Shepherd of the Hills Gazette | Christmas 2009

THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS GAZETTEPAGE 2 CHRISTMAS EDITION 2009

THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS GAZETTE PAGE 3CHRISTMAS EDITION 2009

“Ihave a place where dreamsare born, where time is neverplanned ... Never Never Land."

CCaatthhyy RRiiggbbyy iiss PPeetteerr PPaannI just love those words, so appealing

in our busy lives! And just as thosewords make us think of a different

world, Cathy Rigbyas Peter Pantakes the audi-ence with her asshe soars above

and beyond our daily lives, to a placewe thought we might never see again.

The Olympic Gold Medal gymnastwho became an Emmy Award-winningand Tony Award-nominated actressis as enthusiasticin person as she isanimated onstage. Whetherbattling the sinis-ter Captain Hookor caring forWendy or the LostBoys, Rigby isfunny, sincere, sobelievable in thisclever and well-written play. Her flying is spectacular,her subtle gestures and expressionsabsolutely perfect for her portrayal ofPeter Pan.

The crafty crocodile, beautiful TigerLily, all the enchantment of Never-land, unexpected twists: Hook andthe boys doing a tango?! As I’ve saidbefore, not your grandmother’s PeterPan!

Whenever I’ve talked withCathy this year, she has onlygreat things to say aboutBranson and about TheMansion – a marvelous fa-cility that is the perfect venuefor this enhanced Broadwayproduction. You can experi-ence the brilliant perform-ance of Cathy Rigby as PeterPan November 1 – December12.

The James M. Barrie tale ofPeter Pan is celebrating its 100thanniversary in 2009. It truly is atimeless tale than charms and in-spires every generation. The Man-sion’s well-designed production,with Cathy’s talent, is a sparkling

show that dazzles audience membersof every age!

TToomm MMuulllliiccaa ppaayyss ttrriibbuuttee ttoo RReedd SSkkeellttoonnTom Mullica’s Tribute to Red Skelton

is the morning show at The Mansion,and it is one of my favorites. Do you re-member Gertrude and Heathcliff, ClemKadiddlehopper, Freddie the Free-loader? If you don’t, here is your chanceto meet these lovable, legendary char-acters! Tom’s recreation of Skelton’svoice, facial expressions and move-ments, even the pantomime, is extraor-dinary.

At the beginning of the show Tomputs on Skelton’s makeup and cos-

tumes and reallyseems to become RedSkelton. It’s remark-able. He stays in char-acter all the time,while still kibitzingwith the audience andtelling great Skeltonstories. (Did you knowRed Skelton wrote forthe 1945 ZiegfieldFollies? That his fa-ther was a vaudevilleclown?) In 1984 Red

Skelton said, “Tom Mullica, mastershowman, is the best in his field. He isreal Theatre.” Recommendations

don’t come any better thanthat!

The Mansion Star Con-cert Series has featuredsome favorite entertain-ers this year. The GatlinBrothers play The MansionOctober 13-15 and 20-22.

The Nitty Gritty DirtBand makes a spe-cial appearance atThe Mansion thisOctober 23.Other gueststars this yearhave includedJohnny Mathis,

The Gatlin Broth-ers, Kenny G, En-g e l b e r tHumperdinck andAsleep at theWheel. Always besure to check theschedule at TheMansion!

ByLinda Burlingame

Christmas at The Mansion

From the eyes of a child, Bran-son is the nation’s “Who Ville.”They arrive in Branson by the

carloads, small families and large fam-ilies alike. An Ozark MountainChristmas is why so many cometo Branson during this time of

year. Manyhave ahope tocatch aglimpse of

a Christmas past. You mighteven ask, how many? Approxi-mately 1.7million. Why wouldone choose Branson? Could itbe the famous Country MusicBlvd. lined with so many the-atres placing Christmas lightsand lawn ornaments, or is itnames like Dino Kartsonakis,Jim Stafford, Shoji Tabuchi,Merrill Osmond and Andy Williams con-tribute to making the Ozarks feel likeyou are visiting a winter wonderland, by

hosting some of the best Christmasproductions in the nation.

Did you know in recent years, USAToday, the A&E Network, and the Wall

Street Journal have all recognized theBranson area as an outstanding holi-day destination?

Back in 2006 Frommer’s TravelGuides Top 10 Christmas destinationsto remember, hadBranson listed as

n u m b e rf o u r ,a m o n gthe list, in-c l u d i n gL o n d o n ,Eng l and ,Las Vegas,Rio deJ a n e i r o ,Brazil, NewYork City,Rome, Italy,P u e r t oRico, andS y d n e y ,Australia.

One ofthe most nationallyrecognized places inthe Ozark Mountainsis located just min-utes away from any-where in Branson.You would know it asThe Shepherd of the Hills. The firstAmerican author to sell more than one

million copies, Harold Bell Wright al-lowed the world to see the ways of

everyday life in these old hills,He takes you back whentimes were a bit more simple,but by all means not easy liv-ing. Today folks are able totour the old homestead, TheChristmas season at thehomestead is a bit different,folks are allowed to taketheir time and drive slowlythrough the two and halfmile winding trail in thecomfort of their automo-bile.

