USVI-On-Line

We stayed in a condo on the banks of beautiful Fall Creek.

We saw the Oakridge Boys on their last night before their Christmas Tour. They were great! They still have strong voices, in fact my Mom's hearing aid blew out during "Elvira".

Andy Williams was just as good, and he even did a soft shoe dance with penguin characters. I checked his bio and he will turn 81 in December!

We also saw the Shoji Tabuchi show. He plays the violin and has a variety show. His show has been one of the best in Branson for 19 years now. Shoji doesn't seem to get any older though.

It was Veterans week there so most of the shows were full. Other performers there are The Platters, Bobby Vinton, Yakov Smirnoff, The Osmond Brothers, Mickey Gilley, Mel Tillis and Jim Stafford just to name a few. There are many other shows that are there for limited engagements, plus Country and Western shows.

I noticed at one intersection near our condo there was a T-shirt shop on one corner, a combination Conoco station Psychic palm reader on another, a Sushi restaurant on another, and a giant replica of the front half of the Titanic with a museum on the last corner. You can see just about anything in Branson including the Acrobats of China!

We all had a great time. We had one lady with us from Napa CA. She liked it all but she kept remarking how kind and unhurried people were.

Thanks for sharing your report to Branson. It's been a few years since I've been and every time I go back, it's changed just a little more! You're right, Shoji doesn't seem to ever age any! We always check out the Baldnobber's when we're there.

Hey CG, looks like Branson gives life, ie. Yakov. I actually had thought Andy Williams was no longer with us. Good TV a long time ago.

FYI, the only Platter left is Herb Reed. Saw them all back in '57 at the Shea Theater in Toronto. Damn they were good and the sound on the originals still great.

CA and Promo-

I forgot to mention the newest theater- American Bandstand. It has The Comets(as in Bill Haley), Righteous Bros. Bill Medley, and Paul Revere and the Raiders. Other theaters have Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Bros., and the Lennon Sisters and Tony Orlando (more entertainment folks you probably haven't heard of in a while).

There is a fairly new Hilton and Convention Center and Shopping Mall at Branson Landing. There are three other outlet malls in Branson. Various attempts have been made to introduce gambling in the area. I hope the growth slows down and the recession doesn't impact the Branson economy.