The very first issue of the Branson Tri-Lakes News for the new year of 2012 featured a cover story entitled 100 years, a look back in which staff writer Tyler Franke reports that the Branson area newspaper has just reached its 100th year of continuous publication. The Branson Tri-Lakes News is the local newspaper covering Branson, Taney County and Stone County in Missouri, and traces its roots to the oldest publications in Taney County. Read the full article here.

Hamner Barber Show Featured on Branson Tri-Lakes News

This historical milestone comes just a few months before the city of Branson celebrates it’s Centennial in the traditional grand style of the Ozarks. Branson Tri-Lakes News Publisher and part-owner Michael Schuver has announced they will release a special publication in March celebrating the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the city.

Happy New Year, Baby!

Considering the historical importance of this particular issue of the newspaper, it was a surprise honor for the Hamner Barber Variety Show to have been selected as one of the featured photos on the front cover of the centennial edition.

Taken amidst a packed house at the second annual Hamner Barber New Year’s Eve Fiesta on December 31st, the photo shows comedian Jim Barber in a routine where he imitates “Huston Towers” as part of a comedy game show segment. The newspaper photo is captioned as follows…

JIM BARBER, a comedian and ventriloquist in Branson, does is impression of movie character Austin Powers during the “Hamner Barber New Year’s Eve Fiesta” Saturday night.  Hundreds attended the four-hour celebration, which included Mexican food, fiesta games and an extended presentation of the “Hamner Barber Show.”

- Tyler Francke | Branson Tri-Lakes News

What’s NEW in 2012 at Hamner Barber Theater?

There will be many news worthy events and updates on tap at the Hamner Barber Theater this year.  Among them are the addition of several brand new routines and illusions in the Hamner Barber Variety Show, celebrating it’s 9th season in 2012.  There will also be several guest artist performances and fund-raising events for Branson area organizations in need of assistance during the year.

In addition to a full season schedule of the Hamner Barber Variety Show, popular country music singer Dalena Ditto will return for her 11th season in Branson with a series of 59 concerts at the Hamner Barber Theater throughout the year beginning March 29th. More information on the Dalena Ditto Country Variety Show can be found here. On Friday April 27th at 2pm, the Branson Magic Bonanza will once again present it’s Magic All-Stars Show featuring magicians Greg Wilson, Tom Burgoon, Jason Hudy and Levent, along with another surprise guest performer.   The Plummer Family will return with their 6th Annual Reunion Show on Saturday, May 6th. Information on all these shows will be released closer to the events.

Fundraising events at Hamner Barber Theater this year include the 3rd Annual Branson Gong Show to raise funds for the Branson Homebound Senior Meal program of the Branson Senior Center.  Auditions for the show will be held on Monday, January 23rd from 5-8pm at the Branson Senior Center. Mark your calendars to attend the Branson Gong Show on Wednesday, February 22nd.  More information will be released soon, but you can read about last year’s event here.

In May (date to be determined) we will also be hosting our 9th Annual Vietnam Veterans Assistance Show.  This is always a powerful and highly entertaining event where many of the top Branson stars gather together at the Hamner Barber Theater in benefit of our local area Veterans who are in need of assistance.

More information on this great benefit concert will be released soon, and information regarding last year’s event can be read here.

Finally, the Hamner Barber Theater is proud to once again team up with Branson.com to present the annual Hand-In-Hand, Branson Honors Purple Heart Veterans event April 26, 27 and 28th. Since it’s beginning, Hamner Barber has hosted the opening ceremonies, public entertainment show, and closing ceremonies throughout the three day event. This year’s event promises to be the biggest and best ever, and the public is invited to participate in the activities free of charge. More information will be available at the Veterans Galleria on Branson.com.

With as many as 150 publishing partners such as PBS, Forbes, TV Guide and ABC News already providing content, other independent digital content providers such as the Hamner Barber Theater in Branson, Missouri will also have the opportunity to make their content available via this fresh content delivery approach.

