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THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS GAZETTE
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Out of the ordinary restaurant... out of the way location
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apouli’s is a bit “out of the way” but it should be “on your way” for a unique dining experience. Papouli’s, in Reeds Spring, is a local favorite; I had dinner recently with my friends Lisa and Louanne. It wasn’t busy when we arrived, but soon Bessie was busy greeting, taking orders. Bessie and Tom Haldoupis opened Papouli’s in 1986. Bessie is from Corinth, Greece; Tom is from Plaka, By Linda Burlingame close to Athens. Bessie says the delectable Greek entrees are recipes from mothers, grandmothers, their Greek family! Saganaki is a favorite appetizer: goat cheese doused with brandy then flamed. Gives the cheese an amazing flavor and texture! More people arrived, everyone smiling; most get a hug. “We have a regular clientele.” She greeted an elderly couple with a smiling, “Hi, kids, how are you tonight?” Papouli’s is on Hwy. 248 near Reeds Spring. (Take Hwy. 248 west off Hwy. 13 about four miles north of Branson West.) It’s a quiet stretch of two-lane road, with a few houses and old farms. Papouli’s main seating area has a large window across the back wall, with a fun view of a fountain, birdhouses, old garden things … and license plates. Dozens! I asked Bessie about them. She laughed, “We put up that fence to en-
close the area, hide some of the brush behind it.” As part of the stuff, someone hung up a couple of old license plates. Soon customers began supplying more. “They would eat here, go home and send us license plates.” From Australia. From Aruba, the Cayman Islands, a Kansas plate that reads “GREEK”. From Nebraska: TB RK LK for Table Rock Lake! The phone rings; Bessie picks it up, “Oh, hello, how are you, darling? 6:45, good see you then.” More friends coming to dinner. The food is delicious; deciding what to have is tough. Souvlaki? (Shish Kabob.) Maybe Dolmades, stuffed grape leaves. The Gyros Dinner is always delicious; so is the Mousaka. The Greek Combination Plate is a favorite. I almost always have eggplant but Lisa suggested the Catfish ala Tom: it was wonderful! This was Louanne’s first time there; Lisa and I always see people we know. There are American entrees too, including Prime Rib, New York Strip, Filet Mignon … even Cashew Chicken. (An Ozarks original!) Dessert is a tricky choice between Tiramisu, Gourmet Turtle Cheesecake, Mountain Berry Cream Flan, Baklava, Galactroboureko … spell check loves that one! Enjoy a dining experience at Papouli’s and tell ‘em Lisa and Linda sent you! (Spare license plate not required.)
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New Branson Auto Museum: Fun for the whole family!
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’m not what you’d call an automobile aficionado — the only cars I can identify for sure are the 1950’s Chevy’s! But like everyone, I’m dazzled by cars gleaming beneath the lights and charmed by the memories they elicit. By At the Linda Burlingame new Brans o n Auto Museum, which occupies the Engler Block, one mile west of Hwy. 65, there are more than 100 rare, unusual, and celebrity automobiles: some of them for sale! There’s a wide variety of cars, from the 1920’s into the 21st Century. Come along on the tour; I made some notes … a beautiful 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster, vroom, vroom! A 1948 Packard Super 8 Convertible Victoria, and for a change of pace, the 1969
Dodge Charger “General Lee” from Dukes of Hazard! Around the corner was one of the most gorgeous cars I’ve ever seen: 1932 Ford High-Boy Roadster in Lapis Blue, what a fantastic color! (I know what the guys are thinking now ….) There are pickups, too, like the 1950 GMC 3/4 Ton Flatbed that has the original bed
with replacement wood. There are pretty hot rods, too, and all the vehicles have information plaques with good descriptions. There are old gas station signs and memorabilia, as well as great automobile quotes from famous people. (Sharon Stone has to drive with her knees; how else could she apply her mascara?)
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Here’s the Old Toys Shop. I had a nice visit with Beverly; she says they’ve been collecting toy cars, trucks, trains, cranes, etc., for 35
years. Most of the toys are origin a l s ; there are some reproduction pedal
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cars. A lot of Buddy L toys — a great story there! The 1940 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe has 24K gold trim on the interior, around the clock, speedometer, etc. Glistening dashboard! Al Capone’s 1936 4-door Packard: it was discovered in an old barn! The Gift Shop is fun, full of auto-related items — love the “Pretty in Pink” pedal car! Joe’s Rod Shop specializes in hot rod parts and accessories. AND they can build a hot rod or restore yours. Most of us have many “auto” memories, whether it was our first car or a favorite car our grandparents had. (My granddad was a Cadillac dealer in the late 40’s and 50’s. I wish I had pictures of some of his cars!) Branson Auto Museum is a place to share some memories … and make some new ones!
