April 1-7, Titanic will host its first ever Author’s week, celebrating ten authors who are noted for their writings on the Titanic. “Come meet these authors, purchase their books, and receive special discounts.”

Don’t miss these great events!

This blog is sponsored by ERA In The Smokies Realty and Rentals located at 207 Parkway in Gatlinburg. For more info. on a Gatlinburg Cabin for your Smoky Mountain Vacation or all the reasons to move to the Smokies, call 1-800-309-0277. ERA In The Smokies is a leader in chalet and Log Cabin Rentals and Real Estate Sales in the Gatlinburg area.

February is Sweetheart month at the Titanic Museum Attraction. Renew your wedding vows on the Grand Staircase! The entire month of February 2013

Romance and adventure were in the air when Titanic set sail on April 10, 1912. Twelve couples traveling on Titanic were on their honeymoon , nine in first class. There were also young, brides-to-be sailing to America to start a new life there. Rose DeWitt Bukater, the fictional, co-star in the Academy Award winning TITANIC was among this group.

Experience the power of love during Titanic’s Sweetheart Month this February 2013. Join us as we pay tribute to romance and the lasting love of devoted couples everywhere. Our Vow Renewals are held in elegant style on Titanic’s Grand Staircase; every ceremony is presided over by the ship’s captain.

Reservations are required. Our appointment book fills rapidly for this extremely popular event. To keep the romance alive and steer clear of icebergs, we recommend immediate reservations! 800-381-7670.

Don’t forget to take pictures!

Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson has an incredible collection of artifacts to explore.

You want to take a trip to Branson, but it’s the middle of winter and most live performers are on their annual break. So, there’s nothing to do there, right?

Wrong.

Branson offers plenty of things to do year-round, even during the winter months when the majority of live shows are on hiatus. What can you do? Well, you could …

Visit Titanic Museum Attraction: I was very excited about visiting Titanic, a Missouri bucket-list item for me. Loaded with artifacts, documents and serving as a great repository for history, Titanic Museum Attraction more than lived up to my expectations. The personal stories are simultaneously heartwarming and gut-wrenching.

Although the artifacts here are many, one simple item struck me most. A passenger’s Waltham pocket watch that stopped at 2:35 – about 15 minutes after the Titanic broke apart and sank (2:20 a.m.). Looking at the timepiece made me think of how icy waters froze it after 15 minutes and sobered me with the realization its owner likely survived those frigid conditions only a few minutes longer.

King Kong is waiting for you at Hollywood Wax Museum.

See the Stars at Hollywood Wax Museum: The building’s exterior features King Kong climbing the Empire State Building; Kong is so huge, he’s visible from various points around Branson. So, it certainly is eye-catching, to say the least.

Located a short drive (about one minute) from Titanic, this museum allows you to get face-to-face, so to speak, with celebrities and pop-culture icons such as Missouri’s own Brad Pitt, western hero John Wayne and everyone’s favorite “Vitameatavegamin” pitchwoman, Lucille Ball.

My favorite section was devoted to horror icons, including Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein, Bela Lugosi’s Dracula, and modern slashers Michael Myers (“Halloween”) and Jason Vorhees (“Friday the 13^th”).

Try Retail Therapy: With stops such as Tanger Outlets, the Shoppes at Branson Meadows and all the offerings of the Branson Landing, there are shopping choices aplenty.

You also find retailers in downtown Branson, including Dick’s Oldtime 5 & 10. Need something for the wine lover on your list? No worries, Stone Hill Winery and Mount Pleasant Winery have you covered, and don’t miss Palate Fine Wine and Provisions, located downtown.

Since the kiddos were at home on this most-recent outing to Branson, my wife and I felt compelled to take them gifts. Luckily, they are little princesses-in-training, and more luckily, Tanger Outlets has a Disney store. I’ll just say “10-princess superpack” and leave it at that.

Catch a Show: The Branson Imax Theatre, part of the IMAX Entertainment Complex, has a massive – and I mean massive – screen with IMAX features, plus some of Hollywood’s latest big-screen releases. Seeing a movie on this incredible screen – even if it’s not optimized for the IMAX experience – is something you won’t soon forget. Additionally, the IMAX complex has shops to explore and McFarlain’s Family Restaurant; get the cornbread. You’ll thank me later.

