Dave & Denise Hamner and Jim Barber are certainly recognized worldwide by their peers. Individually and jointly, these masters of variety entertainment have received many of the top honors delegated only to the best in their industry.

Branson audiences are in for a treat when they experience the original and unique award-winning routines of the Hamner Barber Variety Show.  There’s no other show like it in the world!

HAMNER BARBER SHOW AWARDS

Below are some recent honors awarded the Hamner Barber Variety Show:

• “2010 National Telly Award” – Video Excellence – “Veterans Tribute” (read article)
• “Best Branson Variety Show” - Branson Christian News 2007 & 2008 (read article)
• “Must See Show of the Year” - BransonCritic.com 2005 (read article)
  

THE HAMNERS AWARDS

Below are some of the individual honors awarded to the Hamners:

• “Entertainers of the Year” International Magicians Society Merlin Award - 2006 (read article)
• “Magic Masters Award” - World Magic Seminar, Las Vegas – 2002
• “Best Manipulation” International Magicians Society Merlin Award – 1999
• Siegfried & Roy “Bronze Lion Award” – World Magic Stage Competition, Las Vegas – 1997
• 1st Place – Stage Competition – Texas Association of Magicians – 1994
• 1st Place – Stage Competition – Abbotts Magic Competition – 1994

JIM BARBER AWARDS

Below are some of the individual honors awarded to Jim Barber:

• “Best Specialty Act” – WWS Branson Show Awards – 2008 & 2009 (read article)
  
• “Ventriloquist of the Year” International Magicians Society Merlin Award – 2006 (read article)
  
• “Ventriloquist of the Year” – Vent Haven International Convention – 1994
• “Comedy Entertainer of the Year” – National Association of Campus Activities – 1989
• “Funniest Person In America” – (Tennessee) – Showtime The Movie Channel – 1985
• 1st Place – Pepsi’s Mid-South Laff-Off – Nashville – 1984
• 1st Place – Senior Ventriloquist Contest – Vent Haven International Convention – 1984

Related Information: The Hamners Biography, Jim Barber Biography

In the presence of a full-house audience, Branson entertainers Dave & Denise Hamner and Jim Barber were the honored recipients of the prestiguous “Merlin Award” by the International Magicians Society (IMS). The awards were presented during the 506th performance of the Hamner Barber Variety Show on August 12th, 2006 by the World President of the IMS, Mr. Tony Hassini.

This is the second time The Hamners have received a Merlin Award. In 1999 they won “Best Manipulation” and according to Tony Hassini, The Hamners performance level is even higher now than it was then.

This is the first time in the society’s 38 year history that a Merlin Award has been presented to a ventriloquist. As Tony Hassini explained to the audience, “Jim started out as a magician… he knows magic, and along the way he took that magical talent and brought it into ventriloquism. He does magic with the dummies!”

The International Magicians Society (IMS) is the world’s largest magic society as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. The IMS began in 1968 and now has over 37,000 members worldwide. It was created to help promote and preserve the art of magic and provide a format where magicians (and magic hobbyists) could share their secrets and ideas.

In the profession of magic, the Merlin statuette is the equivalent of the Oscar for film, the Emmy for television, and the Tony for theater. It is presented only to those entertainers who have achieved the highest level in their craft. The voting members begin with approximately one hundred names and narrow the list down to a select few. The criteria considered for a winner include talent, showmanship, originality, skills, and above all, the rare ability to entertain under any conditions.

The Merlin Award statuette was commissioned to over 100 art students from various colleges across the country. The winning design was carved and created in 1968 by New York University art student Carol Michaud.

Some of the more famous winners of the Merlin Award for excellence in magic include: Harry Blackstone, Doug Henning, Siegfried & Roy and David Copperfield.

Related websites:

Hamner Barber Theater
www.HamnerBarber.com

International Magicians Society
www.magicims.com