• Departing Sunday 28th August ⁸

We had green ribbons for our cases, my coach ‘B‘ – purple ribbon for coach ‘C’ !! But my dad asked for purple ribbons for souvenirs ! The plane began to taxi down the runway at 1025 – making it an hour late. We were served drinks first and then about 1230 we were served lunch. Only 2 1/2 hrs to Los Angeles ! We landed at LA International Airport at 135pm LA time. Before leaving an Immigration Officer asked me if I had come to see the Osmonds ! (what a question!). ‘Yes’ I said, ‘we are going to see the Donny & Marie Show’. As we walked towards the entrance along a long passage, comments were heard from people ‘oh they’ve come to see the Osmonds’, how right they were! Nearly everybody stared at our t-shirts with ‘Osmonds Wondertour ’77’ written on them. We then had to wait for our three coaches. We had a few minutes wait, when they arrived Rosie & Angela took care of the cases while Janice & myself obtained seats on our Coach ‘B’, Ron, our courier boarded & we were off. It was all so exciting. We arrived at Holiday Inn at 420pm feeling tired. We waited on our coach for our keys & then entered our room no. 417, 4th floor.

We looked through the TV guide but no sign of Donny & Marie Show ! At around 6pm we were wanted by our couriers to meet downstairs to talk about different things. We were told about going to the Donny & Marie Show on Thursday, Universal Studios & Marine Land. We returned to our rooms & crawled into bed, wrote to mum & dad & started falling asleep, Goodnight everybody !

Photos: Angela Janice, Rosie & Angela Me relaxing ! Our keys !

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• Day 2 Monday 29th August 1977

I awoke at 545am, Angela was already awake. We updated our diaries. It was still dark outside and we knew Donny was out there getting ready to go to the Studio ! We went downstairs for breakfast & then returned to our room for odds & ends for the day. We were going on a tour of Los Angeles, travelling along Sunset Blvd ( not pass KTLA !), Mann’s Chinese Theatre which was lovely.

We saw famous stars handprints & messages in the cement, then on to Hollywood Bowl,

such a big place.

We drove through Little Tokyo (you just cross the street & you can be in another town). We went through China Town, they had just had a festival, flags flying everywhere. Dodger Stadium was very large. The main stop of the day was Farmer’s Market, I bought 2 Donny & Marie posters ! We then returned to our hotel. Angela & I decided with great courage to go to the Studios. We caught bus no. 83 to Fairfax, then no. 89 to Sunset Blvd onto La Brae and no. 42 to KTLA Studios,

it took 2 hours but only 50c to go all the way on a transfer ticket. After arriving we were very excited at the thought of seeing Donny ! BUT he wasn’t in there. We became friends with Aydin at the guardhouse, he was very helpful with the questions we fired at him ! We were so thrilled when he said we could go around Studio 6 which is where Donny & Marie were filming their show ! Many people were queued up for a quiz game. We walked into Studio 6 & there was the ice rink, boy was it great ! Around the back, the boards had ‘D & M’ all over them, then we saw Donny’s white piano, it looked lovely with two silver strips around it. We saw some more sets in other studios. We walked back across the parking lot towards the guardhouse again passing more sets belonging to the show, no pics allowed ! Aydin then said ” Oh look, there’s Jay Osmond “, we couldn’t believe it, it couldn’t be, but it was, I was so stunned I just stood dead still ! Ang ran up & asked if he knew where Donny was ? Jay said he thought he was inside ! Jay looked lovely, his hair was frizzy as before. “Could we take a photo Jay ?” “Yeh, ok “. He stood & faced us & smiled that smile shuffling back every second trying to get away. We found

out why later on, he was there to pick up Marie, we saw them leave in the car, Jay, Marie & Connie (I think). At least we had seen two Osmonds, so we left pleased but not to sure if Donny was inside or not but we decided he would have left with his brother & sister. We caught a different set of buses home down Santa Monica Blvd. A disco was at 830pm, they played some Osmonds but then the machine packed up ! It was taking ages for it to be fixed so Ang & I decided to go upstairs around 10pm. We heard that Ron, our courier, had phoned the local radio station & they played a dedication. We talked & talked about going to see Donny tomorrow. We feel terrible but we cancelled the excursion to ” Magic Mountain ” to go and see Donny ! Goodnight everybody !

