Branson Reviews 2013

runner1960 · July 05, 2013, 05:49:36 PM

We quit shows not because of price but because of lack of interest. My kids had no interest in variety or hillbilly humor shows. Likewise with the tribute shows or 60's, 70's 80's greatest hits stuff all with a fake Elvis. I agree with the poster above. Branson needs more adult entertainment and entertainment geared toward the next generation. If they don't they will die. The last time I was at one of the so called original shows on the strip it was hard to find anyone under 70 in the audience and a lot of the ones who were under 70 left at intermission. Young people love music festivals. Several of these with up and coming bands and stars like Grace Potter , The Gaslight Anthem , and so on would pull in a totally new audience for Branson. Branson needs to reinvent itself. I really have a hard time justifying a 5 hour drive each way for a theme park visit. The city and the town need each other to survive. It's time for Branson to move to the next phase of its life span or I am afraid it will die.

chittlins · July 05, 2013, 08:52:13 PM

Quote from: Runner1960 on July 05, 2013, 05:49:36 PM
We quit shows not because of price but because of lack of interest. My kids had no interest in variety or hillbilly humor shows. Likewise with the tribute shows or 60's, 70's 80's greatest hits stuff all with a fake Elvis. I agree with the poster above. Branson needs more adult entertainment and entertainment geared toward the next generation. If they don't they will die. The last time I was at one of the so called original shows on the strip it was hard to find anyone under 70 in the audience and a lot of the ones who were under 70 left at intermission. Young people love music festivals. Several of these with up and coming bands and stars like Grace Potter , The Gaslight Anthem , and so on would pull in a totally new audience for Branson. Branson needs to reinvent itself. I really have a hard time justifying a 5 hour drive each way for a theme park visit. The city and the town need each other to survive. It's time for Branson to move to the next phase of its life span or I am afraid it will die.

I live in NWA, I have a 10 and 9 year old. Here are some of the shows coming to the WAC in the next year, Jersey Boys, Chicago, Wizard of Oz, I Love Luck, the stage show, White Christmas, Beauty and the Breast, the Wonder Bread Years, Moscow Ballet Nutcracker, Broadway on Ice. Something for Adults and Family. There's a whole list of other stuff besides stage productions like Ron White, Doobie Bros and so on.

We have seen Dixie Stampede and Dixie Stampede Christmas. Kids don't like Cornish game hens so we are done for quite some time there. We saw Noah and Joseph at Light and Sound and we catch a new one there but not till. Like you, kids aren't much interested in the other stuff.

It doesn't have to involve booze, but it's not like Branson is Dry, heck Harrison isn't dry anymore.

I left out the Nick stage shows, there's some other examples void from the Branson scene. Like I've mentioned in the past, where's the bowling alley, stadium seating theater like AMC's dine in movie complexs, heck even a retro styled drive in. Seen the new one Coyote Drive In in Fort Worth

Imagine a redeveloped Celebration City that had free admission, National eateries like Five Guys, Cinnabon, Cold Stone, Starbucks with patios and sidewalk tables and sit downs like Fridays, Mellow Moon, maybe a microbrewery. A retro styled Bowling alley with adult geared lanes and a kids lane area. Instead of the light show/fountain area, replace it with a drive in. Have rides, sell individual rides or wristbands for unlimited rides. Do your flats like Hymalaya, tilt-a-whirl, a spinning wild mouse and so on around a refurbished Oz Cat and Roaring Falls. A movie complex, During winter, have ice skating rinks and other things that attract folks. Hours till midnight in the summer on the rides.

Just fanciful thinking like my reboot of Dogpatch.

Junior · July 05, 2013, 10:51:27 PM

Chittlins: "Beauty and the Breast?" Really? I didn't see that one advertised! Maybe that one appeared at one of the gentleman's clubs?

chittlins · July 05, 2013, 11:21:19 PM

Quote from: Junior on July 05, 2013, 10:51:27 PM
Chittlins: "Beauty and the Breast?" Really? I didn't see that one advertised! Maybe that one appeared at one of the gentleman's clubs?

It is on Dickson St.

Joy · July 06, 2013, 12:11:10 AM

Chittlins, I like your idea for Celebration City.

I still say we should have a Dave & Busters in Branson.

runner1960 · July 06, 2013, 07:15:46 AM

A redeveloped Grand palace area with a smaller venue that caters to traveling broadway shows. Wicked, Jersey Boys and all the newer shows along with classics like Les Mis and others. It would attract a entire new audience to the town and provide a upscale environment for those who might want a nice elegant night out. Maybe a couple of upscale restaurants. We enjoy a dress up night out when we vacation and a lot of people we know do also. I would not be against the theaters serving wine and beer during their shows. Been to several of these in St. Louis and Chicago and I have never seen anyone drunk our out of control.

I also like the idea of the celebration city redevelopment. Another idea for that area would be a year round destination that includes a redeveloped Whitewater, aquarium and ice skating rink to complete a year round entertainment venue. I love the bowling idea, sounds sort of like the one at Downtown Disney.

chittlins · July 06, 2013, 10:07:33 AM

Dave and Buster's would be sweet. Those guys are from Little Rock and it doesn't have one, that's kinda like Memphis not having a House of Blues even though one of the founders is from there. Considering Aykroid's closeness to Booker T and MGs members and backing band for the Blues Brothers that was a Memphis staple at Stax, I still don't get it.

