Shaun Squad Society
The Shaun Squad Society Podcast is a podcast written, produced and hosted by three women who want to keep the Magic of a Midnight Sky alive!
Cindy, Dorese and Dame became friends at a Shaun Cassidy concert and immediately decided to form "The Shaun Squad." Soon after, the Shaun Squad Society Podcast was conceived to discuss and reminisce about all-things Shaun Cassidy, from his first years as a teen idol to his current career as a writer and producer.
This podcast brings together a community of Shaun's devoted fans, the ones who played his albums non-stop, and who tuned into The Hardy Boys Mysteries every Sunday evening. And now, 46 years later, Shaun's story-telling tour has delighted fans again. So, join us for the stories, fun-facts, and fascinating interviews as we take you down memory lane with our Teen Dream, Shaun Cassidy.
Shaun Squad Society
Live! Full Performance of the Shirley Jones Gala Celebration
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What if you could celebrate a legend's 90th birthday while being serenaded by Broadway's finest? Join us as we transport you to Pittsburgh for an unforgettable gala honoring the incredible Shirley Jones. Hosted by her sons Shaun, Patrick, and Ryan Cassidy, and featuring dazzling performances by Sierra Boggess, Norm Lewis, Jessie Mueller, Kelli O'Hara, and Adam Pascal, this event was a night to remember. Listen in as students from the Pittsburgh CLO Academy of Musical Theater showcase their talents and witness the heartwarming moment when Melvin El, Sr., Community Advisor to Mayor Ed Gainey, declares September 21, 2024, as Shirley Jones Day.
Ever wondered what it was like to be pregnant while filming one of the most iconic musicals of all time? Patrick Cassidy shares a delightful story about his mother during the production of "The Music Man", adding a personal touch to this celebration of her legacy. Delight in Norm Lewis and Kelli O'Hara's touching rendition of "If I Loved You" from "Carousel" and hear heartfelt reflections from Ryan Cassidy on the influence of their remarkable parents. This episode is a blend of personal anecdotes and musical tributes, honoring Shirley Jones' profound impact on the world of entertainment.
Travel back to 1977, where Adam Pascal's discovery of "The Partridge Family" provided solace and inspiration. Ryan Cassidy reflects on his father Jack Cassidy's understated talents and the extraordinary influence of their mother, Shirley Jones. Wrapping up, we share a special video message from Shirley herself, expressing her deep gratitude and love for her family and the Pittsburgh community. Don’t miss this heartfelt tribute and stay connected with us through our new YouTube page to keep the spirit of family and community alive.
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Shirley Jones Gala Celebration
Speaker 1Hi everyone, what a great honor it was for us to go to Pittsburgh and be a part of the Shirley Jones Gala celebration of her life, career and legacy as she turned 90 years old. Pittsburgh CLO did an exceptional job at putting the show together and it was directed by Patrick Cassidy at the Byam Theater. It was also hosted by Sean Cassidy, patrick Cassidy and Ryan Cassidy, and it starred Sierra Boggess, norm Lewis, jesse Mueller, kelly O'Hara and Adam Pascal. It also included Cole Cassidy and Jack Cassidy. It also featured students from the Pittsburgh CLO Academy of Musical Theater and it was a great show. So please enjoy this full audio segment from the gala, and we will have more surprises for you in the coming weeks on the podcast, so please stay tuned.
Speaker 1He's always back in the ways. Good afternoon everyone.
Speaker 3That's Mark. Hope you're all doing well. For those of you who haven't had the chance to meet, my name is Mark Fleischer, executive Producer at Pittsburgh CLO and I welcome you to Shirley Jones a gala celebration of her life, legacy and career.
Speaker 3We're thrilled to have you with us tonight. Thrilled to have you with us tonight. We're gonna get into so much fun and so much incredible stories and music for you. So let me take a brief moment to introduce someone, Melvin Ill, who is senior community advisor to Mayor Ed Ganey of Pittsburgh, to come out and read a proclamation for us. I don't know if you saw today, but officially by the City Council, today, September 21st 2024, is Shirley Jones Day in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2Well, good afternoon. How's everybody feeling today? That was a little weak. How's everybody feeling today? What's up? It's Shirley Jones. We're proud to be here. My name is Melvin Hubbard-Eal and I am the Senior Community Advisor for Mary Ed Gainey, and it's a pleasure to be here to present this proclamation and, as you know, proclamations there's a lot of whereases and whereases and whereases. There's no difference in this one. We have a lot of them in here, but I like what I call a Rico Martello proclamation. Now, I don't know if anybody knows who Rico Martello is, but he is the one of the featured photographers for the new Pittsburgh Courier and about two years ago we walked into a hall celebrating Rico and walked in there to do that proclamation. I tell you, something came over me and Rico was born that night.