Branson Magic is the name of the Hamner Barber Theater News Magazine that will update users via the new Google Currents app (short for application).  The Hamner Barber Theater Branson Magic news edition can be obtained here for users of the Google Currents app, which must be installed first, and is available for free download from the Android Market and the Apple iTunes Store in the U.S.

Reuters photographer Dave Kaup provided several photos to accompany the article, including a live shot taken during the Hamner Barber Variety Show‘s magical, multimedia tribute to American Veterans entitled “Thank You’s Not Enough.” Read the Reuters Article and see the photos here.

The Reuters article and photos were syndicated on web sites around the world resulting in huge exposure for Branson Veterans activities.  The major syndication sites included Yahoo! News, which also provides content to Good Morning America, and MSNBC.com.  According to a Google search of the article title, thousands of other news media outlets and other websites sydicated or re-posted links to the article.

Yahoo! News Features Hamner Barber Photo Internationally

Yahoo! News redistributed the Veterans tribute photo as part of an International World News Events slide show of 500 important news images from the week.  The Hamner Barber Veterans Tribute photo taken by Dave Kaup was selected as the very first of the 500 International images to be shown!

View the Yahoo! News International slide show here.

Lloyd Holt Studios LLC

The evening’s performance will highlight and feature the progress and artistic growth of 19 very talented vocal students along with a terrific live band and special lighting.

Presented in two-parts, the Recital will present vocal selections from both the Classical Art Song/Aria repertoire, as well as contemporary/modern Musical Theatre and popular song.

The Recital is free and open the public.  All ages are encouraged to attend. 

Celebrate the success of these outstanding voice students and help further the highest standards of Vocal Art!

About Lloyd Holt

Born and raised in rural Oklahoma, Lloyd Holt began his professional singing career at the age of 8, while traveling the state with his mother and father’s Southern Gospel Quartet, the New Creation Gospel Singers.  Being immersed in a musical home, Lloyd developed a natural ear for tight, gospel harmonies and was able to further his musicality by singing in church regularly.

Upon graduating from High School, Lloyd received a full paid music scholarship in both trumpet performance and voice at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK.  During the summer before beginning studies at OSU, Lloyd made the decision that he wanted to further his talents and abilities in a Christian college environment, and made the choice to decline his music scholarship in favor of attending Pensacola Christian College, in Pensacola, FL. 

In the spring of 1995, Lloyd began studies with former Metropolitan Opera Tenor, Ray Gibbs.  He earned his B.A. in Vocal Performance in 1998.  In 1999, he married and returned home to Oklahoma to begin Graduate Studies at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK.  During his time at OBU, Lloyd had the opportunity to study with Rhetta Hudson.  In the fall of 2001, he was the featured tenor soloist in Giacomo Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, and in 2002 a featured performer for the 17th annual Concerto-Aria at OBU.

Lloyd has been a featured performer with LOOK (Light Opera Oklahoma), the Tulsa Opera, and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Tulsa.  In 2002-2003, he played the role of “Jud Fry” in Oklahoma! at Discoveryland! USA, the National Home of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!.  Favorite roles include “Benjamin” in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, “Tateh” in Ragtime, “Captain Corcoran” in H.M.S. Pinafore, and “Pooh-Bah” in the Mikado, to name a few. 

In 2005, Lloyd and his wife relocated to beautiful Branson, Missouri, to revive the role of “John the Baptist” in Word Entertainment’s re-creation of The Promise, at the Mansion Theatre in 2006.  He was also the featured male vocalist in Gene Bicknell’s Celebrate America in 2006-07.  After completing a contract as the vocal captain for Carnival Cruise Lines in 2008, he returned to Branson as the vocal captain for Sight and Sound Theatres.  He has been performing the role of ”Noah” in Sight and Sound Theatre’s production Noah-The Musical since 2008. 

