The Branson Entertainment Hall of Fame and Museum is looking for volunteers to assist with museum tours. An outgoing personality and basic knowledge of Branson's entertainment history is requested. The Branson Entertainment Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring those who have had significant impact on Branson's entertainment industry. For more information please contact Deidre at 336-FAME (3263) ext. 225 or [email protected].

BRANSON, Mo., July 5, 2007 — Sometime in the next few months, eleven families will celebrate this day with Branson Tourism Center. One lucky family will receive a free vacation to Branson, a $100.00 pre-paid BP gas card and they will be featured on BransonTourismCenter.com. In addition, throughout the day that the one-millionth ticket is purchased, 10 of their customers will receive a $100 gift card to use toward their next vacation, courtesy of Branson Tourism Center.

The full-service Branson vacation company is set to celebrate a major milestone–a staggering one million theater and attraction tickets sold in just four years–and the customer who purchases the millionth ticket will win a refund of his or her entire vacation arranged through Branson Tourism Center.

Branson Tourism Center owner Lianne Milton said the millionth-ticket promotion is one way her company can thank the clients that have helped it grow so quickly. "We want to thank all our customers for helping us reach our goal of selling a million tickets over the past four years," Milton stated. "Branson Tourism Center has achieved this level of performance in such a short period because of our satisfied repeat customers and the referrals our customers continue to send our way. The vacation refund and prepaid gas card is our way we can express our appreciation to our customers."

Branson Tourism Center anticipates selling its millionth ticket between July and September 2007. Upon checking into Branson Tourism Center, the customer who bought that ticket will hear the words, "Congratulations, your vacation is on us." Up until that moment, the customer will not know he or she has won.

But even those who do not win the millionth-ticket promotion will still enjoy memorable vacations in the live entertainment capital of the world, thanks to Branson Tourism Center's focus on their customers. The company, a full-service travel agency exclusively serving visitors to Branson, Missouri, creates vacation packages tailored to their customers' individual tastes and offers personalized advice on everything from restaurants and special events to recommendations on sought-after limited engagements–all at no extra charge.

"When Branson Tourism Center customizes our clients' personal vacation plans, they get a combination of all the best dining, lodging and entertainment venues at the best discounted prices," Milton explained. "Because we receive volume pricing from Branson theaters, attractions, lodging, restaurants and shops, we are able to pass those savings on to our customers."

Branson Tourism Center is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the year, except Christmas. The company's 70 full-time employees are dedicated to discovering each traveler's special interests, providing insider information on the Branson area, including shortcuts the locals use to get around town. To learn more about Branson vacations and for Branson area information, visit Branson Tourism Center at http://www.BransonTourismCenter.com or 1-800-713-5284.

White House Theatre's Live Taping Series Pairs
With the Sky Angel Network

Branson, MO – June 28, 2007 – Branson's White House Theatre's Christian television concept will now be available nationwide. The Magnificent Gospel Showcase has been in production since May of this year by White House Television Productions and has recently been picked up by the Sky Angel Network. Debuting its' first of eighteen episodes on September 28th of 2007, this show features Los Angeles Comedian Ron McGehee and the very best of today's Christian and Gospel artists along with Tamra Holden and the Cast and Band of The Magnificent Seven Variety Show here in Branson. The live taping will be held at the White House Theatre the first Saturday of every month at 1pm, and tickets are available to the general public.

The Series will be shown in a one-hour format and will be aired every fourth Friday of the month beginning September 28th at 8pm CT on Angel 2, the "Special Events" channel of Sky Angel. Throughout the show the audience will be entertained with hilarious comedy and vibrant, spirit-filled production numbers along with an exciting concert from one of today's top Grammy and Dove Award winning artists such as The Classic Imperials, Crystal River, and The Galloways, with future artists to include The Martins, Hope's Call and many more. LA Comedian Ron McGehee, who has also appeared on the hit series Bananas, NBC's Last Comic Standing as a Semi-Finalist, and NBC/Laugh Factory Latino/Asian-American Comedy Showcase as a Finalist, will be the host for the one hour event and will be showcasing his talent as a "Clean" Comedian. Ron McGehee has become highly sought after as a comedian and host, and has recently filmed an unnamed comedy pilot with CBS producers to write as well as appear on the show.