Speaker 2I think in respect for Shirley Jones, what she means to Pittsburgh, what she means to you and to her family, a RICO is in order. And a RICO is simply this it's a call and response proclamation when I say, whereas you're going to say, if you like, celebrating creativity and grace, ms Shirley Jones, can you handle that? I'm going to say, whereas You're going to say what? Celebrating creativity, grace, the Shirley Jones. Before I get started, there's a few words that Mary can't open. Make sure I share with you, and about Shirley Jones and how he feels and we feel on the fifth floor on Grand Street, about her. And as I say these words, they're coming from our heart. I'd like for you to repeat those words with me, if you don't mind. And the first word we'd like to talk about, shirley Jones is marvelous, marvelous, exceptional.
Speaker 1Exceptional.
Speaker 2Extraordinary, extraordinary, impressive, fabulous, outstanding.
Speaker 9Unbelievable.
Speaker 2Unforgettable, astonishing, amazing, remarkable. Unforgettable, astonishing, astonishing, amazing, amazing. And we end with remarkable.
Speaker 7Remarkable.
Speaker 2Shirley Jones rest on the fifth floor, so today this is a proclamation Office of the Mayor. Celebrating creativity and grace the iconic actress, ms Shirley Jones, saturday, september 21st 2024. And we're celebrating creativity and grace 2024.
Speaker 7And we're as celebrating creativity and grace, ms Shirley Jones.
Speaker 2It is with great pride that we recognize the extraordinary contributions of this 90-year-old icon, actress Shirley Jones, whose talent and dedication have marked the world of entertainment, and we're as celebrating creativity and grace.
Speaker 1Ms Shirley Jones mark on the world of entertainment and we're as celebrating Charlie Jones, george, I think you got it.
Speaker 2Contributions to the arts have brought joy and inspiration to many, showcasing the talent that Pittsburgh has fostered in celebrating our rich cultural heritage, and we're as celebrating, and we're as and whereas Celebrating, virginity Grace.
Speaker 7Shirley Jones, and whereas Celebrating Virginity Grace Shirley Jones. And whereas Celebrating Virginity Grace Shirley.
Speaker 2Jones. Shirley Jones has not only achieved remarkable success in her career, but has reminded and remained a beloved figure, inspiring countless individuals through her artistry, passion and commitment in her craft. And now, therefore, I, melvin Hubbard, on behalf of Ed Ganey, mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, do hereby proclaim again September 21, 2024, shirley.
Speaker 7Jones Day in the City of Pittsburgh Woo.
Speaker 2Applause 2024. Shirley Jones Day in the city of Pittsburgh, and I urge all citizens to join me in celebrating her remarkable career and her positive impact on the entertainment world. I've got one last thing to say to you.
Speaker 1We're celebrating creativity and grace with Shirley Jones.
Speaker 7Thank you very much Good to see you.
Speaker 3All right. Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, just let me say thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting the Pittsburgh CL on this very special day. And, of course, my thanks goes out to the Cassidy family for trusting the Pittsburgh CLO to present this tribute and concert in honor of their mother, shirley Jones. We, all of us at CLO, have had a long relationship with her and we are thrilled to bring this concert, these stories, to life for you, our supporters, our friends, our family. Enjoy.
Speaker 7Thank you.
Speaker 10The nominees for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role are Shirley Knight for the Dark at the Top of the Stairs, glynis Johns for the Sundowners, janet Lee for Psycho, mary Dewar for Sons and Lovers and Shirley Jones for Elmer Gantry and the Chosen of the New Zealand.
Speaker 7Don't throw bouquets at me, don't please my folks too much, don't laugh at my jokes. No more People will say we're in love. There were bells on the hill, but I never heard them ringing. No, I never heard them at all Till there was you. Oh, what a beautiful world. Oh what a beautiful day. If I loved you, words would come in an easy way Round in circles. I'd go. Longing to tell you what a great and shine Is I Love.
Speaker 8Lo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o.
