Branson News Guide

Jim Barber’s recent performance during the Late Show’s “Ventriloquist Week” was not only enjoyed by the enthusiastic studio audience in the historic Ed Sullivan Theater, and the hard working staff of the show itself, but also by the estimated 4.1 million viewers who tune into the show on an average night.

“Being selected to appear on David Letterman’s show was not only an extreme honor, but a suprisingly fun experience. The staff, stars and crew of the show are the best in the business and they helped make this brief performance one of the highlights of my 35 year career as a professional entertainer. Congratulations to my fellow ventriloquists that have also appeared on Late Show as part of this special “tongue-in-cheek salute” to our rare and wacky artform. Big thanks to David Letterman and everyone at Late Show. ” - Jim Barber

Over a week later, the Hamner Barber Theater’s e-mail box continues to receive many letters of support and congratulations from friends around the globe, both old and new who saw Jim’s act. Some were from inspired young ventriloquists, while others were from well-seasoned professional entertainers who offered a pat on the back. Most however, were from average Letterman viewers who just wanted to say hello and thank Jim for the fun.

“I’m humbled by the hundreds of letters I received in the days that followed my appearance,” said Barber. “I didn’t expect that and am truly thankful for the kind words and appreciation of my act.”

Jim’s performance also caught the eye of some television “Insiders,” including Michele Greppi of Television Week, the communtiy newspaper of the entire television industry.

Her article featured a multi-photo spread of Jim and Seville with a very positive “mash note” to “Late Show With David Letterman” for booking ventriloquists on the show.

Greppi wrote, “If it hadn’t been for rib-tickling “Ventriloquist Week 2,” The Insider would have gone all post-nuclear on everyone…”

Referring to Jim Barber’s act she added, “In addition to making himself appear to be the dummy of his two operatic dummies, Mr. Seville does an inspired bit with a hand in a glass of water.”

City, Chamber support five day event and its economic impact

Scores of vintage cars built before 1948 will be rolling into Branson June 11 for the first-ever Hemmings Branson Vintage Rally – a five-day rally and race that will take these classic vehicles throughout the back roads of southwest Missouri and at the same time raise money for Autism Awareness.

Competing in this event will be between 50 and 75 teams navigating pre-1948 automobiles that are specially equipped for the grueling demands required in a vintage car rally. The teams are made up of a driver and navigator plus support crews that will travel over 200 miles a day in search of the perfect time. The drivers are only given limited instructions, a clock, speedometer and a stopwatch, and they must arrive at the given “Check Point” exactly on time.

The race will start and finish each of the five days at the Hilton Promenade Hotel at Branson Landing. Teams race for over $60,000 in prize money. An awards ceremony takes place in front of the Branson Landing fountains on the evening of June 16.

Branson Mayor Lou Schaefer said city officials like the possibilities this event has for the whole area. “This is one of the rewarding aspects of being Mayor — announcing a special event in our city that benefits the area economy, can be enjoyed by both residents and visitors, and brings national attention to our great city,” said Schaefer. “And the Branson Vintage Rally does all of these things.”

The city will provide support for the rally and race through in-kind contributions like assisting with lane closings, traffic control and security, according to City Administrator Terry Dody. “It’s a great opportunity for our residents and visitors to not only view the cars when on display, but to also see them in racing action,” said Dody.

A marketing goal of the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB is attracting events and festivals that will bring new visitors to town, according to chamber president Ross Summers. “With events like the Branson Vintage Rally, we believe we can introduce our area to a significant market that also happens to be somewhat younger and hopefully with money to spend,” he said.

The Branson Vintage Rally is sponsored by the Vintage Car Rally Association (VCRA) and Hemmings Motor News, a magazine for car collectors.

“Our association enthusiastically endorsed Branson as the place to hold our national event,” said Jim Cox, a member of the VCRA. “The scenic, winding back roads of southwest Missouri provide the perfect setting for this rally and race that will attract tourists and locals alike. We estimate a total economic impact of over $600,000 in the Branson area.”

Cox said area communities also will benefit from the race. Each day the racers rally to a selected city away from Branson for a noon pit stop called “Lunch with the Cars” where residents and car enthusiasts in those cities can get up close and personal with the vintage cars and their crews. Then the drivers race back to the finish line in Branson to receive their daily scores.

The race has another purpose, according to Cox, and that is to raise money for Autism Awareness. All proceeds from the Branson Vintage Rally go toward the research and treatment of Autism in children. This disorder is marked by problems with language and communication and often accompanied by repetitive or unusual behaviors.

“We’ve set a goal of raising at least $20,000 for Autism Awareness during the Branson event,” Cox said.

The amount of drinking water produced and the amount of wastewater treated in the city of Branson set records in 2006.

Total water production for the year was 1,387,956,000 gallons, which was a 6.25% increase from the 2005 total of 1,301,077,000 gallons.

The highest monthly production occurred in July with 179,809,000 gallons, and the peak day for production was July 23 with 6,449,000 gallons.

Of the total amount of water produced in 2006, 92.1% came from surface water out of Lake Taneycomo and 7.9 percent from ground water wells.

Wastewater flow for the year also set a record with a total of 1,282,159,000 gallons treated, which is a 7.1% increase over the 2005 total of 1,191,175,000 gallons.

The Compton Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant treated 56 percent of the total amount and 44 percent was treated at the Cooper Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The peak month occurred in July with 140,048,000 gallons treated and the peak flow was on July 4 with 4,865,000 gallons treated.

“These are just two more indications that 2006 was a record year for tourism in Branson,” said Mayor Lou Schaefer. “The city also set records in sales tax revenues, number of visitors, and new construction.”

Schaefer said it was about 10 years ago that the city built a second water plant and wastewater treatment plant to meet the city’s future growth. “The decision that we on the board of aldermen made to put those plants on line has certainly paid off,” he said.

