The Take Me Home Tour[a] was the first solo concert tour by American singer-actress Cher. It premiered in June 1979 at the Sahara Reno Opera House Theatre in Reno, Nevada, featuring an elaborate production and cast assembled by Joe Layton. The tour, which concluded in August 1982, marked Cher's solo debut on the nightclub circuit.
Running from June 1979 to August 1982, most performances of the Take Me Home Tour took place at the Circus Maximus Showroom at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Cher performed two shows nightly, at 9p.m. and 12:30a.m., seven days a week,[7] earning $300,000 weekly.[8] Although Cher took the show to other North American cities, as well as Europe, South Africa and Australia, the media often labeled it a Vegas residency, with shows in other cities marketed as Cher taking her "Vegas act" on the road.[9]
This residency phase shaped both public perception and Cher's own view of her career. Despite its financial success, she found the experience unfulfilling, describing a Vegas residency as an "elephant's graveyard" for fading stars.[10] She later commented, "I was making a fortune ... but I was dying inside. Everyone kept saying, 'Cher, there are people who would give anything to have standing room only at Caesars Palace. It would be the pinnacle of their careers.' And I kept thinking, 'Yes, I should be satisfied' ... But I wasn't."[11]
Cher described the show as "a bit Sonny & Cher-ish", blending cabaret, disco and rock and roll.[16] With twelve costume changes, she never wore any outfit for more than eight minutes. Inspired by her television shows Cher, Cher... Special and Cher... and Other Fantasies, the concert featured three backing singers, six dancers and elaborate props, including a mechanical bull named El Toro and a giant high-heeled shoe.
The concert also included three drag performers impersonating Bette Midler, Cher and Diana Ross. During Cher's costume changes, Kenny Sacha (as Midler) performed "In the Mood", and J.C. Gaynor (as Ross) performed "I'm Coming Out". Audiences were often unaware they were impersonators until the end of the show, when Cher introduced them out of drag. She recalled, "We got Diana and Bette to record their voices in the intro but I didn't think it would fool them. I was never afraid to take risks like that."[17] After their performances, Cher regularly joined them for a rendition of "Friends". Russell Elliott opened the show as Cher. Maclean's journalist Elio Iannacci recognized Cher as "one of the first to bring drag to the masses".[17]
In 1980, one of Cher's midnight shows at Caesars Palace drew headlines when state officials issued a $180 fine for exceeding the legal sound limit of 115 decibels.[18]
During 1980, Cher balanced her solo performances with her role as the lead vocalist of the rock band Black Rose, managing both commitments until the band parted ways after releasing their self-titled album.
↑ Cher's 1979–1982 concert series had no official name and was promoted under various titles, including "Cher",[1] "Cher in Concert",[2] "The Cher Show"[3] and "The Cher Tour".[4] Over time, it became known as the "Take Me Home Tour", a name adopted by Cher[5] and biographers.[6]
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