The 86th Academy Awards celebration is fast approaching, I can’t help but remember the “Year of the Streaker.” I was a young “star struck” girl growing up in Indianapolis in the ‘50s and ‘60s and a full-fledged Doris Day fan. Through a series of circumstances, including my move to California, in the ‘70s my dream-come-true story landed me in Doris Day’s home as her personal secretary while she was filming her hit TV sitcom at CBS —THE DORIS DAY SHOW. One afternoon in 1974 her handyman, Bob, asked me “Is Doris going to the Academy Awards this year?” He said he knew all the celebs received tickets and he would love to go. I told him I’d love to go also, but said I didn’t know if Doris had any plans to attend. She had not mentioned anything about it. I did know when she was married to her 3rd husband, Marty Melcher, they attended several. But Doris was not one who liked to go to these big star studded events… she stayed away from them. I thought, what the heck, why not ask her.
She was quick to respond that she had no plans to attend. Then to my amazement said, “Would you like my four tickets?” OMG, would I like those prestigious tickets???. I immediately ran over to give her a big hug and thanked her profusely. You should have seen the look on Bob’s face when I announced “We’re going to the Academy Awards.” He was taking his wife and I immediately called my friend, David, a good friend to Doris who had been a big fan ever since he first met Doris at the Palladium in the late ‘40s.
The big day arrived—April 2, 1974—None of us ever dreamed we’d be walking down the red carpet behind Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward and in front of Paul and Linda McCartney. On the sidelines, behind the barricades, were the flashing press including Rona Barrett and Army Archerd jotting down notes as each super star passed by. They no doubt wondered, “Who are those four?” as we made our way into the theatre. Heck, we weren’t celebs, but we had celeb tickets and that was the determining factor. Awesome for us and what a star studded night! We next got on the elevator with Walter Matthau and Shirley MacLaine and found our way to the front row, center balcony seats.
David Niven was the host for the 46th Annual Academy Awards presentation at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for the star-studded event. It just so happened while David was introducing Elizabeth Taylor who would present the award for “best picture” a man, sans any clothing, streaked behind him while the audience looked in astonishment and broke into laughter. No one could believe what we were seeing. Here was this totally naked man sprinting across the stage and waving as he moved behind the podium from right to left on stage. David appeared not to be ‘in’ on this prank and wondered at first what everyone was laughing about; he next glanced at the dashing male figure and made some comment like—”this guy would forever be remembered for his shortcomings.” The audience roared with laughter. Within seconds, a slightly bewildered Elizabeth Taylor made her way to the podium, hung on to it and remarked, “What an act to follow.” The audience once again roared with laughter. At this point, no one knew what prompted this added ‘extra’ entertainment, but the 1974 Academy Awards will forever be remembered as The Year of the “Streaker” in my book. Oh yes, Best Picture was THE STING; Best Actress was Glenda Jackson in A TOUCH OF CLASS; Best Actor was Jack Lemmon in SAVE THE TIGER and Best Song: “The Way We Were.”
The next day, April 3rd, Doris’s son, Terry Melcher, and I, along with close friends, gave her a wonderful surprise party for her 50th birthday.
This story and many others from my incredible “sentimental journey” with Doris Day are all in my memoir DAY AT A TIME – An Indiana Girl’s Sentimental Journey to Doris Day’s Hollywood & Beyond from Hawthorne Publishing. Website is: www.dayatatimesentimentaljourney.com. Click back, order and get free shipping.
For the past several years I have been touring the country sharing my “DAY AT A TIME….DORIS DAY” stories letting fans see candid photos I’ve taken over the years, along with many notes, letters and other rare Hollywood memorabilia from The Girl Next Door, Doris Day! If you would like to hear my story first hand, please contact me: studiogirl1944@yahoo.com