Featured Blogs From the Past: Brule’ – Branson’s Most Unique Show

The 2010 Season has opened in Branson, and my wife and I are once again dragging our grandkids to see all the shows, and reviewing them for you.

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When I was a maybe ten years old, my mother and step-dad took me to the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds for an Indian powwow.  I remember it like yesterday.  Last night, my wife and I took Peyton, our five year old Grandson, to see Brule’, at the RFD-TV Theater in Branson, and I suspect that, forty years from now, he will remember it as well as I remember that powwow.  Brule is like nothing else you will see in Branson.  It’s roots are not in the Ozark Mountains, but in the Great Plains of South Dakota.  One will find no hillbilles, or toothless humorists.   There is no country music at Brule’, and there are no cowboys, only Indians.

Brule’ was the inspiration of Paul LaRoche, a Lakota Sioux who has lived an incredible journey with one leg in the white man’s world, and one leg in the world of Kul Wicasa Oyate, the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.  Given up for adoption at birth, LaRoche grew up without any idea who his real parents were, or what his heritage was.  Once he discovered his Lakotan heritage, LaRoche embraced it.  His Native American heritage gave his music direction, and for the past fifteen years, LaRoche has shared his incredible journey through his music, in the form of Brule’.

To try to describe Brule’ is like trying to describe the sunset; one can describe the colors, or the clouds, or the hue that is cast by the fading light, but unless one experiences it, one can never know the beauty.  LaRoche, who plays keyboards, is the group’s anchor and host as he guides us through the story of his life, but the show is not a drama.  I have heard Brule’ described as a rock opera, and Paul’s son, Shane (lead guitarist), plays some screaming riffs, but the group cannot be called a rock band.  Paul’s daughter, Nichole plays classical flute, but the group cannot be described as classical.  Brule’ defies description.

So, put away any preconceptions, drive to the west end of Branson’s strip, and prepare for a uniquely memorable experience.  If you like rock music, if you like new age music, if you love the pulse of the earth as interpreted through authentic Native American drums (hewn from the trunk of a cottonwood tree and covered in buffalo hide), if you love the Native American culture,  if you love to be entertained, then you will love Brule’.  An integral part of the show are the traditional and fancy dancers, who perform an incredible eagle dance, a buffalo dance, a chicken dance, and a courtship dance.  The show would be incomplete without these performers, but as it is, Brule’ is one of the best shows in Branson.

Here for the entire season (plus a Christmas show), Brule’ is a “must-see” at RFD-TV Theater.  The show plays at 8 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, (3 and 8 PM, Wed-Sat).  RFD-TV Theater sits on the corner of the Hwy 76 strip, and Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, next to the Butterfly Palace.

Featured Blogs From the Past: Branson In Winter

I look forward to winter in Branson.  From place, I can look out over a valley and watch the trees turn from dull gray to vibrant white.   Thursday night and Friday brought such a snow – at least 6 inches of the stuff – to the Branson area, and snarled up driving for a day, but by Saturday morning, Branson City Street workers and Taney County Highway workers had most roads, even many of the side roads clear.  Still, the two or three snows we have gotten this winter has made me think about how traffic around and through Branson could be made better, and how local businesses could benefit.

Let’s start on the north end of the city, at Branson Hills, which has to be the fastest growing part of town.  My son lives just north of Branson Hills, beyond the west side outer road.  If ever Branson needed a stop light, it is now, at that corner, at Branson Hills Pkwy and the west outer road.  I predict that someday, if no light is put in here, we will see a deadly broadside collision at this intersection.

Moving south a couple blocks and west a couple miles, let’s look at the Shoppes at Branson Meadows, where the movie theater recently went out of business, and then was re-opened by the owners of the Branson Imax.  This is nothing new to shoppes in the Meadows.  Stores in this shopping center are constantly opening and closing, or jostling for position.  A stoplight in front of the Shoppes main entrance would serve to both slow down traffic on Gretna, thus making it safer, and to allow people to better find the Shoppes.

