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Elvis is out of the building, but not downtown Branson
by Gary Groman aka The Ole Seagullpublished: Mar 29, 2009
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| Downtown Branson's "Hot Hits Theatre." |
Elvis is still alive and well in historic downtown Branson just at a different theatre. For the last 13 years the show “Elvis and the Superstars,” staring Dave “Elvis” Ehlert has been playing at the historic Owen Theatre located at 205 South Commercial Street in downtown Branson.
Recently “Elvis and the Superstars,” have moved directly across the street from the “Owens Theatre” to the “Hot Hits Theatre” at 206 South Commercial Street along with two other shows that were formally playing at the Owens Theatre, “Breakfast with Mark Twin,” and “Hank & Patsy Together Again.”
The Owens Theatre was originally built in 1936, by Jim Owens as a movie theatre and called the “Hillbilly Theatre.” It is acknowledged to be Branson’s “original theatre,” as opposed to Branson’s first show, “The Baldknobbers Jamboree,” which didn’t take place until 23 years later, or Branson’s first show on the strip, “Presleys’ Country Jubilee.
A physical inspection of the Owens Theatre indicates it is currently vacant. Signs in the windows advertise the theatre “For Lease” and “For Sale.”
Information received from the website of one of Branson’s leading sources of information and assistance for Branson visitors, the Branson Tourism Center, indicates that the only major thing changing about the three shows will be their location. The “Elvis and the Superstars” show features Ehlert and his remarkable Elvis tribute and his impersonations of 12 other super stars including Willie Nelson and Neil Diamond. The “Hank & Patsy Together Again” show is a musical tribute to Hank Williams Sr. and Patsy Cline, staring Ehlert and Branson’s own “Patsy” as they pay tribute to the music of country music’s first superstar and “America’s Sweetheart.”
“Breakfast with Mark Twain and Norman Rockwell” is a one person “Hal Holbrook” style show staring Branson's very own Mark Twain, Dave Ehlert. The show features the humor and wit of Mark Twin and a nostalgic and dramatic look at the artwork of Normal Rockwell that reminds the audience of a time gone by and the way things used to be. At 9:00 a.m. “Mark Twin” walks all the shows attendees down to the café for a “free” breakfast, including two eggs, bacon, toast and coffee before the show starts at 9:45 a.m.