Speaker 5Have you met Miss Jones? Someone said as we shook hands, she was just Miss Jones to me. And then I said Miss Jones, you're a girl who understands. I'm a man who must be free. And all at once I lost my breath and all at once was scared to death. And all at once I own the earth and sky. And now I've met Miss Jones and we'll keep on meeting Till we die, miss Jones and I.
Speaker 2Alex Jones and David Cassidy. I've heard you behind the scenes. How are you?
Speaker 11I heard you were making some promos for the Partridge family.
Speaker 5See, I love that you must know by now that the real reason I'm here is to say to you, shirley Jones this is your life.
Speaker 7Applause, applause oh no, is your life. Oh no, jack Cassidy, I'm gonna kill you.
Speaker 8Eat that handsome young leading man.
Speaker 12Internationally acclaimed star of stage, screen and television. Now your husband of 15 years, jack Cassidy. I can't tell you. I was crying backstage because I thought they were going to do my life.
Speaker 6On August 12th 1956,. You and Shirley are, as Jack said, married.
Speaker 13August 5th.
Speaker 10August 5th, let me check that out of there. You give me another date like that, Cassidy. Thank you.
Speaker 11Here's, David here's the star and your three little boys, strong, proud, strong, every night.
Speaker 7And Ryan, if you please.
Speaker 8Look at this family. Isn't this a handsome family?
Speaker 5Handsome family. Good job, Thank you.
Speaker 4There's a bright golden haze on the meadow. There's a breath of air in the air. The cone is as high as an elephant's eye and it looks like it's climbing clear up to the sky. Oh, what a beautiful morning. Oh what a beautiful day. I got a beautiful feeling. Everything's going my way. All the cattle are standing like statues.
Speaker 4All the cattle are standing like statues. They don't turn their heads. All the cattle are standing like statues, they don't turn their heads as they see me ride by and the little brown maverick is winking her eye. Oh, what a beautiful morning. Oh what a beautiful day. I, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain, where the waving wheat can sure smell sweet and the wind comes right behind the rain.
Speaker 7My, my honey love, and I Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk Making lazy circles in the sky. We'd go anywhere, to everywhere, and we'd go dancing in the sky, and if you see me, we're only sailing, we're only sailing.
Speaker 4You're never flying Oklahoma.
Speaker 7Oklahoma, okay, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma.
Speaker 4Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma.
Speaker 7Oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, Oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, Oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, oklahoma, Oklahoma, oklahoma. We'll always sing and go to the fight Of the whole world, of the whole world. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, join me On the whole yeah.
Speaker 11Yeah, woo Woo, thank you very much. Hello Pittsburgh, how you all doing? Oh, this is going to be a tough one to get through tonight for all of us. Thank you and welcome, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for joining us in this glorious celebration of Miss Pittsburgh 1952. Shirley Jones, aka my mom. Jones aka my mom. I don't know if any of you know this. Some of you may be aware, but mom grew up about 40 miles from here, a little town, smithton.
Speaker 11Her father was a beer salesman sold the family brews stonies all over western Pennsylvania. I only met my grandfather once. Sadly he passed six weeks after I was born. But I'm wearing his ring tonight and I know he's here with us and I know he's prouder than proud of his only daughter. My mom used to travel with my grandfather on his sales runs. She'd often get up on the bar and sing and dance. Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts, lordy, how they could love. It sold a lot of beer.
Speaker 11My mom was a graduate of the Pittsburgh Playhouse. She worked for the Civic Light Opera as well. As a very young woman. There's a lot of history here. The whole family does.
Speaker 11But Mom, she actually didn't think she'd be a singer. She loved animals. She wanted to be a vet. But on a weekend trip to New York City with my grandparents, her grandfather heard that the casting director for the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein was holding open auditions for a touring production of South Pacific and he encouraged Mom to go. When this casting director heard 18-year-old Shirley Jones sing, he invited her across the street to a larger theater and another audition. Mom was led center stage. There was a whole orchestra out there. She could just make out the silhouettes of two men Turned out to be none other than Rodgers and Hammerstein Right Guys who wrote South Pacific and Oklahoma and Carousel and the King and I and the Sound of music, among others. Do you know any of our songs? The composer, richard Rogers, called out from the house. Mom said I know the melodies, but I'm not sure about all the words. That's all right. The lyricist, oscar Hammerstein and his wife.
Speaker 11I know the words. One of the songs my mom sang for them that fateful day was a beautiful ballad from Oklahoma, called Out of my Dreams and here to share it with you all. Tonight is an eight-time Tony Award nominee and Tony Award winner as Best Actress in a Musical for the Lincoln Center revival of the King and I is Kelly O'Hara.