The trail starts with atheme of the Twelve Daysof Christmas to get youwarmed up for the journeyahead of you. Driving alongthe trail, you find yourselfentering into a Christmaswinter wonderland. Thegood folks at The Shepherdof the Hill’s have found away to capture the seasonwith animated scenesplaced along the trial. The

____________________See Trail, Page 14


The Shepherd of the Hills Historical SocietyPublisher

SHARENA NAUGHEREditor

PAT SNADONContributing Editor

JAPHETH CAMPBELLOnline Director

JEN SHEPPARDLayout & Design Manager

LINDA BURLINGAMEBRYAN SHEPPARD

KURT MOOREAdvertising Executives

PAULA LIVELYDistribution

SHANE NAUGHERTechnical Director

The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette is published five times per year and is distributed free of charge at state and regionaloutlets or by mail at an annual subscription rate of $10.00 for five issues. If you have any problems with your paper de-livery, please call 417-332-1099 or write us at 118 State Drive, Hollister, Missouri 65672. The Shepherd of the HillsGazette reserves the right to edit or delete any and/or all objectional wording or decline any advertisements.

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Send them a Gift that keeps on giving...The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette!

Did you know you can subscribe to theGazette? You’ll receive each issue athome - what better way to stay in touchwith Branson until you can visit us again?Plus - you’ll receive special offers &coupons throughout the year!

ByBryan Sheppard

Branson turns into nation’s ‘Who-ville’

Christmas09

And my spirit has rejoicedin God my Savior

For He has regarded thelowly state of Hismaidservant;For behold,

henceforth all generationswill call me blessed.

For He who is mighty has done greatthings for me

And His mercy is on thosewho fear him

from generation to generation.Luke 1:47-50

Dolores Marie Haygood, knownaffectionately as “Mama Hay-good,” is the mother of all the

Haygoods. Well, the performing ones inBranson anyway.

What exactly does that mean? Thatmeans there are eight performing Hay-goods in Branson and she is the motherof them all, ranging in age from 32 to 16.

That in itself is quite a feat but shehas been and is the main driving force in

their career development. Marie Haygoodhas, since childhood, followed the pre-cepts of God in her life and has led thosearound her to do the same. She definesher life and thelives of her chil-dren into severaldefining mo-ments where,when one lookedback, one couldsee God’s hand-prints all overthat particularevent in theirlives.

When it cameto her children’sdevelopment, thefirst of manydefining mo-ments happenedwhen she, her husband Jim and three littleones were living in a 14x60 trailer in Texas.

Marie was a fastidious housekeeperand was busy one day tidying up her

kitchen when Timothy, the oldest of herchildren, asked her to come see whatwas on TV. Marie had a choice. She couldnot go to see what was on TV and finish

her kitchen chores, which she was in-clined to do, or she could drop what shewas doing to go see what Timothy

wanted. That still, small voice allowedher choose the latter.

When she came into the living room,Timothy said he wanted to play the violinjust like the guy on TV does. Timothywas watchingSesame Streetand the guy play-ing the violin wasItzhak Perlman.This would be the Haygoods first seedplanted that would eventually bloominto the world of the now famous, Hay-goods who perform in Branson.

Upon research into what exact yearthat happened, 1981, I happen tostumble into another fact that wouldmake this defining moment even morespecial.

Itzhak Perlman who was born in TelAviv, wanted to learn to play the violin,when as a child he heard a violin con-

cert on the radio.____________________See Haygood, Page 21


ByKurt Moore

Defining moments in Mama Haygood’s life


Dino puts Christ in ChristmasDino's Christmas Extravaganza is

an amazing, joy-filled celebrationof Christmas and the Reason for

the Season. America’s Piano Showmanbrings the sights and sounds of Christmasto life during one of the biggest productionshows in Branson. The centerpiece of thisshow, Dino’s spectacular piano artistry,backed by the lovely voice of Cheryl Kart-sonakis, the lively children’s dance troupe,and the amazing violin stylings of up andrising star David Klinkenberg, makes thisshow one you’ll never forget.

Dino Kartsonakis is one of the premiereperformers of our time. "America's PianoShowman" and his Christmas Extravaganzais one of the most critically acclaimedshows in Branson. His quest to present au-diences with not only top-quality music, butalso an elaborate visual show as well, ledDino to hire a Broadway set designer, Hol-lywood costume designer, and professionaldancers, complete with a dynamic lightshow and Austrian crystal covered piano.

With emotional and spontaneous pianostylings and his ability to astound audi-

ences with his showmanship,Dino moves "outside the boundsto keep things interesting" andfans wholeheartedly applaud.

With the addition of DavidKlinkenberg, Dino has added awhole new element to an al-ready outstanding show. Thecombination of the soulful andplayful sounds of David’s fiddleis world-renowned. For David,creating a relationship with theaudience is key; and during hisperformances he generates amelodic mix of inspiration, witha healthy levity. “I want ourshow to be a place where fami-lies can come and have fun andmeet people in a spirit-filled en-vironment.” Dino wholeheart-edly agrees, so be sure thatDino’s Christmas Extravaganzais on your “Christmas list!”

Dino’s Christmas Extrava-ganza starts November 2 andgoes through December 12 atthe Yakov Theatre.


Is it Christmas already?

‘Twas the month before Christmas,and all through the town,

all the children were giggling,with Branson’s Class Clown!The families were together,

all snug at Jim’s show,while sounds of great laughter,could be heard in each row.

Mom gave a giggle,Pop gave a chuckle,

he’s laughing so hard,he busted a buckle.

When all of the sudden,there arose such a clatter,Jim sprang from the stage,to see what was the matter.

He tripped on his Mic,and fell to the floor,

then flew down the aisle,and threw open the door.

And what to his wondering eyes,should appear but Santa Claus,

with eight tiny reindeer. Santa said with a wink,

and a laugh that was hearty,“Ho, Ho, Ho, we’re all here,for Jim’s Christmas Party!”

Enjoy a full dinner, special band and dancingbefore the show, then celebrate 20 years ofsingin’ and dancin’, laughin’ and pickin’ in

Branson with Jim. Party includes party favors& hats, balloon drop, and special souvenir.