Plus, you will find a select group of live shows still running during the winter months. As of this writing, shows such as Hank Williams Revisited, Comedy Jamboree, Grand Jubilee, it at the Hughes Brothers Theatre, and Branson Country USA Late Show continue entertaining audiences. And, Branson always hosts the Hot Winter Fun Big Show, which features several performers appearing at one venue. This year’s event is Feb. 4.

As you can see, there’s plenty to do in Branson during the so-called off-season. And this is just a sampling; other attractions (such as the Butterfly Palace and the Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditorium) remain open in Branson year-round, and several lodging and dining options are ready to welcome you.

All you have to do is go.

(Special thanks to Erin Wicker and Titanic Museum Attraction for arranging our visit.)

Last year’s event drew a crowd of about 5,000 spectators. Those planning to visit this year are encouraged to come early to secure a good view. “Professionals and amateur artists are competing for prize monies ranging from $500 to $2,000 in the competition. The official National Ice Carving Association judging panel will announce the competition winners and award prizes at 3 p.m.”

To get you excited about coming to enjoy this free event, we found a You Tube video of a previous Ice Carving Competition at the Titanic location in Branson, MO.

You Tube Video of Ice Sculpture Contest at Titanic Branson

This blog is sponsored by ERA In The Smokies Realty and Rentals located at 207 Parkway in Gatlinburg. For more info. on a Gatlinburg Cabin for your Smoky Mountain Vacation or all the reasons to move to the Smokies, call 1-800-309-0277. ERA In The Smokies is a leader in chalet and Log Cabin Rentals and Real Estate Sales in the Gatlinburg area.

Mary Kellogg-Joslyn is Executive Vice President of Operations at Cedar Bay Entertainment of Branson, Missouri where she operates the Titanic Branson Museum. Mary’s husband, John, is President and CEO of Cedar Bay Entertainment. 2012 marks the year of Titanic. The ship struck an iceberg 100 years ago in April, 1912, but her legacy lives on at the Titanic Museum Attractions in Branson, MO and Pigeon Forge, TN.

For over three decades, John Joslyn has been a major force in innovative exhibitions, attractions, television programming and marketing. He is known around the world as an adventurer, explorer and pioneer-producer. His televised exploits have earned him great commercial success, as well as universal respect as a leading producer of high-quality, well-researched programming for television. Joslyn has developed and currently oversees the two Titanic Museum Attractions.

John’s association with Titanic began in the mid-1980’s, when he co-founded and served as General Manager of Titanic Ventures Limited Partnership, the predecessor company to R.M.S. Titanic, Inc.He also was the Co-expedition Leader of the 1987 Titanic Expedition in collaboration with the distinguished French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea. The historic expedition was the first to recover and restore artifacts from the ocean floor. In order to recover these artifacts, Joslyn and his team of scientific and salvage experts successfully completed 32 dives to the Titanic’s final resting place in the North Atlantic to 12,500 feet in the “Nautile,” the French Institute’s deep-diving submersible. This is the greatest number of deep-sea divers ever completed for any televised project. The resulting TV special produced by Joslyn, “Return to the Titanic…LIVE” shown in 27 countries worldwide in 1987, remains one of the highest-rated syndicated specials of all time.

Joslyn has worked closely with both studio executives, top filmmakers and stars such as Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Burt Reynolds.

While continuing to develop other projects, Joslyn moved into television production in 1986. He has since created and served as the executive producer of more than a dozen major syndicated and network TV specials for NBC, CBS, ABC, the Discovery Channel and the Learning Channel. Among them, “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults” (1986) and “Return to the Titanic…LIVE” (1987) holds the records as the two highest-rated syndicated specials.

As Cedar Bay Entertainment’s Executive Vice President, Operations, Mary is in charge of developing and coordinating marketing, advertising, operations, sales, public relations and merchandising strategies for the company’s Titanic Branson operation, as well as Pigeon Forge’s Titanic. She has served for 20 years as Executive Vice President of Television for The Walt Disney Company. While at Disney, she was responsible for bringing to TV the highly successful “Live with Regis and (Kathie Lee) Kelly” show for 20 years and served as the executive in charge of this show. Mary helped create, develop and serve as the executive in charge of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” (both on TV, and as an attraction at Walt Disney World and Disneyland), plus other weekly and daily shows. During her career at Disney, she oversaw over 100 major television shows.