Photos: Mann’s Chinese Theatre Hollywood Bowl

Hollywood Bowl with Ang, Janice & Rosie

KTLA Studios Jay xx

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• Day 3 Tuesday 30th August 1977

Today we go to “Marineland”. It was a lovely place, about hour’s drive. It seemed a bit misty near Long Beach Waterfront. We spent the morning there seeing the fishes & whales called Orky & CORKY, they were large ! I bought dolphin salt & pepper shakes for mum & dad. On the way back we were dying to go to the studios again ! We arrived there around 430pm but Aydin said we were unable to go in ! Donny and Marie were inside ! What to do now ?! They would be out around 7pm, so we decided to go to Sunset Blvd to a Record Discount store to buy Donny’s new L.P. “Donald Clark Osmond” for $ 4.20.

The pic on the front is too much for words ! We walked back slowly passing time, we went to the guardhouse again but Aydin then told us about 10 mins after we left THEY left !! We were so mad ! Why of all days did they have to leave early. We felt like crying, I really did. We travelled home quietly so annoyed, so near but so far ! We could go in Wednesday according to Aydin but we had “Universal Studios” tour in the afternoon ! Mum & Dad what should I do ? Let’s see what we feel like doing in the morning ! It’s 12.30am Wednesday morning, goodnight everybody !

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• Day 4 Wednesday 31st August 1977

Boy oh boy, what a morning ! What should we do ?! I felt terrible, it was a big decision, Donny or Universal Studios. Angela became brave and phoned KTLA Studios. We couldn’t get out the info if the Osmonds were in so we couldn’t decide any better, it was suggested phoning Aydin at 4, that would be too late ! We went shopping up the Mall and returned still not having made up our minds. We were to leave at 1245, it was now 1230, getting nearer all the time. We decided we must go to Universal Studios incase Donny was not there ! It was terrible after we boarded the coach. We waited for Ron, our courier, and I mentioned to Ang about the only chance left was to meet Donny tomorrow with all the other girls ! Ang started crying, so did I. We drove away & tape recorder played Donny & Marie singing. Oh boy it made us worse ! Friends asked if we were ok, they thought it was because of the tape. We eventually stopped crying & half hour later we arrived at Universal Studios.

We got onto a tram which took us half way round & looked at few amusements and carried on round site. We went over a bridge that “collapsed”, saw “Jaws”, he came out of the water very close sprouting out water towards us !

We had a walking tour around the Studio, looking at props used in “Bionic Man”, how he lifts large vehicles etc. We saw the different weather effects they use. A Cowboy Stunt Show was good, a real laugh. Three cowboys were fighting and at the end of the show, one cowboy jumped from the top of an inn onto a mattress,

then an Animal Show, a parrot was given a drinks bottle & drank from it as he rolled over & over ! They also had a star dog, using a boy from the audience to perform tricks with him. After this show it was home time, a very enjoyable day. Goodnight everybody !

Photos: Universal Studios Jaws ! Cowboy Show

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• Day 6 Friday 2nd September 1977

Today we left for Las Vegas at 830am arriving at 5pm. The Holiday Inn was very nice & easy to get to as it was situated on Sunset Strip. It was so lovely & hot that we decided to go out to see the lights. They were beautiful, really lovely & bright. We walked for ages past all the hotels, Caesars Palace, Hilton Flamingo, Showboat Holiday Inn.

Photos were taken at Caesars Palace &

Hilton Hotel as this is where the Osmonds perform cabaret each year. We stopped in an Ice Cream Parlour on
our way back & stayed to 11pm talking to Bruce, behind the counter, discussing England & our accents !! He had to keep saying ‘pardon’ as he didn’t understand us ! The Parlour was only one petrol station & one shop away from hotel, so we walked home & went straight to bed very tired ! Goodnight everybody !

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• Day 7 Saturday 3rd September 1977

Today’s the day we go to Hoover Dam for the morning.

It was a great trip, a fascinating place, so large ! We paid to go on the tour around the Dam, we travelled down an elevator into the Dam, if you looked through a grid there was so much water ! We spent the morning there & travelled back to the hotel and decided to go & eat with Bruce at the Ice Cream Parlour & stayed until around 3.30pm. Ang & I went for a walk up Sunset Strip to do some more shopping. We walked even further than the previous evening. We went into the MGM Grand Hotel shops, they were lovely. There were many one-arm bandits around but of course we were not allowed even near the machines ! We eventually turned back passing ‘Circus Circus’ which Jay had advised us to see in ‘Osmonds World’, it was packed.

