Doris Day

Doris Day (born April 3, 1924), is an American singer, actress, and animal welfare advocate. A vivacious blonde with a wholesome image, she was one of the most prolific actresses of the 1950s and 1960s. Able to sing, dance, and play comedy and dramatic roles, she has been an all-round star whose personality has permeated many popular and diverse movies.

Biography

Day was born Doris Mary Ann von Kappelhoff in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Evanston to German immigrants. The second of two children, she was named "Doris" after silent movie actress Doris Kenyon, whom her mother liked. Her family was Roman Catholic, despite her parents' divorce. She later embraced Christian Science.

Early Singing Career

Day started out as a dancer, winning a contract that enabled her, only twelve years old, to travel to Hollywood, California with her partner, Jerry Doherty, in 1936, but turned to singing when she injured her leg in an auto accident in 1937. She sang with the big bands of Barney Rapp, Bob Crosby, and Les Brown, before setting out on her own in the late 1940s. It was Barney Rapp who convinced her that "Kappelhoff" was too awkward a name and suggested "Day" after the song "Day by Day" that was part of her repertoire. She never really liked the name Doris Day, thinking it sounded too much like a stripper; this was ironic, since she eventually became associated with a nearly opposite image of wholesomeness and innocence.

With Brown, she charted twelve popular music hits, among them her first two # 1's: "Sentimental Journey" and "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time". "Sentimental Journey" earned her a flood of letters from World War II GIs. She admitted coming to hate singing "Journey", but never tired of reading the letters. On her own, she had more # 1's, including "Secret Love".

Movie Career and First Films

Day acted in many films, in most of which she sang. Day began her film career in musicals, starting in 1948 as a peppy, Betty Hutton-esque persona. Her first film was Romance on the High Seas; in her audition she beat out over one hundred actresses, some of whom were established figures. Early publicity saddled her with such unflattering nicknames as "The Tomboy with a Voice" and "The Golden Tonsil". She continued to make saccharine and somewhat low-level musicals such as Starlift, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, and Tea For Two for Warner Brothers until the cycle exhausted itself. 1953 found Doris as pistol packin' Calamity Jane in what has become one of Hollywood's most enduring musicals, winning the Oscar for Best Song for "Secret Love".

In 1955, she received some of the best notices of her career for her portrayal of singer Ruth Etting in Love Me or Leave Me, co-starring James Cagney. She continued to be paired with some of Hollywood's biggest male stars, including James Stewart, Cary Grant, David Niven, and Clark Gable.

In Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much, she sang "Whatever Will Be (Que Será, Será)", which won an Oscar. According to Jay Livingston (who wrote the song with Ray Evans) Day preferred another song used briefly in the film, "We'll Love Again", and skipped the recording for "Que Será, Será". When the studio pushed her, she relented, but after recording the number in one take she reportedly told a friend of Livingston's, "That's the last time you'll ever hear that song." This was ironic, as "Que Será, Será" (Spanish for "what will be, will be") became her most famous song. It was used, for example, in her later film Please Don't Eat the Daisies and was reprised as a brief duet with Arthur Godfrey in The Glass Bottom Boat and became the theme song for her television show. (The song was also covered by Sly & the Family Stone in 1973 in a recording that has become a sort of secondary standard version.)

Box Office Queen and "World's Oldest Virgin"

with Rock Hudson in Pillow Talk (1959)

In 1959, Day entered her most successful phase as a film actress with a series of romantic comedies, starting with the hugely popular Pillow Talk co-starring Rock Hudson, who became a lifelong friend. The film received positive reviews and was a box office favourite. It also brought a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress for Day. She and Hudson made two more films together, and she also made two films alongside James Garner, starting with 1963's The Thrill Of It All. Many of her 1960s films ignored her singing abilities and painted her as a good-hearted woman with a strong will, a hint of naïveté, and the purest virtue this side of a nun. Algonquin Roundtable member and showbusiness wit Oscar Levant, who had known Day earlier in her career, summed up the paradox of Day's late-blooming ingenue phase when he famously said, "I knew Doris Day before she was a virgin." But the public loved Day's light, frothy comedies of this period, buying enough tickets to make her by far the top female movie star in America during the first half of the 1960s.