“Based on exceptional marketing success,” Titanic Branson was selected for the 2010 Best of Branson Award in the Amusement Theme Park category by the U.S. Commerce Association.

Photo cutline: The Titanic Museum in Branson, MO is one of two Titanic-themed museums owned by John Joslyn and his wife, Mary Kellogg-Joslyn. This two-story museum holds 400 artifacts.

Another celeb trip idea – visit Dollywood, the theme park owned by Dolly Parton. Dollywood is structured into ten themed areas. The Showstreet, Rivertown Junction, Craftsmen’s Valley, Village, Country Fair, Timber Canyon and Jukebox Junction - areas that reflect the historical eras and culture of East Tennessee. However, the Dreamland Forest and Adventures in Imagination areas explore Dolly Parton’s life and imagination. The website for it is http://www.dollywood.com/

What else to do there? How about a trip to the Tennessee Aquarium, or the Sun Studio (where Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King all recorded their famous hits) Perhaps the Lookout Mountain interests you. It’s the perfect destination with an amazing view. Also there is the Rock City Gardens, the Dixie Stampede, the Tuckaleechee Caverns, the Memphis zoo and aquarium, Old Jail Museum and the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where you can buy a copy of the Heart of the Ocean necklace. I couldn’t afford even the fake one, but I wouldn’t say no if someone wanted to buy me one.

There’s the Prichards’ Distillery which produces award winning Tennessee Rum & Spirits. Their products include Prichard’s Fine Rum, Crystal Rum, Cranberry Rum, Key Lime Rum, Sweet Georgia Belle Peach Mango Rum, Private Stock Rum, Sweet Lucy Bourbon Liqueur and Benjamin Prichards’ Double Barreled Bourbon. Mmmmmm Rum. obviously you’ll need to sleep in a hotel, so here are some interesting ones to stay in.  The Peabody Memphis, a hotel well known for the famous “Peabody Ducks” that live on the hotel rooftop. They do make their daily treks to the hotel’s lobby in a daily “March of Ducks” celebration. Read all about it on their website http://www.peabodymemphis.com/. Another hotel to stay in is the Heartbreak Hotel. It has 128 rooms and is very near to Elvis Presley’s Graceland. Anyways, I’ll finish here. Thank you. Thank you very much…

An account called @TitanicRealTime appeared, tweeting about the disaster as if it were occurring now. Sponsored by @TheHistoryPress, @TitanicRealTime took readers through the disaster. Here are some samples of the tweets.

“#officer Californian ATS has just informed us she has had to stop due to a field of pack ice – I’ve informed the lookouts.”

#firstclass The lights in the lounges have been extinguished and have been moved from the reading & writing room on A Deck. Time to turn in.

#officer 3 gongs coming from the lookout and a report on the telephone – Iceberg Right Ahead. Hard-a-starboard

#engineering Water pouring in 2ft above stokehold plates in boiler room 6 and in the empty starboard side forward bunker of boiler room 5!

#bandmaster No questions, I have received an order to play, and play we will.

You can see all of the tweets on the timeline. In the spirit of all things Twitter, a parody account, @TitanicIceberg was created, and people tweeted their own humorous comments back to the account.

In 100 years,  real time tweets will be able to be unearthed, as all tweets are being archived by the Library of Congress.  We didn’t have Twitter and our present-day social media for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, but we have to chronicle revolutions and  tornado damage among others, and the next big disaster will be able to be seen in real time by future generations.

Your thoughts?

A starboard view of the White Star Line passenger liner R.M.S. Titanic embarking on its ill-fated maiden voyage, April 10, 1912, near Liverpool, England.

This is an excerpt from the a story told by Jaynee, Titanic’s First Class Maid and one of the faces of Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson. This post commemorates the 100^th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic, which hit an iceberg in the late-night hours of April 14, 1912, then sunk in the early morning hours of April 15, 2012.

Hello, I’m Jaynee, Titanic First Class Maid. I’ve had the honor of introducing you to some of Titanic’s 2,208 passengers and crew. I hope you’ve come to know them and the dreams, ambitions, secrets and fears they carried with them on Titanic.

On the 100th anniversary of Titanic’s last day at sea, we close the book, for now, on this special series of personal stories. We’ve only scratched the surface, though.

The Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson.

