LAUNCH EVENT FOR DEBBIE GENDLER’S BEATLES BOOK–I SAW THEM STANDING THERE

It’s been sixty years since the Beatles first hit America. When they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show that early February, they changed the trajectory of music forever! And super-fan Debbie Gendler was there from the very start.

Debbie and I have been friends for quite awhile, (I’ll tell you the fabulous story of how we met in a minute,) so I’ve long been fascinated by her magical stories of meeting not only the Fab Four themselves, but also tons of people in their private orb! And now the world is lucky enough to be able to do the same because she’s written a book about her experiences, with the very clever title, I Saw Them Standing There.

To celebrate this major accomplishment, Debbie recently had a book launch and signing on the eve of what used to be known in America as “Beatles Day,” (which, as we lifelong fans know, was February 9th,) at the Barnes and Noble in the Grove. And, even in that *cavernous space, it was packed to the rafters. Mr. X even came willingly! And he loved the entire presentation as much as I did. *[Note: Did you historians see what I did there? The Cavern Club in Liverpool is where the legend of the Beatles began.]

The first part of the event was an interview of Debbie by music historian, and author himself, David Leaf. That lovely convo made the evening so much more special than I had expected.

And not only were her stories user-informative, but they were charming. And often hilarious! Debbie was calmly funny, which was just perfect for the occasion.

I thought I knew all her Beatles stories, but I had just scratched the surface of them. I hope you all read the book because the tales are a riot. And so personal; no one else can have stories like these. [Note: I’ll be reviewing the book in the next couple of weeks, if I can calm myself down from all the extreme envy I’m feeling while reading it!]

I especially enjoyed Debbie’s message at the end of the interview, about how much her parents had done for her, not just in supporting her teen-age Beatle-mania, but always. I love a person who appreciates their ‘rents. Many people just complain about them, and never realize nor acknowledge how much the grown-ups in their lives have done for them.

The biggest revelation of the evening for me, (which is not in the book, but an audience member requested this story,) was that when she was still a teen, she was on…The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson! I’ve known Debbie Gendler for ages, and had no idea about that! I had never realized that, in addition to our love of the lads, we had appearances on The Tonight Show in common, as well! Live and learn.

After the amusing and interesting chat, Debbie sat down and signed the books for the eager assemblage. While Mr. X and I were catching-up with her lovely and supportive husband, Paul Supnik, a woman came over to him and suggested that he tell Debbie to “move it along,” because she was taking a long time with each person in line. Of course, he wasn’t going to do that because he knew that she cared about each and every person who was there to have their book signed by her. I watched her for awhile and instantly recognized that she wanted to make the experience as special for all the guests as it was for her! You go, girl!

Okay, so now I have to tell you how Debbie Gendler Supnik and I met. It was a long time ago and still, to this day, I get the biggest kick out of this tale. Here goes:

The early days of my television show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue, came before the internet, so I received honest-to-goodness fan letters–in the mail–all the time. And I read, and appreciated, all of them.

One day I received an envelope with “CBS” as part of the return address, so it intrigued me. It turned-out to be from Debbie, a stranger at the time, (who worked at that TV station,) inviting me to the opening of a photography exhibit by none other than Michael McCartney, Paul McCartney’s younger brother! I almost passed-out; on my show, I often told of my younger-self adoration of Paul, and how I even had referred to myself as “Mrs. McCartney” back then. (His wife, not his mum, of course, although, at this point, I’d take either!)

As I read it, I started crying, first with joy, and then with extreme pain because…I was going to be in New York on that date, so I’d have to miss meeting my imaginary former bro-in-law! As I was trying to compose myself to call Debbie to thank her, and decline the invitation in misery, Mr. X said, “Ask Michael to do your show,” to which I replied, “Yeah, right, Michael McCartney wants to do my local cable show!” And besides, at that point, I had never had guests before—the show was all just me, chatting to the studio (and television) audience for the half hour. [Note: I had even turned-down Sarah Jessica Parker, when she asked to guest on KRR! I now know what a dumb move that was on my part.]

So I pulled myself together and called Debbie to thank her, and very sadly explained that I wouldn’t be around on the date of Michael’s show opening. And then she said the magic words—I should just let her know when I’d be back in LA, and she and Michael would take me to the gallery themselves! And then she asked…if Michael could guest on my show!!!  I almost passed-out!

And that’s exactly what we did when I got back to town. We all, (Michael, Debbie, her husband Paul, Mr. X, and I,) went out to dinner first, to get to know each other a bit, and then on my show, Michael surprised me with a wonderful gift–one of his stunning shots of the *(almost) Fab Four in their younger days! (And he even pointed-out Paul as my “huhs-band,” in his charming Liverpudlian accent!) *[Note: That’s original Beatles drummer Pete Best in the photo, not Ringo!]

And Debbie and I have stayed friends ever since. (And no—the friendship is not so that I’d stay just one degree from Paul McCartney!)

I’m often proud of my friends. But knowing how hard writing is, and imagining the humongous effort it takes to finish a book, I’m extra proud of Debbie Gendler Supnik.

Now I have to go read the book this very second. Let the jealousy commence!