Enjoyable and very detailed account for fans of the Beatles. Memoirs about historic events are always fun.

Charming and occasionally insightful peek into Beatlemania. This is a unique document from the era and I was very happy to be able to read it. Will be purchasing for the library and hope that it circulates well.

This book is an incredible story of a teenage girl who had a dream to meet her favourite band, whom she championed early on, and it changed the whole course of her life. Debbie Gendler is an amazing storyteller and I found the book so captivating and I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to keep reading! I love all the photographs in the book. What a journey! Oh the places you’ll go because of rock and roll! An excellent buy for any Beatles fan.

Many people marvel today at the enormous popularity and fan adulation of Taylor Swift. However, 60 years ago, the Beatles were the equivalent of four Taylor Swifts as they took the United States by storm, beginning with a legendary 1964 performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Debbie Gendler was at that performance, as well as several Beatles concerts over the next few years. She has now written a memoir, “I Saw Them Standing There,” detailing her experiences with the Fab Four, their relatives, business associates, and others in the Beatles empire. What makes her story fascinating is that Gendler was just13 years old when she first became involved with the Beatles. Further, many of the events detailed in the book took place before she graduated high school. During those years, Gendler had access to the Beatles and their associates that few adult journalists would ever enjoy. She tells her story with the exuberance and occasional regrets of a teenage mega-fan in a unique position in the Beatles universe.

Debbie Gendler was a typical New Jersey seventh grader whose life changed when she got a Beatles album as a gift from a family friend who had traveled to England in the spring of 1963. The Beatles were practically unknown in the United States then, with almost no radio stations playing their music. Gendler adored the music. She was so thrilled by the group and their music that she wrote off to the Beatles Fan Club in London, asking to join. Other letters followed with no response.

Finally, six months later, she received a telegram asking her to go to a New York City law office to discuss the Beatles. Since Gendler’s Oakland, NJ, home was only 25 miles from the Big Apple, getting there was no problem. (That proximity also made it much easier for her to get back and forth to Beatles events over the next few years.) A few days later, Gendler’s father drove her to the law office, where she met the Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein, and several other individuals involved in promoting the singers. Epstein and his associates thought Gendler was over 13 and wanted her to manage the Beatles’ U.S. Fan Club. Gendler had to decline the offer, but she got a ticket to the Sullivan show instead. From there, her lifelong connection to the Beatles blossomed.

From that moment on, the Beatles’ publicity machine went into high gear, and their music got more airplay. Their first U.S. album debuted in January 1964 at number one, and then came the historic Ed Sullivan Show. Gendler became increasingly involved with the Beatles Fan Clubs in the United States and had several meetings with Epstein and others involved with the Beatles’ management. She eventually had her chance to meet the Beatles in 1965, but Gendler made a blunder (you’ll have to read the memoir to find out what she did), and the meeting didn’t go well. She was undeterred and kept up her Beatles activities, culminating in a 1967 trip to England. Gendler met George and Paul’s parents there, sat in on a studio session with Paul and Ringo, and even went night clubbing with Paul and some associates.

I was fascinated by Gendler’s accounts of her meetings with notable music industry figures of that era. She also attended concerts at various New York City club venues for groups, including the Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, the Velvet Underground, the Kinks, and the Moody Blues. Events that would have been once-in-a-lifetime experiences for many people were daily occurrences with Gendler. Along the way, she acquired a vast trove of Beatles memorabilia, including Beatles talcum powder (liberally spread around as a prop by actor Eddie Deezen in the movie “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”) and hairspray. Even though she’s given away some of her collection over the years, it would be pretty valuable today if she ever sold it.

The Beatles broke up about the time Gendler went to college, but her relationship with the members didn’t end there, nor did the book. The memoir’s second half details her experiences as an adult with the former group members. After college, she went to work for CBS and began a 50-year career in the television industry. Naturally, that position gave her access to many more celebrities, but Gendler confined the book’s contents to her experiences that related in some way to the Beatles. Those included booking Linda McCartney for a cooking show and testifying as a witness at a copyright infringement suit involving Beatles’ properties. Gendler became good friends with Paul’s brother, Mike McCartney, a well-known photographer, and he invited her to various events where Paul and Linda were in attendance. Gendler’s memories aren’t all happy; she discusses her reactions to the deaths of John Lennon and George Harrison.

Gendler drops numerous names in her book, many of which will be unfamiliar to many readers. She reminded me of Forrest Gump, who had a knack for associating with celebrities. In Gendler’s case, her famous acquaintances went beyond her Beatles days. A middle school friend and fellow Beatles fan moved away from New Jersey and changed her name to P. J. Soles, future star of films like “Rock ‘n Roll High School” and “Halloween.” I lost track of who some of the music executives were, even though, for Gendler, they were old friends and associates.

The book also hops around chronologically and repeats itself at times. Gendler could have used tighter editing to organize the material better. She also includes some anecdotes in the book in which she had no involvement. That material tends to be the memoir’s least interesting parts. One fascinating exception is a discussion of whether the infamous Kray brothers tried to strong arm their way into the Beatles’ management shortly before the group disbanded.