Speaker 7Thank you, thank you so much, pittsburgh. I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 15I'm emotional too. She's not my mother, but I grew up in a small farm town called Elk City, Oklahoma. I didn't have live theater. I had VHS tapes, and they were Oklahoma Carousel and the Music man. And so imagine that little four-year-old girl with a blonde ponytail Looking at her. All my dreams began then with a blonde ponytail looking at her.
Speaker 15All my dreams began then.
Speaker 15I wanted to be her, I wanted to sound just like her, I wanted to do just what she did.
Speaker 15So you can imagine years later when I got the opportunity to play Marian the Librarian in a production of the Music man, with my Mrs Peru being Shirley Jones. It was one of the most extraordinary opportunities of my life and we had the opportunity to go to dinner one night during rehearsals and she sat with me and talked and I had a little child, a little boy, at home and I was trying to get pregnant with my second and she talked to me about that experience of being a working mom, having all these boys of her own, and she was like a friend, she was like a mom in that way. A great mentor taught me how to pass that forward and then I told her the other great thing the first role I ever really got to play was in carousel. So I did. I was following, trying to follow in her footsteps. So there's no doubt that she made a huge impact on my life and that she has always made a huge impact on my dreams and into your arms.
Speaker 7I long to fly. I will come, as evening comes, to a waiting sky, out of my dreams and into the hush of falling shadows, when the mist is low and stars are breaking through. Then, out of my dreams I'll go Into a dream. Out of my dreams, I'll go Into a dream with you. Won't have to make up any more stories, you'll be there. Think of the bright midsummer night Glories we can share. Won't have to go on chasing a daydream. I'll have you. You'll be real, real as the bright moon lighting the view Out of my dreams and into your arms. I long to fly. I will come, as evening comes, to the waiting sky, out of my dreams and into the hush Of falling shadows, when the mist is low and stars are breaking through. Then, out of my dreams, I will go into a dream with you. Thank you. Thank you so much, woo. Thank you.
Speaker 15Thank you, sheridan. And now, ladies and gentlemen, the star of Broadway's Phantom of the Opera.
Speaker 14Also the man who played Harold Hill in Music man at the Kennedy Center, my very good friend, tony-nominated actor and singer the brilliant Norm Lewis you know for me, and I just have to tell you I didn't know Shirley Jones's history, I didn't know she was this musical theater queen, right, so I right and so well that came out wrong Anyway, but I knew her as Mrs Partridge. I grew up with the.
Speaker 4Partridge family. Yeah, let's give her a round of applause. Woo, Mrs Partridge.
Speaker 14For me. You know I grew up playing sports and all this kind of stuff so I didn't watch. You know, the Oklahomas and the Carousels and all that kind of stuff I've watched them enough for both of us For both of us and I just remember sitting down watching the Partridge family.
Speaker 14I'm the youngest of three and my siblings are a little bit older, and so by the time I became nine and twelve years old they were gone. So I kind of grew up as an only child so I longed for, like, a bigger family. I always wanted some more siblings. So television was my sibling and the Partridge family was my sibling.
Speaker 14And so seeing David Cassidy, who didn't want to be David Cassidy, right, and having those, you know, those other kids in the house and running around, also discovering later on Sean Cassidy right, right, and then having those you know, those other kids in the house and running around, also discovering later on Sean Cassidy as the Hardy Boy. And for you people of a certain age, you saw them on Tiger Beats and Teen Beats, right, every week, right, and then later on, you know, growing up I did learn about Miss Jones history in this musical theater world, finally seeing those those wonderful shows, those movies. And then I got to meet my good friend, patrick Cassidy, who wouldn't want to be a part of this family, you know. And so now I feel like I am part of this great big Cassidy family and tonight we're going to do a dedication to or at least my dedication to Miss Jones with Miss Kelly O'Hara.
Speaker 15We're going to get back to her musicals we're going to do If I Loved you from Carousel Woo, I just couldn't love her.
Speaker 7If I loved you Time and again, I would try to say All I'd want you to know If I loved you, words wouldn't come in an easy way Round in circles I'd go Long. I'd go Long into terror, but afraid and shy, I'd let my golden chances pass me by Soon you'd leave me Off, you'd go in the mist of day, never, never to know how I love you, if I loved you.
