorned in colorful holiday finery. At Presleys' Country Jubilee, we spoke with Steve Presley about Branson music history. His family was one of the first to establish their show in Branson. Through the years the costumes have changed, the stage has more glitz and polish, and a host of talented performers have been added. Each performance of Presleys' Country Jubilee, featuring four generations of Presleys, still has the original spark, that Presley love of good-natured humor and the pure sounds of country and gospel music that started so long ago. I agree with the Denver Post. "If you want a lot of laughs, put this show on your don't miss list." favorites, new country and Southern gospel along with hilarious comedy. Telephone 417-334-4874 www.presleys.com. The Shoji Tabuchi show needs no introduction. Consistently rated the finest in Branson, Shoji Tabuchi amazes and astounds the audience with his incredible talent and versatility on the fiddle. He delights them with country, Cajun, western swing, bluegrass and even a bit of classical Mozart. Telephone 417-334-7469 www.shoji.com. At the Lawrence Welk ChampagneTheater and the Stage Door Canteen. We met one of the Lennon Brothers prior to the Lennon Brothers Swing Music Show starring the three Lennon Brothers and a very talented energetic sister-in-law. I especially admired her glamorous, period costumes. Big screen cameos featured pictures of the Lennon Brothers as little boys with their sisters, the famousLennon Sisters on the Lawrence Welk Show Christmas special. Swing music has become the hottest music in America again. 800-505-WELK (9355) www.welkresort.com. Next was the Mel & Pam Tillis Show. A fan of Mel Tillis since I first saw him on TV, it was wonderful to hear him singing without stuttering. His daughter Pam appears with her dad on select dates throughout the year, and the entire Christmas season. 417-335-M-Mel www.meltillis.com The Country Tonite Show is rated one oif Branson's top three shows to see. It won Best Live Country Show in America three consecutive years by the Country Music Organization of America. The exciting non-stop action of Country Tonite includes 12-year-old, Clint Johnson whose impressive stage presence delighted his fans during his rendition of "I've Been Everywhere." An especially moving moment during the Country Tonite Show comes with Clay Cooper's rendition of "Some Gave All" which brought tears to the eyes of veterans. 1-800-GO-TONITE www.countrytonite.com.
At Silver Dollar City Christmas reigns supreme. We immediately headed for O Little Town of Bethlehem which was a bustling marketplace recreated in the Red Gold Heritage Hall with middle eastern crafts, musicians and ethnic food. We caught the mesmerizing Living Nativity presentation of "For Unto Us A Child Is Born." We then went to the Opera House Theatre for show "Christmas in the Ozarks". As we left the park, we went to the five-story Special Effects Christmas tree, adorned with over 200,000 lights coordinated to blaze to the musical movements of Christmas songs such as "Carol of the Bells" and Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" in a spectacular light and sound show. Over three million lights created a visual extravaganza throughout the 1880s Ozark village as the entire park was transformed into a holiday wonderland. This year, Silver Dollar City presented one of the nation's finest holiday festivals, An Old Time Christmas. The festival runs through Dec.30th with a few dates closed due to Christmas. The festival is themed "The Happiest Christmas of All." The highlight for me was the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the magic of the Radio City Rockettes at the Grand Palace, Branson's largest and most luxurious theater. A full cast of world-class singers and dancers are elegantly complemented by 400 colorful costumes, live animals and elaborate sets during the two-hour Christmas extravaganza. Dazzling production numbers such as "Carols of the Bells", "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" displayed precision at its perfection, plus the unforgettable "Living Nativity" with two live camels.These last two scenes have been performed at Radio City Music Hall since 1933 and have enraptured audiences worldwide. Branson is one of only a handful of locations outside of New York where the Rockettes perform their Christmas Spectacular. 1-800-5PALACE (572-5223) www.silverdollarcity.com. The Andy Williams Show was fantastic. Williams sang as well as I remembered and looked just as good with snow white hair. The talented Mr. Williams' rendition of Moon River was wonderful. He shares his theater with Glen Campbell and Broadway on Ice. The Andy Williams Christmas Show is only for the holiday season. 417-334-4500 at Andy Williams Moon River Theater. Branson, Missouri, one of the most popular destinations in the country, boasts more than 55,000 theater seats, 22,000 hotel rooms, 30,000 restaurant seats, three pristine lakes and dozens of attractions.
| ||
In 1960, two families opened businesses that have become popular attractions for visitors to the Branson/Lakes area. Hugo and Mary Herschend opened a small Ozark village attraction atop the long popular Marvel Cave, about 10 miles west of Branson on Highway 76. They called it Silver Dollar City and offered an
1880s steam train ride, country shops, crafts and music.
Christmas in the Ozarks is a magical combination of homespun traditions, breathtaking scenery and dazzling shows. This writer experienced it all within a three-day whirlwind visit. Holiday lights illuminated the town and great stars electrified the stage.
Silver Dollar City is celebrating its 40th year in business and they seem to know how to relate to families vacationing in America's Bible Belt. The 47-acre park is modeled after the turn-of-the-century Ozark mining town it once was and received the 1998-99 Applause Award as one of the world's best theme parks. In the style of the 18890s, the City features more than 70 resident crafters who demonstrate their skills for visitors.