We went inside & saw some small fair stalls, one of the stalls made badges of yourself & pinned to the board advertising them was Donny on a badge ! Oh, it must have been a fan who asked for a photo ?! Ang asked the lady on the stall & she said he was in ! We caught the bus for 70c for a few stops & walked rest of the way. We stopped for another ice cream. Rosie & Janice phoned us just after we arrived back as we had discussed to visit the hotels that evening, but as it was already 830pm Ang & I thought we would stay in, so Rosie & Janice went out & we would see them in the morning. Goodnight everybody !

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• Day 8 Sunday 4th September 1977

Today we travelled to Salt Lake City Holiday Inn. When we arrived we were greeted with a sign saying “Welcome Osmonds Fan Club” which was great as it could be seen from the main freeway.

We had a takeaway & walked to the shops. We found a record shop selling “Donald Clark Osmond” L.P. which Janice & Rosie bought. Ang & I bought Donny’s single “You’ve got me dangling on a string / I’m sorry (which Donny wrote). We walked back to the hotel around 11pm. Goodnight everybody !

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• Day 9 Monday 5th September 1977

Today we visited the Mormon Temple & new Visitor Centre.

I enjoyed this very much. We stayed behind at 1130am as we had a choice to walk back to the hotel (only half hour) or coach back now. We had not seen all the films so we carried on. The films were very interesting, I bought the Book of Mormon for $1 as it was a softback & looked different from my hardback & also I could say that I bought it at the Centre. A man talked about the different temples around the World, we talked to him about visiting Salt Lake and he invited us to go with himself, his wife & daughter for a ride up to the mountains on the edge of Salt Lake which was very nice of him. He arranged to pick us up at 7pm that evening. We left the Visitors Centre & walked back returning around 5pm. We were told about a film slide show that had been arranged for all of us & pics were of the Osmonds. We tried to contact our friend but he had gone home so we phoned his home & left a message, we hoped he would go home before coming to see us ! We ordered a takeaway again, while waiting with Janice, Ang & Rosie talked with our friend who arrived in the meantime outside. After collecting our order we went upstairs to eat. Ang & Rosie came up after a while saying that they didn’t mind at all about wanting to stay in. We arranged to contact the Visitor Centre when we have a free evening which was a great idea. The film show was great, rare photos of the Family, some of the Las Vegas Show this year & rare pics of Travis, Michael & Amy. During the film show, Donny’s book, Donny & Marie Tiger Beat Mag, Donny & Marie Book were being passed around, we knew we now had to find them when shopping next ! The end came of a nice day. Goodnight everybody !

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• Day 10 Tuesday 6th September 1977

Today, we travelled to Provo approx 30 miles away. We turned into Canyon Road and passing Riviera Apartments

,

passing a few blocks and Brigham Young Campus was to our right. We entered BYU and attended Assembly as it was their first day back for a new term. After all the speeches were made we left & boarded our coaches. We were taken on a short tour of Provo passing the Provo Temple

then up the hill to look at a view of the BYU Campus. It was large ! We were to have lunch on campus. Eventually we had our lunch, the waitress asked if I had any relatives in California as I looked like someone she knew ! We met back at our coaches at 230pm & then went to Bridal Veils which was lovely. It was so hot that the shop nearly run out of drinks ! The next stop was Sundance, Robert Redford’s place.

He was around somewhere but we didn’t see him ! Shame ! It was beautiful there. We then moved on to Orem, just past Provo, to see the Osmonds Fan Club. It was a “very out of the way” place, so peaceful. Mrs Osmond, Virl, Jimmy and Grandma Davis were there, they were lovely.

Presents were given to Mrs Osmond to pass onto the rest of the family. We ordered items from the Fan Club, I bought Marie’s set of ‘cleanser, rinse & masque’, the concert book and Donny’s book “Voices from the Dusk”, at long last I have it ! It was extra special as it was signed inside. We then boarded the coaches after Mrs Osmond & Grandma Davis left together. Ron, our courier, then came on the coach & told us there was a surprise back inside, it was fan club posters, cards etc. We boarded again feeling very pleased & happy. We had done well today ! The next stop was just up the road to the new Osmond Studios,

they looked so large. We had seen the plan of the Studio at the Fan Club & Ron described to us the inside & future plans, Merrill is working on the idea of having a Fun (Fair) Ground next to the Studios, calling it “The Land of Os”, sounds great. On the way home we stopped outside Riviera Apartments & right there was Donny’s car !

