The Beatles with Ed Sullivan, February 1964.Photo:Express Newspapers/Getty
Express Newspapers/Getty
Referring to someone as a “Beatlesfan” in 2024 is a largely useless descriptor. It’s arguably more telling to label someone “not a Beatles fan." For more than half a century, most of us can agree that the Fab Four rank among life’s unimpeachably good things.
On the 60th anniversary of the Sullivan broadcast, Gendler — now a four-time Emmy nominated television executive — is sharing her story in a new book,I Saw Them Standing There: Adventures of an Original Fan During Beatlemania and Beyond.
The audience at CBS’s Studio 50 witnessing the Beatles' performance on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’.Central Press/Getty
Central Press/Getty
It may be impossible to determine a Patient Zero for the American strain of Beatlemania, but you could make a compelling case for Gendler. The author and superfan spoke with PEOPLE’s resident Beatlemaniac about witnessing the moment America fell in love with the Beatles — live and in color.
You first fell for the Beatles in the spring of 1963. How did you initially discover them?
My parents' best friends' daughter [used to] come over to our house after school and we’d watchAmerican Bandstand. Her parents went on vacation to London and brought me back a record. I opened up the package and it wasthe first Beatles album,Please Please Me. I saw the picture of these four guys and I thought, “These are the cutest guys I’ve ever seen!” When I heard the music — “Please Please Me,” and “Love Me Do” — It was like magic to me.
What is it about the Beatles that resonates with you so deeply? Was it their music or was itthem?
It was the look of themandthe sound of them that absolutely touched my heart. I was attracted to their sound, I was attracted to their looks, and I was attracted to, I think, a bit their Britishness. There was a vulnerability there. I fell madly in love. It’s a love that now, 60 years later, is still there in its purest form.
Debbie Gendler in 1965.THE RIDGEWOOD HERALDNEWS/USA TODAY NETWORK
THE RIDGEWOOD HERALDNEWS/USA TODAY NETWORK
At what point did you realize that the band was catching on?
The change came in mid-December of 1963, when records like “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You” got frequent radio rotation and you kept hearing them and hearing them and hearing them. By January, it seemed like everyone was talking about them but not everyone had their record.
You were one of the founding members of the Beatles’ American fan club. How did that happen?
I couldn’t find friends who loved the Beatles like I did, so I was desperate. The receipt for the album I got from London was printed with a message: “If you love the Beatles, join their fan club.” So in the spring of 1963, I wrote a letter to the fan club [asking] to join. I didn’t hear anything for months and months. Then, around Halloween, I got a telegram from the office of Walter Hofer, the American attorney of[Beatles manager] Brian Epstein. They were looking for teenage fans because the Beatles' [American] visit was being planned.
Bettmann Archive/Getty
For girls, what we wore to the Beatles’ concerts was very important. I wore a skirt, a blouse and a sweater because in those days girls had to wear skirts or dresses. And when we left the house, my mom gave me a necklace to wear. I wanted it so I would look older in case a Beatle saw me. I didnotwant to look 13!
The following year, in 1965, I had the [last minute] opportunity to go to a taping for another Beatles appearance onThe Ed Sullivan Show. But I said I couldn’t go because I had to go home and select my clothes to wear to the Beatles’ concert at Shea Stadium [the day after]! Who in their right mind would think that!? Only a 15-year-old.
What was the scene like when you arrived at CBS Studio 50 on the big day?
My mom drove me the 26 miles to New York from our little town in New Jersey. As we rounded the bend to Broadway, a couple blocks from the theater, there were hordes of kids charging through — really charging,running— heading to the theater. And I’m thinking, “Will there be room for me?”
There were people pushing me, but I got past the barricade and into the studio vestibule. The first thing they did was pull the ticket away from me. I said, “Could I please have my ticket back?” And they said no. [Everyone has long thought] no tickets that exist from that night.Walter Cronkite brought his two daughtersthat night and there are reports that they never took his ticket. So there may be one!
The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show, Feb. 9 1964.Bettmann Archive/Getty
The mezzanine where I was placed was better than the orchestra because I was up above looking down. I was so happy just to be there. There were girls behind me, bouncing up and down already. I just sat there trying to be somewhat composed. And I was…for about 15 seconds. Then I lost all composure. I could barely breathe.
And then Ed [Sullivan] introduced the Beatles. It was overwhelming. That’s the only word I can say. When you look at the tape, you can see the Beatles sort of looking up at us in the mezzanine. They did “All My Loving,” “Till There Was You” and “She Loves You” and then [their first set] was over.
I remember trying to look at each [Beatle] individually to make a permanent memory of that moment. But then it was over. And Ed came out to tell us, “Quiet, quiet. We’ll be bringing the Beatles back on [later].” It was torturous for the rest of the show until the Beatles came back. It was like, why have anyone else on this show?
The Beatles from the balcony of CBS Studio 50, February 1964.Michael Ochs Archive/Getty
Michael Ochs Archive/Getty
Did I know that now, 60 years later, I’d still be thinking of that night? No. But did I feel it was important for my life? I sort of did. I thought, “Yeah, I know what I really would like to do.”
There I was at age 13, sitting in a random seat atThe Ed Sullivan Show. And now, a full 60 years later, I’m 73, working to repurpose their show clips and share them with people.
Debbie Gendler today.J. EMILIO FLORES
J. EMILIO FLORES
One of the points I try to make in my book is that formative experiences are really important. People should never downplay their children’s interests because you just don’t know where those interests will lead them.
There are so many people who feel that the night the Beatles performed on Ed Sullivan was so formative to who they are. Whenever I start to tell my story, I almost never get to the end because the other person will start to share their experience. It meant so much to so many.
source: people.com
