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Jackie reminisces about the good ole 'Doris Day'
days...
The
Los Angeles born character actress first
worked with Doris Day, in 1968, on her final motion picture With
Six You Get Eggroll. In 1971, Jackie then joined the
4th season cast of The DD Show...
Jackie Joseph
(circa 1998)
Jackie began her entertainment career as a featured
performer and singer in the Billy Barnes Revues of
the 1950's and '60s. She subsequently went on to
appear in countless American TV shows that included her recurring role as Jackie Parker in
Doris's sitcom. Jackie will also be remembered in
movie circles for having starred in the original
1960 version of The Little Shop Of Horrors
which is regarded as a cult
classic comedy of B-Movies.
In
recent years, Jackie has been heavily involved with the Screen
Actors Guild as well as organizations providing care for stray
animals. She has been a columnist for Toluca Lake's newspaper,
The Tolucan Times, where she often ends her column with the
phrase, "We'll talk".
On the eve of the final DVD release of
The Doris Day Show Jackie kindly agreed to do
an interview for this site. You'll find that
below with an
extract from a superb DD article she wrote in 1999.
Click
HERE for the latest news about Season 5 of the DD Show.
When and how did you
first become aware of who Doris Day was? Is there a film
or song that opened your eyes to her career?
When I was a teenager,
there was a weekly event in a local department store
called "Coke Sesh." [It was sponsored by Coca Cola.]
They always had a 'starlet' there to sign autographs.
That's where I first was aware of Doris. She may just
have started her film career. I remember thinking she
was a star, not a starlet. Beautiful and blonde and
kind, as she paid attention to all the kids who were
present. [I realize, she was just a little more than a
kid herself.] I came there for a free Coke and left as a
Doris Day fan.
I understand you first worked with Doris in her final
motion picture "With Six You Get Eggroll". Had you met
her prior to this and how did you feel to get this roll?
I hadn't met her
before this film. The job was just the miracle of being
a young player who accepted any job offered. She was so
friendly on the set. But I never struck up a chat with
her, it seemed unseemly to me as she was the star and
had a lot on her mind, like remembering her lines.
How did the part for your DD sitcom character Jackie
Parker come about?
Doris
Day with Jackie (1971)
How to make a long
story short? I was at home when my agent called me.
She said, "I know you are trying not to work
anymore, and that you want to stay home with your
kids and be a good wife and mother. I know that you
don't like the early hours and the late
day...however, you just got a call from the Doris
Day Show and they want you to join the series as a
costar." Well.... She also told me that they
promised work wouldn't start until noon, and that I
could come in to work only when they needed me, so
that I wouldn't have to sit around for hours. Well,
that phone call came within minutes of the time my
husband [Ken Berry],told me I should really go back
to work, as he felt his career was over and we would
need money. So, I accepted. The job was great.
[obviously, the marriage wasn't. We separated a year
after that.
What did you enjoy most
about working on The Doris Day Show and are there any
memories from this time you wish to share with this
site.
Oh, that would
take a book! The best memories are when we decided to
become activists with Actors and Others for Animals.
Even while working, we were making plans and calling
people for auction items to help animals. and then,
working with her doggies on the set was totally unusual.
Near the end of the day, they sat in Directors Chairs
and watched us work.
I loved the attitude and the atmosphere on the set,
everyone was nice. No meanies.
Have you seen the new
DVDs of the show and what did you think of them?
I love the new
DVDs of the show. Not only are they fun, they bring back
the memories. It's great to hear the conversations with
all the players involved. We were all so lucky.
Do you still stay in
touch with Doris?
Yes, I do,
hooray for the telephone. And I loved seeing her in
Carmel and staying at her Inn. The Cypress Inn is so
Doris, loaded with class, comfort and pets.
Are there any current
projects that you are working on that you'd like to tell
this site about?
Well, I'm fairly newly
married (Dec. 2, 2003)
So that is a project! He likes to travel a lot...
I'm still on the Board of Actors and Others for Animals.
Decades now, much good work has been accomplished, much
more to do.
