May 8, 2008

Four Seasons/JB Spring Bus Tour–May 25!

May 8th, 2008

By Audrey Rockman, Jersey Boys Blog Special Correspondent

In the Four Seasons tradition, the big SPRING Four Seasons/JB bus tour is just around the corner- on May 25. With memories of the successful, inaugural tour this WINTER, I’ve named this one- The Memorial Day Memory Tour and final plans are in place. The adventure will begin in Union- just like the name of the group that we’re endeavoring to learn more about. Everyone will meet at Yesterday’s Treasures on Stuyvesant Avenue (transportation from the train station will be facilitated) at 10:30 am Sunday morning.

The agenda will start out with a bang as we visit and drive past almost a dozen sights in the Belleville/ Bloomfield/ Newark neighborhood. We’ll have lunch with ‘neighborhood’ ambiance at the famous Dickie Dee’s and drinks at the Belmont Tavern, before driving past five former homes of the Seasons members, as well as other haunts and locations like the first place Tommy brought Frankie up on stage. After the many sights in that area, it’s on to some northern Gaudio country in Bergenfield (while seeing photos of the Seasons’ homes just off the beaten path).

We’ll see the block that Bob Gaudio pointed to, when he reminisced about the girls who inspired “Short Shorts” and see the school yard he walked through on CBS last Spring. Add to that his parents’ home where he lived a couple years before leaving school to hit the road as well as his first home in the next town. From there, it’ll be on to the Montclair mansion to see the home ‘with the famous swimming pool’ with a quick drive past Yogi Berra’s home.

Then, it’s on to The Glen where the Four Lovers played and the business home of VitoMass, the record production company headed by Tommy and Nick. There will be a few surprises (to protect the innocent or… should I say guilty) along the way. After seeing some 24 sights in all, we’ll wrap things up back at Yesterday’s Treasures about 3:30. There is almost no walking involved, which means…come rain or shine, we’re all set to go! If you’re interested in ‘A Sunday Kind of Love’ as we’re ‘Working Our Way Back to [Them]’, email me ASAP at [email protected]. (We’ll be dividing the cost of the bus; I’m predicting that, with final sign-ups, it will be about $57-$67 per person…maybe less.)

7 Comments »

  1. Audrey: What a neat tour!! I hope I will be able to come back east in the near future and join in. Are you planning on doing them periodically or just when you get a group of interested people together? I have a feeling this is going to catch on.

    Comment by LindaL — May 8, 2008 @ 3:13 pm

  2. I enjoyed the first bus tour so much, I’m coming back to do this one too. Looking forward to soaking in more of the Four Seasons history. Audrey, thank you for doing all this research and putting in so much time and effort into the tour.

    Linda

    Comment by Tiggerbelle — May 8, 2008 @ 11:32 pm

  3. The only thing keeping me from going on this tour is a wedding I’ve committed to attend. This was so much fun in February, and I wish I could join the expanded version this Spring. Have fun everyone:)

    Comment by LuluThompson — May 9, 2008 @ 12:32 am

  4. I wish I could go! The first one was fantastic! Have a great time!

    Comment by Charly O'Clarit — May 9, 2008 @ 1:56 pm

  5. Linda, the Tour will most likely take place during each of the four seasons. (I’m considering adding more and also offer small tours for those visiting the NY area.) Linda, a.k.a. tiggerbelle, I wanted to add even more sights knowing that you were coming back from quite a distance; I’m so happy you’ll be returning. And Lulu…no wedding bells this coming Fall, okay?! I know you want to see those Bergenfield sights.

    Here are some related links to have handy when reading this preview.

    1-CBS Sunday morning coverage in Gaudio’s hometown: http://www.gilgweb.com/CBSSMwmv.html.

    2-JBB Coverage of the first Bus Tour: http://jerseyboysblog.com/?p=2449

    3-The pool story shared by Bob Gaudio related to the home we’ll be seeing in Montclair: http://jerseyboysblog.com/?p=2611.

    4-First article about Yesterday’s Treasures done by Howard Tucker:
    http://jerseyboysblog.com/?p=1499

    Comment by Audrey — May 9, 2008 @ 2:08 pm

  6. Audrey, that is so awesome. I will definitely plan my next trip back east around this tour so keep me posted.

    Comment by LindaL — May 9, 2008 @ 2:46 pm

  7. Congratulations, Audrey, you made the Dodger email notice. I opened my May JB update from Dodgers today and there is Bus tour! This one sounds terrific, perhaps even outdoing your first one.

    And yeah, we all know about the famous “swimming pool”–that involved Frank Sinatra, right? You ain’t getting me in a swimsuit, though, unless you have a photographer for one of the muscle magazines present, and I get the cover!! (I’m afraid if Stubbleyou is there, he’ll be tough competition!)

    What’s next, Audrey? Fodor’s Travel Guide? Souvenir maps of the famous Jersey Homes? A guided audio tour with headphones? Maybe a Monopoly board–Atlantic City is out–Bergenfield is in!! Have you called Zagat’s yet for the rating on Dickie Dee’s? (and no, Stubbleyou, that was Dickie LEE who sang “I Saw Linda Yesterday!”)

    Next tour, please: the laundromat where Frankie’s mom went after the washing machine broke! No, on second thought, maybe not…those T-shirts I bought at the Frankie Store in Vegas barely fit now….I’m not even going to chance running them through the hot water cycle! (I guess I can always give them to Jen Naimo, huh??)

    All kidding aside, Audrey, the first tour was perfectly planned and well-timed, with enough bus time to get to know our fellow Frankie-ites, and Walt’s and Jim’s commentaries added bonuses. I’m sure this one’ll be great. Kudos to you for taking such initiative.

    Comment by Howard Tucker — May 12, 2008 @ 8:20 pm

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