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Branson
• Profiles |
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| • Branson History • Branson Profiles • Branson News ____ Profiles Index • Pure Heart • The Horse Creek Band (an interview) • Going the Distance: Wayne Horsburgh • Cajun Passion: Cedric Benoit • A Deputy with Heart: Terry Wayne Sanders • Branson's Santa Claus: Greg Winters • A Jim-Dandy of a Gentleman: Jamie Haage |
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Terry Wayne Sanders. Comic actor. Ozarks native. Branson "old-timer" and tireless Branson promoter. You may very well have bumped into him and not realized it. He works day and night, playing enough characters to make even Mel Blanc's head spin.
"I was raised on Bugs Bunny," relates Sanders. "And everybody thought he was just a dumb old rabbit. Well, he outwitted everybody. He dressed up as a man or woman or whatever. And that's why I do what I do: I play characters who appear to be not so smart when in fact, they are rather wiley. Whatever it takes to get the result, which is laughter. That's what I live for."
Sanders is readily seen throughout Silver Dollar City (often as Deputy Birdy Tweedle). And though he began working at the City in 1980, his connection goes back just a little earlier than that.
"I was six years old in 1965 when my Grandpa Lee brought us. I saw people at Silver Dollar City that were like my own relatives. They were hillbillies, having fun, being goofy. My Grandpa Lee brought us down here and I told him that day, 'Grandpa, I'm gonna work here someday.'
"A lot of people think hillbillies are stupid people and they're not! They are very clever people who just outsmart the yayhoos and I love that!"
Clever indeed. Terry, with a degree in theater from Missouri State University in Springfield, has created at least 15 completely different characters which he toggles through faster than most people change clothes.
Homer Lee, the maintenance man. Grandma Beulah, Barney Fife, Fred Smoot of Waterloo, Shoji Tabuchi, Joan Rivers. The list just keeps going.
As a comic actor — not necessarily a comedian — Terry's job isn't to stand at a microphone and tell jokes. Rather, he quickly immerses himself in unique characters, finding laughter within the situation and the moment.
Deeply perceptive, Sanders seems to have a knack for locating folks who need to laugh — and then making sure they do.
His hard work has paid off.
One of the most recognizeable people in Branson — pick a personality! — Sanders has been voted Branson Comedian of the Year three years in a row.
(continued above right)
"Yeah, that does look good on the resumé," he says. "It's very exciting, plus I've saved thousands of dollars in therapist bills as I'm just able to vent it all and get it out of my system," Sanders adds, tongue in cheek.
Comedy aside, Terry Sanders is an astute promoter and caretaker of the Branson legacy.
"I hope we can maintain the Ozarks' beauty. I see a lot of trees being torn down so we can build parking lots and strip malls. It's good for business. Good for tax dollars, but in my book, maybe we should have a moratorium on certain growth.
"I started here in 1980 when there were five major shows. In 1983, there were seven. And the seventh show was the Wilkinson Brothers. When they came into town, the Branson fathers said, 'Well, that's great. We wish you luck. But we already have six shows in town and we're just about showed-out.' And of course, now we have about 119 shows!
"If we just maintain our excellence, our standard of living and quality of life, I think Branson will continue to be an amazing place. It will still be clean and still be safe."
If Deputy Birdy is any indication, the Branson region is clearly in good hands.
October 22, 2007