KING KONG OVER BRANSON

As if you needed another reason to visit Branson, Missouri, this season marks the debut of a giant King Kong appearing atop the Hollywood Wax Museum. I, for one, welcome our new primate overlord. Thanks to the traffic-choked highway 76 passerbys have the opportunity to study the sculpture from all angles for at least ten minutes at at time.

But if you long for a taste of "Silver Age" Branson (1995-2005) you can venture to the neighborhood directly behind the museum to find the back porch that houses the former "have your photo taken in King Kong's hand" prop. But don't despair, the Kong photo-op has been updated to appeal to today's more sophisticated novelty photo connoisseurs.