'Branson Jubilee' hits local, national airwaves

“Branson Jubilee” began airing Aug. 1, and it eventually will reach nearly 80 percent of the nation, said Jerry Lowther, co-owner of Branson Entertainment. Lowther’s company co-produces the show with Bel Air Productions of Los Angeles and WLIW in New York.

“Branson Jubilee” first aired locally Aug. 13 and 14, during Ozarks Public Television KOZK’s annual August membership drive, according to Twyla Lozano, KOZK’s assistant manager for programming.

“We’re really excited to have the program available for our fund raising. These are the types of programs we look for,” Lozano said of locally produced shows.

The show, taped in and around Branson, promotes Branson as a tourist destination and features performances by Branson favorites Mickey Gilley, Jim Stafford, Tony Orlando, Glen Campbell and others. Jimmy Osmond hosts the two-hour special, Lowther said.

“This should be a big, big thing for Branson,” Lowther said.

Lowther said each station will run the two-hour special seven times plus new one-hour shows weekly beginning in October.

A two-hour special first aired in trial runs June 18–19 in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – “markets the chamber of commerce couldn’t afford to advertise in,” Lowther said.

Other performers involved with the show include Crystal Gale, Ray Stevens, Les Brown Jr., Jake Simpson and Debra Moreno Lowther, Jerry Lowther’s wife. The show covers country to rock ‘n’ roll genres from the 1960s to the 1980s.

“We have a lot of Hollywood veterans helping us with this,” Lowther said, adding that there are 16 shows completed and 500 hours of film shot since production began a couple of years ago.

Producers have filmed at Jim Stafford’s and Bobby Vinton’s Branson theaters and at Juanita K. Hammons Hall in Springfield. Production costs have exceeded $1 million.

Lowther said the group is continually seeking deals in other markets.

KOZK’s Lozano said the local public broadcasting channel might run additional segments the show.

“It just depends on how well the viewers respond to it. We’d love to,” she said.

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