Branson Webcast Hosts and stars of the Hamner Barber Variety Show, Dave Hamner and Jim Barber really enjoyed being part of the parade, and pulled off a great magic illusion of being able to fit into Pam Critchfield’s tiny convertible Porsche while driving and waving to the crowd.

Jim Barber & Seville - Dave Hamner driving | Photo by Jeremy Mason McGraw

More Photos of the Parade & Behind the Scenes by Jeremy Mason McGraw

Jim Barber and Dave Hamner driving in Holiday Promenade of Stars | Photo by Greta Busch

Ventriloquist Jim Barber took his turn at the live performance stage in front of the Titanic Museum, as he sang along with his sidekick Seville to their rendition of the “12 Days of Branson.”

Jim Barber & Seville sing Twelve Days of Branson | Photo by Michael London

Music legend Andy Williams served as Grand Marshall for the Event and also rode the entire Parade route in Grand Style.

Andy Williams - Parade Grand Marshall | Photo by Craig Burnett

The live entertainment portions featured brief performances by many Branson entertainers who sang to the cheering crowd that gathered around the production stage in front of the Titanic – World’s Largest Museum Attraction.

Jim Barber & Seville sing on the Parade Stage | Photo by Craig Burnett

Andy Williams sings on Parade Stage | Photo by Craig Burnett

The television broadcast schedule of the Holiday Promenade of Stars is for Thanksgiving and Christmas day to an estimated 102 million plus households across the nation. In the Springfield/Branson area the parade special will be televised on KSFX Ozarks FOX. In Branson on The Vacation Channel it will be aired six times: Thanksgiving Day at 8 a.m., Nov. 27 at 8 p.m., Nov. 28 at 8 p.m., Nov. 29 at 8 a.m., Nov. 30 at 8 p.m., and Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. National broadcasts are on RFD-TV and Retro Television Network. RFD-TV is carried on several satellite and cable providers including over 625 independent cable operators to 42 million households and Retro Television Network is seen in 17 of the top 25 markets to more than 60 million households on nearly 100 stations in cities such as Pittsburg, Atlanta, Seattle, Orlando, St. Louis and Boston, according to Nielsen ratings.

Produced by Midwest Concerts & Events, LLC, the Holiday Promenade of Stars promises to be a highlight of Ozark Mountain Christmas for many years to come.

For more information: HolidayPromenadeOfStars.com, Midwest Concerts & Events

Related article: Hamner Barber Featured in Holiday Promenade of Stars

Related interview: Gary Bartlett | Producer of the Promenade of Stars Event

Entertainment legend Andy Williams is serving as Grand Marshall and singers Jimmy Osmond and Debbie Boone are serving as Hosts for the television special being made during the 1.4 mile-long parade that ushers in the Christmas season in the Live Music Show Capital of the World. The parade route begins at White Water and ends at the Grand Village Shops.

Along with Williams, Osmond and Boone, will be country music artist Neal McCoy, the Lennon Sisters & Brothers, Tony Orlando and Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan.

Also performing on the television stage are Clay Cooper, Johnny Lonestar, Penny Gilley, Jeff Brandt, the Haygoods, Todd Oliver & Irving, and Jim Barber & Seville from the Hamner Barber Variety Show. Also featured are the Knudsen Brothers, also known as SIX; Showstoppers! from the Showboat Branson Belle; the “Spirit of Christmas” dancers; and the cast of “A Dickens’ Christmas Carol” from Silver Dollar City. The Baldknobbers, Blues Brothers from “Legends in Concert,” and the Branson High School Cheerleaders are also scheduled for stage appearances.

The television broadcast schedule is for Thanksgiving and Christmas day to an estimated 102 million plus households across the nation. In the Springfield/Branson area the parade special will be televised on KSFX Ozarks FOX. In Branson on The Vacation Channel it will be aired six times: Thanksgiving Day at 8 a.m., Nov. 27 at 8 p.m., Nov. 28 at 8 p.m., Nov. 29 at 8 a.m., Nov. 30 at 8 p.m., and Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. National broadcasts are on RFD-TV and Retro Television Network. RFD-TV is carried on several satellite and cable providers including over 625 independent cable operators to 42 million households and Retro Television Network is seen in 17 of the top 25 markets to more than 60 million households on nearly 100 stations in cities such as Pittsburg, Atlanta, Seattle, Orlando, St. Louis and Boston, according to Nielsen ratings.