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Ride the trails of Branson’s history THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS GAZETTE
ow, how cool would it be to ride a true show horse used by the cast of The Shepherd of the Hills Drama? Well now is your chance. The good folks at The Shepherd of the Hills Homestead have horseback riding, and they use the horses that star in the nightly show. By Now this is not Bryan Sheppard your everyday horseback ride. The
ride takes you on a 30 minute journey through the hills that the Baldknobbers use to run. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like something that should be a must-do on vacation. It is kinda like going to New England for vacation, once you are there wouldn’t you want to see the crab fisherman? Well coming to the Ozarks most would want to see and hear about our history that so many have read about for many years. The very reason most book a trip to these here Ozark Mountains. this is one way to fill the dream of riding through our history, as you are surrounded by the majestic Ozark Mountains and it’s
beautiful forest. Do you remember reading the book The Shepherd of the Hills, and hearing about “the trail that is nobody knows how old”? Well your not going to get any closer than now while the wranglers assist you on your horseback journey through our Ozark history. You will ride along that trail, among others. So as you start to fill your vacation itinerary for
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Branson this year, be sure to add some true Ozark history to your trip and stop by to say hi to the professional wranglers that are waiting to make your vacation, a memory worth keeping.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Whittington
The Shepherd of the Hills Historical Society Publisher SHARENA NAUGHER Editor PAT SNADON Contributing Editor
JAPHETH CAMPBELL Online Director
JEN SHEPPARD Layout & Design Manager
LINDA BURLINGAME BRYAN SHEPPARD KURT MOORE Advertising Executives PAULA LIVELY Distribution
SHANE NAUGHER Technical Director
The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette is published five times per year and is distributed free of charge at state and regional outlets or by mail at an annual subscription rate of $10.00 for five issues. If you have any problems with your paper delivery, please call 417-332-1099 or write us at 118 State Drive, Hollister, Missouri 65672. The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette reserves the right to edit or delete any and/or all objectional wording or decline any advertisements.
www.shepherdgazette.com
Subscribe to the Gazette and keep up on the fun in Branson - even from home! Did you know you can subscribe to the Gazette? You’ll receive each issue at home - what better way to stay in touch with Branson until you can visit us again? Plus - you’ll receive special offers & coupons throughout the year!
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Oh, Oh Daddy-0, 57 Heaven
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nce upon a time and long, long ago, Dwight Eisenhower had just taken an oath for his second term in office and Andrei Gromyko was the foreign minister of the Soviet Union. Elvis was televised for the third and last time on the Ed Sullivan Show. He was shown only from the waist up as he sang "Peace in the Valley." His song "Jailhouse By Rock" was number one that year along with Paul Anka's, "Diana," Kurt Moore Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" and "At the Hop" with Danny and the Juniors. That year American Bandstand debuted with Dick Clark as it's never-aging host. Bandstand's first guest was Billy Williams and the Chordettes and the very first song played was "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin' On" by Jerry Lee Lewis. As a side note: B.B. King was the only artist, who performed on Bandstand, who did not lip-sync his music. Now you know. Dr. Suess published "The Cat in the Hat." Ford Motors introduced the Edsel, calling it E-Day. Sputnik 1, began orbiting the earth as the world's first artificial satellite. Vanna White was born that year with letter turning in her future. That was also the year we lost Laura Ingalls Wilder and Humphrey Bogart—we were much poorer for it. Sears was still selling homes from their cat-
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alog and John Cameron Swazye had his 15 minute news cast each evening—the year was 1957. We were through with the Second World War and were fresh out of the Korean conflict. We were riding on a high of life that was reflected in our big love affair—the great American automobile. Tail fins, chrome, suicide wheels and ragtops ruled. Every two years the auto factories would put out a drastically changed model and every man in America would go to the dealer showrooms in September to check out the latest models. We had to breathe in the smell of the new car. It was a heady thing and our senses went wild allowing our imaginations to shift into overdrive. You can take a spin back to 1957 at the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theatre when you visit Glen Patch’s pristine collection of 1957 cars in 57 Heaven. There are, more or less, 64 different models of cars, trucks and yes, even a firetruck all American made and all manufactured in 1957—hence the name, “57 Heaven.” I lived through the 50’s and thought I knew pretty well what cars were made back then, I was wrong. There are a few models I had not known of and a couple I had never heard of. This trip through nostalgia will delight and may, as in my case, surprise you. We loved Uncle Miltie, Lucy, Arthur Godfrey, Steve
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Allen and Jackie Gleason. We trusted our car to the man who wore the Texaco star and Diana Shore asked us to see the USA in our Chevrolet. TV Land, black and white as it was, (color TV experiments began in 1958), kept reinforcing our love affair with chrome, steel, nifty seat covers, fuzzy dice and tail fins. Ah yes, 1957 was quite a year and you will see a portion of it in 57 Heaven with the sets and props surrounding the cars. For those of you who have never been to a drive-in movie, there is one there playing just for you. Slick down that ducktail, roll those jeans up, grab your gal and cruise down to 57 Heaven. It is named that way for a very good reason