Speaker 4If I loved you Time and again, I would try to say All I'd want you to know If I loved you, words wouldn't come in an easy way Round in circles.
Speaker 7I go Longing to tell you of the frame I'm shying. I let my golden chances pass me by Soon you'd leave me off. You would go in the mist of day, never, never to part. I love you.
Speaker 12If I loved you. Hi, I'm Patrick Cassidy Woo and I'm also Shirley's son and, yes, I'm the middle child. So Please love me more than Sean. Okay, please, please.
Speaker 12Early into filming the music band, mom discovered she was pregnant With me and in those days a woman could be fired for far less. So she took her director to lunch and she came clean and he said listen, shirley. I said you don't have to worry about anything, we're not going to tell anyone on the production, including her co-star, robert Preston. So no one was told. Now, as the months went by and mom continued to expand, the wardrobe department must have been very confused. They kept letting out her dresses and the director would say could we add a little bit more bustle right there, perhaps a little bit more fringe there? And they would cinch the corset in extra tight, which explains the configuration of my hair, and the camera crew would shoot her almost entirely in close-up or behind some large piece of furniture or something right. But no one found out the truth. That is until they were doing the famous footbridge thing. Now this is where mom and Preston sing the beautiful ballad and they have the big on-screen kiss, right. So here we are, mom, corseted so tight, I'm lucky to be here at all. And the two of them singing Tilda Was you.
Speaker 12And just as they reached that final peak and Preston moved in to plant the big smooch, all of a sudden he felt a massive kick from underneath her pedicure. He stopped back, he stopped to take, he said what the hell was that? She smiled and she said that was Patrick Kessler. Now, the best part of the story is that 20 years later I was in New York City. I was doing a benefit with the great Robert Preston, and so I went backstage immediately to finally, finally, meet him and I got to the dressing room door and I knocked on the door and the door opened and there he was and I stepped forward rather nervously and I said excuse me, mr Preston, I have to introduce myself. My name is Patrick Cassidy. And he just smiled, he took a step back and he said thank you, we've already met, don't kick me again here to sing that beautiful song. The star of the Broadway revival of Carousel, tony Award winner for beautiful the Carole King Musical, miss Jessie Mew Woo Woo.
Speaker 7There were grounds on the hill, but I never heard them call. No, I never heard them at all till there was you. There were birds in the sky, but I never saw them weeping. No, I never saw them at all Till there was you. And there was music, and there were wonderful roses, they tell me, in the sweet, fragrant and you. There was love on the ground, but I never heard it sing. No, I never heard it at all Till there was you. There was love all around, but I never heard it singing. No, I never heard it at all Till there was you. Thank you so much.
Speaker 13So, as Patrick shared Patrick, I'm a middle child too I get it. I really get it.
Speaker 13As he shared. I was a lucky girl who got to play Julie Jordan, shirley Jones' part in the recent broader revival of Carousel. Thank you, and that kind of blew my mind because to me it was like Shirley Jones played that part. Shirley Jones was like the girl. I love Oklahoma, I loved Carousel, the Music man I grew up with those VHS tapes too and I think Music man was maybe my favorite because it's like marrying the librarian. I mean, come on, I, I, just as a little kid, I remember I adored her, I that the, the shaboopy dress, the pink dress am.
Speaker 13I right and then the hair change right, and there was the one curl like these are, these are sort of images that are sort of burned into my, my word, burned into my young mind and I just I was like, oh, I want to, I want to be her, I want to be all of her characters. I wanted to be Julie and Lori and Marion and I wanted, um, I just wanted to be like that, that witty and that beautiful and that, and have that spirit, be that spirited, and to me she, just like she embodied that. And I don't think it was until later that I realized like I connected with the characters and then I was like, oh wait, a second, that's the same actress playing all those different roles and I just thought that was the coolest thing ever. And then I thought, oh, wait a second, how do you get that job?
Speaker 7Right, Good night my someone, Good night my love. Sleep tight, my son. Sleep tight, my love. Our star is shining its brightest light. Boy, good night, my loveful good night, Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 13the Olivier nominated actress best known for originating the role of Ariel in the freakin' Little Mermaid.
Speaker 7She brought her legs tonight. If dreams there be, sweet dreams to carry you close to me, I wish they may and I wish they met Now. Good night, my someone. Good night. True love can be whispered from heart to heart. When lovers are parted, they say, lovers are part and they say but I must depend on a wish and a star. As long as my heart doesn't know who you are, sweet dreams be yours, dear. If dreams there be Sweet dreams to carry you close to me, I wish I may and I wish I might Now. Goodnight, my someone. Good night, good night, good night Come on Desi be a little.