A member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, he currently teaches at Lloyd Holt Studios located in Branson.

Hamner Barber Theater Lobby

Thanks to the marketing efforts of Anne Reinke and J.D. Redmon of AppyCity.com, the Hamner Barber Theater has the distinct honor to be among the first Branson establishments to be digitally photographed in 360 degrees of high definition glory! When you click on the link to experience the virtual tour of the magical variety theater, you’ll find yourself standing in the middle of the 640 seat venue looking at the stage.  From here, you can hold your mouse cursor down as you slide it across your monitor screen to see what things look like like all around, above and below your point of view.  By clicking on any of the “buttons” in the room, you can change your location to be on the stage looking out over the seats, or inside the main lobby to view our concession stand and gift shop.  You can also view a 360 degree view of the outside of the Hamner Barber Theater looking across the huge level parking lot and down the grassy slope to Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in front.

Click the photo to take a Virtual Tour of the Hamner Barber Theater in Branson

Other Branson venues also selected to be featured in the virtual tour series include the Branson Airport, the Pierce Arrow Theatre, Grand Country, Showboat Branson Belle, Andy Williams Moon River Grille, The Great American Steak & Chicken House, Florentina’s Ristorante Italiano, Montana Mike’s Steakhouse, and Table Rock Dam.

More business locations are expected to be added to the main Virtual City Tours of Branson website soon with one-of-a-kind mobile phone apps available for all smart phone users to download for easy access to Branson area information, valuable money saving coupons, and much more.

Besides Branson, Missouri, Virtual City Tours has also created 360 degree presentations for Key West, Florida – North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Worcester, Massachusetts – Gatlinburg, Tennessee – Murrels Inlet, South Carolina – Paso Robles, California – Georgetown, South Carolina – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Santa Monica, California – Panama City, Panama and Johannesburg, South Africa.

Photo: Ronnie Page - Branson Daily Independent

Approximately 150 people from 12 states across the country gathered together to recognize achievement and promote their work in gospel music to a larger audience.

Comedian Jim Barber from the Hamner Barber Variety Show was invited to present an award to the “Young Artist of the Year,” Heather Martin. Runners up were Keely Jarrett and Lucas Cilliberti.  Jim brought along his funny “Baby” character who ad-libbed some comical one-liners  with various members of the audience including Nationally known gospel music performers Randy Brooks, Barbara Fairchild and Randy Plummer.

Later during the event, Randy Plummer surprised Jim Barber by presenting the Ozark Spirit Award to both he and Dave Hamner for their efforts in providing wholesome family entertainment and for being an example to others in their continual efforts to give back and serve the community through various means.

Tonight is a very special night for the Ozark Spirit Award.  It’s winner is usually one person but tonight it goes to more than one. (Then Randy read a list of Hamner and Barber accomplishments.) The winners tonight are a big blessing to the Branson area spreading great entertainment and ministry to thousands of tourists.  It is with great pleasure to announce the 2011 Ozark Spirit Award winners, from the Hamner Barber Theater… my special friends Dave Hamner and Jim Barber!
- Randy Plummer

Jim Barber accepted the award on behalf of both he and The Hamner’s who were not able to attend the awards banquet due to their participation in a fundraiser benefit show that same evening.  A follow up appreciation note from the performers is printed below.

We sincerely appreciate this recognition from the Branson Gospel Singer Songwriter Association and we wish to thank DK and Sherrie Brewster, Randy Plummer and all of the members if the organization for presenting us with this beautiful award. In recognition on your purpose statement, we will display it proudly in our theater lobby as a reminder to “let our light shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.”

Thank you! – Jim Barber & Dave Hamner

Many singer/songwriter awards were presented during the evening in various categories to the members of the association including the special honor awards presented to Hamner and Barber, Roy and Barbara (Fairchild) Morris, Ronnie Page, Karen Berka, and Randy Brooks who was the recipient of the prized Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with the Brooks Brothers Duet and his dedication for playing the role of Jesus in the musical The Promise for so many years around the world.  Entertainment before the event featured saxophonist Gary Dooms and a surprise guest appearance by Branson entertainer Terry Sanders as Joan Rivers provided more laughs.