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Baldknobbers Jamboree celebrates 50 years
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n 1959 four Mabe brothers calling themselves The Baldknobbers began entertaining visitors to Branson, on the Taneycomo lakefront. They called their show The Baldknobbers Jamboree. The audience was By Linda Burlingame mostly fishermen and their families. There were fifty folding chairs, and if the Mabe wives sold twelve tickets, there would be a show! Fifty years and four generations later, The Baldknobbers are still entertaining audiences with country music and their own distinctive brand of hillbilly humor. Today their theater on Hwy. 76 is state-of-the-art and seats 1500 people! I was there recently at their 50th Anniversary Celebration … everybody was there! Our Mayor Raeanne Presley, Senator Jack Goodman, Representative Dennis Woods and many more digni-
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taries with greetings and recognitions for the Baldknobbers’ contribution to Branson entertainment. Then the Baldknobbers outdid themselves with a beautiful show! It’s all new for 2009, including gorgeous new costumes and, as always, a great selection of old and
new country music, great gospel music, and uproarious comedy. Stub Meadows, Droopy Drawers, Jr., and Hargus Marcel will have you in stitches. Bob Leftridge is the perfect straight man! The Baldknobbers brand of comedy touches something in every-
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one and has the unique ability to let people laugh at just about anything. People will laugh when a hillbilly talks about subjects that in other situations might be “out of bounds.” Boogers and bathroom humor have mom and grandma chuckling, with sidelong glances; dad and the kids are laughing out loud! While the band doesn’t have washtubs or a jawbone anymore, The Baldknobbers adhere faithfully to the very beginnings of music in Branson. Second- and third-generations of Mabes and a cast of 19 singers, musicians and comedians give enthusiastic audiences a high-energy, fast-paced show. "I believe our best quality is that we entertain everyone from the age of 2 to 92," says Tim Mabe, producer and comedian Droopy Drawers Jr. There are families who have been traveling to Branson to see the Bald______________ See Baldknobbers, Page 21
Classic Western songs bring era to life
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emember when you were younger sitting on the floor in front of the console TV watching Hee Haw and Roy Rogers with your parents? I know I do and boy did the memories ever come back By while watchBryan Sheppard ing the Sons of the Pioneers perform at the Shepherd of the Hills Pavilion. What a wonderful way to spend an evening. The dinner bell rings at 4:15 and make sure you are hungry. You will be served a chuckwagon dinner with a selection of drinks including cowboy coffee. As you’re finishing up your grub from dinner, the
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chuckwagon chef takes center stage, bringing with him his son and daughter. While the chef, Travis, is a cowboy poet
yodel? Cheyenne sings about “being a cowboy’s sweetheart” and does a mighty fine job if you ask me. Before
and storyteller, his son tells the story of Johnny, Mary’s (who had a little lamb) brother. Ever hear a nine-year-old
the show starts you will be introduced to the cook of the marvelous dinner you are served when the dinner bell
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rings at 4:15, and he will entertain you with cowboy poetry and a story about Rindercelly that will keep you in stitches. The Sons of the Pioneers, dubbed national treasures, have been performing on stage since 1934. Seventyfive wonderful years inspiring not only cowboys but also the ones that have a cowboy heart. Over the years, the Sons of the Pioneers has been made up of 33 members to carry on the traditions and the music. The Sons have composed more than 3,000 ______________ See Sons of the Pioneers, Page 21
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Mulkey keeps art of knife-making alive
nife making is not a new art. It is a very old art having started in the Paleolithic age as men chipped hardened rocks, such as obsidian and flint to make their tools. A knife is defined as By something like Kurt Moore a tool, used to cut. It does not necessarily have to have a handle to be defined as a knife. Over a period of a few thousand years, stone, wood and bone blades were gradually phased out for newly invented metals like copper, iron, bronze and later on, steel. The first knives were double-edged like the first stone knives and later in Europe; the first single edged knives hit the market. Now knives are produced using steel, carbon steel, carbon fiber and ceramics with the latest twist
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being titanium. Gary Mulkey is a master knife maker having set up shop at the Shep-
herd of the Hills, just inside the main gate. Gary has been making knives for over 40 years starting as an apprentice blacksmith. Gary, like all young smiths, could not resist taking an old worn out file
and making a knife from it. The difference between Gary and many other young smiths, Gary kept making knives and had a passion for what he was doing. In 1997 Gary went into the knife making business full time. Throughout the last couple of decades interest has steadily increased in knives for collectors, hunters and all sportsmen, and to be fair, sportswomen. Gary has kept up with the changes and fashions his knives from the highest quality carbon steel while fashioning decorative handles from stag, bone, fossil bone, new ivory, fossil ivory, mother-of-pearl
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and many types of exotic woods. Knife making is an art and a very precise art. If you have not seen knives being made the real way, stop by Shepherd of the Hills and visit Gary. What he does is fascinating to watch. Gary’s shop is located just inside the main Shepherd of the Hills gate in the original Lizzy McDaniel House, reassembled there in 1934. That house is the main ticket office and Gary can be found as you go around the side of the building.