By the late 1960s, the sexual revolution and the widely discussed promiscuity of the maturing baby boomer generation had refocused public attitudes about sex and sexuality. Times changed, but Day's films did not. Critics, comics and pundits dubbed Day "the world's oldest virgin" and audiences began to shy away from her repetitive, gimmicky roles. Day herself found many of her mid-late 1960s films to be of very poor quality (her least favorite was Caprice, co-starring Richard Harris) and did them only at the insistence of her third husband and sometime producer, Marty Melcher. One of the roles he supposedly turned down for her was that of middle-aged adulteress Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate (a role that went to Anne Bancroft). Later, in her published memoirs co-authored by A.E. Hotchner, Doris says that she herself rejected the part on moral grounds.

Bankruptcy and TV Career

Melcher died in 1968. After more than a decade as a top box office star, Day was shocked to discover that her husband of 17 years and his business partner Jerry Rosenthal had squandered her earnings, leaving her deeply in debt. Day sued Rosenthal and won the largest civil judgment up until that time in California, over $20,000,000 (USD). (How much Day actually collected is not certain). According to Day's as-told-to autobiography by A.E. Hotchner, the usually athletic, healthy Melcher had an enlarged heart, but possibly wanted to die rather than face Day with the truth about her ruinous finances. Another factor in Melcher's death may be that he converted to the Christian Science religion during his relationship with Day, and his newfound religious beliefs (which include a doctrine claiming that illness is illusory) led him to put off going to the doctor for some time.

Upon Melcher's death, Day also learned that he had committed her to a TV series. "It was awful," Day told OK! Magazine in 1996. "I was really, really not very well when Marty passed away and the thought of going into TV was overpowering. But he'd signed me up for a series. And then my son Terry took me walking in Beverly Hills and explained that it wasn't nearly the end of it; I had also been signed up for a bunch of TV specials, all without anyone ever asking me." Day hated the idea of doing television, but felt obligated. "There was a contract. I didn't know about it; I never wanted to do TV, but I gave it 100 per cent anyway. That's the only way I know how to do it.'"

From 1968 to 1973, Day starred in her own situation comedy, The Doris Day Show, which had "Que Será, Será" as its theme song. Day continued with the show grudgingly and only as long as she needed the work to help pay down her debts. By the end of the series' run, Day was nearing 50, and public tastes had changed to such a degree that her firmly established "wholesome" persona was now completely out of fashion. Day essentially retired from acting at the end of the series' run.

Marriages and Marginalia

Though generally presenting a happy, carefree image to the public, Day had four difficult marriages:# To Al Jorden, a trombonist whom she had met when he was in Barney Rapp's band, from March 1941 to 1943. She was not yet 17 when she married Jorden, and her only child, Terry Melcher (a boy), was born from this marriage, when Day was 17. Jorden committed suicide after their divorce.# To George Weidler (a saxophonist), from March 30, 1946 to May 31, 1949. They broke up after eight months. Weidler and Day met again several years later and during a brief reconciliation he helped her become involved in Christian Science.# To Marty Melcher, whom she married on her 27th birthday, April 3, 1951. This looked like a happy marriage, and lasted much longer than her first two. Melcher adopted Terry (thus renaming the boy Terry Melcher), and also produced many of Day's movies. Day also later revealed that Melcher had physically abused Terry. His profligate spending caused money difficulties for Day that continued for a number of years after his death. # To Barry Comden, from April 14, 1976 to 1981. Comden was her only husband outside show business. Comden was the maitre d' at one of Doris's favorite restaurants. Knowing of her great love of dogs, Comden began the practice of giving Doris a bag of meat scraps and bones on her way out. This is how he got to meet and endear himself to her. Sadly, this marriage, which could have been the happiest of all, unraveled, and Comden complained that Day cared more for her "animal friends" than she did for him.

