RIP Doris Day

“I’m really in awe of Doris Day.  I adore her.” ~ Lucille Ball

Surprisingly, Lucille Ball never acted opposite Doris Day in films or television, but she did interview her for her CBS radio show “Let’s Talk To Lucy” #144 on the set of Do Not Enter (1965) on March 22, 1965. The film was directed by Ralph Levy, who had also done the original “I Love Lucy” pilot. 

In the interview, it was revealed that unlike Lucy, Doris did not like to rehearse. Doris liked wearing hats off screen, while Lucy says she never does. Doris says she loves ice cream with salty pretzels.  The brief interview was cut short by Day being called to the set by her husband to do re-takes. 

In 1971, Doris Day starred in “The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special” (her birth name) and Lucille Ball complimented her on it. Day wrote back a personal note addressed to “Mrs. Gary Morton” saying how much she appreciated Lucy’s kind words. 

For much of its run on CBS, “The Doris Day Show” (1968-73) was aired on Monday nights (Lucy’s domain), one half hour after “Here’s Lucy”. The two sitcoms shared many of the same

background players: Jack Berle, Robert Hitchcock, Shep Houghton, Monty O’Grady, Murray Pollack, Clark Ross, and Norman Stevans.  

As a big star, Doris’s name was bound to be mentioned on Lucille Ball’s sitcoms.

In 1963′s “No More Double Dates” (TLS S1;E21), Lucy Carmichael chimes in that she heard “that new Doris Day picture is cute”,  a reference to That Touch of Mink (1962).

In 1963′s “Lucy is a Soda Jerk” (TLS S1;E23), Lucy’s daughter Chris wonders if Doris Day started out as a soda jerk.  

In 1966′s “Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere” (TLS S4;E20), memorabilia crazy Lucy Carmichael says she bought a pink chiffon nightgown that was worn by Doris Day in Pillow Talk (1959).

In 1970′s “Lucy and Lawrence Welk” (HL S2;E18), Viv says she went on a studio tour and saw Doris Day’s bicycle. In real life, Doris Day was an avid bike rider. She rode to the studio on many occasions and pedaled around Beverly Hills until the police finally told her they couldn’t guarantee her safety. 

In 1971′s “Lucy’s Bonus Bounces” (HL S4;E16), Lucy Carter says that Harry never had a secret love life and that if they ever made a movie of his life he’d be played by Doris Day. The song “Secret Love” was a #1 hit for Doris Day.

Naturally, big stars like Doris Day and Lucille Ball shared tabloid magazine covers from time to time.