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A man for all reasons: Keith Allen
ana King, a friend of mine in Branson, does many national commercials one of them being for an insurance company. To paraphrase one of her better known lines, "Like a good neighbor, Keith Allen is there." Keith Allen is a good neighbor to all who know By him and Kurt Moore to many who have never heard his name. Keith and his wife Paula are geographical neighbors to the people in and around the Ozarks. But they are special neighbors who are always willing to help, lend a hand or sponsor a cause. When I visited Keith and Paula at their beautiful, spacious home nestled in the Ozark woods close to the lake, Keith was tilling a neighbor's garden for him. Just like Keith.
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Much more importantly, are the hundreds and thousands of people Keith has helped, through-
out the twenty or so years he has been in the area, who have not a clue who Keith Allen or Paula Allen
are. They have helped whenever it was asked and many times not knowing what they were lett i n g t h e m selves in for. Most k n o w K e i t h Allen as an entertainer. He p e r formed for a decade and a half at Silver Dollar City then moved on to be with A n i t a
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Bryant, Tony Melendez, the Branson Belle and a couple of years at the Roy Rogers Theatre. In other words Keith has been around. He is now in his second year with his own show at the Branson Star Theatre. His show is called Redneckers, and it suits Keith to the proverbial tee. I don’t know whether to say Keith is Redneckers or Redneckers is Keith. I personally believe they are interchangeable. Trailer for sale or rent—dum, dum— rooms to let, fifty cents. Remember those famous lyrics by Roger Miller? When was the last time you heard that song played on the radio? Long time ago, I bet. Keith Allen, as Redneckers, brings back to life the songs, loved ones and people of our past and in doing so re-kindles emotions and images that were buried in the back recesses of our minds oh, so many years ago. Jeff Foxworthy claims a redneck is a ______________ See Keith Allen, Page 19
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Cars come rolling into town
or the past several years, car enthusiasts from all over the country have converged on Branson every August to share in what has become the most popular weekend event of the summer. That‘s right, its finally time for Super Summer Cruise 2009! This year marks the 11th anniversary for Super Summer Cruise. Classic car and truck owners and fans will gather for three fantastic days at the Shepherd of the Hills historic homestead, beginning Thursday, Aug. 6, that will include exciting guests, competition, fireworks and
the much anticipated Midnight Cruise. More than 500 diverse classic cars will be on display from states as far as Maine and California for Show N Shine, a competition and public viewing event that will take place each day at the homestead from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On display will be hot rods, street rods, customs, antiques and even LMRA race cars. Judging of the vehicles will take place all three days for two titles: People’s Choice and Best in Show. Visitors are strongly encouraged and will be allowed to vote for the car they think should win. A Best of Show presentation will take place Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Pavilion Theater Vendors of many sorts will be present at the
homestead, dealing in automotive parts, shirts, memorabilia and great food, just to name a few. To top it all off, the huge event will be concluded Saturday night with the fan favorite, Midnight Cruise. Every year, the entries from Show N Shine are paraded with a new parade route announced this year. At midnight, cars will begin rolling out of the old Celebration City parking lot located on Hwy. 376 and will continue onto Shepherd of the Hills Expressway until finishing at Roark Valley Road. Car fans, expected to exceed 120,000 in number, will line every inch of the parade route to see classics of nearly every year, make and model in top form. Masterpieces from yesteryear unite with cus______________ See Rolling in, Page 11
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tom hotrods in a parade spectacular that will get your blood pumping. Bringing up the rear of the parade will be Western Taney County Fire District’s very own antique 1955 Ford fire truck. Bring your lawn chair and pick your spot early because they will fill quickly. With three fun-packed days and nights scheduled, summer fun is a “no-brainer” with Super Summer Cruise! Gather your family and carloving friends for a car weekend like no other. You are guaranteed to be talking about this weekend for many months to come. For more information call 800653-6288 or visit www.supersummercruise.com. See the back page of this publication for a parade route map.