In 1972 the name of Doris Day was included in one of the songs of the famous musical Grease side by side with Sandra Dee as an example of overly sentimental and righteous person, but this is somewhat unfair and should not be taken as fact regarding either lady.

In 1985 Day hosted her own talk show, "Doris Day's Best Friends." The show generated unexpected press when her old friend Rock Hudson appeared in the first episode. Day was taken aback by Hudson's emaciated and wizened frame, as he had always been in top physical condition. Soon after, she and the world learned that he was dying of AIDS. Day stood by his side, but refused to accept that his illness was the result of his sexual proclivities.

In 1987, Day founded the "Doris Day Animal League", and she currently devotes much of her time towards the cause of helping animals.

She wrote a best-selling autobiography, Doris Day: My Own Story.

In 2004 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom but refused to attend the ceremony because of a fear of flying. She has turned down an honorary Academy Award and a Kennedy's Center Honor for similar reasons.

After a brief attempt to become a surf music singing star, Day's son Terry Melcher became a staff producer for Columbia Records in the 1960s, and was famous for producing most of the hit recordings by pioneering folk rock band The Byrds. In November 2004, Terry Melcher died from complications of melanoma (skin cancer), aged 62.

Doris Day is currently part-owner of the Cypress Inn in Carmel, California.

Songs

Albums (see [1] for details)

10" LPs

You're My Thrill (1949)
Tea for Two (1950) (Soundtrack)
Young Man with a Horn (1950) (w/Harry James) (soundtrack)
Lullaby Of Broadway (1951) (soundtrack)
On Moonlight Bay (1951) (soundtrack)
I'll See You in My Dreams (1951) (soundtrack)
By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953) (soundtrack)
Calamity Jane (1953) (soundtrack)
**The Deadwood Stage
**Secret Love
**Just Blew in From The Windy City
**The Black Hills Of Dakota
**(4 more)
Young at Heart (1954) (soundtrack) (w/Frank Sinatra)
**Till My Love Comes To Me
**You, My Love
**Ready, Willing and Able
**Hold Me In Your Arms
**(2 more)