3440 W Hwy 76 • Branson, MO 66515JimStafford.comedy

Christmas Shows: Nov 1 to Dec 12Regular Shows: Dec 26 to 30 & Jan 1& 2

Iwas trying to think of just one specialChristmas in my life and poof … I wentblank. What is so special about Christ-

mas? Surely, it has to be “special” formebe-cause I look forward to it every year. Is itbecause we celebrate the birth of our Lord

and Savior, JesusChrist? He is the rea-son for the season!That alone is enoughto make Christmasvery special. Maybe itis the fellowship we

feel, putting asideall thebad feelingswehadfrom the past, forgiving and loving one an-other for that one time of the year.

I think itmight also be the carewe take inpreparing for the season, like the shiningChristmas trees, the wintery snows, Christ-maswreaths that adorn our doors, hot applecider that fragrances the kitchen air, thegreetings of a warm cheery fireplace wel-coming our presence, wonderful treats alldecorated in the “Spirit of the Season” andthe sumptuous dishes that flow from thekitchen likeakingsbanquet. Awonderful day,Christmas Day, filled with warm feelings,

good food and the company of the ones welovemost, sharing and giving to oneanother.The day flows with eggnog, punches, andsnacks, coming to a crescendo of turkey,dressing, yeast rolls, potatoes, casserolesand desserts. Oh, now I remember … that’swhy we all look forward to that one specialday each year.

Try this special recipe and see if it does-n’t bring a smile to the faces you love. ThisCoconut Cake is a hand-me-down recipefrom Granny G’s kitchen that has become afamily tradition for Christmas. I cover it in aluscious, creamy 7-minute frosting toppedwith coconut and maraschino cherries.Surely a “White Christmas” whether itsnowed at your house or not! I hope thishelps make a joyous season at your housethis Christmas, “because nothing says lovin’like something fresh from the oven.”

GGrraannnnyy GG’’ss CCooccoonnuutt CCaakkeeCAKE:1 cup unsalted butter, softened2 cups sugar4 large eggs, separated3 cups all-purpose flour1 Tlsp baking powder

1 cup whole milk1 tsp vanilla extract1/8 tsp salt• Beat butter at medium speed with an

electric mixer until fluffy, gradually add sugar,beating well. Add egg yolks, one at a time,beating after each addition.

• Combine flour andbaking powder add to but-ter mixture alternately withmilk, beginning and endingwith flour mixture. Beat atlow speed until blendedafter each addition. Stir invanilla.

• Beat egg whites andsalt at high speed with anelectric mixer until stiff peaks form. Stir aboutone-third of egg whites into batter; fold in re-maining egg whites. Spoon batter into 3greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.

• Bake at 350º F for 18-20 minutes oruntil a wooden pick inserted in center comesout clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 min-utes; remove from pans and cool completelyon wire racks.

• Spread Fluffy White Frosting between

layers and sprinkle with shredded coconut.Spread frosting on tops and sides of cakewith coconut. Garnish with a circle ofmaraschino cherries, dried with a paper towelso it doesn’t bleed over onto frosting, allowingat least one for each slice of cake.

FLUFFY 7-MINUTE WHITEFROSTINGYields 10 cups.

1 ½ cups sugar2 ¼ cups water3 Tbsp light corn syrup6 egg whites¼ rounded tsp (3/8 tsp)

cream of Tartar1 cup flaked coconut• Combine first three ingredi-

ents in a small heavy saucepan; cook overmedium heat, stirring constantly, until clear.Cook, without stirring until mixture reachessoft ball stage or candy thermometer regis-ters 240º F.

• Beat egg whites and cream of Tatar athigh speed with an electric mixture until softpeaks form; slowly add syrup, beating con-stantly. Beat until stiff peaks form and frost-ing is desired consistency.

My Kitchen Window

BySharon Elizabeth

TheDutton family is remarkable ~ talented, creativeand hardworking. They not only produce and star ina high-energy, fun-filled show, they also run the the-

ater … and The Dutton Inn!The Duttons have innovative and unique production

ideas that result in an outstanding show. They are all goodvocalists; they play a variety of in-struments: violin, guitar, bass,viola, banjo, mandolin, keyboard,harmonica and drums. I'm obvi-ously leaving out some because

Timothy plays 20. There are fiddling champions in thefamily, a harmonica champion, award-winning soloists;they have performedwith symphonies across the country.The Duttons do country, pop, rock ‘n’ roll, bluegrass,gospel, classical and Broadway. Five of Dean and SheilaDutton's children are in the show: Tim and his wife Judith,Amy, Abigail, Benjamin and his wife Brande, and Jonathanand wife Belle. The number of grandchildren in the showchanges often, with these young families!

Jonathan's wife Belle is fromSamoa and does a beau-tiful tribute to Veterans, a story her grandmother told aboutAmerican soldiers saving their people in WWII. Belle, a fea-tured dancer at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaiibefore coming to Branson, traveled in 2006 to Samoa toaudition performers for a show here: Island Fire!

Island Fire is Polynesian entertainment at its best. (Thedinner offered with the show is part of the success!) Thereis much tradition in themusic andmovements. One danceis Fire Knife Dancing, which is passed down through gen-erations. The Island drums and native costumes lend a rich,exotic flavor. The entertainers are from Samoa, Hawaii, the

Cook Islands, Tokelau and Fiji.Tragically, during the recent storm disaster in Samoa,

several cast members lost loved ones and property. Onecouple lost their son, a toddler staying with his grand-mother. The Dutton Theater has the Island Fire Family Re-

lief Fund going on through December 5.Another new show playing at The Duttons is The Red-

Head Express. The Walker Family plays “straightforwardbluegrass … unique renditions of old-timey and gospelmusic.” Audiences enjoyMomandDad and four daughterswho have spent a lot of time studying and working withsomebluegrass greats. They spent time inNashville withKathy Chiavola, who produced four of the songs on theirnew album, To See You Smile. They are working now ona new CD; one single from that, Will YouMissMe, will goout to radio stations across the country next spring.