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Kirby & Bambi VanBurch: An award-winning duo
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ambi VanBurch recently won Female Magician of the Decade from the International Magicians Society. It was presented to her at the opening of her new show at Music City Centre by Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley, who declared June 8 Bambi VanBurch Day. Both Bambi and Kirby have won Merlin awards; Bambi is the By only woman to win a Linda Burlingame Merlin two years in a row. Kirby was present that night as Bambi amazed and mesmerized the audience with illusions, one of which Kirby gave her — the Web cam interaction is fun on this one! I especially loved her Choo-Choo-Cha Boogie number and the fashion design segment, a fun “little number” starring three designer dresses! A macaw wows the audience in the Rainforest and everyone laughs with “Fred, the death-defying duck!” Bambi has a charming stage presence and keeps the audience enthralled. It must take a bit of magic, too, for her to do her afternoon show at Music City Centre as well as the evening show she and
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Kirby have at their Kirby VanBurch Theatre. Along with their magnificent Royal White Bengal Tigers, menagerie of other big cats, and human assistants, they have a spectacular show. Whether working with the cats (now you see one, now you see Bambi!) or
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cutting assistants in half (putting them back together wearing different colored costumes!) or changing the colors of the Sands of the Nile (an illusion that is 3000 years old) using water from the Nile … or Lake Taneycomo … they have perfect presentation and timing. I’ve known Kirby since he came to Branson 15 years ago. I used to plead to know just one little secret. He said if he told me, he’d have to make me disappear, which he did once. I’m content now simply to be astounded. The sets are incredible, everything expertly crafted and flawlessly presented, including a helicopter. Bambi and Kirby married in 2002. She’s a talented, very poised lady; she also dances in the show ... when she’s not appearing or disappearing! Kirby has a charismatic presence, with his mischievous little grin that says, “you’re not gonna believe this!” Bambi does a mind-boggling routine as “Madame Shiboleski”; she’s blindfolded and identifies objects Kirby gets from the audience. Kirby’s funny at this, “Wow, only four bucks in your wallet?” Two great entertainers, two great shows … some call it illusion. Some of us call it magic.
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Wake Up Little Suzy, We’re at Mel’s Hard Luck Diner
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et’s for a moment go back to a black and white world that was simpler, quieter but full of hot cars, soda shops, rolled up jeans and poodle skirts. Let’s go back to an era that we would all like to return to for at By least a day. Well guys Kurt Moore and gals, you can go back if only for an hour or two at Mel’s Hard Luck Diner in the Grand Village Shopping Center, just across the street west from the Grand Palace. Mel’s Hard Luck Diner is home to Branson’s original singing servers. Talk about fun and excitement— WOW—with two capital W’s! What a treat to have waiters and waitresses sing for you while you’re eating and boy, do they ever put on a show and that show is just for you. It is the most personal and up close show in Branson. The person singing may be standing beside you
or, if you are really lucky, sitting in your booth with you. As Jackie Gleason said during that
era, “How sweet it is.” It has always been my contention more talent is outside the theaters in
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Branson than performing on stage. Mel’s Hard Luck Diner is proof of what I say. Mel’s Diner is in reality a stage for these guys and gals who sing their hearts out for you. Most could have any singing career they desire, but they have chosen to perform at the diner instead. I know of some of the singers who have been there a decade or longer. Talk about talent…A couple of the regular singers have placed on American Idol and another is a charted gospel singer. How’s that for talent? Whoops, ______________ See Diner Page 19
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LITTLE PETE’S PAGE
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Cruisinʼ the Night
W S H E P H E R D O F T H E H I L L S E X P R E S S WA Y N Q B W X S R X Z Q L M I D N I G H T X U W I V WM V Y D X F H S D P B X X P K L V R G X V L O B N A WA R D S WG S I O M R J T T G V L J V U G S SMHO Z X P P S S S Y V C T U SO I C R S N X P P C Y V H S S P H B H L W K J F Q B P L O R A Y D Z P A U H R W A WO O F S B H Q L A N N T R D P U A I I I I E F S W J K Y O H WH M E V I F H F E G M N R U H J B R B Q R R C S L Z I B WM U B F L M I W F S L T F D DM T E J N T CMA U PA K B E T N K Z Q R X H V T XM V Q A Z I F X X P T NWS C E J J O T S I WY V V H J H K I Y E B B U UM B L OWE R Y Q E V E N T E T I Q Z J U Z R H P P L O X I C T GY EOA F I K R L BU I B BQ B I OD K Y L Z N P SQ Z P S QQU R S SOOU V CA BU RNUH BG F NA Q B BD RD SDO P E V S P T I H H L S R A K Z W E L Z V F WU T P W B F O A A G A D C V T P I N NO U K O N L OO K E R S A A Q ROMC R T MU C X T L R V M N C M M W C WQ V R Y M J W X R C O B L W T F C B J Y V O U WO O S L K B V N D E X H A U S T I G WQ L U O E O P C E B I N C BWX H A M U I L S X E V A U Z O Y O O X D H S V R B N B Y G A H J D KO S F R PGT H GKO T F Y B B F L G L F EN GG ED UM L K W U W S N N O T B J I B E X C I T E M E N T P F U Z F V A WQ Z A J EO I NOO R R L I N F NQHWB B I S Y X B EGX S S L P A Q B P H C Z U L R C U O H E F D B B M O N H O N WM B A I D W R K V F N R A Z T I L F B C C A WR L G A G B R K Z I G U G S HWR HM E J Z R T V Q U I Q X K K F Z X GO C P Y K N N D N P E S VM K C D R F M C B F J I E N G I N E D X N N K MWE J J T Q H Y B I J JM GQ B B Y P J S S U P E R S UMM E R C R U I S E H R P E G
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D I D Y O U K N O W. . . ?