Construction crews set in place Branson’s first pedestrian overpass that connects the new convention center with a multi-level parking garage across the street.

The overpass sets above Sycamore Street and visitors will be able to take the elevator in the parking garage to the second floor and walk the bridge across to the main floor of the convention center on the west side. The overpass will greatly reduce the number of pedestrians crossing Sycamore on the ground on their way to the convention center.

“Our main concern is safety,” said City Engineer David Miller. “Using the overpass will keep people out of traffic as much as possible.”

Both the five-story parking garage and convention center are under construction. The top three floors of the garage will open in April with 300 parking spaces available. When the parking garage is completed two months later, it will have a total of 500 spaces. The convention center and convention center hotel will open August 17.

Miller said the convention center is designed to have another overpass that connects the east side to Branson Landing. But Miller said that structure will be more expensive because it will cross five lanes of roads and a set of railroad tracks.

Branson, Missouri will celebrate Valentine’s Day with the opening of its very first “boutique” hotel, the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. The new, elegantly appointed hotel will welcome its first guests Wednesday, February 14, at 10:30 a.m., during a special ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Hilton Promenade is the first of three new Hilton facilities scheduled to open in Branson in 2007. The Branson Convention Center, which is owned by the City of Branson and managed by Hilton, and the adjacent Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, will open in August 2007.

“We are thrilled to be able to introduce this new level of exclusive service and enjoyment to Branson,” said Mark Hartman, General Manager, Hiltons of Branson. “Branson already attracts more than seven million visitors a year. Now, with the opening of the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, guests will have yet another reason to visit this exciting city.”

The Hilton Promenade is one of the centerpieces of Branson Landing, a $420 million and entertainment district located on the shores of Lake Taneycomo. The hotel, which is situated in the town square of Branson Landing, features 242 guest rooms and 2,000 square feet of gathering space for meetings and special events. Several rooms offer views of a stunning
water fountain designed specifically for Branson Landing by the creators of the Bellagio Fountains of Las Vegas.

The hotel’s hospitality staff includes 125 hand picked team members, all of whom were required to pass a detailed and rigorous training program based on the Hilton Promenade’s signature “10 Points of Service” pledge. After candidates complete the program - which emphasizes the hotels commitment to superior service, hospitality and presentation – they’re presented with a “10 Points Pin” and a blue bracelet emblazoned with the phrase “Be Hospitable” that will be worn as part of their uniform.

The Hilton Promenade’s interior was designed by Habitat Interiors, LLC of Colorado, a leading interior design firm that specializes in contemporary elegance. Rooms and suites feature the latest in Hilton exclusive amenities, including the Hilton Serenity Bed™, Pacific Coast Touch of Down® pillows, European-style 250-thread count linens, and La Source® luxury bath products created exclusively for Hilton by Crabtree & Evelyn. Each room and suite features a 32-inch LCD (Liquid Crystal Display screen) television, high-speed internet access and a specially-designed Hilton Family clock radio to which guests can connect their personal MP3 player, portable CD player, laptop, and other electronic devices, giving them instant access to their own, personal entertainment preferences.

Guests will also have access to a full-service fitness center, an indoor pool and a gracious lobby featuring cozy, intimate seating areas bathed in natural wood accents, rich fabrics and unique artwork. The hotel is within walking distance of Historic Downtown Branson, the Branson Convention Center and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.

For dining, guests will enjoy the Liberty Tavern Restaurant, a Hilton signature restaurant known for serving fresh, local ingredients in a comfortable, contemporary setting.

Located on the first floor of the Promenade, the Liberty Tavern will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The owner and developer of the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is HCW Development Company, LLC of Branson. The company, which is known for preserving and accentuating the natural beauty of the areas it develops, is also the developer of Branson
Landing.

Branson comedian Jim Barber will “throw his voice” across the national airwaves when he performs his award-winning ventriloquist act on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman,” Thursday, February 15.

“The opportunity to perform on David Letterman’s show is incredible,” said Barber, “and quite frankly, something I hadn’t expected. I’ve always been a big fan of the show, but it seemed there was a standing policy of no ventriloquist acts until Letterman’s clever concept of an entire week devoted to ventriloquism. It sounds a bit hokey and perhaps what I do is considered a novelty, but according to the Late Show ratings, America is ready for some good ol’ fashioned entertainment once again. That’s what Branson is all about and I’m honored to have this opportunity to share a bit of my humor and imagination with the entire country.”

Jim Barber was selected as one of the five top professional ventriloquists to appear as part of the Late Show’s “Ventriloquist Week” which pulled in extremely high ratings for the program last fall when the concept was first launched. The idea came from Letterman himself during a writer’s meeting. According to writer and producer Eric Stangel, his efforts to seek out the best ventriloquist acts in the country turned up a “list of legends and people who are currently getting it done in the world of ventriloquism.” It is also fitting that the show is taped in the Ed Sullivan Theater which hosted so many amazing variety acts during the early years of television.

Barber is a rare variety entertainer who has not only mastered the technical aspects of ventriloquism, but has achieved a level of respect among his peers for his contributions to the artform. He is an advisor to the world’s largest private collection of ventriloquist memorabilia, Vent Haven Museum in Ft. Mitchell, KY and was voted “Ventriloquist of the Year” at the Museum’s International Convention.

With his entertainment partners, Dave and Denise Hamner, Jim is co-star of the “Hamner Barber Variety Show” which performs nightly from February through December at the Hamner Barber Theater in Branson, Missouri. Last year, the International Magicians Society selected Jim as the first ventriloquist in history to receive their coveted Merlin Award as International “Ventriloquist of the Year,” while simultaneously awarding the Hamners a Merlin Award as “Entertainers of the Year.”