Unbelievable*

*True story of Al Zimbler’s life as it appears in his seventh short story humor book BEDTIME STORIES FOR NIGHTTIME LOVERS

That’s what it was! A one-night stand. It took place a long time ago, I think in 1946 or maybe 1947. No matter, it’s not the date that is important. My wife knew of it, even though I was newly married. It never happened again, just that once. It took place in Chicago at an event that my wife and I attended. 

Everyone there was well-dressed and in a party mood. With drinking and dancing everyone was happy.

Then she appeared wearing a cream-colored evening gown. She was being escorted by a fine-looking gentleman quite a few years older than she, and he had a group of men with him.

I was entranced. I will always have the memory of that evening etched in my brain for it was truly a fantastic experience. She was good. I knew that the moment I saw her. She looked like the girl next door when you were growing up.

Her name? Doris Day.  Doris Day, the singer, actress, movie star, who that night was performing at the Green Mill Ballroom located on Broadway and Lawrence in Chicago.  That older gentleman was the band leader Les Brown, known thereafter as Les Brown and His Band of Renown.  Those men around him were the band’s musicians, all young-looking guys who could put out some wonderful music. The orchestra was on a whirlwind national tour and played one-night gigs across America. What an evening of musical entertainment.

And of course the evening would not be complete without Doris Day singing the song that started her on the road to fame and fortune – the song “Sentimental Journey.”

Do you remember the words? It starts with “Gonna take a sentimental journey.” It was the song that Doris Day would sing on radio and television for many, many years. It had become a favorite of those World War II veterans on their return home from military service. I had just recently served in the Army Air Corp so it was very poignant to me. That night I held my wife very close as we danced to the music of Les Brown and the singing of Doris Day.

She went on to Hollywood and became a much sought-after actress and she is well-known for her role with Rock Hudson in the movie “Pillow Talk.”

As for Les Brown, he too ended up in Hollywood, and his band was on Bob Hope’s radio and television programs for all of Bob Hope’s many years of entertaining. The band also went on all of the overseas junkets that Bob Hope took when he performed for USO shows throughout the world.

Ah, what a night, that one-night stand.