• A giraffe’s tongue is 20 inches long and they are unable to cough. • Butterflies taste with their feet. • In 1967, the IMAX film system was invented by Canadian Ivan Grame Ferguson to premier at Expo 67. • Approximately 40% of the U.S. paper currency in circulation was counterfeit by the end of the Civil War. • The first TONKA truck was made in 1947. • Serving ice cream on cherry pie was once illegal in Kansas. • Not all polar bears hibernate; only pregnant females polar bears do.
How many clocks can you find? Maze Time
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Diner ... Continued from Page 16
I forgot to mention there is one gal there who is trained in opera—talk about a voice! Now, let’s mention the reason you’re there—the food. Mel’s has a menu that will suit every taste. My personal favorite any time of the year is their signature Hard Luck Burger. Not a better one in town and the fries are just right. Wait till you try the onion rings, they are clear outta sight. They also have an old-fashioned soda fountain complete with neon above and a jukebox that will send you into nostalgia city. By the way, the Mel in Mel’s Diner is not fictional. The namesake is the owner, Mel Bilbo. Mel and his wife Liz have been associated with theme parks and entertainment since he was 19. I am not going
19 Keith Allen ... Continued from Page 16
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to tell you how old he is now but will tell you he does have a lot of years experience creating enjoyment that people flock toward. The entire place is a treat for your eyes with memorabilia surrounding you on every wall. Mickey Gilley, Mel, Patsy Cline, Dolly, Hank and just about everyone who has made it in the business is displayed for your enjoyment. For a lunch treat or dinner before the show, Mel’s Hard Luck Diner is the hot spot in town. You will probably have more fun there now than you ever did as a teenager. What do you have to lose? Cruise on down and go for it. That night as you go to bed, you may hear, good night John Boy. Good night Erin and good night to you, our valued reader.
person with a glorious lack of sophistication and goes further to say we are all guilty of it at one time or another. To that, I say “Amen.” Keith Allen, in his show is certainly not sophisticated. To the delight of Jeff Foxworthy and his audiences, he tells tales of times gone by with the simplicity of a child and that makes it all the more understandable and enjoyable. Redneckers takes us back to a slower, simpler, black and white era when honesty, morals, integrity, God, mom, country and flag took the high ground. Keith, as Redneckers not only expresses this belief, but much
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more importantly, he and Paula genuinely live that life. So I don’t know if Keith Allen is Redneckers or Redneckers is Keith Allen. The dividing line becomes invisible. It really doesn’t matter because the end result is Keith Allen, the good neighbor who is always here, there or wherever needed. All one needs is a good cause and Keith Allen will be the first to sign up. If you chance to meet Keith Allen on the street, be sure to give him a wide grin, a handshake, a hearty howdy do and a heartfelt thank you for being our own favorite redneck and the best neighbor ever.
