In full disclosure, we go to Branson at least twice a year. But we go to the lake. The strip looks pitiful. I think folks have moved past the hokey Ozarks hillbilly schtick. I hope anyway…
I agree with Vegas minus the casinos, but it doesn’t encompass the Christian focused “Disney” of Herschend owned Silver Dollar City. I will never argue that it doesn’t support the heritage crafts, but….
Used to attract a lot of older performers that had their own shows and theaters. Bus loads of retirees would go and do 3 or 4 shows a day. Some notable names at times. Most of the big theaters from their heyday are shuttered or are churches. Still not a bad place to take the kids to ride go karts
I guess they'll want a traveling company of the Passion play in Eureka Springs to hit Kennedy Center just in time for Easter. Might be a problem moving Big Jesus from the mountains, though!!
What about people in Branson who live in extended-stay motels because the pay is so poor? Is that something the Kennedy Center is supposed to emulate too?
A few years back I had a meeting with someone from the city of Branson, we drove through parking lots to get across town in a reasonable amount of time. During summer the streets are effectively just a parking lot.
Branson is 30 min from me. I remember it in the 70s, going to arcades and to the go-carts. Mom was not a country music fan, so we never saw a show (other than Shepard Of The Hills). Was a better time on the strip.
Are they going to pay to un-condemn them? From the Branson theater heyday, I'd say about 10% are being used as theaters, 20% being used as churches, and the rest are abandoned or torn down.
Tablerock Lake is glorious, especially the view from Top of the Rock on the road down to Big Cedar Lodge. We have an ownership at the Wilderness Club there, which we enjoy. Only go into Branson to get lunch at BillyBob's Dairyland - old-fashioned hamburgers and yummy malts & shakes! Deee-licious!!
I've only been to Branson as a child'13' to go to Silver Dollar City. When I went back as an adult for MT. Bike races in the area I was shocked at what it had become. The Wholesome feeling was totally gone from my perspective and traffic is just a nightmare trying to get something to eat. 10+yrs ago
@piperformissouri.bsky.social I think the point of the article is that Trump wants to turn Kennedy Center into Branson 2.0 with the same type of artists he’s relied on, or listened to, that are way past their prime and should be put out to pasture, but live on in Branson.
The next thing you know, they'll start plastering billboards all over the US with those gross yellow and red ads featuring some stereotypical hillbilly (like JD Vance).
Cowboy hats, guitars and good ol' country music with lyrics to tell you "yer not livin' right because you don't have my brand of Jesus. Mine has 3 teeth left." Branson is only good for Silver Dollar City (barely) and outlet malls.
Side note: I have a shirt that I got from Branson maybe 35 years ago when I was a small kid that says “just duckin’ around” and now each of my kids have worn it 😂😂 parenting in the late 80s/early 90s was wild! So, if the Kennedy Center wanted to sell cool, long lasting shirts like Branson… 🤣🤣
I think Trump’s goal for KC is to use it to suck up to the money by honoring them and then demanding that the money’s favorite artists and performers debase themselves for the money’s entertainment.
Of course they do. They want to live in the 70's. Remember all the variety shows... It was truly a strange time. Some people probably really like that. But I'm good not having to re-live that. Once was enough.
I was last in Branson when I arranged my parents' 50th anniversary there in 1996. By that time, it had grown ridiculously too big for the area. The traffic was horrible.
We stayed in West Branson. 😄
@actorsequity.bsky.social
You better call a boycott or strike or something because no union actor, no artist worth the name should have anything to do with the Trumped Up Kennedy Center.
They are going to have a “Hamilton-esque” style musical called “Benedict Arnold”! A musical romp thru the revolution as Arnold & Andre kill rebel scum while collecting the bounties from the crown! Kid rock as Benedict & Ted Nugent as Andre! With guest
They predate ISIS by centuries and have a much higher body count.
With gentleness, if we're going to compare them to extremists, let's compare them to other groups like them, i.e., the KKK. Bringing up Muslim groups plays into the "Muslims are scary" stereotype, which hurts Muslims.
They are already members of the KKK. The KKK is and has historically been a conservative Christian movement. And I mean no disrespect, but I don't defend Muslims either. Religion, as a whole, is responsible for a long history of death and destruction and should be spoken ill of.
That's my point. The KKK is *far* more like them than ISIS. Yes, some of them are actually in the KKK.
I didn't ask you to defend Islam. I'm talking about not feeding into racism. Islamophobia is racism. Comparing christofascists to ISIS, Al Qaeda, etc., adds to the demonization of Asian people.
I'm sorry but do you think that the followers of Islam have no innocent blood on their hands? Being an atheist and pointing out the flaws in a religion is neither racist nor Islamophobic. Christofascists and Muslim extremists have more in common than they don't. It's all about conformity.
Did I say anything about you critiquing any religion?
I'm saying don't feed racism. It doesn't hurt the christofascists as much as it hurts BIPOC. In fact, using the "brown people scary" stereotype feeds the same racist narrative that christofascists created and use to kill people.
Arab people are disappeared by ICE. People in Palestine and other Muslim nations are slaughtered with US tax dollars. We need to not perpetuate harmful stereotypes that literally lead to oppression, kidnapping, bombing, torture, murder...
So shit talking Christians is fine but shit talking Islam is bad? Yall are 2 heads of the same coin. I have said no stereotype. I have compared 2 groups of evil people who leave suffering and destruction in their wake in the name of the supposedly same God. That is what is driving this whole thing.
