Greetings Celebrators of Vintage Sensuality;

Welcome to the July/2026 issue of the Old Hollywood Newsletter.

In this month’s issue we’re bringing you the bright and brilliant DORIS DAY.

Doris Day was America’s Sunshine Sweetheart who we couldn’t help but fall in love with as she fell in love with someone else —> on screen and off.

In many ways, Day was Old Hollywood’s ultimate symbol of summer romance and good times.

She embodied postwar American optimism, projected a healthy, outdoorsy, all-American image and often portrayed independent women looking for love while maintaining their self-respect.

Her films evoke an idealized America and as such Doris Day perfectly captures the spirit of our July issue.

As you’ll learn below, her real life reveals a deeper, darker and more complex character to the woman behind the sweet smile and dancer’s figure —-> She was married 4 times, had one son with one husband and then another husband adopted him, and a devastating financial situation after that same husband died.

Discover more about Doris Day below….

Thank you for reading and stay sensual.

07/2026

Dyann Bridges, writer, publisher and voice actor

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In The Beginning

Doris Day was born Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff on Monday, April 3, 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

She passed away on May 13, 2019, at the age of 97 of pneumonia in her home in Carmel Valley, California.

She left this life surrounded by close friends and caregivers. Her death was announced shortly afterward by the Doris Day Animal Foundation, which she had founded and remained deeply involved with late in life.

Doris Day began as a big-band singer before becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

She was known for her bright singing voice, wholesome image, and natural charm and was one of the top box-office attractions of the 1950s and early 1960s.

Day had tremendous range as an actress and starred in romantic comedies, musicals, dramas, and thrillers. She often sang in her movies as well.

Later in her life, Day became a passionate animal welfare advocate.

TOP MOVIES

MOVE OVER DARLING (1963)

Move Over Darling (1963) is a fun and energetic (albeit a bit juvenile) romantic comedy.

It’s widely reported that Doris Day thoroughly enjoyed working with James Garner. in this movie. She praised both his talent and his easygoing personality. This chemistry helped launch this film as an audience favorite of the early 1960s.

Looking back on the collaboration with James Garner, Day said;

“We had fun. He’s a marvelous actor. He’s very real when he talks to you. He’s so funny and so nice, I just love him—even though he broke two of my ribs.“

During the filming of a scene in which Garner lifted her off a bed, he accidentally cracked two of Day’s ribs.

Remarkably, she continued filming without complaint, a story Garner later recounted in his memoir with admiration.

Their mutual affection and professionalism shone through in every scene they shared.

Clearly Day was a tough cookie despite her sweet and tender exterior.

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PILLOW TALK (1959)

Doris Day often described her experience working with Rock Hudson on Pillow Talk (1959) as one of the happiest collaborations of her career. It was also her only role where she was nominated for an Academy Award.

In fact, when reflecting on her friendship with Hudson, she said;

“Rock and I just clicked. We trusted each other completely, and we had so much fun together.”

Although they had known each other socially before filming, it was during Pillow Talk that they discovered their remarkable on-screen chemistry.

Day admired Hudson’s warmth, humor, and professionalism, qualities that made their performances feel natural and effortless.

Their genuine affection for one another translated into one of Hollywood’s most beloved screen pairings. So much so, the starred in a total of three films together, along with Lover Come Back (1961) and Send Me No Flowers (1964).

They had a lifelong friendship — even when she found out Hudson was gay.

Doris Day was surprised on learning that her tall and masculine friend was gay, but remained deeply supportive of Rock Hudson.

When Hudson publicly disclosed that he had AIDS in 1985—the first major Hollywood star to ‘come out’—Day said she had not known he was gay during the years they made films together.

However, she expressed sadness rather than judgment about his sexuality.

In interviews after Hudson’s death, Day emphasized that learning he was gay did not change how she felt about him.

One of her best-known remarks of Hudson was;

“He was a wonderful person, and I loved him dearly.”

She also reflected on how difficult it must have been for Hudson to keep such an important part of his life hidden during the studio era.

Being openly gay at that time could have destroyed a Hollywood career.

Day expressed compassion for the pressures he faced and never suggested that she felt betrayed or deceived.

Her Real-Life Romances and Marriages

Doris Day’s personal romantic life was far more complicated than her cheerful screen image suggested.

First Marriage: Al Jorden

Married April/1941 (*Exact day not publicly documented) – Divorced February/1943

Married Jorden when she was very young. Day was only 19.
Relationship was troubled and reportedly abusive.
They had one son, Terry Melcher.
Terry Melcher was Doris Day’s only child.

His biological father was Al Jorden, a trombonist.

Terry was born as Terrence Paul Jorden on February 8, 1942, during Doris Day’s first marriage.

After Doris Day married her third husband, Martin Melcher, he legally adopted Terry, who then took the surname Melcher and became known professionally as Terry Melcher.

Terry went on to become a highly successful record producer, working with artists including:

The Byrds
Paul Revere & the Raiders
The Beach Boys

Terry Melcher died on November 19, 2004, at the age of 62.

Jorden and Day below.

Second Marriage: George Weidler

Married March 30, 1946 – Divorced May 31, 1949

This one ended quickly and quietly.

Weidler and Day Below.

Third Marriage: Martin Melcher

Married April 3, 1951 (her 29th birthday) and ended April 20, 1968 upon his death.

Day and Melcher were married 17 years.

Melcher is often considered the great love and defining partnership of her life.
He managed much of her career.
After his death, she discovered serious financial problems and debts tied to the management of her business affairs. She spent years repairing the damage.
After Doris Day married Martin Melcher, he legally adopted Terry, who then took the surname Melcher and became known professionally as Terry Melcher.

Melcher and Day below.

Fourth Marriage: Barry Comden

Married April 14, 1976 – Divorced April 2, 1982

Their marriage was quite different from her earlier ones because it came after she had largely stepped away from Hollywood. Day had begun focusing on her life in Carmel, California, and her growing commitment to animal welfare.
Comden was about 13 years younger than Day
Their shared interest in animals led to a business that ended badly. Comden helped launch a pet food company that would carry Doris Day’s name, with the intention of supporting her animal welfare work. The venture failed after unscrupulous business partners meddled.
The marriage ended because Comden felt Day spent more time with her ‘animal friends’ than with him.

Comden and Day below.