While discussing the passing of Koch with Monsieur this morning, out of our talk came a name I thought I had buried, but, as we talked, came back to the fore! I am talking about Sukhreet Gabel!!!!!!!!
Who??????????? some of you my ask????????? And what kind of a name is that, might ask others?????????
Well, for starters, before going further, let me just say, her mother, who was a judge, was named--Hortense!!!!!!!!! Outside of Eileen Heckart's character of Mrs. Daigle in "The Bad Seed," when do you hear that name anymore???????????? And you know what they used to say, which "The Bad Seed" made clear--"My girl, Hortense. Hasn't got much sense. Let's write her name on the privy fence!"
OK, now for all you young'uns out there, who or what is/was Sukrheet Gabel?????????? Listen up, children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the late 80s there was this sleazy city contractor (is there any other kind???) named Carl "Andy" Caposo!!!!!! He was supposed to have bribed Judge Gabel, Sukrheet's mother, by getting Bess Myerson to offer the professionally challenged judge's daughter a job. Sukrheet became, for a time, a New York media figure--a kind of full figured Little Edie wannabe. Only she did not have the inner class of the Bouviers behind her (breeding always wins out, girls; even when it comes to kookiness!!!!!) to keep her momentum of fame going. So, when the whole thing came crashing down in what was called the "Bess Mess," and Sukhreet took the stand as a star witness for the prosecution, that was, basically, her last hurrah, and she vanished into as much obscurity as can be possible, living in Manhattan!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, now, with the passing of Koch, and now this blog post, I think we are going to see a re-emergence of Sukrheet. The irrepressible Sukhreet still calls herself a kook, lives with a roommate not far from the 69th Street (West or East???) apartment she grew up in.. She lives off of her inheritance, and designs clothes made from ethnic fabrics. But now I think is the time for her to branch out!!!!!!!
How about a nightclub act???????? Hey; Little Edie had one!!!!!!! And I've seen worse acts than hers!!!!!!!!!!!! So, why not Sukrheet?????????????
How about "Sukrheet--The Musical????????" It is a natural for Off-Broadway, and could premiere as part of the Fringe Festival!!!!!!!! How about Camryn Manheim, as Sukrheet??????
And Lainie Kazan, in a form fitting Forties Miss America suit and prop regalia, as Bess? Dann Florek as Koch?????????? And a singing, dancing Joanna Merlin, as Judge Hortense Gabel???????????? I can just hear some great songs being belted out, right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Forget the Birdman Of Alcatraz, darlings!!!!!!!!!! Sukrheet Gabel is the Bird Lady Of 69th Street!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tweet Tweet, Sukrheet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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