The newest show on stage at The Duttons is GeorgeDyer. Dyer has performed in operas and concerts aroundthe world and brings his amazing tenor voice and pol-ished performance to the Duttons stage. “Music has al-ways had such a powerful influence inmy life and I wantto share that with others,” George says. “My hope is totake my audience on a musical journey with me, andhave them leavemy show feeling uplifted and inspired.”Dyer presents several music genres ~ popular classics,Broadway, power ballads and other favorites.The Duttons were finalists on NBC’s America’s Got Tal-

ent in 2007. If you watch that show, you know Simon Cow-ell can be pretty tough, but, about The Duttons he said, “Iloved it! I absolutely loved it!” The Duttons know all about agood show!


ByLinda Burlingame

Christmastime at the Duttons

“Honoring Those Who Served”WWI n WWII n KOREA n VIETNAM

n PERSIAN GULF

H Over 2,000Exhibits in10 Great Halls

H World’sLargestBronze WarMemorialSculpture

H Over 500,000Names of U.S.Soldiers Killedin Action Over

18,000 Sq.Ft.of Art andExhibits!

www.veteransmemorialbranson.comLook for the Full-Size World War II P-51 Mustang Fighter Plane at 1250 W. Hwy. 76, Branson, MO


ChristmasTraditionsCHRISTMAS AT THE KEETER CENTER IS ANYTHING BUT COMMON. IT’S A PLACE

WHERE FRIENDS AND FAMILIES GATHER FOR A SPECIAL MEAL, OR SAVOR A SLICE OF

HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PIE. A PLACE TO BUY GREAT HANDCRAFTED GIFTS, JAMS AND

JELLIES. WHERE THE SIGHTS, SMELLS AND SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS PAST ARE EVER PRESENT.

COME, CELEBRATE THE TRADITIONS OF CHRISTMAS,

AT THE KEETER CENTER.

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED 2 MILESSOUTH OF BRANSON ON HWY 65.RESERVATIONS 417-239-1900WWW.KEETERCENTER.EDU

AT C O L L E G E

O F T H E O Z A R K S


What a beautiful time of theyear, for somany reasons!Wewelcomed autumn and the

crisp, cooler air; then before we knew itthe “crisp” air had a definite chill in it andit’s time for Ozark Mountain Christmas!

As Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boyssays, “Christmascomes early inBranson!” It has tocome early, be-cause there is so

much to see and do.You can’t miss TThhee TTrraaiill ooff LLiigghhttss at

The Shepherd of the Hills. It is extraordi-nary. Some of the animated displays, likethe skaters from the Currier and Ivesscene, remind me of Christmas displaysin big department store windows when I

was a little girl. You’ll recall memories …and make some new ones with yourfriends and family.

The AAnnddyyWWiilllliiaammss CChhrriissttmmaassSShhooww is anotherclassic. Talk aboutmemories! Americaloved his televisionChristmas show andnow we get to see itlive. And be sure toenjoy lunch or din-ner at his MoonRiver Grill. Tell them Isent you!

Lots of familyChristmas shows in Branson. JJiimm SSttaaffffoorrddand his family have a fun and lively Christ-

mas show. (Ask about their New Year’sEve Show! Dinner, dancing, the show …

g o n n abe fun!)The Dut-t o n s ,HughesB r o t h -ers, Hay-g oods ,S I X ,B a l d -k n o b -b e r s ,PresleyFamily —families

presenting great family entertainment allyear long, adding special Christmas

touches for you and your family!AAnn OOlldd TTiimmee CChhrriissttmmaass at Silver Dollar

City is a nice place for memories, too. Par-ents, grandparents and the kids all enjoythe Talking Christmas tree and the seven-story special effects tree, the ChristmasParade, roasted nuts ~ all the sights andsounds of Christmas! And congratulationsto Silver Dollar on being named “Friend-liest Park” by the theme park industry.The recognition was received at TheGolden Ticket Awards in Carlsbad, Calif.,hosted by Amusement Today newspaper.

TThhee KKeeeetteerr CCeenntteerr at The College ofthe Ozarks is so beautiful at Christmasand if you haven’t been there, put it on

____________________See Events, Page 21

ByLinda Burlingame

‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year...’

Lobby of the Keeter Center

An amazing Chuckwagon DinnerChristmas Show in the ParlorTheater, and a crowd favorite, is

Christmas on the Trail at The Shepherd ofthe Hills. This showcelebrates a cowboyChristmas, with a de-licious dinner servedoff an authentic

1800’s Chuckwagon. Enjoy ahearty cowboy-styleChristmas dinnerof a big, hotbowl of camp-fire chilialong withCookie’sSparklin’Taters, aw h o l eroastedear ofcorn, adel ic iousc h i c k e nbreast, aTexas-sized slabof cornbread withhoney butter, and a bigserving of fresh-made breadpuddin’.

After dinner, sit back and relax in thecozy and rustic Pavilion Theatre and get

ready to spend Christmas on the Trail.The show opens with a group of cowboysgathered around their campfire singing“Prarie Silent Night.” As the show pro-gresses, these friends share songs,humor, and cowboy poetry. The audienceis even invited to join in. The vocals areexcellent, and the performers are tal-ented and warm. My favorites are the

powerful “Mary Did You Know?” and“The Gift,” a beautifully

poignant song about self-less giving. It’s a fun

and relaxed celebra-tion of the season.

