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Riders of the Circle B, left to right, Louis Darby, |
It seems like a misnomer to call the Circle B Chuckwagon and Cowboy Music Show simply a show because it is so much more. It is a multimedia entertainment experience that entertains as it fills you up with good food, whoops, I’m sorry, the cowboy rules at the Circle B, grub, while it warms your heart with the Horn family’s warm humor, friendliness, musicality, and obvious love for each other and what they are doing.
And let there be no doubt about it, this is a family operation not only in terms of its content but in terms of the involvement of the Horn family. From ticket sales, to food preparations and the show’s cast the Horn family is involved in every aspect. As you walk into the theatre or purchase your ticket you might be greeted by the real “trail boss” of the Circle B, mom, Michele Horn. The “Chuckwagon” part of the Circle B Chuckwagon and Cowboy Music Show, the excellent and plentiful “cowboy chuck wagon” meal of BBQ beef, smoked sausage, baked potatoes, beans, and “cowboy salad” is prepared daily on premises by Bob Luthardt, a son in law, who also operates the sound, light, and multimedia systems during the show.
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| Katie Horn Lawson, lead vocals, comedy, rythym guitar, and mandolin. |
The “Show” part of the Circle B Chuckwagon and Cowboy Music Show is presented by the “Riders of the Circle B” consisting of five performers of which four are Horn family members. The groups “ramrod” is, dad, Kemp Horn, who sings, plays harmonica, and occasionally plays bass, son Michael Horn who sings, plays guitar and bass while daughter Katie Horn Lawson sings lead vocals, plays rhythm guitar and the mandolin and daughter Christiana Horn sings and plays the fretless acoustic bass. The fifth member of the cast will either be two-time Louisiana State Fiddle Champion Louis Darby or long time Branson native and cowboy singer and musician, John Fullerton. Throughout the show other cast members, all of which are Horn family members, add their unique talents to the show. Megan’s fiddle rendition of the traditional Irish jig, the “Irish Washer Woman” is but another example of the musical talents that bless this family.
The show is a blend of special familial humor that will touch your heart and cowboy music that will bring back memories, remind us of a by gone age, and is pleasing to the ear. A person actually gets to hear each word of each song because someone has taken the effort to design arrangements and make sure that the instruments complement the tight harmonies of their singing rather than drown them out. In a program filled with entertaining music there were two numbers that really hit a chord. One was the family’s rendition of the song “A Little Baby Was Born,” written by Michael Horn. The song itself has beautiful music and lyrics and the way it was sung provided one of the show highlights for me. The other was Katie Horn’s unique rendition of the long time American favorite “Shenandoah.”
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| Michael and Kemp Horn |
Originally Published In the Branson Courier on Nov.15, 2006.
Adding a special dimension to the show is sibling, “Smothers Brothers” style, comedy of Katie and her brother Michael. Katie describes it as “An honest comedy that is very organic and spur of the moment.” The Ole Seagull would describe it as entertaining and funny, really funny. And besides where else can one learn the similarities between John the Baptist and Winnie the Pooh?
The whole wonderful experience that is the Circle B Chuckwagon and Cowboy Music Show takes about two and one half hours, from about 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. That would include the free popcorn, a vintage Roy Rogers movie, the meal, and the Riders of the Circle B Cowboy Music Show. The point is that by 7 p.m. you have been fed, have seen a great show, and are free to take advantage of whatever else Branson has to offer for the rest of the evening, another show, an attraction, shopping, or maybe, just relaxing. The Circle B Chuckwagon and Cowboy Music Show is located at 200 Jess Jo Parkway in Branson, MO 65616, right off Highway 76 behind the Branson Variety Theatre, and can be reached by phone at (417) 336-1828 or (800) 678-6179.
When Kemp Horn was asked, “What one thing would you like people to take from their experience at the Circle B?” he replied, “A sense of our family’s love for each other, the Lord, and our country.” From an Ole Seagull’s perspective it would be just about impossible for someone who experienced the Circle B to not only to sense that love but have it warm their heart and enrich their lives.
Some things just feel comfortable and that’s the way the Ole Seagull felt when he first walked into the Horn family’s Circle B Chuckwagon and Cowboy Music Show. He’s been back twice since and that feeling has not changed. More importantly, he has had, and witnessed many others having, a wonderful time and, at the end of the day, isn’t that what entertainment is all about?