Anyone interested in “I Saw Them Standing There” should realize what the book is not. It’s not a biography of the Beatles. It’s not a recounting of their 1964 Ed Sullivan appearance (which occupies only a few pages). Instead, it’s the story of a 60-year love affair between one woman and the Beatles. Along the way, she had access to the inner circle that was rare for anyone and unheard of for a teenager. She includes several personal photographs and letters from the organization in the book. The rest of us can now share in her “you are there” experience. I highly recommend “I Saw Them Standing There” for fans of the Beatles or of 60s rock music in general.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I am currently fascinated by all things Beatles and I love these inside stories. What an interesting life Debbie Gendler has had, from being a superfan and advocate for the Beatles through to her career in showbusiness. I loved hearing about her experiences meeting the group and George Harrison's parents sound absolutely wonderful! I liked that her parents supported her and allowed her to follow her dreams.
Really interesting read.

I Saw Them Standing There is an interesting read on the early days of Beatlemania. Gendler, a NJ native, writes extensively on her personal experiences with the Beatles, their families, and the Beatles' famous appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. The book is more of a memoir of Gendler's life than a biography on the Beatles. Having read Philip Norman's books on the band, I found this book underwhelming. However, the book is a quick, easy read that is relatively entertaining.

Thanks to NetGalley and Globe Pequot for this eARC!

Debbie Gendler loved the Beatles before anyone in her small NJ hometown loved them. She was Beatlemania before there was Beatlemania. A year after the 14-year-old was introduced to the Liverpool lads through a family friend who brought back one of their albums from the UK, when the band appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, finally the world caught up with her obsession. Speaking of that historic Ed Sullivan show, Debbie was right there in the audience.

Gender, who was president of her hometown fan club, and whose dedication to the band was so consistent and extreme that she not only was on speaking terms with Brian Epstein but met the band themselves on several occasions. She has a superb memory, helped along by her extensive memorabilia collection and diaries.

This book is an entertaining and enlightening romp through not only Beatlemania from the perspective of an original Fan with a capital F but through the sixties and the Mod scene, and her close relationship with George Harrison's parents and Paul McCartney's brother.

I take off a star because Debbie's actual meetings with members of the Beatles were always a disappointment. I would so look forward to her chances to come face to face with them, but then her reactions to them were always strange and confusing. When she meets the band in a hotel room and John Lennon and Paul McCartney tease her about her purse, which was leaking dirty water from the water bottle she'd snatched after Ringo Star left it behind, instead of being thrilled that her idols were talking to her, she seems genuinely distraught and turned off. Surely she knew by then that John had a biting sense of humor? She seems so irritated with John's lighthearted teasing of her that I thought she would resign her position as number one fan. Instead, the book continues on as if nothing happened...

Same when she gets the chance to hang out with Paul McCartney at a London club one evening. A super fan like Debbie should have been absolutely beside herself with happiness. Instead, she says she prefers to talk to the roadie, and really has nothing to say about Paul sitting near her all night, and then leaves and seems disappointed that he gives her a wave and a goodbye (was she expecting he was going to invite her back to his house or something?).

The editor should have dug down deeper into her true feelings about these meetings with the Beatles. Was she truly this disappointed, blasé about them meeting them in person? If so, why did she continue to be such an uber fan?

Otherwise the book is quite interesting and gives you a real behind-the-scenes look at the time and dedication it took being obsessed with superstars. Most fascinating was that Debbie's parents took an incredibly indulgent view of all of this—not only approving of her obsession but helping her with it.

I just reviewed I Saw Them Standing There by Debbie Gendler - Foreword by Robb Weller. #ISawThemStandingThere #NetGalley Thank you to NetGalley, Debbie Gentler and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Let me begin by saying anything ‘Beatle’ catches my eye.
As a first generation fan, albeit only 7 years of age in 1964, I know the excitement of hearing their voices on my little transistor radio, seeing them on the Ed Sullivan Show, cutting out their photos in magazines, playing their 45’s, collecting the bubblegum cards and of course, falling in love with Paul McCartney.
Reading Debbie’s memoir brings back every emotion and that indescribable feeling that was and is The Beatles. She puts the reader in a front row seat from pre-Sullivan days to her mingling with their inner circle. The joy and passion of Beatlemania through Debbies lens envelopes you from the very first paragraph. Every fans voice, dream and wish is captured. The phenomenon that was and is The Beatles is magical and Debbie’s account further exemplifies that spirit.
Simply said, a ‘must read’.
Thank you NetGalley, Debbie Gendler & Backbeat Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.
5 stars!

3.5 Stars

This was an interesting memoir from NJ native Debbie Gendler, who was lucky enough to be sitting in the audience when The Beatles first played on The Ed Sullivan Show in February of 1964. I admired her faithful passion for The Beatles and her pure gumption and determination that led her to actually meeting The Beatles and spending time with their families. Her extensive Beatles memorabilia collection has been used in movies such as "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" from 1978, and she was interviewed for the Beatles documentary "The Beatles: Eight Days a Week- The Touring Years" directed by Ron Howard in 2016. She has had numerous interactions with The Beatles and their whole inner circle since they first came to America in 1964.

The writing style was easy and free flowing and there were many personal photos and documents interspersed throughout the book. She is the real deal, and if you've read a lot about The Beatles this is another authentic perspective from a serious Beatles fan.

Thank you to the publisher Globe Pequot, Backbeat who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Great to Debbie's account of the Beatlemania period and to learn facts and stories from that era is very thought provoking and exciting.