Trashing the entertainment choices of rural Americans only reinforces the notion that the left is all about coastal elites. In other words, you are doing Trump's work for him with your artistic prejudices.
Yes, he is going to do that. I just hope that he renames it after himself as soon as possible, to underline the fact that it is no longer a national treasure… just a weak self-promotion to sooth his narcissism.
Of course! Trumpelthinskin and his crew have no class, no culture. They have no idea. DonOld himself said he really didn't like Hamilton, though I doubt he's seen it. He just wants a stage to promote his guys - Kid Rock, Nugent, Lee Greenwood, Jason Aldean, etc. Ugh!
Funny you mentioned that. While we were there and discussing the dying theaters my mom and I talked about how it would be a great idea to have some a back gospel act come in and establish a theater. But with all the Trump stores in the area we knew that would never happen.
Correct the Trump stores would scare away anyone thinking about starting a theatre that isn’t in that club.
And everyone in that club that wants to do that pretty much already has. I mean there’s Kid Rock but there’s a reason he built a place in Nashville. As much as he’s MAGA that’s his style.
And I think the Trump store owners know that. They WANT to keep Branson the same. They don’t want a new crowd. Even as the performers keep dying, causing their theatres to die. They’re fine with them sitting empty falling apart.
Can ANYONE, literally anybody, explain what ‘Anti-Woke’ Entertainment is?
Seems to me it means:
No Black people.
No Gay people.
Constant references to God & Jesus, but nothing that follows the actual ‘teachings’ of Jesus as he is ‘written about’ in the Bible.
So ‘Anti-Woke’ just means Bigotry. 🤷♂️🙄
Last visit to the Kennedy Center free daily concert we heard an African musical group sponsored by the State Department for a cultural exchange. Absolutely lovely, talented, fun, educational, unique, interesting, and a special memory.
Would hate to lose those concerts. The world comes to Washington
Comments
The annoying thing, is SOME of the old stuff they adore WAS DEFINITELY 'woke' back in its day.
https://bsky.app/profile/shelleybwoke.bsky.social/post/3lkl4ei7cjk2v
We can fumigate afterwards, it's been done.
ex. La Scala is still cool, even if Mussolini.
You go to the Kennedy center because it isn’t Branson
People in DC are going to expect actual talent and not some Christian Themed White Nationalism nobodies to perform.
On April 1, Randy Quaid, known for playing dimwitted, paranoid, and mentally ill characters . . . he was not acting,
See post on Quaid
https://drchrislamb.com/only-the-best-people-randy-quaid/
We stayed in West Branson. 😄
Woke definitions:
- Awake
- Alertness to racial prejudice and discrimination
What the hell is “anti-woke entertainment”?
You better call a boycott or strike or something because no union actor, no artist worth the name should have anything to do with the Trumped Up Kennedy Center.
The Tony Orlando Experience featuring Kid Rock"
the Kevin Sorbo Shakespeare Festival is still in development.
twang twang
Twang
What does that even fucking mean?
Also they needed a venue for Monday Night Rehabilitation.
With gentleness, if we're going to compare them to extremists, let's compare them to other groups like them, i.e., the KKK. Bringing up Muslim groups plays into the "Muslims are scary" stereotype, which hurts Muslims.
I didn't ask you to defend Islam. I'm talking about not feeding into racism. Islamophobia is racism. Comparing christofascists to ISIS, Al Qaeda, etc., adds to the demonization of Asian people.
Did I say anything about you critiquing any religion?
I'm saying don't feed racism. It doesn't hurt the christofascists as much as it hurts BIPOC. In fact, using the "brown people scary" stereotype feeds the same racist narrative that christofascists created and use to kill people.
How you feel about religion is a different topic.
If the answer doesn't involve a @#$% ton of garish billboards, ask to see identification.
OXY MORON‼️💯📢📢📢
It's now just another building
What made it the KENNEDY CENTER is now memories and lives happily in the hearts of those who shared in it's Spirit.
The Thieves will NEVER experience the glory.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
@americansunited.bsky.social
Freedom From Religion Foundation
@ffrfaction.bsky.social
American Civil Liberties Union
@aclu.org
Please consider joining and/or donating.
Except after sea, of course.
The only question is how can they sell all seats for the most money?
We'll have to redo the statue. Abe needs to stand up and drop a hankie to start the race.
I'll get by best mechatronic guys on that.
... hell sh*tgibbon is in charge?
Okay, kind in a rubber suit it is!
There's a new Branson trying to be born - but the old crowd is not particularly fond of the new side of it.
Fighting over what Branson should be is probably what will actually kill it.
And everyone in that club that wants to do that pretty much already has. I mean there’s Kid Rock but there’s a reason he built a place in Nashville. As much as he’s MAGA that’s his style.
Kennedy Files Center for the Performing Art Bell?
RFK Center for the Performing Warts?
Seems to me it means:
No Black people.
No Gay people.
Constant references to God & Jesus, but nothing that follows the actual ‘teachings’ of Jesus as he is ‘written about’ in the Bible.
So ‘Anti-Woke’ just means Bigotry. 🤷♂️🙄
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bt4Ly9_9Qg&pp=ygUTYnJhbnNvbiBtbyBzaW1wc29ucw%3D%3D
Would hate to lose those concerts. The world comes to Washington
Better than letting it turn into a MAGA polka hall