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Although we started out with the best of intentions of having dinner before the show, the crazy roads of Long Island were working against us again. AARGH!!! With directions from David (I couldn't help giving him a second chance) we found Sue's hotel. But uh-oh it was on the other side of a divided highway which we couldn't cross, as Jo didn't want to use the 4 wheel drive to climb over the island in the center. LOL!!! We did eventually circle around after taking a nice tour (following the snow removal routes) through the charming Village of Westbury (by the way that is what they call all the towns/cities around here--Villages) and there is a Westbury and Old Westbury and New Westbury and probably a Westbury 9 West N too--not very creative in the naming game!!! Well, we were headed to Westbury--which one, I'm not really sure, but having a local sure helped in the "getting there" part. And it was like a mini road trip. Thanks again Jo! We spent the entire ride talking and laughing about our Catskills adventure the night before and all about all the things I left out of my previous post. I'm leaving that up to you Jo.

Now it's been a very long time since I've seen Debbie Reynolds perform and she was absolutely wonderful. Not only did she sing and dance, she was a great comic--most of the jokes being about herself, her ex-husbands and her age. She had the three of us in hysterics through most of her part of the show. She also did dead-on impressions of Zsa Zsa Gabor (in an ostrich feather trimmed dressing gown), Katherine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand (including fake nose and wig to match)--a difficult trick to handle, as it is a theater in the round and there are no "wings" to sneak off for the quick change. So with a few assistants she did the transformation midway up the aisle, in the dark, aided solely by a couple of small flashlights providing minimal and discrete lighting.

Tony came out looking like he was very happy to be back in Westbury. Jo, Sue and I assisted with the background singing from our seats through most of the show (shoop shoop shoop) to add some life into this somewhat older than usual audience. What a workout we were having (shoop shoop shoop). But that is the great part about going to show with long time fans and friends who know by heart all the nuances of the show we have seen many many times over the years (shoop shoop shoop).

After the show Tony did take the time to speak to everyone who waited, taking pictures and signing autographs. What a dear. He just couldn't get over the fact that Jo and I were up in the Catskills the night before (I never did find those cats by the way)! He was still blown away by it all and equated the trip to being about true love…frankly, I just thought of it as another adventurous road trip. Others commented on the frequent flyer miles from the Islands…LOL!!! Tony and I spoke at length about Tracey's funeral services (as he was working that day and could not attend) and Joyce, Pam and Ryan. Joe and I shared a few laughs about the caravan the night before. Oh, and a special thank you to Karen for sending the wedding pictures along with Billy. They were just wonderful! It was also a pleasure to meet Theresa and Serina  and Del at the shows.

After the show we were just starved and set off to find something open in one of the Villages in the area, passing on the party back at the hotel. Things were beginning to catch up with me by this point and I needed food/fuel. All I had to do was to give Gasoline Pumping Lesson 101 to the ladies. I couldn't believe that no one here pumps their own gas! According to Sue, it is illegal to pump your own gas in New Jersey. How wild! And I thought all those attendants on my Atlantic City adventure were just being nice…travel can be such an education.

After the lessons at the gas station (and I was so proud of my attentive students--remember there will be a test later), we went into the only open Diner in these Villages…called "Diner." By this point I am seriously thinking that the people around here need marketing lessons… A civilized place which actually had turkey burgers on the menu. It was a night for impressions as the waiter was doing his best to impersonate the counter guy on the famous Saturday Night live Cheeseburger skit--he announced all the items wrong but the order was correct even that special English Muffin Bagel and the Vegetarian Omelette with Bacon and Cheese. Hmmmmmm. Just glad that we didn't order Pepsi. Now why is it they melt the cheese on the bread and not the meat for a cheeseburger here? The two East Coasters thought this was just normal as can be, but again, it was another first for me.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring, other than some fun at the outlet malls and then a trip up to Connecticut? And to all my faithful readers, I hope you've enjoyed this most recent chapter in my ongoing series of reviews. Thanks for all your emails. Next up in September, the girls' play Claim It!

Pat

We all had a great time at Westbury. The show was only 1 hour and 15mintues. I almost did not even get to see the show, thanks to David we did. Tony was great as always. After the show Tony came out and spoke to every one there. He said he will be in Atlantic City in Oct. I love Westbury because the stage is great whereever you sit and after the show you always get to see Tony outside. It was a lovely night to remember and many more to come.

Rona

Well, I made it home safe and sound, but I still have a smile on my face! What a wonderful trip to New York and to see my wonderful friends and Tony Orlando in one trip is just too much to handle. I cant thank you Pat and Jo for all that you did for me this weekend! I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed your company. I never saw a place that had so many different streets and different turns, it was a gas (no pun intended) LOL! Tony was wonderful and just as sweet as ever. You are too much, Pat! tee hee hee!!! Do you think that Kerry will take us up on the offer? Shoop Shoop Shoop~, do I hear a Shoop? LOL!!! What a time and we really did stay in tune, didn't we? I hate that it is all over but I think we both will pass the gas lesson test and how was that, Cheese on the bun? LOL!!! To two wonderful ladies, Pat and Jo I thank you for a wonderful time and my hat is off to Tony. Cant wait for AC!!!
Sue :)

Sue

Jo's combined review is repeated here:

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Hi! Pat, I can assure you that you covered every aspect of our wonderful time together, reading your posts just brought back to mind every precious moment of this absolutely fantastic weekend. I am so very, very thankful and fortunate for your friendship and your loyalty to Tony; not many would fly clear across the country as you did to not only share a fabulous weekend but to see two of Tony's shows that though were in the same state were miles and miles and miles apart! I am so glad that we finally made it to the Catskills (we never found those cats showing off their skills, nor any bears hiding out in Bear Mountain. Happy to have had the "right connections" come through for us, we were ushered right through the gate and welcomed by all at the hotel. The crowd at the show was fully prepared to have a grand old time and the amazed, but thankful look we received from Tony as he spotted us in the audience was absolutely breathtaking!! Right, Pat? Immediately following the show we formed a caravan and were "escorted" back to Long Island until we were separated at an EZ Pass on a bridge, but thanks to cell phones and a little (very little) knowledge of the right highway to take (LOL, are there any right ones?) and after a little ribbing from our special passenger on my limited knowledge of N.Y. Parkways, all were safely back on Long Island, though very much talked out and in desperate need of sleep. Thank you Pat for handling our roads like a champ! I knew with your driving expertise, we'd have no problem at all!!

