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The "Golden Horseshoe Shows Edition" is a more satisfying DVD, even though it isn't perfect. Documenting the shows in and around the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, the running approximately 78 minutes.

The DVD features:

For the Variety Show, Dana Daniels imparts corny comedy and "magic" accompanied by live piano music (that's pianee to Homer Simpson), working with double threat of children and animals. The camera is near the stage, to the side, and stays fairly steady.

Laughing Stock, over the years, has performed inside the saloon, but most of their run has been in front of or near the venue. The shows are performed using microphones, three actors, and some props At one point, they had a three-part saga involving a mayor running for re-election trying to marry off his ugly daughter (almost always a guy in drag) Dating Game style, a bank-robbery re-enactment, and finally a comical shootout between the Sheriff and the bank robber. The shoot-out, which included auditioning three guests to find someone to be the new Sheriff should the Sheriff get shot, was dropped from the repertoire when real-life world events made comical fake gunplay too much of a crowd-reaction gamble.

I've seen Laughing Stock performances many, many times, and their improv bit is not my favorite, but is impressive. It is a stand-alone bit, and this a natural choice to give viewers a taste of what they do without leaving them hanging for the next segment.

There was a time when string band Billy Hill and the Hillbillies performed outside in Critter County and Frontierland, but they've been the main show inside the Horseshoe for many years now. This time, the camera angle is from further back in the saloon, with the camera operator zooming in at certain times. We're treated to some Elvis impersonation/tribute, a bit of the William Tell Overture, a fiddling speed record attempt, and "Puddle Prance".

Whether you've never seen these live presentations, or you'd like to have a "home video" DVD to augment your fond memories of the shows, this DVD may work for you. Of course, there have been shows held in the venue over the years that do not appear on the DVD, including Woody's Roundup, the Golden Horseshoe Jamboree, and the legendary Golden Horseshoe Revue. It's too bad there's isn't a definitive, high-quality DVD thoroughly covering the venue and its entire history.

This DVD has distinctly "home video" feel in the production values, sans any family members and camera operator voice. If you're fan of the Billies or Dana Daniels, this DVD is worth getting and probably better than anything you're likely to get going though the trouble of lugging your own video camera to the park. Just don't expect a polished production that looks like an official Disney offering.

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Related Links

• Purchase at the LaughingPlace Store: Bringing Disneyland Home or Bringing Disneyland Home: The Golden Horseshoe Shows Edition
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