Interview Excerpt

The following is an excerpt from an interview Mary Anne gave to Stephen Munns at Discovering Doris website.

Knowing that there has been an influx of DD books in recent years what sets yours apart from the rest?

"That's easy - this is my story and my sentimental journey - at age 10 I had my eye on the prize. I wanted to get to know Doris - never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have this incredible opportunity. Doris invited me into her world and I will always be grateful to her.

Regarding other books - most of them deal with her professional career only - mine is a personal account of what it was like to be with her day in, day out - she is one Great Lady and I saw that first hand.

I was the only person other than family to live with Doris for any extended time and I cherish those precious memories. I saw the real Doris Day, a wonderful, fun-loving and kind person. We shared many happy times together and also many sad times - Terry's accident, Billy De Wolfe's dying days, etc. I take the reader ....DAY AT A TIME!" - Mary Anne Barothy.

Read more of this fascinating interview...

From the Book

I'll never forget the night in 1973 at the Hamburger Hamlet on Sunset Boulevard, just at the edge of Beverly Hills, when Doris made an historic announcement. After many years of suffering from "fear of flying," she would be jetting to London.

Jacqueline Susann and Irving had invited her, her mom, Rack and me to dinner at the Hamlet, a place Jacqueline really liked. It was a Sunday night, and Doris again insisted I drive. We picked up the Mansfields at the Beverly Hills Hotel and made the short trip to the restaurant for an evening filled with good conversation and good American food. We ordered their famous hamburgers and tried Jackie's favorite cocktail, a bloody bull, a bloody mary with bouillon and Worcestershire.

During the conversation, Jackie announced she and Irving were leaving soon for London in September for two weeks. Once Is Not Enough was now out, and she was taking the book on a publicity tour. When Rack asked, "When are you leaving?" Jackie gave her the dates, and Rack exclaimed, "My mother and I are going to be there the very same time." They began talking about how they could connect.

Since Rack had known the Mansfields in New York, they were comfortable with each other. Comparing notes, they decided they would like to fly over together. More discussion followed, and all eyes fell on Doris. The chorus asked together, "Well?" Doris answered, "Don't look at me. I don't fly. Clara is not going." She said she had not flown since the 1950s when she made The Man Who Knew Too Much. She would never forget that last bumpy plane ride. The group spent the entire evening encouraging her. "You need to go to London and start to fly again," Jackie insisted. Before the night ended, Doris confidently announced, "Yes, I'll fly to London." "You'll love it, I'll guarantee it," Jackie told her. The dinner came to an end with Doris and Jackie's splitting a huge tin-roof sundae, a giant gooey concoction big enough for two.