For more information on D.K. and Sherrie Brewster and The Best Is Yet To Come Ministries who produced the event, visit their website YetToComeProductions.com.

#1 – Your Hamner Barber Ticket Is Worth Money!

When you purchase a ticket to the Hamner Barber Variety Show, you are not only gaining admission to our award-winning magic and comedy production starring illusionists The Hamners and comedian ventriloquist Jim Barber… you also earn the opportunity to save money on your Branson vacation at no extra charge!

At our theater you’ll learn about several ways to reduce the cost of other Branson show tickets, attractions and dining establishments.  Show them your Hamner Barber ticket stub, and they’ll give you a nice discount off your purchase price.  By taking advantage of all the discount offers we have arranged, you could actually save more than you paid for our Branson show ticket! 

Keep your Hamner Barber ticket stub… it’s worth MONEY after you’ve been here!

#2 – Two Bonus Magic Shows at No Extra Charge!

The lobby of the Hamner Barber Theater is a fun and exciting place to hang out before showtime.  If you arrive within an hour of showtime, you’ll be able to enjoy amazing close-up magic by our witty and talented illusion manager Lex Pearson.  You won’t believe your eyes as he performs incredible tricks of the trade using cards, ropes, coins and more.

To keep the energy flowing during intermission, Lex also performs a “Show-Between-The-Show” Intermission Show in which he turns an unsuspecting member of the audience into a hilarious magic act.  This segment of the show is an audience favorite, and provides something that you won’t find at any other Branson theater.

Click here to watch the Branson Webcast Show interview with Lex Pearson.

#3 – Audience Participants Have Fun & Win Big!

Throughout the Hamner Barber Variety Show there are special opportunities for members of the audience to be part of the magical fun onstage.

In exchange for their participation, Dave Hamner and Jim Barber reward their volunteers with special free gifts that add up to hundreds of dollars in valuable prizes given away during each and every performance!

If you are asked to volunteer and you don’t want to, that’s alright… we won’t force you into it.  But we will tell you that those who do participate always have a great time!

Although seats in the front row and aisles are the best places to sit if you are hoping to be selected, it doesn’t always matter where you happen to be sitting in the audience. Enthusiastic audience members who love to laugh out-loud, cheer and clap their hands seem to stand out from the crowd and have a much better chance of being picked to go onstage and be in on the fun.

Hope to participate? Call our box office early to request front row or aisle seats!

#4 – Free Display of Vintage Ventriloquism Toys!

Jim Barber has collected many historical toys and memorabilia related to the art of ventriloquism and magic and a small display of some of his most prized collectibles is on display in the lobby of the Hamner Barber Theater.  Many of these items were manufactured from the early 1930′s through the 1970′s and feature rare vintage toys featuring such ventriloquist characters as Edger Bergan‘s Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd; Jimmy Nelson‘s Danny O’day and Farfel the Dog; Paul Winchell‘s Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff; and Shari Lewis‘s Lamb Chops and Charley Horse.

Included in the collection are early career photos of young Dave Hamner and Jim Barber as they performed magic and ventriloquism.  There is even a framed photo of ten-year old Jim with his very first ventriloquist dummy.  The photo sits on the lap of that same dummy! Along side of this collection is another display case packed full of national and international performance awards that have been presented to both The Hamners and Jim Barber over the years. We hope you enjoy this rare collection of fun vintage toys and collectibles!

#5 – See Rare Film Clips of Famous Vaudevillians!

If you arrive to the Hamner Barber Theater at least a half-hour before showtime, you’ll be treated to some wonderfully rare and entertaining film clips featuring a wide variety of vaudeville performers from throughout the early 1900′s.