Produced by Midwest Concerts & Events, LLC, the Holiday Promenade of Stars promises to be a highlight of the many Ozark Mountain Christmas events planned this November and December.

For more information: HolidayPromenadeOfStars.com, Midwest Concerts & Events

Grape Stomp Host - Jim Barber

The 11th Annual Hollister Grape and Fall Festival promises to be the juiciest ever!

The fun happens this Saturday, September 26th, 2009 on Historic Downing Street in downtown Hollister, Missouri. The event originated in the early 1900s to celebrate the annual grape harvest, as local growers shipped their produce to markets via the railroads. This weekend’s version features live music and entertainment, great food, a wine-tasting garden, crafts, children’s activities, and the highlight of the festival, the Grape Stomping Contest hosted for the fourth year in a row by Branson entertainer Jim Barber from the Hamner Barber Variety Show.

Jim Barber encourages Mayor Tate at the Grape Stomp

Admission if FREE and the FOOD is GREAT!

The GRAPE STOMP begins at 2pm under the big tent! This is one of the highlights of the entire event and should not be missed. Local dignitaries act as the official judges and host Jim Barber keeps the juice flowing as the contestants stomp their way to glory and the chance to win the coveted “Ugly Monkey Award.”

Interested in Competing in the Stomp?  Download an Entry Form and Sign up TODAY! Teams are limited. Please call the Hollister Chamber at 417-334-3050 or info@hollisterchamber.net to confirm space availability before registering.

A Full Day of Fun for Everyone!

The excitement begins at 10:00 AM and doesn’t stop until 7:00 PM.  There will be lots of LIVE ENTERTAINMENT on the big stage and well as many fun CHILDRENS ACTIVITIES, CRAFT BOOTHS, a BIKE RIDE, and WINE TASTING.

Thanks to the Event Sponsors

Brought to you by the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Hollister, and the following community partners:

Branson Ridge Winery, KRZK – Branson’s Hometown Country Station, Ozark Mountain Bank, St. John’s Health System, The Shepherd of the Hills, Ozark Technical College, KOMC – Music Memories and More, Empire District Electric, CenturyTel, A-1 Audio, All Occasions Event Rental, Connell Insurance, Family Pharmacy, Downing Street Furniture, Walgreens, Complete Mobile Home Center, Corporate Business Systems, Service Master, Akers & Arney Insurance, Metro Design and Construction, Parade of Homes, The Spirits Shop, American Family Insurance, First Community Bank, Shelter Insurance, Gerken & Associates Realtors.

And Now… The Grape Lady Music Video

Here’s something you most likely WON’T see at this event. This was created from an actual incident that happened on live TV, but don’t worry, she recovered from her fall. By the way, the Hollister grape vats have a safety handrail to avoid this type of thing.

The Barber’s were invited to be part of the show to discuss their unique relationship and to provide insight into the needs of men and women in relationships.

Here is the official press release regarding the show…

New Yakov Smirnoff TV Talk Show

“Law & Order” Pre-empted for “Love & Laughter”
Yakov Smirnoff’s New TV Talk Show to Air on KY-3

Branson, MO (Thursday, November 13, 2008)

Yakov Smirnoff announced today that his new TV Talk Show pilot will air on KY-3 TV on Saturday, November 22 at 9:00 pm.

Yakov’s guests for this episode are ventriloquist & comedian Jim Barber and his wife Diane; author Willard Harley who wrote the book “His Needs, Her Needs;” and an amazing couple, Ray & Irma Ziff, who have been married for over 75 years.

“My new TV talk show is a cross between Dr. Phil and Ellen, where it’s a lot of entertainment and a little bit of information, so you can learn and laugh your Yak-Off,” says Yakov. “My guests were great fun and an inspiration to us all. Tune in on the 22nd and you’ll find out why Law & Order got pre-empted for Love & Laughter!”

Yakov says, “I had the idea to create a television show nearly 10 years ago. Since then it has really evolved into a new type of talk show–one that’s focusing on the important role that laughter plays in healthy relationships.”