As an independent producer of exceptional family entertainment, White House Television Productions has created Telly Award winning programming utilizing our multi-million dollar production facility, qualified staffed entertainers, and the best technical support staff in the area. The company is locally owned and operated here in Branson, and has become known for creating high quality, family oriented, musically based productions that promote traditional American family values.

The Sky Angel Network is based out of Florida and has been providing family and Christian based programming for over 25 years. Reaching virtually anywhere in the Continental United States, Sky Angel Network has over 30 channels on television and radio and features programming from some of the Nation's best, including The Hallmark Channel, HGTV, TBN and Fox. For more information on programming and scheduling at Sky Angel, visit www.skyangel.com.

Information and scheduling for the live monthly taping of The Magnificent Gospel Showcase can be found on their website at: www.magnificentgospelshowcase.com or by calling the Branson White House Theatre at 1-877-487-2386. Tickets are $10.00 per person with a discount for groups of 15 or more, children under 11 are free.

For media needs or more information regarding this event, please contact:
Renee' Johnson at 417-239-3016 or e-mail at [email protected]

The Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks Annual Golf Tournament is Friday July 13 at Holiday Hills Golf Club & Resort. Foursomes are $500 are include greens fees, lunch, a golf shirt for each player and a 19th Hole Awards Ceremony. For just $750, Corporate Teams receive all of the benefits of a Foursome, plus four corporate gifts and a hole sponsorship.

If you are not available to play, why not sponsor a hole for just $250! It is a great way to promote your business.

The Club also needs promotional items for the golfers goodie bags. Logo items, coupons and samples would be greatly appreciated! Call the Club to arrange for pick-up of your items.

We look forward to seeing you at Holiday Hills on July 13. Call 417.335.2089 to register today!

Branson, MO. – On Friday, July 6th, at 4:15 pm, Jim Owen will add his signature to the World's Largest Banjo at Grand Country Square and will be a guest star in Grand Country's late night show, Branson Country USA at 11 pm.

Jim Owen is best known as the man who wrote "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man." He has also written hits for many famous stars including Mel Tillis, Moe Bandy, Jim Ed Brown, Crystal Gayle, Jerry Reed, Roy Clark and many others.

Hit songs are not the only things Jim writes. He wrote and starred in "Hank," a one-man, one-hour television special on Hank Williams, Sr., which won the SECA award as the best show of the year on public television in 1977.

Jim's stage performance and audience interaction has made him one of Branson's favorite performers for sixteen seasons.

Jim commented, "I am the luckiest man alive and feel honored to have my autograph added to other great Country Music entertainers."

Jim is represented in four halls of fame. He is a member of the Branson Entertainment Hall of Fame, The George D. Hay Country Music Hall of Fame, the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in Carthage, Texas.

When he's not performing, Jim has a passion for collecting and restoring vintage automobiles and is an avid golfer.

Grand Country's late night show, Branson Country USA is broadcast LIVE on 92.9 FM and is also simulcast LIVE worldwide via www.basscountry.fm and www.live365.com/stations/komg.

The World's Largest fiberglass banjo is a true replica of a collectible Gibson banjo. It is 62 feet long and weighs over 3,000 pounds. From outdoor to indoors, five fiber optic strings run from the base along the 47- foot neck. The strings can be programmed in a variety of patterns using six colors.

The legendary Roy Clark was the first to sign the banjo on May 22, 1999 during the Grand Country Market's Grand Opening celebration and most recently, CBS Daytime Drama, As The World Turns star, Jennifer Landon signed on June 5th, 2007.

Grand Country Square is located in the heart of Branson on the 76 strip and is the home of Splash Country Indoor and Outdoor Waterpark, Grand Country Inn, Grand Country Buffet, Grand Country Market, Grand Country Indoor Mini-Golf, Papa Grands Pizza, Glenn's Frozen Custard, World's Largest Banjo and the Grand Country Music Hall featuring the Grand Jubilee, Comedy Jamboree, Buck Trent Morning Show, Amazing Pets, Sunday Gospel Jubilee, Ozark Mountain Jubilee and Branson Country USA. For more information call 417-334-3919 or visit GrandCountry.com.

