Longtime Area Comedian Highlights Next "Tuesday Talks"

The public is invited back to enjoy Tuesday Talks, the popular monthly series hosted by the Branson Centennial Museum and presented by area experts and aficionados of local history.

On July 20 at 12:30 p.m., Terry Wayne Sanders will provide his living history account “42 Years and Counting” as Branson’s premiere funny man, accomplished impersonator, and frequent front man for various venues and even the city as a whole. The free presentation will take place at the Branson Centennial Museum, 120 S. Commercial Street, in historic downtown Branson. 

“I have been called the ‘face of Branson’ because many people know my face but not my real name, explains Sanders, who appears as Homer Lee, Joan Rivers, Grandma Beulah, the Grinch and many more comic characters. “Attendees in July can expect an hour filled with love, laughter and life.” 

Terry Wayne Sanders is the busiest comedian in town, with seven different jobs in the entertainment industry this season. He’s clearly still going strong in his 42nd year as a comic headliner entertaining literally millions of people at Silver Dollar City with a wide range of characters appropriate for the 1880’s theme park. Sanders has received the Comedian of the Year Award 7-times, as well as the prestigious Pioneer Award at the annual Terry Awards in Branson, which are of no relation to the entertainer, despite the shared name. 

In addition to his regular performances at Silver Dollar City and in The Shepherd of the Hills outdoor drama, Sanders was the comedian at the Braschler Music Show for 17 years. His comedy antics there earned him a regular spot on television’s Hee Haw variety show.  Since then, he has worked for many shows in Branson including Pierce Arrow, The Grand Jubilee, Shoji Tabuchi and currently Classic Country’s Patsy Cline Show with CJ Newsom. He also appears frequently at Big Cedar Lodge, the Baker Creek Seed Company in Mansfield, Missouri and has played ‘Barney Fife’ for the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Lock-Up fundraiser for many years. 

Terry’s an avid people-watcher and uses his keen observations of day-to-day life to keep his material fresh and his audiences in stitches. It was Minnie Pearl who said it best, “Terry’s one of the best, and honey, I’ve seen a lot!” 

The Tuesday Talk series is presented free-of-charge by the Branson Centennial Museum and White River Valley Historical Society. Various topics of local and historical interest are presented by knowledgeable speakers on the third Tuesday of the month from 12:30 until 1:30 PM. The Museum is in historic Downtown Branson at 120 South Commercial Street, former home of Reisch Shoes & Boots. 

For more information on this presentations and future events at the Branson Centennial Museum, go to www.wrvhs.org or call 417-239-1912.

(Press Release from the White River Valley Historical Society)