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Show and Attraction Guide
#1 Hits of the 60’s - Caravelle Theatre ...................... 339-1960 ‘50s At the Hop - Branson Meadows.......................... 335-5300 ‘57 Heaven Museum - Dick Clark’s AB Theatre......... 332-1960 Acrobats of China ..................................................... 336-8888 Allen Edwards - Golden Corral ................................. 336-6297 Amazing Pets - Grand Country Music Hall ............... 335-2484 American Bandstand Theatre ................................... 332-1960 American Presidential Museum ................................ 334-8683 Andy Williams - Moon River Theatre ........................ 334-4500 Asleep at the Wheel - Music City Centre .................. 339-7469 Area ‘57 - Dick Clark’s AB Theatre ........................... 332-1960 Baldknobbers Jamboree ........................................... 334-4528 Bambi: Princess of Magic - Music City Centre .......... 339-7469 Bob Anderson Dinner Show - Dick Clark’s AB .......... 332-1960 Bob Nelson Show - Clay Cooper Theatre ................. 337-7123 Branson Brothers - God & Country Theatre .............. 334-6806 Branson Country USA - Grand Country Music .......... 335-2484 Branson Diva’s - IMAX ....................................... 800-419-4832 Branson Entertainment Hall of Fame ........................ 336-3263 Branson Family Fun Factory ..................................... 332-2110 Branson Scenic Railway ........................................... 334-6110 Branson Variety Theatre ........................................... 334-2500 Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Branson Star Theatre .. 334-7131 Brett Family Singers - Dick Clark’s AB Theatre ......... 336-4222 Broadway! Star Spangled Celebration ...................... 334-2500 Buck Trent Breakfast Show - Grand Music Hall ........ 335-2484 Buddy & Beyond - Music City Centre ........................ 339-7469 The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest ..............................332-2231 Celebrate America! - The Mansion ........................... 239-1333 Circle B Chuckwagon Show ...................................... 336-1828 Clay Cooper .............................................................. 337-7123 Club ‘57 - Dick Clark’s AB Theatre ............................ 336-1960 Comedy Jamboree - Grand Country Music Hall ....... 335-2484 Country Tonight - The Mansion ................................. 239-1333 Dalena Ditto Country Variety Show ........................... 239-1333 Dino’s Christmas Extravaganza - Yakov .....................336-3838 Dixie Stampede ......................................................... 336-3000 Doug Gabriel - Jim Stafford Theatre ......................... 335-8080
The Dutton Family Theatre ....................................... 332-2772 Elvis & the Superstars - Owens Theatre ................... 336-2112 Goldwing Express ..................................................... 334-6806 Grand Country Music Hall ......................................... 335-2484 Grand Ladies - God & Country Theatre .................... 334-6806 The Great Passion Play - Eureka Springs ......... 479-253-8559 Hamner Barber Variety Show ................................... 334-4363 Hank & Patsy...Together Again - Owen’s Theatre ..... 336-2112 Happy Trails Theatre ................................................. 339-1900 The Haygoods - New Americana Theatre...................339-4663 Hollywood Wax Museum ......................................... 33-STARS The Hughes American Family Theatre ..................... 336-3688 Island Fire - Dutton Theatre ...................................... 332-2772 IMAX Entertainment Complex ................................... 335-4832 Inspiration Tower - Shepherd of the Hills .................. 334-4191 Jim Owen Show - Clay Cooper Theatre ................... 337-7123 Jim Stafford Theatre .................................................. 335-8080 Jimmy Osmond - The Osmonds Theatre .................. 336-6100 Joey Riley Show - Mickey Gilley’s ............................ 334-3210 Kirby VanBurch ......................................................... 337-7140 Ladies of Motown - Owen’s Theatre .......................... 336-2112 Legends in Concert - Dick Clark’s AB Theatre .......... 332-1960 Little Opry Theatre .................................................... 336-5348 Liverpool Legends - Starlite Theatre ......................... 337-9333 The Lowe Family of Utah - Welk Theatre .................. 337-7469 Magnificent Variety Show - The Osmonds Theatre ....336-6100 The Mansion Entertainment and Media Center ........ 239-1333 Mickey Gilley ............................................................. 334-3210 Moe Bandy - Jim Stafford Theatre ............................ 335-8080 Moscow Circus - Yakov ............................................. 336-3838 Motown Ladies - Owen’s Theatre .............................. 336-2112 Music City Centre ...................................................... 339-7469 Neal McCoy - Yakov Smirnoff Theatre ...................... 336-3838 New’s Country - IMAX ............................................... 335-4832 Noah - The Musical - Sight & Sound Theatre .... 800-377-1277 Oak Ridge Boys ........................................................ 239-1333 The Osmonds Theatre .............................................. 336-6100 Ozark Mountain Jubilee - 76 Music Hall ................... 335-2484
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Penny Gilley - RFD-TV Theatre ................................ 332-2282 Peter Pan - The Mansion .......................................... 239-1333 Pierce Arrow Theatre ................................................ 336-8742 Presleys’ Country Jubilee .......................................... 334-4874 The Promise - The Mansion ...................................... 239-1333 The Rankin Brothers ................................................. 337-9333 Red, Hot, & Blue - New Americana Theatre ............. 339-4663 Red Head Express - Circle B Chuckwagon ....... 800-678-6179 Red Skelton Tribute - The Mansion .......................... 239-1333 RFD-TV The Theatre ................................................ 332-2344 Ricky Boen & Texas Mud - Hamner Barber Theatre . 334-4363 Ride the Ducks .......................................................... 334-3825 Righteous Brothers Bill Medley w/Paul Revere ........ 334-4500 Ripley’s Believe It or Not ........................................... 337-5300 Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum .......................... 339-1900 The Shepherd of the Hills .......................................... 334-4191 The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama ........ 800-653-6288 Shoji Tabuchi Theatre ............................................... 334-7469 Showboat Branson Belle ........................................... 336-7171 Sight & Sound Theatre ...................................... 800-377-1277 Silver Dollar City ........................................................ 338-2611 SIX - Hughes American Family Theatre .................... 336-3688 Solid Gold Motown .................................................... 336-1141 Sons of the Pioneers Chuckwagon Show ................. 334-4191 Spirit of the Dance - Branson Variety Theatre ........... 334-2500 Tall Timber Lumberjack Show ................................... 338-2957 TITANIC Museum ..................................................... 334-9500 Tony Orlando & the Lennon Sisters - Welk Theatre .. 336-3575 Tony Roi’s Elvis Experience ...................................... 339-4663 Tri-Lakes Center ....................................................... 335-5715 Twelve Irish Tenors - Branson Variety Theatre ......... 334-2500 Veterans Memorial Museum ..................................... 336-2300 Wedding Italiano ....................................................... 243-1500 Welk Resort & Theatre ....................................... 800-505-9355 White Water .............................................................. 334-7487 The World Famous Platters ...................................... 337-9333 World’s Largest Antique Toy Museum ....................... 332-1499 Yakov Smirnoff .......................................................... 336-3838
Visit www.bransonhotline.com! Tickets! Contest! Up to Date Information!
