Christmas bells in Branson Posted: http://www.onenewsnow.com/features.aspx?id=328052 Randall Murphree - Guest Columnist - Branson, Missouri, continues to build its reputation as the nation's destination for wholesome, safe family fun. Right now, there are more Christmas extravaganzas than you can jingle a bell at – music, variety shows, dramas, illusionists, ventriloquists, museums and other attractions. And it's not too late for an end-of-year getaway. With 100 shows, more theater seats than Broadway and 19,000 hotel rooms, they'll have room at the inn. Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley says both the city and the entertainment community are diligent in guarding their family-friendly reputation, and they work together to sell their unique product. "It's all about selling the destination," says hotel owner Chris Myer. The Myer family operates their five Branson hotels by Christian principles – even say so in a corporate mission statement. In their rooms, you'll find an open Bible and no pay-per-view adult movies. I'm quickly developing my list of Branson favorites. Whether I'm there for family fun or with co-workers at a media event, I always say, "We have to go to the Doug Gabriel Show." "Who?" they ask. "Doug Gabriel." "Who's he?" Then I get to explain. Doug Gabriel – owner of Branson's Male Vocalist of the Year title – only seven times. Doug Gabriel – voted Branson's Best Morning Show six years in a row. But...did I say morning show? Yes. There's so much fun in Branson, they have to start early. So most weekday mornings, Doug and his wife Cheryl and drummer son Josh rise early for their 10 a.m. show at the Jim Stafford Theatre on Branson's famed 76 Strip. Cheryl's harmonies and solos and the band are a perfect complement for Doug's stirring vocals, from pop to country to gospel and Christmas favorites. Near the end of his Christmas show, Doug and Cheryl sit down on the edge of the stage and he reads the Christmas story from the Bible. "Whether I entertain or not, my purpose is to share Jesus Christ with the world," Doug says. Christian faith just keeps surfacing among Branson entertainers. Kirby VanBurch and his wife Bambi produce the "world's largest magic show" at their theater. But Kirby is careful to point out that only God can create or could actually make things disappear; what he and Bambi do is mere illusion. And they do it well – with a cast of huge, exotic cats, a motorcycle and a helicopter. In fact, last year they did it so well that the 37,000-member International Magicians Society awarded Bambi the prestigious Merlin Award as Female Magician of the Year and Kirby the Merlin for Entertainer of the Year. Pretty heady stuff. But at the end of each show, Kirby tells about his Texas grandma who loved Jesus and who planted the seeds of faith that bore fruit in his life years later when a Branson pastor led him to the Lord. From the stage, Kirby says of man's brokenness, "We can't put the pieces of our lives back together. Only Jesus Christ can do that." Wow. And from a "magician," no less! My list of favorites could go on for a while, but I'll just add a brief plug for a few others. Jim Stafford – First known years ago for his down-home comedy, guitar and novelty songs such as "Spiders and Snakes" and "Cow Patti," Stafford came to Branson for a guest appearance and fell in love with the family-friendly city. Now, he's been a Branson staple for almost 20 years, still leaning on his perfect comic timing and his stellar guitar picking to deliver two hours of fun. The Baldknobbers (photo to the right) – Branson's very first show was born when the Mabe family began performing in old downtown Branson 40 years ago. Three generations of the family now entertain together on the Strip – country music, rousing gospel and a little Ozark comedy. The Presleys – I could describe their show much the same way. Four generations of Presleys take the stage for the best in family music and comedy. Lloyd Presley, 84, is still going strong 40 years after he built the first theater on Hwy. 76. (See my earlier article on the Presleys.) Showboat Branson Belle – The Belle offers a gourmet lunch or dinner cruise on Table Rock Lake with a variety revue including orchestra, song and dance, aerial artists and the ventriloquist Todd Oliver with his live, talking dogs. For a change of pace, Silver Dollar City is nearby for old-fashioned family fun with shows, crafts, rides, a daily Christmas parade, 1,000 decorated Christmas trees, a new interactive Frosty show for kids and four million Christmas lights. (More on Silver Dollar City next week.) "We like multi-generational folks to come and visit us," says Mayor Presley, "because we know that you can be a grandparent and sit with your grandchild in a show and not be embarrassed or have to explain a joke or a costume." That's the kind of little thing that makes a big difference to families who are sick of the morally poisonous trends in secular entertainment. Is that you? Branson just may be your antidote. This is the second in a series of articles about Branson, Missouri, that will be published between now and Christmas.
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Comments on "Christmas bells in Branson by Randall Murphree"
Thanks for the information and the activities that will be going on in Branson! Are there any Branson hotels you recommend?