Jim Barber takes ‘The Barber Shop’ on the road, launches cross country tour from Branson

Longtime Branson entertainer, ventriloquist and radio personality Jim Barber is launching a bold new chapter: On November 3, 2025, his weekday radio show, The Barber Shop (weekdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Central on 98.1 FM in Branson and streaming online at Branson4u.com) began “on the road” aboard a 44-foot diesel motorhome, dubbed the “Barber Bus.”

Jim and his wife, Melonie, will travel the country, producing the show from their fully restored 1993 Newell Coach at a variety of locations including RV resorts, theatres, churches and other venues, while simultaneously presenting Jim’s award-winning comedy production, Jim Barber & Friends. Melonie adds her special blend of vocal music and on occasion, her well known “Harmony Trio” will also join the performance schedule with special guests Babette Fogle and Aloha Post. Their mission: bring the Branson-style variety entertainment experience to new audiences across the nation — and spotlight Branson as a must-see destination for those audiences.

The couple consider themselves deeply blessed to be part of a beautifully blended family, a journey born out of both heartache and hope. A little over a decade ago, Jim faced the profound loss of being widowed, while Melonie navigated the challenges of divorce. "When our paths crossed and we married during the pandemic of 2020, our lives - and hearts - expanded in ways we never could have imagined," said Jim. Joining Jim's daughter with Melonie's eight children formed an extended family of eleven members. "Now, as grateful empty nesters, we look back with wonder at how God's blessings and love can heal, rebuild and create something entirely new," added Melonie. "We look forward with excitement to the fresh possibilities this next season of life holds for us!"

Road-show format and live entertainment

As of November 3, “The Barber Shop” was produced from the Barber Bus at select locations each week. While the radio show airs weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central, Jim and Melonie will then present a live evening show, “Jim Barber & Friends,” in regional theatres, RV resort venues or church-campus settings. Their first stop will be at the famed "Magic Attic Theatre" in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for three shows on November 7-8. From there they will head to engagements in South Dakota, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Indiana and Kentucky. They currently have show bookings extending into 2027, but plan to include some 2026 Branson dates in the mix.

If that wasn't enough to keep them busy, the couple have also created a new YouTube Channel to promote their RV adventures, and invite everyone to subscribe to watch "The Barber Bus" at https://www.youtube.com/@TheBarberBus online.

The coupling of multimedia broadcast and live performance creates a unique experience: local audiences get a behind-the-scenes look at the show, and the online streaming capability of the Ozarks Dynacom family of radio stations plus the couple's YouTube Channel, introduces Branson’s entertainment brand to untapped markets.

Listeners and fans everywhere can still tune in to the radio show via the free Branson4U app (available at the Apple Store, Google Play and Amazon Alexa) or stream online at Branson4u.com. While on the road, the show will invite fans from the host city to come out in person for the evening comedy/ventriloquism show, and will use the broadcast to promote the host city venue, the Barber Bus tour stop and Branson as the entertainment hub.

Why Branson matters — and why this tour matters

Jim’s deep roots in Branson provide the foundation for this venture. Since arriving in Branson in 1994, Jim has shared the stage with top Branson-area stars including Glen Campbell, Eddie Rabbitt, The Osmonds, Tony Orlando and many others, including a 10-year run with the Hamner Barber Variety Show. Currently he appears as the featured comedian/impressionist in the Yakov Smirnoff Variety Show in Branson.

Beyond the stage, Jim has served in leadership roles in the Branson arts community. From April 2017 through September 2024, he was Executive Director of the Branson Regional Arts Council, guiding the acquisition and restoration of the Historic Owen Theatre in downtown Branson — providing a dedicated home for community theatre and youth arts education. 

With this track record, Jim brings more than just a show — he brings decades of entertainment, multimedia and marketing experience to this tour initiative.

What the Barber Bus means

Jim and Melonie’s purchase of the 44-foot diesel motorhome (the “Barber Bus”) marks a major step in making their vision mobile. The bus allows them to travel efficiently from market to market, integrate with RV resorts and theatre venues, and set up a “pop-up” Branson-style experience wherever they go nationwide.

This fully-mobile format will help the Barber brand reach new audiences who may not yet know Branson’s entertainment scene, while simultaneously promoting the Branson destination — a win-win for Jim’s show, the venues visited, and the Branson tourism brand.

Invitation to partners and audiences

Jim and Melonie invite RV resorts, theatres and other venues across the United States to contact them about hosting their live comedy show at or near your location. They are also excited to share their testimony with church groups and marriage encounter events through music, comedy and a positive message of faith with their "Blessed to be Blended" presentations. By hosting the event, venues gain live radio exposure, national stream-reach, plus a family friendly live comedy/ventriloquism/music show that appeals to a wide demographic.

They also invite radio show sponsors interested in participating in the campaign to contact Ozarks Dynacom for more information. Listeners everywhere can tune in to The Barber Shop, follow the tour, and download the Branson4U app to hear the show live — even when the Barber Bus is broadcasting on the road.

About Jim Barber

Jim Barber is an internationally touring ventriloquist, comedian, impressionist and entertainer whose signature act features his characters Barber and Seville (in which Jim's head appears on the dummy’s body) along with Chico Pete, Cozy Blanquette, the Baby and impromptu audience participation. He has performed on network television (including the “Late Show” with David Letterman), comedy clubs, cruise ships, USO engagements, corporate events and more than 2,000 college and university venues. 

In Branson, he has appeared in major shows since 1994, working alongside top artists and sustaining a longtime presence in the city’s “live music capital” ecosystem. As a proud board member of the Ozark Mountain Legacy organization, he recently stepped in as the new host of their television series "Living Legacies of the Ozarks" on The Vacation Channel which is also available on YouTube. 

Jim holds a BA in Broadcasting/Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota and an Associate’s Degree in Multimedia Development from the Art Institute of Philadelphia; he has developed multimedia production and marketing campaigns for many Branson-area businesses and tourism entities.