Unique circus acts, animal acts, magicians, ventriloquists, carnival sideshow artists, gymnasts, and physical comedy acts are all included.  You’ll also feel the energy of an old-time roller-coaster and other wild carnival rides that are no longer found on any midway in America. It’s a historical look back in time, and sets the mood for the amazing magic and comedy awaiting you and your family in the Hamner Barber Variety Show!

Enjoy all our FREE STUFF in Branson!

As you can see from the five fantastic freebies mentioned above, you get much more for your Hamner Barber ticket purchase than simply admission to our wonderful show.  To take advantage of all our theater has to offer, give us a call today and reserve your best seats available!  We even have a toll-free number so your call will cost you nothing… 1-888-335-2080.

Charles Biggs

In addition to his newspaper, Mr. Biggs also hosts a radio program called “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” on KCFO AM 970 that can be heard across areas of South East Kansas down through the Tulsa area into south East Oklahoma.  Listen to his recent live telephone interview with Jim Barber and Dave Hamner.

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW
Download MP3 File of the Full Interview

A synopsis of Mr. Bigg’s published article is reprinted below…

The Hamner Barber Variety Show is “for the birds” and is “full of dummies.”  But those are good things.

Dave Hamner is an accomplished magician and his performance evokes “how did he do that” comments over and over.

A spectacular portion of his act involves the magical unveiling of a host of macaws and cockatoos – one by one – that seem to come from nowhere.  And Hamner produces the birds so quickly, you have to wonder how in the world he does it so fast.

The birds don’t seem to mind.  They emerge and take a short circular flight over the stunned audience.

It’s a lot of fun.  - Charles Biggs, Tulsa Beacon Editor

The article goes on to describe Jim Barber’s opening portion of the show…

Jim Barber is a man of many talents. He opens with the most unique ventriloquist act I have ever seen.  His head is on the body of the dummy while while a dummy’s head appears to be on top of his body.  How does he do that?  It is very funny and captivating.  After that sequence, he comes back on stage and offers a free referral to his chiropractor.

It’s a lot of fun. - Charles Biggs, Tulsa Beacon Editor

Next, the article describes some of the physically impossible illusions and accolades that have been bestowed on both the Hamners and Jim Barber…

As with most shows in Branson, Hamner and Barber love what they do and it shows.  When Barber brings a couple of unwitting volunteers on stage, it’s hard not to smile when you see how much fun all three are having.

Hamner is joined by his lovely wife, who must be as athletically gifted as Barber to handle some of the magic.  The Stargate presentation was mystifying as her head seems separated from her legs by three large holes in a large frame.

It’s a lot of fun.

The Hamners have been featured on NBC’s World’s Greatest Magic.  His card tricks and magic coins are amazing. The Hamners have won two Merlin Awards from the International Magicians Society and were named Entertainers of the Year.

Barber has performed on every major TV network and was a guest on Late Show With David Letterman.  Barber won the International “Ventriloquist of the Year” Merlin Award – an award based on talent plus wholesomeness.

Barber does a takeoff of Mike Myers as Austin Powers that is a hoot (and surprisingly close to the original).

“It’s groovy, baby.” - Charles Biggs, Tulsa Beacon Editor

The rest of the article discusses the Hamner Barber show’s magical multimedia tribute to Veterans that he describes as “particularly meaningful,” and “accompanied by a video that will stir any patriotic heart (and a surprise ending).”  Also mentioned is the “Mysteries of the Lost Ark of the Covenant” illusion which Mr. Biggs called “a spectacular and meaningful moment.”  Finally the article promoted the November and December version of the show entitled The Wings of Christmas which combines the best of the regular season Hamner Barber show, and a second half featuring original music, magic and a special Christmas message.” The online version of the full review can be read here, or a copy of the print version of the article is also available for download.

