Army, Air Force, and Navy Times....

MYRTLE BEACH MEANS MUSIC

& MUCH MORE

When most people think of beach music, they think of shagging in the sand to the sounds of the 60s. But in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, beach music means a beach resort destination that has become one of the hottest and most varied musical destinations in the nation.

The Myrtle Beach area offers a beach vacation at its best. The Spanish were the first to drop anchor in these charmed coastal waters. Their settlement didn't last long, but the word was out. Since then, the world has come to fish, swim, sunbathe, retire, boat, snorkel, golf, eat, shop...and to enjoy music.

In just a few short years, the Myrtle Beach area has emerged as one of the nation's leading destinations for live family entertainment. Nine theaters now entertain thousands every night, with the best in country music and much more.

Missouri-born musician and entrepreneur Calvin Gilmore initiated the trend in 1986, when he opened The Carolina Opry in Surfside Beach, just south of Myrtle Beach proper. In 1992, the original Carolina Opry moved into a new 2,200-seat Myrtle Beach facility, complete with its own recording studio. The hugely popular show offers a wide variety of music, including country, bluegrass, Western swing, big band, patriotic, and show tunes, as well as comedy. Last spring, Gilmore assisted in bringing another show, Legends in Concert, to his original Surfside Beach theater. The already-legendary show features impersonations of the biggest stars in show business.

Country music supergroup Alabama, which got its start playing for tips in Myrtle Beach, opened its theater in 1993. Located at Barefoot Landing, a large waterside shopping complex, the 2,200-seat Alabama Theatre features three different kinds of shows: Alabama performs at least 10 shows a year; celebrity guests, including such stars as Marty Stuart, Patti Loveless, Lorrie Morgan, and many others, perform at least 20 shows a year; and "American Pride, the house show combining Opryland-style singing, dancing, and music, plays on the remaining nights.

After years on the road, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers settled down to make Myrtle Beach their musical home. The 2,000-seat, $7.5 million Gatlin Brothers Theatre opened in 1994. Known for hits such as "All the Gold in California" and "Houston," the Gatlins perform nightly most of the year, except when guest stars like Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, and Lee Greenwood take the stage. Famed comedian and impressionist Rich Little is also performing matinees and selected evening shows during a special engagement through May 26th.

The Palace Theater, the 2,700-seat theater which opened last October, is part of the new $250 million entertainment complex, Broadway at the Beach. This entertainment/theater complex on a 350-acre tract in Myrtle Beach combines The Palace Theater with 100 retail stores and 12 restaurants (including a Hard Rock Cafe and Mickey Gilley's Texas Cafe). 1996 musical guests include: Engleburt Humperdinck (May 8-12 and Oceober 8-12); Travis Tritt (May 22-25); Johnny Mathis (June 13-15); Kenny Rogers (June 18-22, August 9-10, and October 15-20); Louise Mandrell (July 3-7); Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (July 9-11 and October 8-12); Willie Nelson (July 17); Mary Chapin Carpenter (July 28-29); Aretha Franklin (August 1-3); and Tom Jones (August 4-5). Future plans for Broadway at the Beach include a $30 million aquarium, a hotel, and a 25,000-seat amphitheater.

This past fall also saw the opening of the Ronnie Milsap Theatre at Fantasy Harbor. The six-time Grammy winner started regular performances last month and he's playing to rave reviews.

A giant new theme park is currently planned for the site of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. The Isle of America, scheduled to open next summer, will offer 10 musical variety shows, incorporating live actors, animation, film, and computer-controlled robots, as well as a 20,000-seat concert amphitheater, a 27-hole Hale Irwin-designed golf course, and a resort hotel and conference center.

The remaining theaters in Myrtle Beach offer other forms of entertainment, with music often included in the mix. Magic On Ice, a high-tech ice skating, magic, and laser show, was the first theater to open in the Fantasy Harbour--Waccamaw entertainment complex. The show stars Sandy Lenz, a two-time U.S. National Champion who was with the Ice Capades and Disney On Ice. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament is featured at Fantasy Harbour, with an entertaining look at the Middle Ages, complete with jousting, knights on horseback, and a medieval banquet.

The Dixie Stampede, owned by Dolly Parton's Dollywood Productions, opened during the summer of 1992 in an ornate 80,000-square-foot showhouse, next door to The Carolina Opry. The Stampede features a rodeo with a Civil War theme and a four-course southern dinner (designed to be eaten with your fingers--no silverware needed). Patrons sit in either the Southern or Northern section of the arena and take part in a friendly rivalry by cheering for their side in a number of animal races and participatory contests.

Along with the incomparable music scene, other activities have become Myrtle Beach vacation traditions, making any visit much more than a day at the beach. Along with sun-drenched days of sand and afternoons or nights of music, Myrtle Beach days can be also be filled with golf, shopping, dining, sightseeing and many other enjoyable possibilities.

Golf has become a year-round attraction in the Myrtle Beach area. More than 90 championship courses are available to golfers on the Grand Strand. Designers include the famous names of Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Dye, and Fazio, as well as many more of the world's best-known players and architects. Maybe that's why more than three million rounds are played every year in this golf mecca.

Shopping is another "sport" that has a passionate following in Myrtle Beach. Shoppers flock to popular treasure hunting sites like the Waccamaw Outlet Park in Myrtle Beach. Barefoot Landing at North Myrtle Beach is an unusual outdoor mall on the waterfront that features an assortment of shops and boutiques. At the Hammock Shops down on Pawley's Island, shoppers can see and buy world-famous hammocks and much more.

There are many other exciting Grand Strand options. Some possibilities include: several amusement parks and attractions for kids and kids at heart; one of the world's finest sculpture collections at Brookgreen Gardens; outdoors adventures along the coastal waters; the newly-opened Oceanic Adventures aquarium; many historic museums; quiet Huntington Beach State Park; restored rice plantation homes; and quiet little communities like Georgetown, Murrells Inlet, and Pawley's Island.

Area resorts, hotels, motels, condominiums, and cottages provide more than 55,000 rooms sure to fit any lifestyle or budget. Also known as the "Camping Capital of the U.S.," the area features 10 privately-owned campgrounds and two state parks.

With almost 1,800 restaurants to choose from, dining is an adventure along the Grand Strand. Known for great seafood, the area also offers the best in domestic and international cuisine. In fact, the Myrtle Beach area has more restaurants per capita than San Francisco, making it a real treat for eating out.

Along with the theater engagements, the area also hosts more than 40 annual events and festivals. The Sun Fun Festival is one of many summer highlights, kicking off the season with parades, beach games, concerts, and celebrity guests. This year, the 45th annual festival runs from June 7-10, making it one of many ideal times to visit Myrtle Beach.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Info Center represents the entire 60 mile stretch of South Carolina coast, including North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Little River, Atlantic Beach, Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, and Pawley Island. Write them at P.O. Box 2115, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578-2115, or call (803) 626-7444 or (800) 356-3016 (brochures only). You can also visit the Myrtle Beach area internet site at http://www.myrtlebeach-info.com.

MYRTLE BEACH MUSIC

Contact the following venues about schedules, information, and tickets:

Alabama Theatre--(800) 342-2262

The Carolina Opry--800-THE OPRY (843-6779)

The Dixie Stampede--(800) 433-4401

Gatlin Brothers Theatre--(800) 681-5209

Legends in Concert--(800) 960-SHOW (7469)

Magic On Ice--(800) 236-4400

Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament--(800) 436-4386

The Palace Theater at Myrtle Beach--(800) 905-4228

Ronnie Milsap Theatre--(800) 681-5209