Though the sporty images taken by photographer Marshall Meadows were intended to be published in the newspaper, both Dave and Jim enjoyed a break from their responsibilites at the Hamner Barber Theater to throw a few lines in the water.

The article is entitled: “Fast Chat with the creators of the best variety show in Branson, Dave Hamner and Jim Barber.”

Editor and publisher John Sacoulas asked the performing duo several questions related to their career and personal lives as well.

An excerpt of the article is shown below.

Do you guys really like to fish?

Dave: Yes, I really enjoy fishing… used to be out on the lake quite a bit… since managing the theater, I have only been out about three times… bummer… Jim and I have never had the opportunity to fish together… also, another bummer… so busy…

Jim: I love to fish. I prefer fly fishing, but in this photo Dave and I were faux fishing! What I love best is the quiet solitude and cool air coming off the water. Listening to the sounds of nature and water slapping the shoreline is very tranquil and relaxing to me. If I catch a fish, I’d rather release it than keep and clean it. I don’t find enough time in my schedule to go fishing very often, which seems silly when we live in the midst of some of the best fishing lakes in the country.

The article continues with the following questions:

• “Where did you first meet?”
• What personality traits makes your professional partnership work so well?
• How does your Christian faith come into play for your success?
• How did you get your wives to agree to be such a big part of what you guys do?
• With the level of talent you guys perform at, you can entertain anywhere in the world. What makes Branson so special to you?
• What has been the strangest gig you have ever done?
• Jim, how did David Letterman’s people know about you for the special appearance on his show?
• If you couldn’t be in the entertainment industry what would you be doing?

To read the answers to the above questions, please read the full article by downloading a PDF version of the Branson Christian News - June 2009 Edition.

Related Websites: Branson Christian News, Meadows Images

The Hamner Barber Variety Show at the Victorian Theater has ingenious comedy and outstanding illusions.

Jim Barber, and Dave and Denise Hamner have returned to Branson this season to bring us a wonderful show with lots of laughs and fascinating illusions.

During a show that I went to, Barber had the audience laughing in the aisles as he introduced some new characters – along with some familiar ones.

Barber did the “Barber of Seville” act, handling two puppets, singing three parts to the song – all while keeping a smile on his face. I get breathless just trying to write all that.

Also, he brought to the stage a new character that the children adored who shared a part in the banana phone song.

Later, comedian and ventriloquist Barber did the Chico dance with his dog, Chico, who is so funny and adorable. It’s a sure bet he has his own fan club.

Barber also brought the little baby puppet back, too. And grandmas and children alike laughed and cheered the little poo-poo factory.

Illusionists Dave and Denise Hamner had some surprises in store, too. They have all of their fabulous, vibrant birds with them – and some new ones, too.

The feathered friends magically appear, circle over the audience and fly back to the Hamners as the audience looks above with awe and squeals of delight.

The dancers, Tim Lewis, Ken Brown and A.J. Heard, perform throughout the show and bring about all of the drama needed to add just the right “oomph” to every illusion. They are singing in the new show and each had his or her own special part – as does Dave Hamner, who sings “Magic of the Night.”

I never knew he could sing. What a treat.

The Hamners have added some pigeons to the show – spectacular white ones – and they all gather on a large tree at the end of the show for a beautiful finish to a great variety show.

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David and Denise Hamner have headlined many major production shows around the world, presenting their award winning and original feats of magic. Venues include not only Las Vegas, Disneyland and Hollywood’s famous “Magic Castle” but also Branson where they starred in the productions Branson City All Star Revue and Magic of the Night which earned them multiple “Featured Performance” honors in the Branson All American Entertainment Awards. They were recently presented the prestigious “Magic Masters Award” by their magical piers in Las Vegas as well as the “Merlin Award” for “Best Manipulation.” Internationally know magicians Siegfried and Roy personally honored the Hamners by presenting them with their “Bronze Lion Head Award” for performance excellence.

The Hamners are best known for their one of a kind act in which they produce ten enormous exotic birds. Their beautiful Macaws and Cockatoos appear amid flying cards, flaming swords, falling coins and jewels and then perform an incredible flight over and around the audience before gracefully returning to the stage. Other original illusions to be featured in the new variety show include The Stargate, The Lightning Levitation, The Syringe Impailment, and Vertigo: The Fall of Death. The Hamners have performed these effects on many national television shows including NBC’s “World’s Greatest Magic” and on specials produced for the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Dave Hamner is also an ordained Minister with extensive educational training. He and his wife Denise have held special theater worship services in Branson whenever they appear here locally. The Hamners are excited and feel blessed to once again have the opportunity of preaching the gospel each Sunday morning at 10:00am at The Victorian.

Jim Barber is recognized as one of the world’s great ventriloquists and has been honored as the “International Ventriloquist of the Year,” “Comedy Entertainer of the Year,” by the National Association of Campus Activities and Showtime, the Movie Channel named him one of the “Funniest People in America,” for his creative approach to the art of ventriloquism.

Jim was first introduced to Branson as the featured comedian in Glen Campbell’s Goodtime Show. He has since been featured in other successful Branson productions with The Osmonds, Tony Orlando, Kirby VanBurch and the late Eddie Rabbitt. He served as a national co-host for the Jerry Lewis “Stars Across America” Labor Day Telethon and has appeared on many national television shows on The Nashville Network, A&E, Fox, ABC, and NBC. Jim appears regularly in Las Vegas, Reno and major resort destinations performing for national corporate events and his participation in USO shows have taken him around the world entertaining our troops. He is also a favorite aboard cruise ships and was recently a featured artist for the maiden Caribbean voyage of the world’s largest cruise liner, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.

Beyond his reputation as an area performer, Jim also combines his creativity with computers as co-owner of Image Works, Inc., a video production, graphic design and publishing company. Jim has extensive training and experience in multimedia and has personally developed projects for Silver Dollar City, Big Cedar Lodge, Glen Campbell, Jimmy Osmond, Yakov Smirnoff, Pierce Arrow, Paul Harris and many other businesses in the Branson area and around the country. He also is honored to serve on the board of directors for “Mountain Country Habitat For Humanity” and his family are members of First Presbyterian Church of Branson. Jim’s wife Diane has an extensive musical theater background and will perform in the new show’s holiday production, “The Wings of Christmas” during November and December.

Related Websites:

Hamner Barber Variety Show Site
www.hamnerbarber.com

Jim Barber’s Sites
www.jimbarber.com
www.imageinc.biz