Ozarks Epicenter

Randy Olson

National Geographic

The Haygood family could only exist in Branson. The father, Jim, ran off to join the circus where he met his wife. He was a clown and she was the cotton candy and 'Guest your weight' lady. After eight children, they were in a 14 by 16 trailer in Texas, Jim was doing odd jobs. The oldest child saw Itzac Perlman on Sesame Street, and five years later Marie had all eight taking violin lessons in a trailer in 100 degree heat with the toilet backed up most of the time. They saw the 60 minute special on Branson, moved there and had work in three days at a tourist attraction called 'Silver Dollar City. '

Randy Olson , "Ozarks Epicenter ," in POYi Archive, Item #29125, http://archive.poy.org/items/show/29125 (accessed November 25, 2024).