Veteran TV comedian Bob Nelson joins Comedy Barn cast

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (July 12, 2012) – Veteran stand-up comedian Bob Nelson, who has appeared on shows hosted by Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Regis Philbin and Merv Griffin, has a new performance home at the Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge.

Nelson performs at 5 and 8 p.m. nightly except Mondays.

Nelson opened for Rodney Dangerfield for eight years and was featured in two of Dangerfield’s HBO showcases. He is also known for appearances on the “Bananas” comedy television show.

“He is one of the best comedians performing today, has great fans and is a very funny guy,” said David Fee, president and co-owner of the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group.

Nelson was a theater major and did summer stock at Nassau Community College on Long Island, N.Y.

“I was always the class clown,” Nelson said. “I was always trying to make people laugh in different ways, and I did very physical Jerry Lewis-type of stuff. It was always in me – a gift from God.

“Right out of high school I was working as an amateur clown with circus acts doing juggling, trapeze and trampoline,” Nelson said. “I almost joined the circus but found I could make more money as an amateur clown.”

Red Skelton was Nelson’s mentor.

“I wanted to be a family comic and not do dirty material, and Red encouraged me at a time when the whole industry was tilted against conservatives. He told me, ‘You are a clown like me.’ He praised me for not cursing.”

Army Family Deploys to Pigeon Forge Before Afghanistan

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (July 2012) – An Army family facing a sixth deployment to a war zone got some special time together in Pigeon Forge, and their experience was captured as a half-hour show for the Great American Country (GAC) cable TV network.

“Operation Pigeon Forge: A Family Story” focuses on Staff Sgt. Gerald Britt, his wife Shasta and their children Gabe and Madison. It premiers July 12 at 9:30 p.m. Eastern and has 11 more airings later in the month.

Gerald has orders to Afghanistan this fall. He has been to Iraq three times, as well as to Kosovo and Bosnia. Shasta, a veteran herself, is a civilian employee of the Family Readiness Group at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, assisting other military families with members overseas.

“Before this soldier deploys to Afghanistan, GAC deploys his family to Pigeon Forge,” said show host Nan Kelley, explaining the concept of the program.

The Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism partnered with GAC, which is available in 62 million households and online at GACTV.com, to salute the Britts.

GAC cameras tagged along with the Britts at Pigeon Forge attractions such as Dollywood, the Titanic Museum Attraction, Dixie Stampede, The Track and the Country Tonite show. The Lumberjack Feud dinner show plucked Gerald from the audience for an ax-throwing challenge. His marksmanship was solid.

The Britts’ vacation coincided with the annual Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade, and Pigeon Forge surprised them by building a float for them to ride on and receive the applause of thousands lining the parade route.

An even bigger surprise came when Dolly Parton greeted them before the parade and offered her personal thanks for their service.

“Families are hugely important to Pigeon Forge, and we are pleased that Pigeon Forge is hugely important to many families. We make memories that strengthen family bonds,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

Information about all aspects of Pigeon Forge is available online at MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free 1-800-251-9100.

 

Join a Ranger for Hikes in the Smokies

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (July 2012) – The National Park Service is offering ranger-led, family-friendly hikes every Wednesday through Aug. 11.

The hikes encourage families to hike the park’s trails (there are 800 miles of trails in all), learn new skills, assist in trail stewardship and record their results.

The Little River Family Adventure Hike starts in the Elkmont area of the park. It covers five miles and takes about three hours. It is ranked “moderate” in difficulty and is on an unpaved gravel and dirt trail.

Participants should wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots and bring plenty of water and a lunch. For more information, visit the “Hike the Smokies” website: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/hike-the-smokies.htm

In addition to the weekly Wednesday hikes at Elkmont, there is a July 12 family hike at Schoolhouse Gap and a July 19 hike to Porters Flat.

The hikes are a part of a National Park Foundation grant funded through the Coca-Cola Foundation that expands the current “Hike the Smokies” and “Adopt a Trail” programs.