Roy Rogers' son signs 'King of Cowboys' movie deal

After seeking the right opportunity for 18 years, Roy Rogers Jr., the son of iconic cowboy star Roy Rogers, has partnered with 821 Entertainment Group CEO Eric Geadelmann to produce a "King of the Cowboys" film trilogy, plus animated TV, interactive games and merchandise.

Between 1943 and 1954, Rogers was in 88 films, produced and starred in 100 episodes of his TV show, and appeared on more than 400 licensed items.

The movies will be adventures ala Indiana Jones, said Roy Rogers' grandson, Dustin Rogers. Dustin and his father, Roy Jr., perform at their Happy Trails Theatre inside the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum. The extensive collection of Rogers memorabilia was moved to Branson from Victorville, Calif., in 2003.

They also will release his digitally remastered movies on DVD to introduce today's kids to the family values of the Roy Rogers sagas, Dustin Rogers said.

Rogers said Geadelmann's Nashville-based company will do it right. "Hollywood wanted nothing to do with this," Rogers said. "There's no sex, drugs or violence."

Pioneers turn 75

Famous Western music performers Sons of the Pioneers are marking their 75th anniversary with another season at the Pavilion Theatre at Shepherd of the Hills Homestead, 5586 W. Highway 76.

The group - which, of course, has changed members during the years - has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, appearances in 98 movies and has been named as "National Treasures" by the Smithsonian Institution. Two of their favorite songs, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and "Cool Water," are in the U.S. National Archives.

This year's cast includes Luther Nallie, who has been with the six-member group for 40 years; Gary LeMaster, who began singing with the Pioneers 24 years ago; and more recent additions Ken Lattimore, Randy Rudd, Mark Abbott and Rick Boen, winner of Texas state and world fiddle championships. The group performs during an 1800s chuck-wagon dinner show at Shepherd of the Hills through October, according to www.theshepherdofthehills.com.

Operation Gratitude from Branson

Nita Tate, co-owner of "#1 Hits of the 60s" at the Caravelle Theatre, 3446 W. Highway 76, has invited other show owners to send gifts to troops in hostile areas. It's a double-duty plan.

"I just think it's a great opportunity to entertain them," she said. "We honor our veterans from the heart, not just for show."

And when those troops come home, maybe they'll have a good feeling about Branson and vacation here, she added.

She's asking theater owners to donate CDs and DVDs of their shows and send them to Operation Gratitude, a California nonprofit that has sent more than 375,000 care packages to troops. Operation Gratitude was founded in 2003 by a 46-year-old mom who volunteered at a military lounge in the Los Angeles airport. She wanted to be sure no soldiers were forgotten. For more information, call Tate at (866) 339-1960.

Rittenhouse center opens to children

The ribbon was cut June 30 on a new learning center in Taney County designed to help children whose parents are dealing with drug and alcohol addictions.

The Frances Rittenhouse Learning Center for Children, 212 State Highway T, near the junction of Missouri 76 east of Branson, offers daycare and preschool for children 6 weeks of age and older as well as a summer tutoring program for those up to 18 years old.

Rittenhouse, who has worked for Church Army Branson for three years, is a longtime child development educator and co-founder of the Parents-As-Teachers program who directed those programs for 12 school districts.

The services are especially important in Taney County, which ranks near the bottom of child welfare statistics in the annual Missouri Kids Count survey, said Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley. Presley attended the ribbon cutting conducted by representatives from the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

"We can never thank (Rittenhouse) enough for the difference she will make in every child, and we will become a community transformed," Presley said.

The learning center is state-licensed for eight infants and toddlers, eight 2-year-olds and 43 children ages 3 and up. It provides meals for anyone 18 or younger, and the staff offers free life-skills classes for parents.

The learning center receives support from the Missouri Children's Trust Fund for child abuse prevention. "Strong and stable families are a community's best asset," said Trust Fund Program Coordinator Laura Malzner, who attended the ceremony.

For more information, visit www.frlccbranson.weebly.com.

Shoji in running for Best Restroom

The spectacular restrooms at the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre are among the Top 10 national finalists for the eighth annual America's Best Restroom award, for which online voting ends July 31 at www.bestrestrooms.com.

The awards are sponsored by Cintas Corp., a provider of restroom products and services for more than 700,000 businesses. In a Cintas survey, 75 percent of respondents said they would not return to a business if the restrooms were not well kept. That's why the company is honoring businesses which go "above and beyond" to present a pleasant - even memorable - experience in their restrooms.

The Shoji Tabuchi Theatre faces competitors Radio City Music Hall and Macy's department store.

The restrooms owned by the legendary Branson entertainer have drawn rave reviews since he built the theater in 1990 at 3260 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, and they were recently featured on the Travel Channel's "Extreme" show as one of the eight most extraordinary public restrooms in the world.

"Shoji's came up as kind of a 'must,'" said Travel Channel Executive Producer Daniel A. Schwartz. "What you can feel even looking at them is the dedication that must have been behind it. It stood out as something extraordinary."

A crew of four from the Travel Channel filmed the bathrooms in January.

Tabuchi and his wife, Dorothy, said the restrooms are gifts to their fans.

The Ladies Powder Room features 1890s Empire Period wainscoting and ceilings. There are fresh orchids every day on the onyx sinks and stained glass and crystal chandeliers.

The Gentlemen's Lounge includes a hand-carved mahogany billiard table, leather chairs and black lion-head sinks from Italy.

Shoji, Dorothy and their daughter, Christina, perform select morning, matinee and evening shows through Dec. 13, according to www.shoji.com.[[In-content Ad]]Kathryn Buckstaff is membership public relations manager of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. She takes a semimonthly look at news briefs of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce members.