Along with his own special brand of comedy, this pilot episode features Yakov discussing Jim Barber’s unique relationship with his puppets as well as his wife. Yakov also delves into relationships during a segment called, “Yakking with Yakov on a Yacht.” During the show audience members interact with best-selling Christian author Dr. Willard Harley. His book “His Needs, Her Needs” provided plenty of animated discussion followed by a hilarious and heart-warming interview with the Ziffs, who recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary and were featured on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Yakov earned his Master’s Degree in Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is an adjunct professor at Missouri State and Drury
Universities. The television show has evolved from some of the concepts introduced to his students as well as seminars he has conducted around the world for the past five years.

Yakov asks viewers to visit LoveAndLaughter.com to provide comments on the TV show and to become a part of his Love and Laughter community.

In addition to airing on November 22 at 9:00 pm, the pilot of The Yakov Smirnoff Show will air again on KY-3 on Sunday, November 23 at 1:00 pm.

Yakov arrived in the United States in 1977 with less than $100. In the years that followed, he has found success as a comedian and has come to embrace his new country with contagious optimism. He moved to Branson in 1993, and along with his successful Branson show at his own theater, has continued to amass accomplishments including books, CD’s, movies, TV appearances, a successful Broadway show As Long As We Both Shall Laugh, and is currently working on a humorous self-help book. Yakov is a featured writer for AARP magazine, the world’s largest circulation magazine with a distribution of 39 million. Yakov gives readers advice (and a few laughs) in his column titled, “Happily Ever Laughter.”

*Law & Order fans alert…The Yakov Smirnoff Show is only running this Saturday, visit www.KY3.com to see their program schedule.

Contact
Amy Hietter, marketing@yakov.com, 417-336-3838 ext 276
Cindy Merry, tomerrys@interlinc.net, 417-739-4925

The fun begins on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 11:00am with a parking lot party at the Branson Star Theatre. Activities include free outside entertainment, “Dollar Dogs,” vendors, inflatables, games and prizes.

At 3:00pm, the Branson Gives BIG Benefit Show will be held inside the theatre with an all-star cast featuring many of Branson’s top entertainers such as The Lennon Sisters, Jim Stafford, Gail Lennon, Jim Barber & Dave Hamner, The Hughes Brothers, Doug Gabriel, Delena Ditto, David Lomoscola, The Branson Divas, Red-Kneckers, and cast members of “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.”

Tickets for the benefit show are $20.oo and can be purchased at the Branson Star Theatre box office at 417-334-7131 or online at ticketmaster.com.

Angela Walker, one of the event organizers commented, “Let’s face it; the people who have been affected by these floods in the Midwest are our neighbors and our customers. I have lived in Branson for over 20 years and have not seen such devastation as I have seen in the last few weeks. As a community, Branson is always willing to help in a crisis, and our neighbors need us now. I challenge everyone in Branson to show your neighbors what all of us here already know, BRANSON GIVES BIG!”

Additional information on the event can be found here.

Related Websites: Branson Star Theatre, American Red Cross

Founded 26 years ago by Dr. Dale Smith, the not-for-profit American Kids, Inc. has given thousands of talented kids from across the country performance opportunities that not only help them develop as performers, but as well rounded individuals.  Several alumni kids have gone on to forge successful careers in Branson, New York, and Nashville including Blake Shelton, Kristin Chenowith and Bryan White.

Other notable judges on the panel for the 2008 National Finals include Tyree McLyn, casting producer for “America’s Got Talent;” Jason Pritchett, 2007 “America’s Got Talent” finalist; Barbara Fairchild, Grammy nominated singer and performer; Jason Yeager, 2008 American Idol finalist; Casey Ellison and Cole Currier from the Pierce Arrow Show; Opera sensation, Merideth Mizell; Gary Paxton, Grammy winner song writer, and Louise Harrison, sister of Beatles George Harrison and developer of the Liverpool Legends.

On Tuesday, July 15th some of the national finalists will be showcased in a pre-show at the Hamner Barber Theater at approximately 7:10pm, with additional showcases at various other theaters throughout the week.

Related Websites: AmericanKids.com