TV Radio Mirror (Jul - Dec 1956)

"I only learned, after it was all over, that Doris had never had the mumps! But it didn't faze her — she was with Danny every second because he needed her attention. . . . She always has great patience with Danny, who is now going through the 'Why, why, why?' stage. I have to admit that sometimes when he askes me, 'Why?' — I simply say, 'Because. . .' and let it go at that. But not Doris. She gives him an answer. It may be over his head, but she says th:it what he doesn't understand won't hurt him." Tennessee Ernie's popular songstress was born in San Antonio, Texas, August 23, 1930. Doris recalls her family as the happiest in town, and attributes it to music. Both her brothers were interested in music, and her mother was a competent pianist. "When I was about four," Doris recalls, "my brother Henry brought all the musicians in town to our place on weekends for jam sessions. My mother encouraged Henry's interest — feeling, I imagine, that it was best to have her son in sight. I well remember those summer Sundays in the big living room, with my brother and his friends beating out a jazz classic— and Mother at the piano. "Saturdays and Sundays, my mother had open house for San Antonio's musicmakers, and I'm sure I absorbed a great deal of musical knowledge sitting by her piano, with my brother Henry — and the famous Mel Winters of Henry Busse's orchestra — all stomping out a jazz tempo . . . and my little four-year-old foot stomping in time along with them." Doris' father, an architect, died when she was still quite young and, in later summers, she was sent to live with her uncles and aunts on their near-by ranches. "My grandmother had ten children," Doris says with a smile, "so there were always plenty of ranches." Her fondest memories of those early days are going swimming, in the swimmin' hole, and fishing. "We used to seine for 'minnahs,' " Doris says with her graceful Texas drawl, "and, at night, my uncle and I set hand lines for catfish. I was so eager to see how many we caught I could hardly sleep. We would get up at five A.M., just as it grew light, to pull in the lines — and have fresh catfish for breakfast. "I still love catfish — fish of any kind for that matter," she adds, "and I still love to fish. I like to go barefoot, too. When we moved to California, I was afraid I'd have to wear shoes — even in the house. But Calif ornians are just as relaxed as Texans. Isn't that wonderful?" The first time Doris had an audience — bigger than the gang gathered at the jam session in her living room — was in elementary school. She sang at every assembly and auditorium call. But the first big reaction to her singing ability came when she entered Brackenridge High School. "When I first transferred over from junior high," says Doris, "the teachers asked us if we had any special talents. I told someone I could sing. Later, I was called on to sing for the first general assembly. "None of my classmates had heard me before, because we had come from different schools. I was a little bit nervous when I first stepped out on the stage — after all, this was the first time I'd sung for such a large group of 'adults' (I considered the seniors to be grown-up), and I wanted very much to please them. When I finished my song, the kids cheered. And, the next day, my picture was on the front page of the school paper. The caption read: 'Brackenridge High School's own Dinah Shored I was never more thrilled or proud." Doris's first professional job came as a result of a beauty contest — she won the title of "Miss Arthur Murray" and was offered a job teaching dancing in the local studio. But Doris didn't want to dance, she wanted to sing, so she turned the offer down. Shortly after that, the owner of the Kit Kat Club in San Antonio — remembering Doris from the contest — asked her if she would like to sing part-time in his club. She accepted. When Doris was graduated from high school in 1945, she sang for the officers' club at the Gunther Hotel in San Antonio. Then the urge to get closer to show business brought her for the first time to Hollywood . . . where she promptly won first prize in a talent contest, competing against 3,000 other girls — and winning an engagement with the famous "Mr. Music," Frankie Laine. For one so new to show business, this was a quick beginning of bigtime success: Laine's managers immediately recognized Doris's talent and began to build her up with bookings in the major Southland clubs and dining spots. Doris sang at Bimbo's in San Francisco, the Chi Chi in Palm Springs, Mapes Hotel in Reno — and her fifth engagement was at the world-famous Ciro's in Hollywood. "I was frightened over the fact that I would be singing for an audience full of entertainers," says Doris. "I felt it was still too soon for me. I was afraid they'd think I was corny." But Doris's fears were unjustified. She had a simple act, based on ever-popular and well-loved standards which she sang from her heart. A Hollywood maxim says that true talent can be judged on how well you do the simple things. Doris obviously had talent, and the opening-night show-business audience responded with cheers. Overnight, Doris became an entertainer's entertainer. Wherever she was booked in the Los Angeles area, well-known "names" — like Peter Lawford, Hugh O'Brian, the late Robert Walker — all used to drive across town just to hear Doris sing. Doris, with a fan following of stars, was fast arriving. Then — on a booking at the Schroeder Hotel in Chicago — Doris met her husbandto-be . . . comedian Larry Allen, who was appearing across the street at the Tick Tock Club. "All the entertainers used to gather for breakfast at the Schroeder," says Larry, "and I was first struck with Doris's beauty— she did win a beauty contest, you know — but more important, she turned out to have such a wonderful sense of humor. "Every night or so," Larry continues, "Doris and some of her friends came into the back of the Tick Tock for the last show. Even Doris, sitting in the last row, laughed at my jokes. So, naturally — being a comedian— I thought she was pretty terrific. We've been married five years now, and when she comes to a club where I'm playing, she still sits in the back row . . . but, instead of laughing, she whispers the punch lines before I get to them!" Immediately after their first date, Larry and Doris realized they had a great deal in common. They both loved music, show business was their life, and they loved children. Their one basic difference was their religion. Larry was Jewish, Doris Protestant. "But all major religions are based on love," says Doris. "We knew, if we had love in our marriage, we'd be off to a good start." Doris and Larry were married in Chicago by a rabbi of the reformed church. They had a small wedding and left immediately for St. Louis, where Larry was to open the next night. Their next year was practically a honeymoon for the Aliens, since they frequently worked together on the same bill, she as a singer, he as a comedian. In the spring of 1952, Larry worked at a Wisconsin job, primarily because he didn't want Doris, now pregnant, Acid Indigestion? Heartburn ?^^J Gas?. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing — you can Ffr it On The Spot/ FOR THE TUMMY Get TUMS today! 3 roll package— 25* mo ^Your Child's Photo HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS PAID... each month by advertisers for boys & girls pictures (6 mo. to 18 yrs.) (or TV.Calendar & Magazine ads. Your child has same opportunity. Send ONE (II small photo for approval. Print child's and mothers name and address on back. Returned in 20 days with report. NO OBLIGATION. H0LLYW00D™SP0TLITE, Dept. AK 1611 No. La Brea, Hollywood, Calif. Amazing Opportunity To Earn Spare-Time Cash! 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