As they begin their 5th successful season of the Hamner Barber Variety Show, Jim Barber and Dave Hamner announce the launch of their latest marketing project, BransonWebcast.com. Together, Hamner and Barber will host an ongoing series of audio and video interviews featuring many outstanding Branson celebrities, movers and shakers, and “just plain folk.” The webcast is produced in association with Branson.com and the first official interview was released on New Year's Day.

“We were excited to interview Bucky and AJ Heard as our first guests on the webcast,” stated Dave Hamner. “Bucky is currently featured in a new production called “The Entertainers” at the Andy Williams theater and has been an outstanding Branson entertainer whose talents go far beyond his incredible singing abilities.” Bucky’s wife AJ also discusses her career over the years as a dancer, singer and choreographer in some of Branson’s finest productions. “AJ has an exciting announcement for folks who may not have seen her in awhile… actually, two exciting announcements,” added Jim Barber.

The show hosts look forward to many new additions to the webcast in the coming weeks, and will be scheduling interviews after the holidays subside. Interested parties who would like to appear as guests are invited to contact the producers by visiting the BransonWebcast.com site. “This has been an extremely busy year for us all,” stated Barber, “but we are very enthusiastic about adding this project to our schedule. It’s a refreshing way to promote Branson artists to a global audience in a way that print ads, tv spots or radio commercials just can’t do.

The League of Branson Theatre Owners and Show Producers Announces “Springtastic Show Spree” for 2008. Spring will have a very special ring to it in 2008 when, for the first time ever, show goers have one extraordinary week to enjoy ten of the top shows in Branson, Missouri for just one hundred dollars. 

Sponsored by The League of Branson Theatre Owners and Show Producers (The Show League), the Springtastic Show Spree is the week for show lovers from across America to converge on this small Midwestern town, know as the “live music show capital of the world”.  The first annual Springtastic Show Spree begins April 21 and runs through April 27, 2008. “Shows, shows, and more shows, for just a fraction of their normal cost,” says Larry Wilhite, Producer for the Country Tonite Show.  

Springtastic Show Spree passes are for sale only on-line at the official website of The Show League, ShowsInBranson.com, and are limited to purchase by individuals. Mickey Gilley, of the Mickey Gilley Theatre, believes this is “hands down the greatest show ticket value you will see all year in Branson.”

The Springtastic Show Spree pass allows fans to see ten of their favorite shows in Branson on a first come, first served basis during the Springtastic Show Spree week.  Shows include productions such as Jim Stafford, Yakov, Mickey Gilley, Twelve Irish Tenors, Legends in Concert, Baldknobbers Jamboree, New Shanghai Circus, The Hughes Brothers, Broadway!, The Haygoods, Country Tonite, Magnificent 7 Variety Show, The Dutton’s and many more.  For a complete list visit ShowsInBranson.com.

The ten shows amount to fewer than 10% of the possible live shows you can currently enjoy in Branson. “Day or night, our little town just may hold more stars per square foot than anywhere else in the universe,” says popular ventriloquist Jim Barber of the Hamner Barber Variety Show and Theater. Much to the approval of the estimated seven plus million visitors who converge each year on the Ozark Mountain town of little more than 6,000 residents, Branson's stars can be spotted each morning, afternoon and well into the evening in almost every type of live theatrical performance imaginable. Pop, gospel, blues, rock 'n' roll, western, acrobats, magic, Cajun, swing, big band, Motown, and Broadway have become as important to Branson visitors as its country and comedy roots.  “Only in American can a Russian and a Japanese own a theater in the middle of the Ozarks.  What A Country!” says famed Russian comedian and theater owner Yakov Smirnoff.  

This special preview week will whet your appetite to come back again and again to enjoy the variety of ALL of the shows the town has to offer.  “If you see your first ten shows during the Springtastic Show Spree, you’ll have to come back more than ten times just to see all the shows in Branson once.” says Timothy Dutton of the Dutton Family Theatre and America’s Got Talent Top Ten Finalist Fame. 