As a bonus,tickets to Christ-mas on theTrail includethe show, din-ner, and theTrail of Lights,giving visitorsan entire

evening of holidayfun.Christmas on the

Trail performs Mondaythrough Saturday. With some

dates already sold out, call ahead at417-334-4191 to make reservations.

For more information, visit their web-site at www.theshepherdofthehills.com


BySharena Naugher

Enjoy a cowboy style‘Christmas on the Trail’

THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS GAZETTEPAGE 12 PAGE 13THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS GAZETTE

THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS GAZETTEPAGE 14 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009

scenes range from the birth of Christ to fantasy dis-plays with polar bears skiing at the North Pole withFrosty the Snowman music playing in the background.One section of the trail you feel as if you are in an oldVictorian Village, with a man light-ing the old street lights with “Deckthe Halls” playing. There is a sec-tion honoring the veterans with pa-triotic scenes.

You’re always with Christmasmusic to match each scene. Mostimportantly this trail will awake theimagination no matter what yourage may be. Be sure not to missthe display where you need to stopand listen to the story of how thesong ”Silent Night” came about.Or you could be in trouble with thegroup that is riding along. Sorry kids and Jen,

my beautiful wife.

Now yourticket not onlygets you a pass toexplore the Trail

of Lights, but a freetour of the 230 feet In-spiration Tower whereyou can take a glass el-evator ride to the topfor a great birds eye

view. I must warn you not to believe everything upthere you might hear, to set the record straight, “No

you can’t see seven states from the top ofthe tower,” like one fellow that was visitingclaimed. If you have any questions the goodfolks working at the tower will be happy toanswer them for you.

The Ozark hospitality doesn’t stop there,don’t forget they invite you to stop at AuntMollies for your free cup of hot chocolate orhot cider, your choice with your Trail of Lightsticket.

So, if you happen to be coming to Bran-son this Christmas season like so many

other great families to get a start on their holiday tra-ditions, this is one stop you should certainly place onyour itinerary. Allow the good folks at The Shepherd ofthe Hills to give you a true Old Matt’s Christmas.

Please remember to slow down and take the timethis season to tell everyone you meet Merry Christmas.From the Shepherd family, we wish you all a MerryChristmas.

Trail ... Continued from Page 4


Mostpeople in the Branson areaprobably have little or no ideawho Paul Bluto is. If they have

heard of him, they will still scratch theirheads trying to figure out exactly who he isand what it is he does.

Paul is an enigma,surrounded by a maze,wrapped in a mystery.Yet to over 300 familiesin the Branson area,

Paul is the man who provided them withjobs. Paul Bluto started out in a one roomschool house in Vermont and went on tobecome owner and CEO of one of thelargest enterprises in the Branson area—the IMAX Theater Complex. That complexnot only comprises the main complex it-self, but also two Montana Mike’s Steak-houses.

Paul Bluto is the kind of guy that simplyeases into your life andmakes it seem likehe has been there forever. I was trying toremember the first time I ever met himand found I have no idea. It is like he hasalways been there. He is a big guy instature with flowing gray hair and a widemoustache which allows him to have the

ultimate, kindly grandfather look. Paulstands tall in his ever-present westernboots and cuts a wide path when walkingthe IMAX complex.

Paul impressesme by treatingeverybody equaland as he wouldwant to be treated.Everyone from theguy sweeping thefloor to the presi-dent of a corpora-tion is treatedexactly the same. Ilike that.

From the one-room school house in Vermont, Paul hasgone forth into theworld taking on his firstjob hauling water at that same school for$17 per year. From there he has done andaccomplishedmany varied things through-out his lifetime. He has overseen hundredsof thousands of people in different unionpositions including being head of a Los An-geles County wide committee. He also hasa pilot’s license but at this time has soldhis plane to pursue other adventures.

Every adventure he undertakes is agreater one than the one before.

Paul has done a lot of things in his lifeand it is said thatwe, at any givenmoment, are theproduct of all ofour experiencesto that point. Paulis certainly livingproof of thataxiom. He has lit-erally dealt withpeople from allover the worldand has, in fact,traveled much of

that same world. Paul is a man of variedexperienceswho plies all of those past en-deavors into what he is doing right now.

Paul does a stint, almost on a daily

basis, on James Garrett’s Tribute to JohnDenver Show. He tells a couple of stories,sings a couple of songs he wrote andthrows in a poem or two at no extracharge. For a man who has just trippedover 80, Paul has surprising energy and hehas super stage presence. Stop by tocatch the show and see Paul Bluto per-form. You will be glad you did.

Paul and his wife Ann built a beautifulhome on Table Rock Lake and they are en-joying life to the fullest. From that beautifulhome, Paul and Ann are active in theirchurch, community activities, family andtraveling.

I asked Paul upon parting when thelast curtain is closed and the last songsung, how he wanted to be remembered.His answer was quick coming. “Theworld’s a better place because I wentthrough it.”

ByKurt Moore

Paul Bluto: So much to do, so little time


The Veterans Memorial Museum here in Branson hasbecome one of our most popular attractions, not only forVeterans but also for anyone intrigued by the history thatis presented with thousands of photos and items of mem-

orabilia of the wars our soldiershave fought for this country. Themuseum is an outstanding tributeto America's Veterans. Fred Hoppe,Jr., is the creator and owner of the

Veterans Memorial Museum in Branson.The Museum is on Hwy. 76 east of Dixie Stampede.