Speaker 16So we've all heard how everyone loves Shirley Jones and we know all these iconic roles that she's played, but I just need to take a minute for her voice. The first time that I saw the music man, it was life changing and it was a voice that I'd never heard before. I thought it was the most pure, the most angelic sound and it wasn't like an annoying soprano. You know it can be kind of sometimes annoying. None of us tonight obviously.
Speaker 7Because we were what.
Speaker 16Influenced by Ms Shirley Jennings. But it was so warm and so beautiful and I thought, now that is singing, and I specifically remember singing and I specifically remember loving Goodnight my Someone, which is why it's so special that I got to sing that tonight, and with Jesse, because that's just the best. But I'm going to share another song with you now that you might not know, because few people realize that, in addition to her movie musicals, shirley Jones also starred on Broadway, and her first role was opposite her Tony Award winning husband, jack Cassidy, in a show called Maggie Flynn, and Jack played a man who loved Maggie Shirley and then he left her for another woman. Who the hell leaves Shirley Jones Right? But Shirley's character, though conflicted, remained deeply in love with this man anyway, and this is the song that she sang at the end of.
Speaker 16Act One after he returned and begged for her to take him back.
Speaker 7It's so easy, much too easy, to be fooled by him once again. Something tells me Turn away now or be ruled by him Once again. I don't need those laughing arms anymore, or the sober kind of love that I need anymore, or the summer kind of love that held me there. I remember, still remember, how the winter made me cry. I won't let those laughing arms anymore For the summer kind of love that I'll be there. I remember, still remember, how the winter made me cry. I won't let it happen. I can't let it happen. I'll not let it happen Again. Thank you so much.
Speaker 16And now here to come on and get y'all happy the original star of the Broadway and film versions of Red Tony nominee Adam Pascal.
Tribute to Shirley Jones and Family
Speaker 17Thank you, ciara. Hi everybody, I'm so honored to be here. Thank you to my good buddy, patrick, for inviting me. So the year is 1977, 1977 and I'm a seven-year-old kid living on Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, which is actually the birthplace of rap music, incidentally. Google it, look it up. So when I was seven years old, my favorite thing to do was to fake an illness so I could stay home from school and watch daytime TV. Gilligan's Island Bewitched. I Love Lucy the Munsters.
Speaker 8I just I couldn't get enough of these shows.
Speaker 17So one day I pulled my little scam and I'm staying home from school and I'm on the couch and I'm watching my shows when all of a sudden something new comes on. And I hear this music, this infectious harpsichord riff, and I see this cartoon come on the screen, this adorable bird shaking a booty and shaking the little kids off and I was like.
Speaker 17My seven-year-old self was like what the f-? So suffice to say that by the end of that episode, I was hooked. I wanted to be Keith, I wanted to marry Lori, I wanted Danny as my best friend and, of course, like everybody else in America, I wanted Shirley as my mother. Else in America, I wanted Shirley as my mother. So when I realized that this show, which was now in reruns, was on Monday through Friday at 1030 in the morning, well, my seven-year-old self only had one option I was never going back to school again. So now, when I'm asked and I'm often asked. So now, when I'm asked, and I'm often asked, what impact has Shirley Jones had on your life?
Speaker 17I have a very special answer, which is I can't read and I can't identify basic shapes or colors. And that's thanks to Shirley Jones. I love you, shirley. Thanks everybody, yeah.
Speaker 8Everybody. Yeah, hello world is a song that we're singing. Come on, get happy. Yeah, oh, a whole lot of loving is what we'll be bringing. We'll make you happy. We had a dream'd go travel together, we spread a little love and then we'd keep moving on. Something always happens when we're together we get a happy feeling and we're singing a song. Traveling along is a song that we're singing. Come on, get happy. All right, love, it is what we'll be bringing. We'll make you happy. We'll make you happy. We'll make you happy. We'll make you happy.
Speaker 8Me, I'm sleeping, and right in the middle of a good dream, like all at once, I wake up From something that keeps knocking at my brain. Before I go insane, I hold my pillow to my head and spring up in my bed screaming out the words I dread I think I love you, I think I love you, I think I love you. This morning, I woke up with this feeling. I didn't know how to deal with, and so I just decided to myself. I decided to myself and never talk about it, and then I go and shout it when you wanted to I think I love you, I think I love you, I think I love you. But what am I so afraid of? I'm afraid that I'm not sure of A love there is no cure for. I think I love you Is not what life is made of, though it worries me to say that I never felt this way.
