I was at the Playboy Expo yesterday, (7-17-99). Gene was scheduled to appear at Hefner's round bed, Hef's original bed where you could take a picture with a playmate on it for $12.00, for a photo session at 2:00. He was late by over an hour for some reason. It was fairly hot inside and he was sweating profusly. He kept trying to dab himself with a tissue to mop up the sweat. He completely took over the whole Expo. There were photographers, video cameras, Access Hollywood and Extra were there for sure. Thirty minutes later he made his way across the Expo to an area where at least 100 fans were waiting in line for him to sign their Kiss posessions. I had a friend wait in that line while we were at the bed area taking pictures. There were two full size posters for DRC as well as small posters that Gene signed if you did not have anything to sign. Copies of Kisstory were there, unfortunately nothing about Kisstory II.
I brought my 24" Gene doll which Gene did sign and asked if I would "hang" out for a bit because he wanted the television cameras to get a shot of it. So I waited behind the area where Gene was signing. After about 30 minutes Gene decided to go for some reason and started to leave. Everyone followed him as he made his way through the Expo. Gene went back over to the bed area for more pictures and it was at that time that I thought he was going to use the 24" doll because one of the people that he was with asked if he wanted the guy with the doll? Gene said yes, so I got to go up to the roped off area but there were no TV cameras so nothing really happend. Gene then stopped off at Shannon's table and talked to her for a minute.
Gene then proceded to the back of the Expo went outside and got into a limo and left.
It was over rather quickly with alot of fans kind of left out. Gene must have been on a time table because unless you were one of the first in line you lost out. It was really cool to see Gene in full makeup and costume that close, but it was too bad that it had to end so quickly. Everything was just so rushed, no time for questions and he would only sign one item.
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