You can’t miss it — there is a World War II P-51 MustangFighter plane standing guard outside! Inside, an amazingsculpture depicts 50 life-sized soldiers storming a beach.Each is modeled from a real-life combat veteran, onefrom each of the 50 states. The lead soldier is modeledafter the late Fred Hoppe, Sr., one of the most decoratedcombat Veterans of WWII, a fact Hoppe, Jr., did not knowuntil shortly before his father’s death.

Hoppe is a well-known sculptor and is respectedworldwide; this is one of his most impressive works. Thepiece is 70 feet long, took five tons of clay, and is theworld’s largest bronze memorial sculpture!

Hoppe created the museum because of his father. Hesays his father told him, “I’m no hero; the real heroesnever came home.” In the Veterans Memorial Museum,Hoppe has assembled an amazing collection of morethan 2000 pieces of memorabilia, sculpture, art, photo-

graphs, letters, weapons, posters, uniforms, medals, mo-torcycles … I see new things every time I’m there.

You will be awestruck. The museum brings backmemories for many; it’s so interesting to see the reactionof others. I think it can create important memories foryounger visitors, too. There are emotionally moving dis-plays of love and support of friends and family backhome and the industrial support that was so generousand so very necessary to the war effort.

The Veterans Memorial Museum in Branson honorsveterans of WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the PersianGulf War, in nine halls. Each war is honored by a Hall in

the museum, where all major battles and campaigns arerecognized. The walls of the WWII Hall are covered withthe names of more than 400,000 men and women whodied for our freedom in that war. There is a complete listof men and women killed in Korea, Vietnam and duringDesert Storm and other conflicts of the 20th Century.

Veterans always enjoy the Museum, and Branson ishome to the largest veterans celebrations in the US. I en-courage you and your family and friends to visit the Vet-erans Memorial Museum.

The Museum is an extraordinary and fascinating lookat our nation’s history.

If you want adventure this Hal-loween, something out of the ordinary,take a walk on the wild side and tourthe Haunted House andMonster Asy-lum! Popular with kids and everyonewho is a kid at heart (and those whohave strong hearts!), this is the per-fect holiday excursion.

Journey through an Ozarks Ceme-tery, down darkened hallways andpast creaking doors. Various cryptsand a quite ghostly castle lure you into

a world where night never ends! Thetension builds as you encounterspine-tingling special effects, state-of-the-art animatronics, and things thatgo "bump in the night!" A spirited ad-venture!

The other side of this 24,000 sq.ft. building houses an educational Di-nosaur Museum that features morethan 50 life-sized dinosaurs. Themodels were made by paleo-artistswho fashionedmolds from original di-

nosaur skeletons. You will be im-pressed and astounded by them, fromthe foot-tall Micro-raptor to a towering42-feet tall Tyrannosaurus Rex! Thereis also a learning center with videoand fossil exhibits that all ages enjoy.

Fred Hoppe, owner of VeteransMemorial Branson, opened these twoattractions here in 2007. It is locateddown the hill next to Wal*Mart onHighway 76. Don’t be fearful … be ter-rified!

Veterans Memorial Museum honors heros

ByLinda Burlingame

Take a ‘walk on the wild side’


Jim Barber and Dave Hamner aremulti-talented entertainers. Theirextraordinary cast and fine-feath-

ered friends generate a show full of magic,music, merriment — andmischief —will theGrinch steal Christmas?! Jim Barber is an

expert ventriloquistand clever come-dian; Dave Hamneris a gifted illusionist.Both are good

singers. (So are the dummies!) Their showdefines “variety.”

Here’s Jim Barber … with a “dummy”and a routine that makes him look like thedummy. (You have to SEE it.) It’s “Barberand Seville!” All three sing really well.(Three? Keepwatching.) I love the hilariousBaby in the Bag routine — might be my fa-vorite! And so-o-o funny when Jim talks andhis words/mouth are off-sync, like bad tvreception. How’s he do that?!

Here’s Dave Hamner waving flamingswords. Two white cockatoos fly out of theflames. He waves brightly colored scarvesandwhoosh! A bright green and redmacawappears and takes a quick flight over theaudience. Dave tears a newspaper into the

shape of a bird; you guessed it: a live birdappears! How’s he do THAT?!

The birds Dave and Denise raise andtrain are marvelous and there are new ba-bies. An inquisitive pair of baby GreenwingMacaws was hatched several weeks agoas part of a licensed domestic breedingprogram arranged bythe Hamners. They hada naming contest, withentries from across thecountry; the winningnames of “Duke” and“Daisy” were submittedby Brandy Ely of Bran-son!

One of the neweradditions to the Ham-ner Barber Show is anamazing Veterans trib-ute. Interviews of threesurvivors of the flag-raising at Iwo Jima arepoignant; coupled withan amazing illusion, it’s breathtaking.

The Hamners received the prestigiousMagic Masters Award and have twice wonthe International Magician Society's Merlin

Award. Siegfried and Roy honored Hamn-ers with their Bronze Lion Head Award forPerformance Excellence.

Jim Barber does corporate events andUSO shows around the world; he was a fea-tured artist for the maiden Caribbean voy-age of the Cunard’s QueenMary 2 and has

had a host of TV appearances. Find outmore about Hamner and Barber at Ham-nerBarber.com. A cool Web site!

A talented cast of singers and dancers

addmore energy and excitement to this ex-traordinary show. Denise Hamner makesseveral appearances — and disappear-ances — during the show. Stargate, theLightning Levitation, and Vertigo: The Fallof Death (those spikes!). Denise is the BirdWrangler, too!

Jim Barber is hilarious as “HoustonTowers” (brother to Austin Powers?!) and —this might be my favorite — Chico Pete! It’sa spirited song and dance, definitely thecutest, largest Chihuahua you’ve everseen!

