A sentimental story of Doris Day

The hit “A Sentimental Journal: The Story of Doris Day” at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood was the entertainment highlight of the holiday season for a contingent of Glendale residents at Wednesday’s (Nov. 16) matinee. Bargain tickets could be had for $25.

Doris Day look-alike and sing-alike Sally Hughes brought down the house in the musical written by Adam Rolston and directed by Alvin Rakoff.

Those taking the “sentimental journey” through the up-and-down life of Doris Day included Glendale residents Florence and Ray Stafford, Cecelia Walker and former Glendale residents Gregory Simms and Joseph Dammann.

The musical also attracted audience members from the San Gabriel Valley. A bus brought residents of the British Home in Sierra Madre. Activities coordinator Donna Prater guided her charges, two of whom were Florence Brown and Doris Banks. “Doris Day represents our era in the dress, the glamour,” Banks said. “After the war, we all went dancing, and we all knew the music.”

Members of the Patrician’s Group, a Senior Club for travel, also were bused in for the show. Out of the 350 members, 36 were at the theater, determined to take advantage of bargain seats and a good time.

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The holidays bring plenty of opportunities for fundraising. The staff of Glendale Healthy Kids did themselves proud at Collectors World Gift and Novelty shop on Honolulu Avenue in Montrose. On Wednesday (Nov. 16), several dozen shoppers and supporters looking for discounted collectibles visited the store.

Glendale Health Kids’ Executive Director Camille Levee was among the first to arrive. After helping set up a generous spread of food and wine, a larger-than-life, carved wood Indian caught her attention. It was created by deceased artist Arch Stone.

It was a family affair for Montrose artist Edward Goral. Several of his oil paintings graced store walls. Eleven-year-old daughter Fiona Dunne-Goral posed for photos with her father in front of one of his oils. One of those was an oil portrait of Fiona’s brother Andrew Dunne-Goral. Fiona’s mother, Gloria Dunne-Goral, stayed busy behind the scenes. She works at Collectors World as a part-time sales associate.