#1 Hits of the 60s

Kurt L Moore

“#1 Hits of the 60s,” is playing in what was once the Magical Palace near the old Mel Tillis Theater that is now the Tri-Lakes Center. Confused? It is actually pretty simple. The sign in front of the Magical Palace has been revamped to change Magical to Musical, (only two letters needed to be changed), and the 60s logo has been added, so when you drive by it, you know without a doubt what show is performing there.

The move to the newly revamped Musical Palace from the Welk Theater has been a good one for the show. At the Welk Theater the cast was seemingly lost on such a large stage. Their new stage is smaller; they are not getting “lost” on it. The lighting, sound and overall appearance of the show have improved considerably and the production is much tighter. The only problem that I can see with the move is that the theater they chose to move to is not in the mainstream traffic pattern. I, having said that, also know that their marketing staff is doing a great job in attracting Mr. and Mrs. ‘Show Goer’ off Branson’s beaten path.

Senator John F. Kennedy started off the 60s by saying, “Good evening, Mr. Shadel.” Kennedy was talking to Bill Shadel, moderator for ABC at the first Presidential Debate between himself and Richard Nixon. That started off one of the most tumultuous decades in our short history. When thinking back on the 60s, one wonders how any of us survived it. We had fun trying.

As the decade of the 60s progressed, assassinations ran rampant, demonstrations were rife on college campuses and Vietnam was a word that everyone added to their language, didn’t know exactly where it was, but knew we were far from it, therefore safe.

Hair was in. Men started wearing their hair long and women wore even longer hair, piling it up on their heads into what was known as the “bouffant,” or beehive look. Clothing changed to psychedelic, ethnic fashions took hold and skirts changed from mini, getting longer, almost in proportion with the ever-increasing length of hair, until maxi-skirts were the rule. The clean-cut IBM look was out and the painted body, “hey man, what’s happening” “hippie” look came into vogue.

Nothing was sacred, nothing was held back, everything was free and despite all the tremendous upheavals and changes during the 60s, it was a fun decade.

“#1 Hits of the 60s,” takes an already fun decade and tells us about it in song and dance complete with period costuming and, of course, the famous 60s hairdos.

The cast is a lively bunch of four guys and four gals who do it all. You will experience everything from the jukebox soda shop to the drive-in theater, complete with an assortment of jazzed up cars. The cast is stellar and the music is right on the money. However, I have not understood why there was no reference to Elvis at any time during the show. Everyone who had an influence on music in the 60s is brought to light, except Presley. Elvis probably had the most influence on music in that decade, the decade before it and the one after it, yet he is never mentioned once. The Beatles, who also had a tremendous influence on the music of the 60s, are given more than their fair share of time in the show.

The show did something a bit different the night I attended and it was a lot of fun. They threw a parking lot dance complete with a hot dog cook-out. So after the show one could stick around the parking lot, dance to the music of the Beach Boys and bite a hot dog or two. I feel they should do the dance thing at least once per week, probably on a Saturday night. What a special event that would be for Branson; I know I would drive a few miles to attend it.

Well, the 60s was a decade full of surprises. It was a time of upheaval, tragedy, good times, bad times but most of all, a time of growth and fun times. It was a time of change for our country and us. It was a great decade laced with joy, sadness, sorrow, anger, disillusionment, and discovery.

In the middle of 1969, as the decade was gasping it’s last breaths, a scratchy radio signal from far, far away said, “Houston, Tranquility Base here, The Eagle has landed. ” I feel when a young man by the name of Neil Armstrong said, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” he pretty well summed up the 60s.

Branson Critic™

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