I was running late on Saturday and nearly gave Jo a heart attack because she was at the hotel for half an hour, absolutely positive something was very very wrong, because I was not there.  She had most of the hotel staff up in arms and was ready to call the GCFD to have them break the door down because she was POSITIVE I should be there and nowhere else...well…errrrrr…I was shopping.  But on my return I commented that it would have been a nice surprise to have my room full of all those firemen…   So I made a quick change into some new purchases and grabbed a blanket from the closet for frozen Jo….always cold even though it was 85 outside.  And we hit the road!

With all these trips across bridges you would think it was intentional to help cure those who have a fear of same.  By now the car is on autopilot getting off of Long Island over the Throggs Neck and to points South, North, East and now West!  Once we passed the fictional home of Rob and Laura Petri (New Rochelle) and Lucy and Ricky Ricardo (Westport)…all those Metro North stations along the way and the Long Island Ferry (for those not prone to seasickness) we were well on our way to finding Uncasville. Seemingly buried deep in the Connecticut woods.  The last portion of the trip was driven to rousing renditions of TOAD songs--almost causing us to miss the exit.  Oops!  The casino at Uncasville was much larger than any Indian Casino I had seen, more akin to those found in Vegas, which means a great deal of walking.  The show was free and the line very long.  We were later told that people started lining up at 4:00 for an 8:00 show and we didn't arrive until after 6:00 when there was no hope of getting into the showroom.  I actually saw people in line (or should I say “on line” as New Yorkers do) sitting on camp stools!  I was on “the list” thanks to my dear friend, so I did get into the showroom.  What I really needed was a bucket of ice for my ankle by then.  Jo and I were separated during the show and I had the Harmonizing Nights kleenex in my pocket!  Half the fun of the show is who you go with and Jo and I always have a lot of fun during the show.

It was an interesting showroom in that you could see the show from the casino as well.  There were no walls and they had an IMAX screens above the stage so everyone had a good vantage point--whether or not you were in the showroom.  Tony was "on" that night and the crowd loved him.  There were several screamers in attendance as well as a few attempts at lookalikes (from his 70s look) which I haven't seen since the 70s (perhaps that is because it is 2001)!  The new songs are going over very well and people often ask how it is I know the words to these unreleased songs.  I shared the table with several directors of the Lupus Foundation who were there to talk to Tony about doing a benefit and I mentioned how Joyce had lost her daughter to the disease last year. 

There were hordes of people waiting for autographs and photos after the show, but with our blood sugar level down to nothing and a long drive ahead, we opted for the restaurant.  The entire entourage ended up in the restaurant anyway, just about the time we were finishing our first meal of the day, in time for hugs and thanks and a chat while they all waited for a table large enough to accommodate everyone.  Sadly my digital camera was giving me trouble all night so there are few pictures (one plane ride too many perhaps) but I was just as happy to go back to the hotel with a cool backstage pass!

You are not alone in your feelings regarding the ladies' voices.  They are all truly outstanding.  When I hear their hit songs performed today without their voices, it just isn't the same, as any TOAD fan knows.   

Yes, Pam and Joyce do keep in contact with Telma.  

I would love it if they all were back in the recording studio together too.  Many TOAD fans still hope for another reunion tour, but there has been no talk about that amongst them.  I'm sorry you missed your chance to attend due to the chicken pox.  There was nothing like seeing one of their live performances.  Having attended countless shows over the past 30 years, I can tell you that there is nothing quite like it.  The rapport and camaraderie that you saw on stage was unique and made everyone in the audience feel like they were all part of one big happy family.  Their shows were always full of surprises and new songs!  When Pam filled in for Telma from time to time, we were introduced to the fourth member of the group who was never given any public credit.  She was also on all the recordings and a voice that you knew well.  It was a seamless transition.  

As for the TOAD show, the rights to that are actually owned by CBS and the production company, Ilson and Chambers.  The performers, themselves, were paid a salary for their work, receive no residuals, and have no financial interest in the show.  I don't know that Goodlife would have the right to release the shows on tape or DVD.  The best bet would be in contacting CBS.  Besides, the edited versions show on Goodlife often cut out entire numbers in order to fit it in with their commercial schedule.

Thank you very much for your compliments regarding the site.   We have had many Friends of TOAD who have contributed countless hours of work in creating and maintaining the site over the years.  They have given of their time, paid for the expenses, shared their personal memories and photographs, and often go without thanks, just to be able to share the sites with every on-line TOAD fan.  So when someone comes along and takes the time to thank all of us, believe me, it is deeply appreciated.  Thank you, John, from all the Friends of TOAD!