Another traffic light that I feel is needed is at the intersection of West 76 Country Blvd. and Green Mountain Dr., in front of McDonalds and Jubilee Foods.  Okay, I know that many reading this will say that Branson does not need another stoplight on the 76 strip.  Yes, we do.  Here, we need a stoplight, especially since Forsyth Street opened up, leading down to Roark Valley Road, just a  few yards away.   Perhaps that intersection could be controlled by the same stop light?

Finally, traffic coming off southbound US 65 onto MO Hwy 76 could be greatly diminished by making the off ramp two lanes wide all the way.  As it is now, traffic leaves US 65 in one lane, and can spread to two lanes after making the first bend in the ramp.  After the lanes split, one may use the right hand lane to turn right, turn left, or go straight.  The problem is, no one but locals realize that one can turn left from the right hand lane (signs signifying two left turn lanes are small and often not seen until one is near the end of the ramp).  So having two lanes at the end the off-ramp from US 65 to MO Hwy 76 does nothing to alleviate traffic.  There needs to be a second lane from the beginning, and the signs signifying two turn lanes need to be larger, and posted over the appropriate lanes.

Now, my wife has a stop light to add to this list.  Their needs to be a stop light on the corner of Hwy 165 and Fall Creek Dr.  This is an extremely busy intersection, involving heavy traffic from three roads.  And, it sits near a curve.  I agree with my wife: a traffic light is needed here, also.

Well, that is my opinion.  Let me know what you think.

Featured Blogs From the Past: Andy Williams’ Christmas Show

Sometimes when I am feeling nostalgic, I put in an old movie; the other day, I put in Road to Bali and Road to Rio. I love Hope and Crosby’s road movies; they take me back to a simpler time, or to a time that I wish to think was simpler.  Tonight, I watched Andy Williams’ Christmas Show at the Moon River Theater in Branson.  That’s what he did.  For two hours, Andy Williams whisked me back to the early 1960s, to a time before the Vietnam War grew hot, before the Beatles grew their hair, before Archie Bunker flushed a toilet on national TV.  For two hours, I was a child, sitting with my long-departed parents, watching our favorite Christmas Special.

Williams began his recording career in 1944 singing back-up to Bing Crosby.  In those days, Crosby was at the top of the charts, and anyone who wanted to get ahead in the music business became a crooner, like Crosby.  At one point, in the early 1930s, Frank Sinatra (according to a biography) had made up his mind to become the “next Bing Crosby.”  By the mid 50s, Williams was no longer in Crosby’s shadow, and had begun a successful recording career of his own.

At the same time that he began his recording career, Williams began to get small parts in film, usually playing a musician.  When he got national exposure by earning a regular spot on Steve Allen’s show, his recording career took off.  His first album was Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen, followed a little later by Andy Williams and Andy Williams Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein. Williams soon found himself in demand as a guest on television variety shows.  He made an appearance on the Dick Clark Show.   He appeared six times in the late 50s on Pat Boone’s television show, which played host to other big names, such as Shirley Jones, The McGuire Sisters, The Mills Brothers, and Joel Grey.  And, in 1957, he got a shot at his own summer TV show, a forerunner of his long-running variety show.

Andy Williams’ Variety Show took several forms over the next two decades; names changed as sponsors changed, and as the show changed networks.  In his first series, Andy partnered with singer June Valli.  The next summer, Andy partnered with Dick Van Dyke in the Chevy Showroom Starring Andy Williams.  And, in 1959, the Chevy name was dropped from the show.  In 1961, Williams first recorded the song that would become his theme song, Moon River. He performed it the next year at the Academy Awards ceremony, where it won an Oscar for the writers, Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer (the song was sung by Audrey Hepburn in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s).  Williams’ performance led to a TV special that same spring, where Andy again teamed with Dick Van Dyke.  The special was produced by TV giants Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear (who would go on to produce All in the Family, Maude, and most of the great sitcoms that would  – in the next decade – spell the end of variety shows like The Andy Williams Show).  For this special, Andy also enlisted the help of Ann Margaret, Andy Griffith, and Henry Mancini. The special proved so popular that Williams was asked to again star in a TV series.  That fall, The Andy Williams Show that I grew up with premiered on NBC and ran for 115 episodes.

