TIME TRAVELING WITH '57 HEAVEN: STUNNING DISPLAY OF 57 VINTAGE 1957 AUTOMOBILES IN MAIN STREET U.S.A. SETTING IS THE CROWN JEWEL OF DICK CLARK'S AMERICAN BANDSTAND THEATER COMPLEX IN BRANSON, MO
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Famed Car Collector Glenn Patch, A Principal Owner Of Branson's Hottest New Tourist Attraction, Makes His His Labor Of Love Collection Available For Public Consumption For The First Time As Part Of An Incredible 1950's Experience, Which Includes Legendary Performers At The American Bandstand Theater and The American Bandstand Grill
If you talk to most people about their high school days, they'll say they were more than eager to move on and leave those teenage days behind--but media entrepreneur and classic car collector Glenn Patch , who graduated from high school in Picayune, Mississippi in 1959, never outgrew his incredible love for all things 50s. No matter how successful he became in the worlds of publishing and real estate development, he always longed for the simple days when, as he says, “I loved everything, from the music to the cars and the diners.”
Now, as one of the principal owners of Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater Complex in Branson, Missouri, he relishes the chance to relive those three cherished elements of 1950s American culture a daily basis. If he feels like hearing the old songs, he can check out the legendary artists performing regularly at the state of the art, 900 seat theater. These include the original Comets, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Bill Medley, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Fabian, Bobby Vee, Brian Hyland, Chris Montez and The Chiffons.
Without a doubt, Patch's favorite part of the experience is taking a stroll down a beautiful and elaborate, 32,000 sq. ft. recreation of Main Street U.S.A. The magical lifestyle exhibit was created around '57 Heaven , the crown jewel of the Dick Clark American Bandstand Complex experience. This stunning, labor of love collection, which features (what else?) 57 magnificently restored classic cars from 1957, is owned by none other than Patch himself.
In the few weeks since the late April opening of the complex, thousands of patrons have experienced the sensation of “walking the streets” alongside these vintage autos, in essence time traveling back to the late 50's. The exhibit, which includes a total of 35 prized convertibles, represents every major American made manufacturer during that period—Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Cadillac, DeSoto, Hudson, Nash, Studebaker and Packard.
There are some rare models, too, including an El Morocco and the Chrysler Dual Gia, and a handful of models that come with a fascinating history: a Ford that was owned by Fireball Roberts, the country's first NASCAR star; a Pontiac that once set the world's stock car race record at 141.2 mph; the only Corvette in the world to have won four national awards; and a Chevy Bel Aire Convertible which ranked an amazing 990 out of 1000 points at a national show.
'57 Heaven's presence in Branson marks the first time that Glenn Patch's timeless automobiles will be available for public viewing. “Along with about 20 other cars from 1957, I had these stored in a nice display warehouse in Phoenix for years, where I'd show them from time to time to different friends and visitors,” says Patch. “They were always in awe at their beauty, which was what inspired me to start collecting in the first place. But there's nothing like sharing them with the public, and getting hundreds of reactions on a daily basis.
“After so many years of keeping these classics to myself,” he adds, “moving the collection to Branson and incorporating it into the whole Dick Clark 50s experience has been incredibly gratifying. I love the fact that the display isn't just appealing to people who grew up when I did. Young kids just love the cars and appreciate them like they are works of art, which I believe they are. I might have expected the men who visit to love them, but I am gratified by the overwhelming reaction from women as well.”
Years ago, when Patch's entrepreneurial publishing endeavors began to take off and he began amassing a sizeable fortune, he thought it would be fun to indulge in his love for all things 50's and begin investing in buying and restoring vintage cars. Over time, he built a collection of over 40, but he felt that his hobby was a bit scattered; rather than just add this and that, he felt he needed a goal, a theme by which to hone his passion. Because it was the year he graduated high school, he focused first on 1959, but in doing extensive research, he soon realized that he didn't like a lot of that year's models.
“But I loved every 1957 car I saw, and came to learn that, among car collectors who collect models from 1954 through 1965, 1957 is considered a primo year,” says Patch, who bought his first '57 in the early 90s. “That was the year when every car had those, and every car was just beautiful. Other years had some great ones and some that weren't so nice. My original goal was to collect all 35 1957 convertibles, and once I had done that, I started seeking out more hardtops.”
Along the way, Patch's pursuit of a DeSoto Adventure led him to seek out Bob Schmidt from Phoenix, one of the country's foremost vintage auto restorers. Patch, blown away by the work Schmidt did on this particular model, asked Schmidt if he could help get the other 34 cars in his collection into tip top shape. This collaboration eventually led Schmidt to sell his business to Patch and begin working full time for him. Over the next seven years, Schmidt turned a large batch of classic cars into what can only be described as works of art. Schmidt's numerous connections across the country also helped Patch track down a lot of the more rare gems in the collection.