About the Tulsa Beacon

The Tulsa Beacon is weekly family newspaper founded by Charles and Susan Biggs and originally published in April, 2001. The Tulsa Beacon features news from Tulsa, Oklahoma and the surrounding area. It includes local columnists, a recipe page, church news, columns by Dr. Billy Graham and Dr. James Dobson, local editorials and letters to the editor, syndicated columnists (Robert Novak, David Limbaugh, Mona Charen and Walter Williams), local sports, television listings, movie reviews, classified ads and legal notices.  The newspaper is available by subscription in it’s printed form, or online at TulsaBeacon.com.

Not only does Denise “lose her head” and find herself divided into 12 parts as part of their amazing “Stargate” illusion (pictured below), she also demonstrates the fearless ability to be suspended 15 feet above a table of deadly steel spikes, transform from a tropical parrot into herself, be impaled with a dozen light sabers and three metal tubes, and if that weren’t enough, to float effortlessly in mid-air with no strings attached!

How can this be possible? Is it real?  Is it an illusion?  You’ve got to see it to believe it!

Denise Hamner is Divided into 12 parts during the Stargate Illusion in the Hamner Barber Variety Show

A Magical Life As A Professional “Box Jumper”

Before they were married, Denise was active in many athletic sports activities such as soccer and baseball.  Her background and training in sports has served her well.  Little did she know that after teaming up with her illusionist husband, she would be involved in some of the most physically demanding activities of her entire life.

One of Dave’s nicknames for Denise is his “little box jumper,” which is an industry term for a magic assistant who is able to perform a variety of difficult physical moves in order to create the effect for the audience.

During every performance of the Hamner Barber Variety Show, Denise goes through an exhausting array of magical stunts, dangerous falls and technical maneuvers to make the seemingly impossible… possible.

Although Denise provides the bulk of the stunts in the show, Dave also performs several physically demanding feats that allow him to vanish from one area of the stage and instantly appear far away in another.

It’s unbelievable to experience this magical team effort that developed over many years to perfect.

In one of their most spectacular effects called “Vertigo”, Dave hypnotizes Denise who is then placed on top of a Plexiglas trap door and raised fifteen feet above a bed of solid steel spikes.

There is genuine physical danger involved in this performance, and the surprise ending will take your breath away leaving you wondering how it was possible for the magical husband and wife team to pull off such a stunt.  No wonder their comedy partner Jim Barber calls Vertigo, their “most dangerous illusion”.

It’s important to also give credit to the Hamner Barber dance troupe, stage assistants, stage manager,  and lighting and technical crew who also help create the magical effects performed nightly at the Hamner Barber Theater in Branson, Missouri.  It’s truly a team effort to create something that appears effortless!

See It For Yourself!

Come experience the amazing magical stunts of The Hamners and the creative comedy of ventriloquist Jim Barber at the Hamner Barber Variety Show.  It’s Branson’s most popular magic and comedy show, and has something that appeals to every member of the family.

Click here for tickets or more information on the Hamner Barber Variety Show.

Variety is the spice of life, and on your next visit to Branson, variety is the secret ingredient to the best vacation experience possible for you and your family. Enter the magic word “Variety” (capital V) and win a special prize that you will receive for FREE when you attend the Hamner Barber Variety Show. 

• Click here to enter the magic word and win this weeks prize!

Summertime fun for families (or anyone who’s a kid at heart) include great “must see” Branson entertainment shows such as the Hamner Barber Variety Show, Todd Oliver & Friends, Kirby VanBurch, The Amazing Pets Show, Circle B Cowboy Supper Show, Jim Stafford, and many other great Branson shows.

If you’re looking for the best in country music you’ll love the Dalena Ditto Country Music Variety Show featuring “Branson’s Premiere Impressionist” Jeff Brandt as well as other Branson country music shows such as Clay Cooper, Buck Trent, Mickey Gilley, Roy Rogers Jr., Sons of the Pioneers, The Baldknobbers, The Presleys, Down Home Country and the Grand Jubilee… just to name a few!