The Wings of Christmas, the secondhalf of the show during Ozark MountainChristmas, is fun, touching, and very en-tertaining. There is a clever salute to Christ-mas cartoons, including the Grinch, CharlieBrown and Rudolph. Jim is hilarious as theGrinch, and Dave amazes with Tinker Toysmagic! Diane Hamner joins in for someChristmas fun and song; she has an im-pressive musical resume` of her own!

This is an exceptionally entertainingshow for every audience. Don’t miss theHamner Barber Show and Wings of Christ-mas. (Watch fast or you might miss some-thing!)

ByLinda Burlingame

Wings of Christmas bring magic to the air


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To answer your first question, no,Penny is not related to MickeyGilley. She was once married to

Jerry Gilley, a cousin of Mickey. She hasthree daughters all with the name Gilley.Since she was married to a cousin ofMickey, I suppose you could say she wasat one time related bymarriage, but is not

a blood relative ofMickey Gilley.The first time I

ever met Penny wasat Barbara Fairchild’s Diner in Branson. Isaw this little blonde haired gal sporting adenim jacket that had medals, patchesand the name Penny Gilley in big letters. Iwalked over to her and said, “Excuse mebut you must be the biggest Penny Gilleyfan in the world.” From that moment on,we were not strangers. I was greeted withthe famous Penny Gilley smile that canwarm you on the coldest day.Penny Gilley, by being whom andmore

importantly, what she is, lends a lot of helpto the Louisiana Chamber of Commerce.They could not possibly find a more moti-vated ambassador. She not only enter-tains with her charm and vocal talent but

she is also bringing a true taste ofLouisiana to the people of Branson andthe surrounding area.Almost a year ago, she opened up a

new restaurant on the strip called, PennyGilley’s Louisiana Fixin’s. Her chefs are alloriginal Louisiana people who know theright way to fix the good stuff. When youare in town, take it in. Penny is usuallythere tomeet and greet y’all. Even the hotdogs, known as swamp dogs, have a dif-ferent southern flavor and they are sogooooood!Penny started her career in Monroe,

Louisiana, singing gospel, but before that,she cannot remember a time when, evenas a child, she was not singing in front ofsomeone.Penny was definitely country before

country was cool. She has been countryfrom her roots in Louisiana to, her presentvenue, the Branson Star Theater andeverywhere in between. She has alsospent the last 15 years entertaining ourtroops in far-off, war-torn countries aroundthe globe.Penny is heavy into veterans and as

you know, Branson is the veteran’s capitol

of the world. She is in the right place at theright time, for all the right reasons. Comein and browse the plaques that grace thewall of her restaurant.Penny Gilley is enjoying her third sea-

son in Branson andboy are we glad she’shere. She has defi-nitely captured Bran-son by storm and shewill, for sure, captureyour heart as well.Her show is strictly

country, the way coun-try was always sup-posed to be playedand sang. She singsthe old songs of coun-try, you know, the onesyou don’t hear muchon the airwaves anymore. It is refreshingto hear themperformed the way they weremeant to be performed in the first place.One thing is for sure, Penny Gilley loves

old time gospel music and country and itshows. Her whole essence is thrown intoeach and every performance she does.Many years ago Ernest Tubb stopped

in her town and she was impressed withthe way he simply talked with the folks ofthe area. She vowed she would do thesame and she does. Sometimes you donot have to approach her; she will walk up

to you and start a con-versation. That is the wayall performers should be,but few are.Penny has a fellow

named Jeff Brandt onher show. Jeff was withWayne Newton for 13years and brings a differ-ent flavor to the stagewith impressions of fa-mous singers. Jeff is veryenergetic and fits right inwith Penny’s energy.You will certainly

enjoy the Penny Gilley Show. I know I suredid. Performers who guard the traditionalway of country music are rare these daysand Penny is one of them. Our collectivehats are off to you Penny Gilley for a jobwell done.For tickets or reservations call the

Branson Star Theater at 417-332-4800.

ByKurt Moore

Penny Gilley: A true Southern gal

The performance that Timothy andMarie watched was the first time Perlmanhad ever appeared on Sesame Street. Itwas a segment demonstrating that peoplewith disabilities in one area can have ex-ceptional abilities in others. Perlman sur-vived a bout with polio when he was fourand had to use crutches and amobility de-vice.

That segment was included in VH1’sspecial, “The Greatest TV Moments:Sesame Street Music A-Z.”

So one, a little boy living in Israel wholistened to classical music on the radio and

made a career of violin music led anotherlittle boy living in Texas to play the violin andmake a career of music. How special isthat? God connects the world when neces-sary.

There have been many defining mo-ments throughout the Haygood’s careersince that first one. Like the time they hadreceived the call to go to Branson. Mariewas wondering how they could possiblymove all the stuff they had to Branson.Well, God had the answer.

The home they had at that particulartime had been built in a dry wash that had

not seen water in a hundred years andnone was expected for at least anothercentury. Lo and behold it began to rain andit continued to rain creating the storm ofthe century. Their house flooded leavingonly the Haygood’s instruments and cos-tumes. So, it wasn’t too hard to pack andmove to Branson after that.

God andMamaHaygood, in team, havebeen the driving force, the nurturing force,the teaching force and the loving force be-hind the birth, development and growth ofthe Haygoods into what you see performtoday.

Dolores Marie Haygood is a very petitewoman whom you would never guess hada child, much less eight. She has a sparklypersonality and a smile that launches ships

and sets clocks to running again. She hasan abiding faith in her God that has sus-tained her through good and bad timesequally. Mama Haygood is a rarity in showbusiness. She set aside her own bloomingshowbiz career to give of herself 110 per-cent as a mother to see that her childrengot the very best possible.

