Originally published in ALIVE Magazine, February 2009.
When I hear the name Doris Day I picture the All-American, talented blonde with a vibrant personality, wholesome good looks who is equally talented in both singing and acting.
I have always admired the music and films of Doris Day and remember hearing her sing the tune, “Ten Cents a Dance” in the MGM film, Love Me or Leave Me where she played the role of singer, Ruth Etting. Actor James Cagney played the role of Martin “The Gimp” Snyder and together they lit up the screen. For me this was one of Day’s strongest roles in Hollywood. The film soundtrack album spent about seventeen weeks at # 1, made millions at the box office and generated six Academy Award nominations,- winning for Best Story.
Recently, I was eager to interview Ms. Doris Day and learned that she doesn’t do appearances or grant interviews anymore. Her representative kindly let me know that Doris Day prefers spending time with her “four-legged” family and continues to work with her two public service organizations for the betterment of animals.
Having a soft spot for animals, Doris Day founded two non-profit organizations, “The Doris Day Animal Foundation,” (responsible for over one-million spays and neuters) and, “The Doris Day Animal League,” a nonprofit, national, citizen’s lobbying organization working to improve the humane treatment of animals, which recently merged with the Humane Society of the United States.
When she was a young girl her dog was hit by a car and she eventually set out to help many animals and is making a difference in the world. I recently read a quote by Doris Day: All my life I have never felt lonely with a dog I loved at my side. I love people and animals, though not necessarily in that order.
Doris Day is “America’s Original American Sweetheart.” She’s a woman of great strength; as an actress, singer, business woman, and animal advocate with a big heart. Her name still tops the “Most-admired” lists and polls worldwide. She resides in Carmel California, one of the most beautiful places in the world.
To add to Day’s many ongoing achievements, she is the co-owner, along with Dennis Le Vett, of the “Cypress Inn,” in Carmel, California. The wonderful thing about this hotel is that guests can bring their cats and dogs—that’s right—your little furry friends! “We also offer pet blankets and lots of cookies at the front desk,”says general manager, Nancy Slade. There is live music in Terry’s Lounge on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and Doris Day films may be viewed by request in the “Day Room.”
In the hotel restaurant they have one section that is “pet-friendly” and a separate section for people who don’t necessarily want to dine with pets, so customers can get the best of both worlds at the Cypress Inn. “Carmel has always been very special to me and to my partners. We are delighted that our Cypress Inn is part of what makes Carmel one of the most loved destinations,” saidMs. Day.
In her heyday, Doris Day was a top selling box-office movie star and singer who stole the hearts of many Americans, starting in the 1930s up to and through the 1970s. In 1985 she agreed to do a cable show devoted to pets called, “Doris Day’s Best Friends.” Eventually she retired from show business.
As a star, she was most popular in the late 1940s through the 1960s and still has a fan base today. While doing my research I found several Doris Day fan websites on the internet and memorabilia for sale on EBay.
Not only has Doris Day been a long-time American Sweetheart, but her track record is quite impressive. She has sung some of the most memorable songs ever written: Sentimental Journey, Teacher’s Pet, Secret Love, It’s Magic, A Guy is a Guy, and of course, Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be), written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, which won an Academy award for Best Original Song in the hit film, “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” starring Doris Day and Jimmy Stewart.
Day got her start as a big band singer and quickly became a leading star in both singing and acting, becoming a number one box-office attraction and top-selling singer. While holding her own in musicals, dramas, suspense, and comedies, she was perfectly capable of both singing and acting with many hit songs under her belt and big blockbuster films to her credit. She was as equally good in both careers, though many tragedies in her personal life were camouflaged by the light and fluffy films and romantic and bluesy songs that she is known for today.
Doris Day could sing a variety of musical styles, from big band to ballads. She could sing the sweetest romantic love song ever written to the sultriest, bluesy song that could send chills up your spine. Sentimental Journey was definitely one of her great signature songs. After its release in 1945, it soon became an anthem for the desire of World War II demobilizing troops to return home. This song is still associated with Day, and was re-recorded by her on several occasions.
She put her sentimental signature on some other dynamic songs as well, including Love Me or Leave Me, I Only Have Eyes For You, Day By Day, My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time, Aren’t You Glad You’re You and Come To Baby, Do.
Throughout her career as an actress she co-starred with such greats as Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra, James Cagney, Rock Hudson, James Stewart and Ronald Reagan. In the late 1940s, Day was fortunate to team up with crooner/actor Frank Sinatra on the “Hit Parade” radio show and began recording with Columbia Records.
Even though Doris Day is an American icon, she is well-loved all over the world for both her music and her films, along with her dedication to animals. She was born in Ohio on April 3rd 1922 as Doris Mary Ann Von Kappelhoff. She started off as a dancer, but after a serious automobile accident that injured her legs, she began listening to singers on the jukebox and on the radio, soon realizing that she could sing.
In 1939, she joined the “Barney Rapp’s Band” and moved onto the “Bob Crosby Band” in 1940. Soon thereafter, she had a stint with the “Les Brown Band” and Bob Hope followed. She toured extensively across the United States and her popularity as a radio performer and vocalist, including a second hit record, “My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time,”led her directly to a career in films.
The 1959 film, Pillow Talk with heart-throb Rock Hudson, started her career in romantic comedies. She got the Best Actress nomination and the film was a box-office success. In 1963, she starred with James Garner in the film, The Thrill of It All. Other Day films include: Teacher’s Pet opposite hunk Clark Gable, Lover Come Back, Tea For Two, April In Paris, Jumbo, Calamity Jane, Romance on the High Seas, The Pajama Game, Please Don’t Eat the Daisies and Young At Heart, with ol’ blue eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.
Doris Day found a new way for her energy and we remember her raspy, bluesy, lullaby-like singing voice, her pitch-perfect comedic timing and talent in film, and her dedication to the welfare of our “four-legged” friends.
Que Sera, Sera—“whatever will be will be,” as Ms. Doris Day enjoys her eighties and beyond, as she continues on her Sentimental Journey.
Please visit: http://ddaf.org and http://cypress-inn.com
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