Pat McGrath Avery attended the Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) Convention in Little Rock, AR last weekend. Amidst all the restored military vehicles, she found a treasure in veterans who willingly shared their stories.

In the Veterans Day parade last fall, several of the members jeeps carried special Veterans Week guests.

Pat interviewed several veterans and invited them to Branson for Veterans Week.

Watch for the Branson Veterans Task Force fall issue of the Bugle and Salute Newsletter (www.salutenewsletteronline.com) for stories about

1) a Korean War veteran who fought and was captured at the Chosin Reservoir, and
2) a WWII veteran who was shot down over Waterloo and for the next seven-and-a-half months was hidden by the European underground.

NBC's America's Got Talent can add another Branson entertainer to their list of acts that have passed through the first round of their competition. Gun-slingin', rope-twirlin', bull-whippin' cowboy Johnny Lonestar is on his way to Las Vegas for the next round.

Johnny Lonestar was born and raised in Smithtown, NY. He started trick-roping at the age of 15. At 17, he won the “Will Rogers Rookie of the Year” award. By age 20, he received his first professional job on the Las Vegas strip performing rope-twirling, gun-spinning and whip-cracking. Johnny took his act to Branson, and has been here for the past 13 years. Within that time he has also performed in Japan, Biloxi, Pigeon Forge, and Atlantic City. In 1999, Johnny received the “Novelty Act of the Year” award in Branson. He is now in his third year of the Clay Cooper’s Country Music Express show. In January 2000, Johnny married his wife Cat, and they had their first child Dominic, in June of 2005.

Tune in to NBC on Tuesday, July 10 and Wednesday, July 11 at 7pm for America’s Got Talent’s Las Vegas Call Back Round!

Clay Cooper's Country Music Express performs at the Clay Cooper Theatre at 8pm Tuesday through Sunday and 10am on Tuesdays and Fridays. For reservations and information call 417-332-CLAY (2529).

Representatives from the State of Missouri, Taney County and the City of Branson surprised four generations of the Presley family during a special 40th season celebration on Saturday, June 30, 2007 with a proclamation reading ceremony to honor Presleys' Country Jubilee for its outstanding contribution to Branson's live entertainment industry.

During intermission of Presleys' 40th anniversary performance, State Rep. Dennis Wood read a proclamation signed by Governor Matt Blunt and resolutions from the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives praising the Presleys for bringing live music and comedy to millions of Branson visitors over the past 40 years, and for their commitment to active community service. Branson Mayor ProTem Stan Barker read a proclamation naming June 30, 2007 Presley Family Day, and Taney County Commissioner Ron Herschend presented 82-year-old Lloyd Presley with a proclamation which designates the last Saturday of June each year as Country Music Day in honor of the Presleys.

"We are deeply honored and proud to be a member of this community," said Gary Presley, co-producer and one of the original founders of Presleys' Country Jubilee. "We are very fortunate to get to do what we love and for the generations of fans who have supported us over the years."

Ross Summers, president and CEO of the Branson Lakes/Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB, led the surprise presentations during the show Saturday night and thanked the Presleys for building the first theater on Branson's now famous Strip. Before the show, Ozark Mountain Bank representatives presented the Presleys with a gold and ruby encrusted, hand-carved wooden bass fiddle during an outdoor barbecue hosted by the Presley family.

National ABC news legend Paul Harvey recognized the Presleys' 40th Anniversary during his Friday, June 29, 2007 radio news broadcast and has featured the family twice in previous "The Rest of the Story" broadcasts.

Presleys' remains one of the top-rated shows in Branson and continues to receive numerous awards and accolades from fans and the media each year. In 2006, Springfield News-Leader readers named Presleys' the "Best Music Show in Branson".

This year, guests are being treated to a season-long 40th birthday celebration packed with country favorites, today's country hits, southern gospel music and hilarious comedy. For more information and to reserve tickets, visit www.presleys.com or call (417) 334-4874.