Speaker 1We have our chance. It happens.
Speaker 8It happens. So what am I so afraid of? I'm afraid that I'm not sure of how long. There is no cure for I think I love you. Isn't that what life is made of? Oh, it worries me to say that I've never felt this way. Believe me, you really don't have to worry. I only want to make you happy, and if you say hey, go away, I will, but I think better still, I'd better stay around and love you. Do you think I have a case? Well, let me ask you to your face Do you think you love me? I think I love you. I think I love you. I think I love you. I think I love you. I think I love you.
Speaker 8Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and a big round of applause for the students of the Pittsburgh City Academy of.
Speaker 4Musical Theatre. My God, that is amazing.
Speaker 6I'm Ryan Cassidy and I am much more famous than my brothers. If you didn't know that, it's because I like to keep it very quiet. No, I'm not famous at all, but that's okay, because I've had a great career behind the scenes as a set decorator. I started out as an actor. I was on this show called the Facts of Life Group Until they replaced me with some guy named George Clooney. Living in the shadows of our family has been an interesting experience, and one that I shared with my father. Well, dad was well known on Broadway and on television for playing charming villains on shows like Columbo. He was never as celebrated as my mom or David Michon, so this was tough for him. But as far as we were concerned and my mother always said this to be true dad was the most talented one in our family, gifted with an extraordinary voice, great, great humor, dashy, good looks. As a husband and father, he was never perfect, but as a force of nature in our lives, we wouldn't have changed him for the world.
Speaker 4Thank you Dearly beloved. How clearly I see Somewhere in heaven, pure fashion for me, angel eyes knew you.
Speaker 7Angel voices led me to you. Nothing could save me. Fate gave me a sign. I know that I'll be yours, come, shower or shine. So I say dearly, dearly, beloved, be mine, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. They'll grow up. They'll grow up. Patrick and I are going to make sure they're happy.
Speaker 10Thank you.
Shirley Jones Tribute Video Announcement
Speaker 11Thank you, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for this extraordinary experience, this extraordinary gift to our mom. I want to thank my brother, patrick. It was his idea to put this whole thing together with Mark Fleischer and the Civic Light Opera. Thank you all, fleischer and the Civic Light Opera, and all of them. I want to thank Kelly and Jesse and Sierra and Adam and Norm. There are no more talented humans on the planet than these five people. I'm the extraordinary orchestra led by Kim Brigsby. Of course, the one person you're thinking about where is she is Mom, mom's 90. Mom. She said I love that they're doing this. Where is she is mom, mom's 90. Mom. She said I love that they're doing this, but I'm not getting on an airplane. But she so misses being with you all.
Speaker 12At 90 years old, it's just too difficult for her to travel, but I promise that we are going to share this video of this amazing day with her Right now we'd like to share a short video from mom to all of you.
Speaker 9Hi, it's Shirley. I'm so sorry I can't be with you in my beloved Pittsburgh, but at my age, long trips are not my best friend. So I would like to thank the City Light Opera and all of you, especially my sweet boys, for this extraordinary honor. So many talented people and so much love.
Speaker 12I thank you. Thank you, Cole and Jack Bastow, Jack.
Speaker 7Pascale.
Speaker 12We love you, Grandma. This one's for you.
Speaker 5When you walk through the storm, hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark.
Speaker 10At the end of the storm is a golden sky and the sweet silver song of our Lord.
Speaker 7Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain, though your dreams be tossed and blown. Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart and you'll never walk alone. You'll never walk alone, alone, alone. When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark. At the end of a storm Is a golden sky and the sweet silver song of the lark. Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain.
Speaker 1Though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Speaker 9Walk on my love with hope in your heart, and you'll never walk alone. Oh, oh, thread and subscribe to our new YouTube page.
Speaker 1Make sure to keep in touch with us at our email SeanSquadSociety at gmailcom. The Sean Squad Society podcast, including past, present and future versions, and its contents are owned and controlled by the Sean Squash Society. The podcast is written, produced and recorded at the Borden Studios and the views and opinions are solely those of the Sean Squash Society podcast. We may think we are always right, but we may get things wrong from time to time, so we assume no responsibility for errors of submission of content.