The Andy Williams Show was reduced to three episodes a year through 1967 and 1968, but when it came back in 1969, the show was again broadcast weekly,  and was stronger than ever.  TV, however, was about to change.  In the early 1970s, the variety show was at its peak.  One could flip through the channels and watch The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour,  The Carol Burnett Show, The Flip Wilson Show, The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters, The Bobby Goldsboro Show, The Dean Martin Show, and This is Tom Jones, just to name a few.  But by 1976, few variety shows remained on the air.  The Lawrence Welk Show had retreated first to PBS, and then to syndication.  Donny and Marie rubbed against the grain when they introduced their variety show in 1976; it lasted one season.  Tony Orlando and Dawn outlasted most, running through 1977, and The Bobby Vinton Show ran through 1978.  The Andy Williams Show ran its natural course, ending in 1971.

When not in the studio, Andy ran a successful record company (Cadence Records – one of Williams’ discoveries is Ray Stevens, who also starred in his own variety show, which Williams produced), and continued to star on TV specials, including his remarkable Christmas specials.

It is in the spirit of those Christmas specials that Andy Williams presents his show in Branson.  His show is paced well, of high production quality, and entertaining as ever.  Backed up by a 10-piece band, a chorus of about a dozen, and a half-dozen special guests, Williams shines.  He is not above making fun of his age, and, in fact, has crafted an entire routine around “Cookie Bear” pestering Andy about his age.  Speaking of age, let’s just lay to rest any rumors: Andy still sings well – remarkably well – still does an occasional soft shoe, and is still able to carry a note higher and longer than most people half his age.  I was truly impressed.

Seeing Cookie Bear, by the way was just one of the joys of watching Andy Williams’ Christmas Show.  The guest stars for this season were astounding.  Classical dancers Pasha & Aliona presented an indescribable routine.  It is not fair to call them dancers, for their dance is magical, changing costumes in front of your eyes, quicker than you can comprehend.  Their routine will leave you wondering what you just saw.  Dean Church, arguably the best fiddler in the world, is a treat, and the Warnock girls may be the most talented sisters to perform in Branson since the Lennons Sisters.  The guest star that stands out in my mind, however, is Bob Anderson, a veteran of Las Vegas and a Branson favorite.

Williams played host to an innumerable list of guest stars on his TV show, from Roy Rogers to Kenny Rogers, from Charlie Callas to Mama Cass.  Andy gave the Osmond Brothers their big break, and gave a showcase to the last of the great Vaudevillians (people like Jimmy Durante, Phyllis Diller and Charlie Callas).  Watching Anderson interact with Williams on his Branson Christmas show is a close recreation of the old series.  Anderson does a spot on, if not perfect, impersonation of the Rat Pack, Robert Goulet, Tom Jones, and dozens of other voices, including Andy himself.

Andy has written his autobiography, Moon River and Me, which is on the Los Angeles Times best sellers list.  I look forward to reading it.  The season is almost over, but if you get a chance in the next week to get to Branson, be sure to catch Andy Williams’ show.

Featured Blogs From the Past: Trail of Lights

Nowhere celebrates Christmas like Branson, but what else can one expect in the town that is home to Andy Williams and Miracle of Christmas?  Driving past the Trail of Lights a few nights ago, my grandson, Peyton threw a fit to stop, so – always the obliging grandpa – I did just that.  Since I have four grandchildren, I bought the season pass, which is a good value at the price of two tours.  I had driven through the trail last year, and wasn’t real impressed, but they have added more lights this year, and the drive was well worth the price.

I must say, however, that there are some odd, uniquely Branson displays on the trail.  If memory serves me right, there was a moose fishing for a trout… where else but Branson could one see that?  The theme this year is zoo animals, and I am still trying to figure out the connection with Christmas.  But, it was truly fun.  One gets to see the Twelve Days of Christmas set to lights, which is fun recount.

Take my advice, put an Andy Williams Christmas CD in the player, grab the kids, and take the tour.  Oh, when the people behind you get in a hurry, pull over and let them pass.  One needs to drive slowly and absorb the fun; there’s a lot to see.