Saturday GLOWcase: Unmasking the Mystery of Tammy Jones, GLOW's Sweetheart (With a Punch!)

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Alright, GLOW fans, gather 'round! It's Saturday, and you know what that means – it's time for another installment of our beloved Saturday GLOWcase! And this week, we're diving into a character who's become a bit of a mystery, a bit of a sweetheart and a whole lot of fun. I'm talking about none other than the one and only Tammy Jones! You know, the Shirley Temple-esque lady who brought a touch of innocence and a whole lot of squeals to the GLOW ring.

Now, as we know, I am completely, utterly obsessed with the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, so dedicating time and energy to this series is a complete joy for me, and finding out about these ladies and sharing it with you, is something I truly enjoy, I hope you can tell.

Debbie D'Amato, the woman behind Tammy, was a vital part of the original GLOW magic. Did you know she was married to Frank D'Amato, GLOW's first referee? Sadly, he passed away in the early 2000s, but Debbie is still with us and I hear she's living her best life out in California after years in Nevada. It's always wonderful to hear some of the more private ladies are doing well.

Tammy Jones was designed to be the "family-friendly" face of GLOW. She was the character kids could latch onto, with her adorable ring gear covered in red hearts and those gigantic lollipops she'd bring to the ring. It really felt like she was straight out of a Shirley Temple movie. But don't let that sweet image fool you. From what I’ve been told, and what I have seen in snippets and segments of videos, this lady was tough as nails!

I actually had a chance to hear about Tammy firsthand from Matilda the Hun during a cruise I was on. Yes, you heard that right, Matilda herself! She mentioned that Tammy was a super sweet lady and surprisingly fierce when it came to working out. Even though her character was supposed to be childlike, Debbie was strong and dedicated. Matilda also shared that Tammy won their first match in the pilot episode to take the GLOW crown (which Matilda insists was already hers!). And even though Tammy didn't have the best win-loss record, losing more than she won, it was all part of the show, you know? Sometimes, you're just meant to take the fall, it’s a role and an important one at that!

Let's talk about those matches for a second. Tammy's reign as GLOW champion was brief – just three episodes before losing to Royal Hawaiian in her second solo match. She did manage to snag a win against Attache and another tag team win with Americana against Attache and Corporal Kelly. But honestly, her losses were almost as entertaining as her wins. I mean, who can forget those high-pitched squeals and the beatdowns she'd take from Spanish Red and Ninotchka? Plus her other tag team losses with Ebony and Scarlett the Southern Belle, it's not like you can win them all!

What's really interesting is how divided the GLOW fan base is when it comes to Tammy. It seems most fans fall into the love-hate camp. We kinda loved to hate her. There was something about her charisma and that "aw shucks" innocence that made you want to cheer her on...even when you knew she was about to get clobbered. And let's be real, her entrances were always a treat, passing out candy to kids and brandishing those giant lollipops that inevitably ended up broken. So much of the magic was the pageantry.

Despite her memorable presence, Tammy only appeared in nine or so of the first 26 episodes, aside from the skits and music videos like "Good Girls Don't" and "Nasty and Mean." I feel that there were many more stories they could have created, but the time for her had seemingly come to an end. That is wrestling for you!

And then there's the mystery. Where is Tammy now? Well, she did some TV game shows after GLOW, but then kinda vanished from the public eye. Many of the ladies of GLOW have no idea where she is. But! Thanks to the detective work of a dedicated fan, it turns out she's just living her best life in California. It warms my heart that she is out there enjoying her life.

So, GLOW fans, now it's your turn! What are YOUR favorite Tammy Jones moments? Do you have any memories of seeing her in action? Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear what you think about her! I love engaging with you, so your comments always bring me great joy.

And, if you enjoy these Saturday GLOWcases and want to help keep them coming, you know, a little "tag team" support in the form of a contribution or even a digital gift is always appreciated! It fuels my passion and helps me dig deeper into the archives of GLOW history and keeps me going to create more of these fun entries! But of course, just having you here reading and sharing your thoughts is the biggest gift of all. Until next Saturday, let’s keep the GLOW love alive!


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