On the Microbrewery, Maybe not on site brewery, but how about one that focuses on Boulevard's brews from KC. Kinda warehouse like theme with brick and exposed wooden beams

The Aquarium idea, I'd have to wait and see just what the Wonders of Wildlife place in Springfield turns out. I know they will have manatee's and the latest foto update from mid June shows elements of a lobster tank. May not be the most feasible considering this development. Now, an Aquarium Restaurant, that's Landrys Corps, the folks that have opened up Kemah Boardwalk and Galveston Pleasure Pier. Those are some of the places that my ideas come from. They also have the T Rex Café that you can find up in KC, Rainforest Café, Bubba Gump, and Branson's Landry's Seafood.

Too Close to KC to ever dream of a Lego Discovery Center or Sea Life.

I could see a Nick themed resort complete with an indoor theme park like MOA and a Indoor/outdoor waterpark to make it a great winter blues weekend get away, that's where the touring Nick stage shows could play

KBCraig · July 07, 2013, 06:28:58 PM

Everyone wants something new and fresh to attract a younger crowd -- but remember the uproar in 2010 when Nelly had a concert in Branson?

Joy · July 07, 2013, 08:10:47 PM

That's because the older generation was being icky about the whole thing. Branson will die without new blood.

DeweyBald · July 07, 2013, 09:49:20 PM

Anybody know the attendance at the Nelly show? I heard it was a flop.

runner1960 · July 07, 2013, 10:01:39 PM

I think the Mayor was trying to fight this and with all the bad press and the probability that it may be cancelled kept the crowds down. Truthfully would you travel to something that might not happen ? By the way what is the mayor's last name ? I believe she is co-owner of a theater on the strip if I recall.

Joy · July 07, 2013, 11:10:40 PM

Quote from: Runner1960 on July 07, 2013, 10:01:39 PM
I think the Mayor was trying to fight this and with all the bad press and the probability that it may be cancelled kept the crowds down. Truthfully would you travel to something that might not happen ? By the way what is the mayor's last name ? I believe she is co-owner of a theater on the strip if I recall.

Her last name is Presley, isn't it? Something like that.

See, I seriously thought that the concert didn't even get to happen. It still happened? I woulda gone if I'd known; I like Nelly, and I'd like to have supported a Missouri native (as well as help the people who wanted to get the Palace back up off the ground).

Junior · July 08, 2013, 11:43:23 AM

From what I understand, the concert happened, Nelly did a good job, the house was full, and after the show, Nelly and company got on the bus and went home to St. Louis with no incidents. Everything smooth and no issues. In regards to what belongs in Branson and what does not...anyone can play a theater if you have someone willing to book them and promote it. If they don't sell enough tickets, they won't be back. The type of music, in my opinion, does not matter, country, broadway, rock, rap, classical...who cares? What sells, sells, and what doesn't, won't be back. Remember, I worked at a country venue (Hee Haw Theater) from '81-83. First Branson theater to have nationally known country and comedy acts at each show. Guess what helped kill the place? Hee Haw charged $6 per adult ticket instead of the standard $5. Most nights the 1,000 seat theater had an average of 350 guests. Can't run a theater long like that. But you could not have nationally known acts at the standard Branson price level. My guess is the TV show acts that appeared there just made $500 to $1000 bucks per show...but for that day and time, they were making pretty good money. Hee Haw TV Stars got paid $50,000 for a season of shows (26 TV Shows) and made a pretty good living playing small venues like the one in Branson, fairs, clubs, and so on...probably making somewhere around $200,000 to $250,000 per year. That is about three to four times more than my good middle class parents made combined back then.

Joy · July 08, 2013, 03:07:33 PM

A couple friends of mine went to Las Vegas recently and were making me jealous by describing how awesome the Phantom of the Opera was there. Apparently the theatre was built specifically for the show and everything.

I think it'd be cool if maybe a show like that could come and build on the Palace lot. Like, maybe Wicked, since that's Oz themed and we're close to Kansas. Or if they wanted something a tidbit more family-oriented (Wicked is not everyone's cup of tea), maybe a theatre for Dreamworks Theatricals, like Shrek the Musical and How to Train Your Dragon Live.

I agree that the main problem is pricing. In the twenty years I've lived in MO, I've never once gone to see Shoji, because it was always too expensive. When we came to Branson, it was usually just for SDC; if we ever saw a show, it was The Hughes Brothers, who had pretty good family pricing. But for the most part, SDC was our main reason for being in Branson.

Junior · July 08, 2013, 03:24:38 PM

The reason SDC Attractions purchased the Branson USA site and turned it into CC is because they wanted to keep inferior and other competition out of town. Branson USA was seriously underfunded and failed within a year or two. If the family who owned the property when it was Mutton Hollow did not get in financially over their heads, it would still be there today. If Nick or Disney or some other operator put down roots and made a major theater or theme park presence in town, you would see a "war" situation . Believe it or not, most theme park people, since it is a small community, are friendly with one another and tend to respect other peoples territories.