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Miss America 1947

Miss America 1947
DateSeptember 6, 1947
VenueBoardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Entrants54
Placements15
WinnerBarbara Jo Walker
Memphis
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Miss America 1947, the 21st Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 6, 1947.[1] Barbara Jo Walker was the last Miss America to be crowned in her swimsuit, as well as the last contestant to represent just a city, rather than her state.[2] Margaret Marshall, representing Canada, captured the swimsuit competition and placed third overall in the pageant.[3] The judges for the Miss America pagenat were Win Barron (Paramount's representative in Canada), Vincent Trotta (head of National Screen Service art department), Walter Thornton (head of the Walter Thornton Model Agency), and Arthur William Brown (noted illustrator).[4]

Results

Placements

Placement Contestant
Miss America 1947
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
  •  Canada – Margaret Marshall
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
Top 15

Awards

Preliminary awards

Awards Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness
Talent

Other awards

Awards Contestant
Miss Congeniality
  • Texas Texas - Luna Lynn McClain

Contestants

Title Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Awards Notes
Alabama Alabama Peggy June Elder Gadsden Vocal, "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" 3rd runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Peggy June Elder Butler died at age 93 on April 30, 2023 at home in Gadsden, Alabama.
Arizona Arizona Wanda Law Tempe Top 15
Arkansas Arkansas Pam Camp Little Rock Sketching
Atlanta Atlanta Joy Elizabeth Smith Atlanta Vocal, "Eccentric Dance"
Brooklyn Lynn Faune Brooklyn Vocal, "I Come from Brooklyn"
California California Laura Emery Salinas 18 Vocal, "So Long for so Long" 4th Runner-up
Canada Canada Margaret Marshall Toronto 2nd Runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Chattanooga Dorothy Cunningham Tap Dance
Chicago Chicago Joan Hiatt Chicago Vocal, "Kiss in the Dark"
Colorado Colorado Joyce Haycock Pueblo Vocal, "Chi-Baba"
Connecticut Connecticut Louise Bienvenu Waterbury Vocal, "On the Sunny Side of the Street"
Detroit Jane Rose Foster Detroit Vocal, "My Dream Came True"
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Margaret Wilson 19 Dance, "Mexican Hat Dance"
Florida Florida Eula Ann McGehee St. Petersburg Magic Act
Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia Robbie Sauls Cuthbert Vocal, "Smilin' Through"
Greater Philadelphia Kay McClane Philadelphia Vocal, "Sketching"
Idaho Idaho Norma Briggs Pocatello Drama, Romeo & Juliet
Illinois Illinois Marce Evans Joliet Dress Design & Art
Indiana Indiana Beverly Trenary Gary Vocal, "I'll Close my Eyes"
Iowa Iowa Ruth Janet Anderson Oelwein 19 Vocal, "You Made Me Love You"
Kansas Kansas Ruth Ellen Richmond Fort Scott Vocal, "Wonderful One"
Kentucky Kentucky Evelyn L. Murray Louisville Samba Top 15 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Los Angeles County Marilyn Davidson Los Angeles Vocal/Dress Design, "A Sunday Kind of Love"
Louisiana Louisiana Ruth Mary Blust New Orleans Vocal, "This Song is You"
Louisville Margaret Allen Hill Louisville Vocal/Piano, "It Had to be You"
Maryland Maryland Carolyn Jean Dixon Cumberland Vocal, "It Had to be You"
Memphis Barbara Jo Walker Memphis 21 Art Display & Vocal Medley, "One Kiss" & "Un Bel Di" from Madama Butterfly Winner Preliminary Talent Award
Miami Beach Pepper Shore Miami Interpretive Dance of the South Seas Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award
Michigan Michigan Peggy Ellsworth Reed City Vocal, "She's Funny That Way"
Minnesota Minnesota Elaine Campbell Minneapolis Classical Vocal, "Je Veux Vivre" from Roméo et Juliette 1st Runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
Mississippi Mississippi Kitty Bailey Oxford Painting
Missouri Missouri Mary Jean Burke Kansas City Vocal, "I'm a Big Girl Now"
Montana Montana Carol Chaffen Corvallis Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" from Samson and Delilah
New Hampshire New Hampshire Bernice Loiselle Manchester Rumba Dance
New Jersey New Jersey Delores Mendes Newark Vocal & Guitar Medley, "I Close my Eyes" & "Siboney" Top 15
New York (state) New York Carol Fredericks Harrison Tap Dance
New York City New York City Raven Malone New York City Vocal, "Put the Blame on Mame" Top 15 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
North Carolina North Carolina Alice White Fayetteville Vocal, "That's My Desire"
Ohio Ohio Nancy Nesbitt Cleveland Vocal, "I Don't Know Enough About You"
Omaha Madalyn Joyce King Omaha Tap Dance Non-finalist Talent Award
Oregon Oregon Jo Ann Amorde Sutherlin Vocal, "Alice Blue Gown" from Irene Top 15 Mother of Miss Oregon 1974, Juli Ann Berg
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Dorothy Gresh Williamsport Vocal, "Lover, Come to Me"
Pittsburg Lillian Handford Pittsburg Painting Display Top 15
Rhode Island Rhode Island Ellen DiCenzo Providence Vocal
South Carolina South Carolina Margaret Griffin Spartanburg Classical Vocal
South Dakota South Dakota Roselyn Lea Anderson Saint Onge Piano, "'O Sole Mio"
Tennessee Tennessee Georgia Cunningham Tap Dance Top 15
Texas Texas Luna McClain Lufkin Vocal, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" & "Cowboy Boogie" Miss Congeniality
Utah Utah Donna Southwck Cedar City Drama, Piano, Vocal, & Dance
Vermont Vermont Barbara Campbell Montpelier Vocal, "Blue Skies"
Virginia Virginia Ruth Ellen Mears Cape Charles Speech
West Virginia West Virginia Joan Elizabeth Estep Wheeling Piano, "Rhapsody in Blue" Top 15
Wisconsin Wisconsin Gladys Elaine Berkley Baraboo 19 Monologue Gladys Elaine Berkley Stracy died of a brief illness in Madison, Wisconsin at age 38 on September 10, 1965.
Wyoming Wyoming Dorothy McKay Cheyenne Painting Exhibition Top 15

References

  1. ^ United Press (1947-09-08). "New Miss America Planning Return To College". Toledo Blade. p. 3.
  2. ^ "1947 Barbara Walker". Archived from the original on 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  3. ^ Associated Press (1947-09-08). "Miss Canada Nearly Miss America Wins Third Place At Atlantic City". Montreal Gazette. p. 1.
  4. ^ Nichols, Dudley (Jul–Sep 1947). Boxoffice. Kansas City Associated Publications: 817. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Secondary sources

  • Saulino Osborne, Angela (1995). "Miss Americas and their Courts". Miss America The Dream Lives On. Taylor Publishing Company. ISBN 0-87833-110-7.