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THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS GAZETTE
Sons of the Pioneers ... Continued from Page 7
Lattimore, Ricky Boen, and Mark Abbott. Each one of these men brings back the classic country western sound we grew up with. Listening brings back all the wonderful memories o f
works of art and have been included in more than 90 motion pictures. The five Sons that perform here at the Shepherd of the Hills Homestead include Luther Nallie, the trail boss, Randy Rudd, Gary LeMaster, Ken
Baldknobbers ... Continued from Page 6
knobbers for many years. Multiple generations are represented in the audience, as well as on stage. “My grandmother used to bring me to see your show. Now I bring my family.” Second-generation Brent Mabe, who plays guitar and bass in the show, remembers early days on the lakefront when he and his cousin Tim Mabe earned 50 cents putting bumper stickers on cars; for a free Coke they would do cleanup! Fans have told him, “I remember you playing ball in the parking lot, with a crushed-up soda cup.” About the 2009 show Tim Mabe says, "In addition to a fantastic show, we will have events all year long to mark this milestone in Branson's entertain-
ment history.” The Baldknobbers took their name from the Ozarks vigilante group that met on the bald tops, or knobs, of mountains in this area in the late 1800’s. The Baldknobbers played for the intermission square dance the very first year of the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama, a story about that vigilante era in Branson. Today Branson is known as the Live Music Show Capital of the World, boasting more theater seats than Broadway. But some things never change. There’s still great fishing. And even more great music! Help celebrate 50 years of entertainment in Branson, with The Baldknobbers Jamboree!
an era gone by and sweet thoughts that maybe that era will live forever. You will hear the great sounds of Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Cool Water along with some of the best instrumental work in history. Ricky Boen was honored with world champion fiddler in 1983, Gary LeMaster not only plays guitar but is proficient in stringed and wind instruments. Luther Nallie does a clarinet tribute during the show honor-
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ing former member Sunny Spencer. Happy Trails to everyone and make sure to see the Sons of the Pioneers next time you’er in Branson. They perform at The Shepherd of the Hills Homestead Monday through Saturday with a few exceptions. You can make reservations by calling 1-800-653-6288 or visit www.oldmatt.com.
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Assembly of God First Assembly of God 600 West Main, Branson 417-334-3803
Baptist First Baptist Church 400 South Sunshine, Branson 417-334-7437 Calvary Baptist Church 625 Truman Dr., Branson 417-336-3475
Bible Church Fellowship at Cross Creek T Hwy. - T10 417-335-8008
Church Directory THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS GAZETTE
Catholic Our Lady of the Lake Vaughn Dr., Branson 417-334-3350 Christian Branson Christian Church 213 S. Commercial, Branson 417-334-3453
Church of Christ Church of Christ Hwy. 165 (near Welk), Branson 417-336-3120 Church of God Church of the Apostolic Faith 100 East Main, Branson
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church Road, Branson Episcopal Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal 107 Walnut, Branson 417-334-3968
Foursquare Branson Foursquare Church 2287 Fall Creek Rd., Branson 417-339-5911 Full Gospel River of Life, Church Alive! 1307 Bird Rd., Branson 417-334-8287
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All visitors welcome, please call for worship times and directions.
Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses Hwy. 65-70, Branson 417-334-5507
Lutheran Faith Lutheran Parnell & Malone St., Branson 417-334-2469 Methodist United Methodist 1208 W. Hwy. 76, Branson 417-334-3423 Non-Denominational Salvation Army Church 1819 W. Hwy. 76, Branson 417-339-4434
Non-Denominational Unity of the Hills 4868 Hwy. 248, Branson 417-334-6224
Cowboy Chapel Shepherd of the Hills Expwy. 417-334-4191
Pentecostal Old Branson Pentecostal 600 West Main, Branson 417-334-3803 Presbyterian FIrst Presbyterian 420 West Main, Branson 417-334-3468
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