12" LPs

Day Dreams
**Reissue of "You're My Thrill"
**plus 4 more, also early singles
Love Me or Leave Me (Soundtrack of the MGM film: Orchestra arranged and conducted by Percy Faith) (1955)
**It All Depends on You (DeSylva, Brown, Henderson)
**Sam, The Old Accordion Man (Donaldson)
**Shaking The Blues Away (Berlin)
**Mean To Me (Ahlert, Turk)
**plus 8 more, plus outtakes on current reissues
Day By Day (1956) (Orchestra arranged and conducted by Paul Weston)
**The Song Is You (Kern, Hammerstein)
**I Remember You (Mercer, Schertzenberger)
**Day By Day (Cahn, Stordahl, Weston)
**Autumn Leaves (Mercer, Kosma)
**plus 8 more
Day By Night (1957) (Orchestra arranged and conducted by Paul Weston)
**I See Your Face Before Me (Dietz, Schwartz)
**Moonglow
**Dream A Little Dream Of Me (Kahn)
**You Do Something To Me (Porter)
**plus 8 more
The Pajama Game (1957) (Soundtrack of the Warner Bros. film: Orchestra arranged and conducted by Ray Heindorf) (w/John Raitt and cast of film)
**I'm Not At All In Love
**Small Talk
**There Once Was A Man
**Seven-and-a-Half Cents
**Once-A-Year Day
Hooray For Hollywood (2 volumes: orchestra arranged and conducted by Frank DeVol)
** Volume One: (1958)
***Cheek To Cheek (Berlin)
***Over The Rainbow (Arlen, Washington)
***Blues In The Night (Mercer, Arlen)
***Night And Day (Porter)
***plus 8 more
** Volume Two: (1959)
***Three Coins In The Fountain (Cahn, Styne)
***It Might As Well Be Spring (Rodgers, Hammerstein)
***You'll Never Know (Gordon, Warren)
***Nice Work If You Can Get It (GGershwin, IGershwin)
***plus 8 more
Cuttin' Capers (1959) (Orchestra arranged and conducted by Frank DeVol)
**Making Whoopee (Kahn, Donaldson)
**Sitting On Top Of The World (Brown)
**Let's take A Walk Around The Block (Arlen, Lane, I.Gershwin)
**Stepping Out With My Baby (Berlin)
**plus 8 more
What Every Girl Should Know (1960) (Orchestra arranged and consucted by Harry Zimmerman)
**When You're Smiling
**Something Wonderful (Rodgers, Hammerstein)
**Mood Indigo (Ellington)
**A Hundred Years From Today (Washington)
**plus 8 more
Show Time (1960) (Orchestra arranged and conducted by Axel Stordahl)
**On The Street Where You Live (Lerner, Loewe)
**They Say It's Wonderful (Berlin)
**People Will Say We're In Love (Rodgers, Hammerstein)
**I Love Paris (Porter)
**plus 8 more
Bright and Shiny (1961)
I Have Dreamed (1961)
Duet (w/ Andre Previn) (1962)
You'll Never Walk Alone (1962)
Billy Rose's Jumbo (soundtrack) (w/ cast of film) (1962)
Annie Get Your Gun (w/ Robert Goulet) (1963)
Love Him (1963)
The Doris Day Christmas Album (1964)
With a Smile and a Song (1964)
Latin for Lovers (1965)
Doris Day's Sentimental Journey (1965)
The Love Album (recorded 1967, released in 1994) (Orchestra arranged and conducted by Sid Feller)
**Wonderful One
**For All We Know
**Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
**Are You Lonesome Tonight?
**plus 8 more (2 in a medley)Complete recorded performances of Doris Day are available by collecting the two above referenced collections: the four Bear Family collections: It's Magic, Secret Love, Que Será, Será and Move Over Darling, The Complete Doris Day with Les Brown, and Hidden Treasures.

Singles (see [2] for details)

Hit Records

(with Les Brown's Band of Renown)
*"Sentimental Journey"::1,000,000+ sales
*"My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time"::1,000,000+ sales

thumb

(As A Solo Performer)
*"It's Magic"::1,000,000+ sales
*"Again"
*"Love Somebody" (duet with Buddy Clark)::1,000,000+ sales
*"Confess" (duet with Buddy Clark) (also done by Patti Page)
*"Bewitched"::1,000,000+ sales
*"Shanghai"
*"Sugarbush" (duet with Frankie Laine) ::1,000,000+ sales
*"Mister Tap Toe"
*"Secret Love"::1,000,000+ sales
*"If I Give My Heart to You" (also done by Denise Lor)
*"I'll Never Stop Loving You"::1,000,000+ sales
*"Whatever Will Be, Will Be" ("Que Será, Será")::1,000,000+ sales
*"Everybody Loves A Lover"
*"Move Over, Darling"

Other Songs

*"Anything You Can Do"
*"Any Way the Wind Blows"
*"But Not For Me"
*"By The Light Of The Silvery Moon"
*"Cheek To Cheek"
*"Dream A Little Dream Of Me"
*"Everybody Loves My Baby"
*"Hey There"
*"Hooray for Hollywood"
*"I'm An Indian Too"
*"It All Depends on You"
*"It's a Great Feeling"
*"It Takes Time"
*"Julie"
*"Just One of Those Things"
*"Love Me In The Daytime"
*"Love Me or Leave Me"
*"Lullaby of Broadway"
*"My Darling, My Darling" (duet with Buddy Clark)
*"My Young and Foolish Heart"
*"On Moonlight Bay"
*"Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps"
*"Pillow Talk"
*"Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em with a Ribbon"
*"Singin' in the Rain"
*"Someone Like You"
*"Tacos, Enchiladas and Beans"
*"Teacher's Pet"
*"When I Fall in Love"
*"You Are My Sunshine"
*"You Do Something to Me"