When you see the Haygoods perform,you will see a phenomenon that only Godcould have inspired. All the Haygoods allthe time are God’s children and Marie isthe mother of them all.

All Mama Haygood’s performing Hay-goods can be seen at the Americana The-ater in Branson. Call 417-339-GOOD forshow times and make reservations earlyfor their all new 2009 Christmas show.

Haygood ... Continued from Page 5THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS GAZETTE PAGE 21CHRISTMAS EDITION 2009

Events ... Continued from Page 10your things-to-do list! The dining experi-ence in Dobyns Dining Room at TheKeeter Center is as delicious as the Roomis beautiful. Fine dining in an elegant, rus-tic atmosphere makes Dobyns popularwith locals and visitors to Branson. TheDining Room is open10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. forlunch and dinner; theBakery is open 7 a.m.until 8 p.m. Believe me,you don’t want tomiss theBakery!

Lodging at The KeeterCenter is unparalleled. Allrooms at the MabeeLodge include a fireplace,private balcony with aview, and much more.Suites include in-roombreakfast and turndownservice with milk andcookies. Homemade inthe Bakery. Milk from theCollege Dairy! The KeeterCenter has wonderfulmeeting accommoda-tions as well. Good to keep in mind.KeeterCenter.edu.

The Tri-Lakes Center is hosting theMMeellTTiilllliiss && FFaammiillyy CChhrriissttmmaass SShhooww November3-28. I haven’t talked to Mel lately but Ithink Mel, Jr., “Sonny” and Carrie April willboth be in the show. And of course, theStatesiders, Mel’s great band! Not surewho else will show up but it will be a goodshow!

Other American favorites helping uscelebrate Christmas here are TToonnyy OOrr--llaannddoo aanndd tthhee LLeennnnoonn SSiisstteerrss (more fam-ily!). Their show at the Welk Resort Theatreis so much fun; it’s energetic and lively, areal Christmas treat!

Last year one of my favorite Christmasshows was YYaakkoovv’’ss. His show is always hi-

larious, at Christmas even more great fun,with the Grinch and soldiers; the snow-man has everyone roaring with laughter.An evil plot to capture Santa Claus isthwarted. However, Yakov’s commentsand stories about what we can do during

the Christmas sea-son … well, you justhave to see it. It wasprobably the mostmoving and mean-ingful Christmasshow I saw.

DDiixxiiee SSttaammppeeddeealways has a beauti-ful Christmas showthat even includes alive Nativity. AndSanta’s “sleigh” isdrawn by a beautifulwhite horse! Newthis year is the musi-cal fantasy “ToysCome to Life”.

And I can justabout guarantee youthat Branson is the

most fun place for Christmas fun! The cityhas been named one of the Top TenChristmas Destinations. Of course, Bran-son is fun any time of the year. Bottomline.

And stay tuned for our Winter issue ofthe Gazette to find out how much fun youcan have here this winter, and what’s com-ing up in 2010! The Jim Stafford Show willkeep you smiling, great shopping at theBranson Craft Mall, how about the won-derful Ralph Foster Museum? And haveyou seen everything that’s new at the Hol-lywood Wax Museum? The Branson AutoMuseum? Titanic Branson is open all year.So are Stone Hill and Mount PleasantWineries. Guess you just need to plan atrip every season.


AAsssseemmbbllyy ooff GGooddFirst Assembly of God

600 West Main, Branson417-334-3803

BBaappttiissttFirst Baptist Church400 South Sunshine, Branson

417-334-7437

Calvary Baptist Church625 Truman Dr., Branson

417-336-3475

BBiibbllee CChhuurrcchhFellowship at Cross Creek

T Hwy. - T10417-335-8008

CCaatthhoolliiccOur Lady of the Lake

Vaughn Dr., Branson417-334-3350

CChhrriissttiiaannBranson Christian Church

213 S. Commercial, Branson417-334-3453

CChhuurrcchh ooff CChhrriissttChurch of ChristHwy. 165 (near Welk), Branson

417-336-3120

CChhuurrcchh ooff GGooddChurch of the Apostolic Faith

100 East Main, Branson

CChhuurrcchh ooff JJeessuuss CChhrriisstt ooff LLaatttteerr DDaayy SSaaiinnttss

Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints

Church Road, Branson

EEppiissccooppaallShepherd of the Hills Episcopal

107 Walnut, Branson417-334-3968

FFoouurrssqquuaarreeBranson Foursquare Church2287 Fall Creek Rd., Branson

417-339-5911

FFuullll GGoossppeellRiver of Life, Church Alive!

1307 Bird Rd., Branson417-334-8287

JJeehhoovvaahh’’ss WWiittnneesssseessKingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Wit-nesses

Hwy. 65-70, Branson417-334-5507

LLuutthheerraannFaith LutheranParnell & Malone St., Branson

417-334-2469

MMeetthhooddiissttUnited Methodist

1208 W. Hwy. 76, Branson417-334-3423

NNoonn--DDeennoommiinnaattiioonnaallSalvation Army Church

1819 W. Hwy. 76, Branson417-339-4434

NNoonn--DDeennoommiinnaattiioonnaallUnity of the Hills

4868 Hwy. 248, Branson417-334-6224

Cowboy ChapelShepherd of the Hills Expwy.

417-334-4191

PPeenntteeccoossttaallOld Branson Pentecostal


PPrreessbbyytteerriiaannFIrst Presbyterian


Church Directory

All visitors welcome, please

call for worship times and directions.

Shepherd of the Hills Gazette | Christmas 2009

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