Explaining the unique economics of collection and restoring 1957 automobiles, Patch says, “The car collecting world runs on a point system, based on 100 points for perfection,” he says. “If you buy a car that is already an almost perfect 90 pointer, it takes you as much money to get those last ten points as it does to bring a much cheaper car up 80 points. A lot of choices depend not simply on the cool model but the condition it's in. If you can buy a 30 point car for $15,000 or a 90 point car for $70,000, it makes more sense to buy the cheaper one.”
These days, Patch—the founder of GEP, Inc, the Titusville, Florida holding company whose portfolio includes the Clark complex and numerous other real estate developments in Branson—spends his time eating, drinking, listening and sleeping the 50s. He plays golf on his own course in the morning, goes to shows at the Dick Clark American Bandstand theater at night (he'll often listen from the catwalk above the stage!), and eats at the American Bandstand Grill on a daily basis. Before retiring for the night, he takes another stroll down Main Street U.S.A., among the collection of cars named for himself, marveling at the hold the 1950s still have on him and millions of Americans.
“In the speech I gave the night we opened, I responded to the obvious questions of why I did all of this with a simple answer: I always wanted to relive the 50s,” Patch says. “It's a love affair that never grows old. People all across America can enjoy the results of all the hard work we put into it, but at the end of the day, what I've created here is a little domain for me that is the 1950s.”
BRANSON GETS READY TO ROCK, RIDE, AND REMEMBER: DICK CLARK'S AMERICAN BANDSTAND ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX OPENS TO THE PUBLIC APRIL 21, FOLLOWED BY STAR-STUDDED VIP PARTY AND RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AND SHOW APRIL 28
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Local Dignitaries, Worldwide Media and Numerous Celebrities Will Be On Hand For Gala Opening, Which Is Set To Include Rock N Roll Preview Show At Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theatre Featuring Performances By Bill Medley, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Comets And Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Plus A Special Appearance By Bobby Vee and A Preview of New “Cruisin' 57” Theatrical Revue
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A Highly Anticipated Part of Missouri Entertainment Mecca's Youthful Transformation, Dick Clark's American Bandstand Entertainment Complex Includes The Theatre, One of the U.S.'s Largest American Bandstand Grills, and The Patch Collection, A 50s Lifestyle Exhibit Featuring Classic Automobiles from 1957
Get ready to rock, ride and roll, America! Already one of the U.S.'s premiere tourist destinations, Branson, Missouri is about to get a whole lot “cooler” with the city's most highly anticipated event of the year: the grand opening of Dick Clark's American Bandstand Entertainment Complex .
On Friday, April 28, a week after officially opening its doors to the public, local dignitaries, numerous celebrities and media from around the world will converge on the magical 1950s wonderland to celebrate the momentous occasion, beginning with a special ribbon cutting ceremony by the mayor of Branson at 4 p.m.
Attendees will include members of the Branson city council, family members of those involved in launching the Complex, Dick Clark's wife and some of the dancers who appeared on American Bandstand.
The main event of the evening is a true celebration of American Bandstand's enduring legacy of being one of rock and roll's premiere tastemakers for thirty years. Fashioned as an exciting preview of all the spectacular musical entertainment that will be offered year round at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theatre, the all-star show in the state of the art 900-seat facility will feature performances by Bill Medley (of The Righteous Brothers), Paul Revere & The Raiders, The original Comets and Gary Lewis & The Playboys, with a special guest appearance by Bobby Vee.
The concert will also feature a spectacular performance of Cruisin' 57, the exciting musical production revue that is the crown jewel of the AB Theatre's daily schedule.
Many of these performers will be regular attractions on a rotating, year-round basis at the theatre, which will be offering three fun-filled shows per day, morning, afternoon and evening. The morning shows will feature either Gary Lewis & The Playboys or The Comets. The matinee year-round will be the Cruisin' 57 show. For 174 nights a year, the evening show will feature Bill Medley and Paul Revere & The Raiders; between those runs, there will be The Original Stars of American Bandstand, a show hosted by Fabian and featuring Bobby Vee, Brian Hyland, Chris Montez and The Chiffons.
Guests at the gala Grand Opening will be invited to tour the entirety of Dick Clark's American Bandstand Entertainment Complex, which is designed as a full-day stop for Branson visitors. Aside from the theatre, the Complex includes one of the country's largest franchise locations for Dick Clark's American Bandstand Grill, as well as The Patch Collection, an incredible automobile and lifestyle exhibit featuring a stunning collection of classic automobiles from 1957 presented in a unique “Small Town America” setting.
For more information, please call 1-877-LUV-1957 or visit www.dickclarksabbranson.com .