Filmography

Romance on the High Seas (1948)
My Dream Is Yours (1949)
It's a Great Feeling (1949)
Young Man with a Horn (1950)
Tea for Two (1950)
The West Point Story (1950)
Storm Warning (1951)
Lullaby of Broadway (1951)
On Moonlight Bay (1951)
I'll See You in My Dreams (1951)
Starlift (1951) (Cameo)
Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Night Life (1952) (short subject)
The Winning Team (1952)
April in Paris (1952)
By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953)
So You Want a Television Set (1953) (short subject) (Cameo)
Calamity Jane (1953)
Lucky Me (1954)
Young at Heart (1954)
Love Me or Leave Me (1955)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Julie (1956)
The Pajama Game (1957)
Teacher's Pet (1958)
The Tunnel of Love (1958)
It Happened to Jane (1959)
Pillow Talk (1959)
Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960)
Midnight Lace (1960)
Lover Come Back (1961)
That Touch of Mink (1962)
Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962)
The Thrill of It All (1963)
Move Over, Darling (1963)
Send Me No Flowers (1964)
Do Not Disturb (1965)
Every Girl's Dream (1966) (short subject)
The Glass Bottom Boat (1966)
The Ballad of Josie (1967)
Caprice (1967)
Rowan & Martin at the Movies (1968) (short subject)
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? (1968)
With Six You Get Eggroll (1968)
Don't Pave Main Street: Carmel's Heritage (1994) (documentary) (narrator)

Trivia

*She is mentioned in the Beatles' song "Dig It," the Billy Joel song "We didn't start the fire", the Wham song "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", the Super Furry Animals song "Shoot Doris Day," the De Phazz song "Something Special," the Magnetic Fields songs "Is This What They Used to Call Love?" and "Doris Daytheearthstoodstill" (sic), the Underworld song "Dirty Epic," and in the song "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee," part of the musical Grease. The Dutch band Doe Maar (Go Ahead, in the sense of 'see if i care') made a song about the monotone Dutch T.V. broadcasts. The name of the song is Doris Day, and she is mentioned in the chorus.
*During the 2000 Canadian federal election, Alliance party leader Stockwell Day promised to institute a policy under which a petition with 3% of Canadian voters' signatures could trigger a referendum on any subject. As a result, Canadian satirists This Hour Has 22 Minutes created a mock on-line petition to hold a referendum to force Stockwell Day to change his name to Doris Day, and obtained more than three times more signatures than the needed 3%.
*She was born on the same day as the American actor, Marlon Brando, who coincidently is also mentioned in "We Didn't Start the Fire".
*The famous quip, "I've been around so long, I knew Doris Day before she was a virgin," has been variously attributed to both Groucho Marx and Oscar Levant, though Levant appears to be its most likely author.
*Her son, Terry Melcher, dated Candice Bergen and lived at 10050 Cielo Drive just before it was rented out to Roman Polanski and his wife Sharon Tate. After Sharon, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Jay Sebring, and Steven Parent were murdered at 10050 Cielo Drive by the followers of Charles Manson, a number of motives appeared. One of these motives was that Melcher promised to produce Manson's album, but later refused, apparently insulting Manson. According to this theory, Manson later sent out his followers to kill everyone at 10050 Cielo Drive in an act of revenge, despite not knowing (or caring) that Melcher had moved out and the Polanskis had moved in.

External links

* Classic Movies (1939 - 1969): Doris Day
*Doris Day - A timeline of her life
*The Films of Doris Day: a review of her film career
*A discography of her work
*Bio on the "SOLID!" site
*Doris Day Animal League
*Inoffizielle Doris Day Online Vita
*Doris Day tribute page
*Biography on the MP3.com site
*A Sentimental Journey - Bio on the "Epinions" site
*discographic info on some of her late-40s releases
*http://www.dorisday.ixy.de Erste deutsche Doris Day Homepage/First German Doris Day Page