Long Branch Variety Show, Western theatre show at Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, US.
The Long Branch Variety Show is a theatre performance at Boot Hill Museum featuring comedy, music, and dance routines with performers dressed in 1800s frontier clothing. The program spans from short comic sketches to full musical numbers presented in a replica saloon building.
The building replicates the original Long Branch Saloon from 1885 and houses an authentic bar from 1881 along with two Golden Eagles that once belonged to Chalkley Beeson. The show began in 1958 as a temporary event for Independence Day and grew into one of the longest-running seasonal theatre productions in the country.
The performers draw from local and professional talent to showcase frontier songs, dance, and theatrical acts that reflect how people lived during the pioneering era. This blend of entertainment styles connects visitors directly to the stories of westward expansion and settlement.
The show runs during summer months with multiple daily performances, and advance reservations are important due to limited seating at the Boot Hill Museum. Arriving early helps you get comfortable with the setting and find a good viewing spot.
What started as a temporary event for Independence Day in 1958 turned into a tradition that has lasted for decades. It remains one of the few seasonal theatre productions that has continued uninterrupted for such a long stretch.
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