Cameras clicked like mad from inside the coach because we were not allowed outside ! I wonder why ! It was then back to the Holiday Inn. A great day. Goodnight everybody !

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• Day 11 Wednesday 7th September 1977

Today there was an optional excursion to Copper Mine. We decided not to go but to go back to Salt Lake & ZCMI to buy a Donny & Marie L.P. case for $ 6.50. We left around 11am & bought most of our presents in ZCMI, we returned around 5pm ordering another takeaway ! We sat to watch Donny & Marie on a Magic Show, the magician went into a box & Marie put the saw through with some help & when she opened the box, Donny came out ! He looked great ! Donny then sang his new single “You’ve got me dangling on a String “. It was the first time we had heard it. Donny & Marie didn’t come on anymore, so we all got ready to go to the disco downstairs. Donny’s single was played twice & “I’m Sorry” of his new L.P. The lady behind the bar said I looked like someone (again) !! The disco was good fun especially ‘Choir Time’. We sang with coach ‘C’ in front of the others, it was a laugh with Ron & Davy conducting us ! Ended a nice day. Goodnight everybody !

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• Day 12 Thursday 8th September 1977

One week ago today I met Donny ! Today we travel to the Ranch in Avon Country, quite a way out. We paid $ 14.00 which was to include buffet lunch at the Ranch. We passed through Ogden & stopped at the temple for a few minutes. It was beautiful inside, a man told us about the Book of Mormon & when the Osmonds visited the Temple. He asked Keith if we were going to their old house and told us where it was, we did stop outside

& Ron cracked a joke about Donny, when he was born he had to sleep in the mail box outside because there were so many of them !! We travelled for ages & eventually arrived at the Ranch. It was still being built in parts, the Osmonds own a lot of land around the Ranch. We saw Marie’s horse, George

& Mr. Osmond’s brown horse. Kittens were also roaming around, you could tell they were used to people as they came to you straight away. We walked through a field & over a small plank across a small river

to a large field which was were they had laid on a great barbecue for us. We cooked our own hot dogs over the fire & had potato salad, crisps to go with it. Then it was marshmallow time ! We were told to be back at the coach around 3pm, so we walked to the stream, it was so peaceful. Rosie & I walked back over the plank to see the horses, the 6 kittens appeared again. During the walk, Ang & I picked up a stone as a memory !! Before leaving Ron Clark came on to say goodbye. His words were so touching that it made myself & many others cry. We left feeling sad but happy after a great day. Goodnight everybody !

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• Day 13 Friday 9th September 1977

Today a really long journey south-westerly via Vegas to Anaheim, Los Angeles, Disneyland area. We left at 6am, arriving in Anaheim’s Holiday Inn at 1030pm after 3 stops. Ron arranged Bingo & luck hit my cards, I won Donny’s book “Donny” which I haven’t got & some more Fan Club postcards. Everyone was trying to win the next copy of the book, I had one number left & told Ang if it came up she could go up for prize, it did & she did ! for her copy of the book ! A fun day. Goodnight everybody !

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• Day 14 Saturday 10th September 1977

Today Angela’s penpal Marie came to visit & kindly took us around Disneyland,

we left around 11am. It was about one block away so we walked. It was great fun, we had to wait for the rides but they were worth the wait, really fast some of them.

I bought a Mickey Mouse for $ 7.50, he is so cute ! Marie was very nice, she knows the Osmond Family as she grew up in Provo & moved to La Palma but moving back to Provo (don’t blame her) !

She mentioned that Donny was at a disco in Westwood that evening, should we go ? We left Disneyland at 9pm & back at the hotel we phoned taxis & it was $30 to Westwood so we forgot that idea ! Marie had arranged a lift at 130am so we looked through photos, Marie offered to take us to the Westwood Church next day but we couldnt go as we were leaving at 12noon & not sure what time we would be back !

Marie left at 130 & by 3am Ang & I put the light out ! Goodnight everybody !

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• Day 15 Sunday 11th September 1977

Today we go home ! I felt happy & sad. We left at 12noon to L.A. Airport, we arrived & waited but Ron appeared & said our flight had been cancelled for 24 hours ! We were worried that parents would be waiting at Gatwick London, the only thing was to phone. We had been given alternative acommodation I’m pleased to say. We stayed in Airport Park & given allowance for food, which was good. We went to our rooms & watched TV for a while, a disco was arranged for the evening after having a buffet style dinner. The disco finished at 115am, back to our room & fell asleep. Goodnight everybody !

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