I'm also involved with the Foundation Fighting
Blindness, as I have a new step son who has lost his
sight to RP I still write a column for my local paper
every week. Fun... And, I make appearances when asked,
for fan shows. If I get a show business job, I would
faint and then jump for joy. Ready when they are, who
ever they is? Meanwhile, I love being a wife, having a
house and doing my garden work.
Veggies and flowers, happiness every day.
Sincere
thanks to Jackie Joseph for taking the time to do this
Q&A interview (conducted by S. Munns).
Talk about
a Spring Break! I spent the Easter weekend in
Carmel having a sweet reunion with my dear pal
Doris. Happily, it coincided with her birthday,
to which she gives no consequence. "The sun
comes up, the sun goes down, the sun comes up,
the sun comes down....," she sings songs. And,
if there was ever an example that there is no
such thing as "age," Doris Day effortlessly
defies time. Let me cut to the chase. She looks
great and feels great. She has eleven dogs,
approximately, and kitties too. She loves living
in Carmel. She seems to have little interest in
returning to Hollywood, or anywhere. Not for
work, not for awards. The simple truth is, Doris
Day is a gloriously happy person, living the
life that she worked diligent decades to afford.
She is cheerfully busy with her
animals, walking, washing, and feeding (we’ll
talk more). She meets friends for long lunches
(her main meal), most often at the beautiful
Quail Lodge Resort which is down the hill. It’s
like her breathtaking back yard. Now, am I
fudging, neglecting anything that might be
difficult, or overwhelming in Doris Day’s life ?
Sure, the mail.......
Doris’ intense respect for her
friends and fans compels her to answer mail in a
timely fashion. But the staggering amount of
letters that have sailed in this year is
startling. It looks like the Toluka Lake Post
Office in her front room, garage and anywhere
important stuff can be stacked. Postal boxes
stashed with giant envelopes all stuffed with
mail. On a one to one basis, each letter gets
smiles, often tears, and always gratitude. She
is deeply touched by those who care about her.
Often, there are donations to the
Doris Day
Animal Foundation, and when I was there, many
sweet gifts honouring her birthday. All these
things require personal response, Yes, she has
some help, but her thank you messages are all
personally written. After lunch on my first day,
I and Bill Glynn, one of Doris’ dear buddies
from New York, joined her on mail detail.
Daunting. But, like in all life challenges, she
will prevail. As problems go, this is a precious
one...
I’ve been wanting to send the
most heart-felt of letters, thanking Doris for
such a wonderful visit. But, dare I inflict her
with one more adoring letter to read ? A Weird
problem. Perhaps this column will have to do the
trick at least until the mail clears...
....I was a guest
at the
Cypress Inn, a landmark in
Carmel. Doris and her partners
created an atmosphere that is
elegant and homey. Could it be the
sweet presence of pets ? It’s just
so pleasant to see guests in the
library, or at the cocktail lounge
relaxing with their dogs. And it’s
so sociable. One just falls into
easy and charming conversations with
strangers when dogs are by their
side. The
Cypress Inn is very conducive to
making friends. My first night, after settling
in, sampling sherry from the lovely decanter in
my enchanting room’s little bar-let, soaking in
the whirlpool-jet tub, and resting by the
fireplace (that works by thermostat), I felt
like royalty. When Doris called, I said "this is
the Queen of Carmel !" That’s how I felt. If you
want to check it out, the 800 number is +1 (800)
443-7443. There is a two pet maximum, but you
can go without one if you want to.
Doris has a larger pet maximum in her house. She
shopped carefully to find just the right spot
for the home and the lifestyle she wanted.
Besides spacious, comfy, light and airy living
quarters, there’s a special area with a kitchen,
surrounded by built in doggie beds and cribs for
the tiny and the infirm. At feeding time, Doris
puts on a long bib like apron that hangs front
and back, sits on a tall stool in the center
island and mixes up special diets for each of
her loving dogs. They have little rugs sprinkled
about the room where they loll and wait their
turn. It’s so precious, it’s hard not to grin to
pieces...
n