The next afternoon was spent in the hotel's pool and jacuzzi. Both my daughters were so anxious to finally meet the woman behind the beach cam of Hawaii that they've both been waving to for so long! Thanks, Pat for having us as your guests at the hotel, a great time was had by all.

Before leaving for Pat's hotel though, a very special phone call was made to my house by our friend, Sue from NJ that trekked over a few thousand miles herself!! It was wonderful to be with Pat and Sue again, though last time was only last April, it seems so long ago. Now, as Pat said, Sue was staying at another hotel that with David's assistance was thought to be so easy to find. We'd go pick Sue up at her hotel, enjoy a nice dinner together and then drive to the show.. yeah, right, sure. Not with these crazy roads on Long Island and all the divided highways, we were lucky to get to the show on time! (Though it was a nice scenic snow removal route and was that Susan Lucci walking her dogs??)

At first, I wasn't too anxious to have to sit through Debbie Reynold's show, eagerly awaiting Tony. But Debbie was so very entertaining! She had us all in tears from laughing so hard and all the tributes she did to some great singers of past and present were stupendous! Her impersonations were perfect and was a real treat.

A real great opening act!!

Tony came out on stage (looking alot more rested than we were) and thoroughly enjoying our back up singing. "Shoop, shoop, shoop", and "He don't Love You", sounded almost perfect, didn't we Pat and Sue? A man close to the age of 80 danced and bopped his way down the aisle to his seat and immediately, Tony brought him up on stage to do Roll Out the Barrel. Tony couldn't get over the fact that the man was actually accompanied by both his wife and his "girlfriend"! Tony was too funny with that and his very comical side came shining through for the entire show. It was great to see Theresa, Del and Serina there and after the show, we all waited for Tony out back and shared some more good laughs with Jon and Joe and Billy.

Karen was nice enough to send the wedding pictures we asked her about with Billy. A very handsome couple who looks extremely happy. We all continue to wish you both the best, with a lifetime of happiness and joy.

It was so wonderful to have Tony express the joy and amazement he felt at seeing both Pat and I up at the Catskills. Even with miles of distance between the shows, how could we possibly resist? As Pat says, it's just another road trip! Still, it's so nice to hear his appreciation, makes it all the more special.

Hey, I managed to take several photos without being reminded by Tony that I was an enrollee in his course, Photography 101. Guess I've made it through? Not really. Still, I managed to mess up on Pat's photo with Tony. It didn't turn out at all, I'm sorry Pat, guess a refresher course is in order.

That is of course, after my completion of my new courses, Navigation 101 and Gasoline Pumping 102.

I really felt lousy about not being able to get Pat and Sue to the hotel party after the show. I have spent entirely too much time on Long Island in the passenger seat, not paying attention to the very complicated roads. That's where the navigation course will come in handy, especially with those snow removal routes and divided highways, right Pat? Anyway, I'm sure their party was cut short by their early flight schedule and we did get some added entertainment at the "Diner", didn't we? A charming maitre'd, who I believe we woke up and a waiter straight from the set of Saturday Night Live, "cheeseburger, cheeseburger" (only Pat ordered the turkey burger!) "Coke, no Pepsi", only it was iced teas and decaf coffee. Sheesh!

Our following day was a saddened day in that Sue headed back to Jersey and Pat up to Connecticut.

But, what a weekend it was... Pat, Sue, you are the best for making your long journeys, it was great to see another Tony Show with you both.

Wish we could all be together out in California to see Joyce and Pam do their play, I'm sure that will be quite a show. Have a great time, Pat and Julie!!!

Thanks for allowing me to share my story. Looking forward to Tony's co-hosting of the PayPerView event on Smokey Joe's and of course, a long awaited return to Atlantic City in the Fall!

JO

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Went to see Tony at Westbury on 7/23/00. Waited out back to see him. He came out about 45 minutes later and thanked everyone for waiting for him. This guy is unbelievable. After 40 years in the business, he still knows how to treat people. It just amazes me how he takes the time to speak with people, sign autographs and take pictures with whoever asks. This man just makes time for his fans. This is one of the many reasons that he is still so loved by so many people. I told him that my kids know all of his songs because we play his CD in the car all the time and he laughed. He took a picture with my boys and I got a picture with him too. He is just a big sweetheart!! Tony, you're one in a million and your fans appreciate everything you do for them.

MJ

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Westbury was indeed a great night! It was great to see you all there. Trying to get info for 9/10 in NYC to be there. Looking forward to Atlantic City in October. Can't wait for the new album, and to help promote it.

DEL

Hi Del! It was great to see you there too. Hope you had as much fun as we did, except that you had to be in DE by 8 am. Dont know how you did it. I am also looking to go Sept 10th to NY, hope we can all get tickets, that would be a fun time in NY once again. Hope to see you soon.
Sue :)

Sue

Re: Re: WESTBURY
Friday, 28-Jul-2000 23:48:44

I made it ok and on time. Didn't really feel it til late in the day Monday.

Del