There are many, many more tales to be told, each adding a fascinating chapter to one of the most dramatic stories of all time. These are the stories we bring to life at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson. 2012 is The Year of Titanic, and we invite you to join us in honoring all those who sailed into history 100 years ago.

We’ve found that the most meaningful way of keeping their memory alive is to simply tell their stories. Our entire crew does that, with deep respect, everyday of the year at our museum. We’re proud to be guardians of Titanic’s legacy and the keeper of her passengers’ and crew’s hopes and dreams.

This was Titanic owner John Joslyn’s vision following his historic expedition to Titanic’s resting place 25 years ago. Now, what he imagined stands among the largest and most prestigious, permanent Titanic museums in the world. Visitors come here to experience what it was really like to be a passenger on the ship.

Some come to honor a family descendant who was on board, and to learn more about their story, others, to see why a 100-year-old story still haunts people to this day. They all leave – I can tell you – with a new appreciation of Titanic and the men, women and children who were on board.

Much of what has been accomplished at our museum has come under the guidance and support of Ed and Karen Kumada, founders of the Titanic Historical Society. In 1963 they vowed to keep the spirit of Titanic alive and to honor the memory of all who sailed her.

They wouldn’t let the world forget them and neither will we.

Titanic Museum Attraction, Branson, Missouri
Client:  Cedar Bay Entertainment
Project: Creative, Equipment, Operations
Creative:  Audio Tour Narrated by Bernard Hill
Written and Produced by Artcast Productions

Guests of the world’s largest Titanic Museum Attraction can now experience the tragic and heroic story of the Titanic like never before with the all new Titanic audio tour. Written and produced by Artcast Productions, the Titanic audio tour is narrated by Bernard Hill and includes music, sound effects, commentary and interviews with Cinematographer Ralph White, Filmmaker and explorer John Joslyn, Model Maker Peter Garner Davies, and actual Titanic survivors Eva Hart and Edith Haisman.

Artcast Principal, Cristina Woolrich, consulted with the museum owners, Mary and John Joslyn to create operations logistics, procure equipment and implement sales and marketing strategies needed to launch their new audio tour sales operation.

“From the first day our guests used the audio player, they have used the word AWESOME. I use the same word AWESOME to describe our experience working with Artcast Productions. The Audio Tour gives guests of all ages an opportunity to hear and feel the emotion behind what they see and read in the museum attraction. It takes the Titanic experience to a whole new level.”

Mary Kellogg-Joslyn
Co-owner, Titanic Museum Attraction

“Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge is a half-scale, permanent, three-deck reproduction. The museum houses 20 galleries to display hundreds of authentic, priceless Titanic artifacts that were either carried from the ship and into lifeboats by passengers and crew or were found afloat soon after the sinking and quickly salvaged by rescue boats.
Inside the Titanic Museum, visitors find full-size reproductions (built to actual Titanic blueprints) a First Class suite, First Class hallways, Third Class accommodations and – the museum’s centerpiece – a $1 million exact reproduction of the Titanic’s Grand Staircase. The First Class suite will be a tribute to Isidor and Ida Straus owners of Macy’s Department Stores, which was also the cabin used in James Cameron’s blockbuster movie Titanic as Rose’s suite.”
“In addition to being a worldclass museum in the truest sense of the word, Titanic Pigeon Forge is also highly interactive and offers a hands-on experience for children, teenagers, and adults. The ship is anchored in water to create the illusion of Titanic at sea, and a two hour self-guided tour gives guests the sensation of sailing on the original ship’s 1912 maiden voyage. Upon entry, each guest receives a boarding pass bearing the name of an actual Titanic passenger or crew member whose fate is revealed on the Memorial Wall at tour end.”

Just under four miles from the New Titanic Attraction, is our luxury condo, Golf Vista #131! Golf Vista is convenient to everything you’re looking for in Pigeon Forge. Just walk out to the road, flag down a trolley, and ride to all your favorite attractions, restaurants, and shops!

This blog is sponsored by ERA In The Smokies Realty and Rentals located at 207 Parkway in Gatlinburg.  For more info. on a Gatlinburg Cabin for your Smoky Mountain Vacation or all the reasons to move to the Smokies, call 1-800-309-0277.  ERA In The Smokies is a leader in chalet and Log Cabin Rentals and Real Estate Sales in the Gatlinburg area.