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Entertainnflll
> mm by ALANNA
Vintage.™"
Kockers
Find a Home
Where have the singing stars
of the 1950 s and ’6os gone? Many are
headliners at Dick Clarks American
Bandstand Entertainment Complex, the
newest entertainment venue in Branson,
Mo. (pop. 6,050).
Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Fabian, Bobby
Vee, The Chiffons, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Bill
Haley s Comets, Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers
and others have made the complex, which opened in
April, their new year-round musical home.
“It's an entire experience of the early days of rock
n roll,' says Chris Lucchi, the theater’s managing
partner. With almost nonstop music from stars
stretching across two decades, the venue offers
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three different daily shows (with the exception of
Wednesday afternoons and Sunday mornings), two
of which feature the original stars who performed on
Clark s famed American Bandstand TV show in the
1950 s and 60s.
1 think were the only place in America that
offers that experience," Lucchi says.
Comprised of a 970-seat theater, a collection of
classic 1957 automobiles and a 'sos-style diner—all
housed in an 85,000-square-foot building—the five
acre complex is the first permanent showcase of rock
acts in Branson, which is most widely known as a
mecca for country music.
At 10 a.m., visitors can enjoy "Cruisin' '57,” a
show blending elements of the movies American
Graffiti and Grease. The 2 p.m. show features either
Gary Lewis & The Playboys ("This Diamond Ring,"
"Save Your Heart for Me") or Bill Haley’s band, the
Comets (“Rock Around the Clock," "See You Later,
Alligator").
And at 8 p.m., the stars really come out. One
week each month, Fabian ("Tiger,” “Hound Dog
Man ) hosts a show featuring his friends Bobby Vee
(“Rubber Ball," “Run to Him”), The Chiffons
I d been looking at Branson for about 10
years and, when the Dick Clark opportunity came
up, that made rock n roll sense to me," says Medlev,
("He’s So Fine"), Brian Hyland (“Sealed with a
Kiss ') and Chris Montez (“Let’s Dance").
\ "Believe it or not, women still scream
\ at our shows,” says Fabian, 63. “It’s such a
j compliment.”
Fabian's show alternates with
j appearances by Bill Medley of The
' Righteous Brothers (“You’ve Lost That
Lovin Feelin”) and Paul Revere & The
Raiders ("Kicks”).
65, citing the graying of baby boomers and a younger
demographic trekking to Branson. It’s a family affair
for Medley, too, since his son, Darrin, 41, sings lead
in Paul Reveres band. Medley’s singing partner,
Bobby Hatfield, died in 2003, but Medley re-creates
the Righteous Brothers distinctive duet sound by
singing along to Hatfield's tracks from a live album
recorded by the pair six months before his death.
I think we’ve been a good addition for Branson,"
says Bobby Vee, 63, who like his fellow performers,
signs autographs after each show. “We all grew up
together, so it really is a journey back to the old
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perform in Branson. Mn.
•American Profile