“2008 is shaping up to be our most exciting year ever, and what a great way to celebrate,” said Tim Mabe, Producer for the Baldknobbers Jamboree. “Branson’s biggest shows are participating, and it really is a dream ticket for truly ardent show fans.”  

“This is going to be about as much fun as you can have in one week!” said the Magnificent Seven Variety Show’s Joe Tinoco.  “If you are a live show fan, a music lover of any sort, the Springtastic Show Spree is the ticket for you.”  The limited amount of Springtastic Show Spree passes are available only through April 7 or when the passes sell out, whichever comes first. Contact: Renee’ Johnson – The Show League Public Relations, 417-239-3016 rjohnson@bransonwhitehousetheatre.com

For the third year, the value of new construction in Branson topped $100 million with a total of $117.9 million. For December, new construction hit $2.6 million with two major projects permitted: Brookside Mini-Golf on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway and a new retail center on Branson Hills Parkway west of Target. Except for the past three years, the last time Branson saw the value of new construction surpass $100 million in one year was 1993 when the total reached $119.5 million. 

“That confidence developers had in ’05 and ’06 that Branson’s a fine place to do business continued right into ’07,” said Jerry Adams, the city’s public information director.

A few of the projects that helped push Branson to the $117 million total in 2007 included a Wal-Mart  Supercenter, the Clubhouse at the Payne Stewart Memorial Golf Course, White River Fish Company and the  Mount Pleasant Winery.

Dozens of teddy bears and other stuffed animals have been donated to Skaggs Community  Health Center to be given to patients in need of comfort while being treated at the hospital. Members of the Tri-Lakes Radio Control Flying Club collected several dozen, and members of the Branson Bootkickers Teddy Bear Brigade project also donated more than four dozen creatures. That organization has collected the stuffed toys to share with various agencies for more than a decade.

Four-State Readers Voted Branson "Favorite  Place To Take Visitors"
Annual Survey Conducted by Joplin Globe

The popular tourism destination of Branson was recently named “Favorite Place To Take Visitors” in a survey conducted by the Joplin Globe. The annual “Favorites of The 4 States” survey is sent to 36,000 subscribers in four states – Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma – plus an estimated 10,000 website readers may cast their ballots. The survey with more than 50 categories is sponsored by the retail advertising department, said sales manager Lee Ann Robertson.

A copy of the certificate was sent to the city of Branson by the Joplin Globe, said city spokesman Jerry Adams. More than seven million people visit Branson each year to enjoy the live entertainment bonanza, the many choices for active relaxation from hiking to lake activities and the genuine Ozarks hospitality.

“A lot of businesses build their advertising campaigns around the fact that they were voted a favorite,” Robertson said. “It’s become quite an advertising tool.”

Three More Myer Hotels in Branson Go Smoke-Free
Hotelier Sees Positive Reception from Guests

Three more of the Myer Hotels in Branson have recently become smoke-free properties. The majority of each of the award-winning properties was already non-smoking, so the transition into making all rooms smoke-free was simple, said Gail Myer, vice president of operations.

“We are excited to have made this change and look forward to the positive impact it will have both for our guests and team members,” Myer said. “With these three hotels entirely smoke-free, it creates a cleaner environment for our guests while also encouraging a healthy lifestyle among the staff.”

Last year, Myer Hotels’ Comfort Inn & Suites Branson Meadows went smoke-free, meeting a positive reception from guests, said vice president of marketing Chris Myer.

The five Myer Hotels were among the first in Branson to offer wireless high-speed Internet access. “As a company, we strive to remain on the cutting edge,” Gail Myer said. The Myer family has been in the lodging business for 40 years, and has received numerous national awards. The properties emphasize excellent locations, countless amenities and exceptional customer service while focusing on great value in the upper mid-scale area. For more information, visit www.myerhotels.com http://www.myerhotels.com/.