Posted on 04/04/2014 6:28:49 AM PDT by patriot08
American treasure, Doris Day, turns 90!
Doris Day is a living legend, an American treasure- the likes of which we will never see again.
Over the course of her career, Day appeared in 39 films. She was ranked the biggest box-office star, the only woman on that list, for four years (1960, 1962, 1963 and 1964) ranking in the top 10 for ten years (1951–1952 and 1959–1966). She became the top-ranking female box-office star of all time and is currently ranked sixth among the top 10 box office performers (male and female), as of 2012. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Pillow Talk, won three Henrietta Awards (World Film Favorite), received the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's Career Achievement Award and, in 1989, received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures. Doris Day made her last film in 1968.
She could do it all; sing, dance, drama, comedy- you name it. If you haven't seen her in a drama, see 'Midnight Lace' [the best crier in the movies] and 'Love Me or Leave me'- both outstanding dramatic performances.
Doris Day has also released 31 albums, and her songs have spent a total of 460 weeks in the Top 40 charts. She has been awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Legend Award from the Society of Singers. In 2011, she released her 29th studio album, My Heart, which debuted at No. 9 on the UK Top 40 charts. As of January 2014, Day is the oldest living artist to score a UK Top 10 with an album featuring new material.
Doris did it up right. She retired from Hollywood relatively young (preferring to be remembered as she was in her heyday) and devoted her life to doing good in the world- using her fame/name/money for a good cause; animal welfare. ( Another former big star, Bridgett Bardot, did the same, and should be admired. She has a world famous animal help organization. She has also fought hard to help keep Muslims from overtaking France. [in vain] She has been fined and jailed for her efforts to prevent Islamization of France. )
Doris didn't try to hang on to her glory days and become a pathetic parody of herself as some big name stars of yesteryear do. She's done with Hollywood- and they can't stand it. They want her out so they can ridicule, as they did poor Kim Novak. Doris has been called a 'bag lady', 'senile' and worse because she won't play Hollywood's game. She is none of these things. She is still a bright, attractive and active lady.
Sadly, she has still been underappreciated. She's never been given an Academy Award. Too normal- too much of a lady?
Trivia:
She is a staunch supporter of the Republican Party, and told the press she voted for George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election.
Was a close friend and vocal supporter of President Ronald Reagan.
Briefly dated Ronald Reagan shortly after his divorce from Jane Wyman when she and Reagan were contract players at Warner Brothers. Day told him that he was so good at talking that he should be touring the country making speeches. At the time, the future Republican President was a Democrat.
Telephoned the White House to personally explain to President George W. Bush her reasons for not attending her award presentation in June 2004, and said she was praying hard that he would be elected to a second term of office in November.
Has a fear of flying that stemmed from tours with Bob Hope in the 1940s that resulted in some close calls in impenetrable winter weather. She almost turned down her role in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) because it was to be filmed in London and Marrakesh. Her husband and manager, Martin Melcher talked her into accepting it.
Oscar Levant quipped, "I've been around so long, I knew Doris Day before she was a virgin". She laughs about the 'eternal virgin' bit, too. She says it just the way she was always cast.
It was during the location filming of The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), when she saw how camels, goats and other "animal extras" in a marketplace scene were being treated, that Day began her lifelong commitment to preventing animal abuse.
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush [June 2004]. She did not attend the White House award ceremony because of her intense fear of flying.
Reportedly did not like "swear words." As a recording artist, she would require anyone who said a swear word to put a quarter in a "swear jar." In addition, she does not allow her songs to be used in movies that contain swear words.
The age mix up comes from the fact that at age 15 (but saying she was 18) began touring with the Les Brown Band.
Happy birthday, Doris- and thank you for all the wonderful entertainment you left us.
RE; photo of Reagan and Doris- what a pair! What a first lady she would have Been! Thanks for the pic.
Nice photo. Great figure.
I thought she got prettier in the 60’s in films like ‘Midnight Lace’, ‘Move Over Darling’, ‘Pillow talk’, etc.
By the way, how did you get the solid blue background on your bio page? Very nice page.
I tried it with mine, lots of trouble..had to give that part up.
I wish I could figure out how she got her up-dos to look so good. I guess if you have a professional stylist, it’s not impossible. LOL!
Yes, so scary ...... the Manson legend lives on.
Poor Debbie-—her last and final husband also stole her blind-—she went into the casino business with him. He even stole everything she owned BEFORE she married him...... and had a mistress.
A judge awarded her $2 million but the creep never paid up. She was forced to sell some of her fabled costumes b/c he refused to pay the judgement.
Thanks! Great vid.
She had a lovely, unique, very distinctive voice.
There was no way you could ever mistake her voice for another.
My fav of her non romantic comedy roles is ‘Midnight Lace’ with Rex Harrison.
I liked all her romantic comedies. I especially liked ‘Move Over Darling’.
She took this role when Marilyn Monroe was unable to keep filming. (With Monroe, the film was entitled, ‘Something’s Gotta Give’) Wonder what it would have been like with Monroe..
I also liked ‘That Touch of Mink’ with Cary Grant.
Doris has stated that Rock was a very nice guy..and she never knew he was gay while making movies with him.
I tend to believe her. In those days the gays were locked tightly in their closets. Fear of exposure was great. Exposure would put a rapid end to their careers.
I’d read about Kirk being cheated, too.
Amazing how many stars were swindled out of their fortunes by lawyers, accountants, spouses etc.
I wish I could figure out how she got her up-dos to look so good. I guess if you have a professional stylist, it’s not impossible. LOL!
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Yep. Pro hair stylists. :) Her hairdos were always so cute/pretty.
My fav of her many styles: the one at the start of this thread
Looks like that Manson monster will live forever.
They should have hung him.
I hadn’t read that. You mean ANOTHER beside Karl robbed her blind?
She seems so intelligent..looks like she would have learned.
Shame. She seems like such a nice woman.
Charlie’s Angel Kate Jackson has said then-hubby Andrew Stevens (son of actress Stella Stevens) emptied out her bank account.
Robert Osborne’s audio interview with Doris Day, celebrating her 90th birthday.
She sounds all there to me
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/966042/Robert-Osborne-Interviews-Doris-Day-TCM-Original-.html
60's Doris
Doris was much prettier as aged from the 50's into the 60's. What a difference.
Hadn’t heard that one.
Don’t they ever learn..
She and others were the “La View Americain,” excuse my frog.
No Scrany half starved women.
Thanks! I didn’t know about the phone interview.
She really sounds good- very sharp and ‘with it’.
Here’s a sample from her new album ‘My Heart’ that she made just a year or so ago. Amazing for a person approaching 90!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jykW6d6ATc0
All kinds of stories were circulated in her later years about her being a recluse, bag lady, senile, etc.
Anything to sell a story...and she quit Hollywood at a fairly young age while still marketable. Just quite it all. Wouldn’t play their game.
They just couldn’t bear that.
They abused and vilified her to no end.
.
For the love of animals:
We have the rare privilege of watching hummingbirds being raised close up by live web cam. Phoebe Allen, the adorable little hummingbird now has two new babies. HERE
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