Miss America 1939

Miss America 1939
DateSeptember 9, 1939
VenueSteel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Entrants43
Placements15
WinnerPatricia Donnelly
 Michigan
← 1938
1940 →

Miss America 1939, the 13th Miss America pageant, was the last pageant to be held at the famed Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[1] The finals were held on Saturday, September 9, 1939, and Miss Michigan, Patricia Donnelly, was crowned Miss America 1939.[2] The Miss Congeniality Award was also introduced at the 1939 competition.

Donnelly later became a singer and actress. Third runner-up Marguerita Skliris became the actress Margia Dean, who starred in such Hollywood films as Seven Women from Hell and The Quatermass Xperiment. Fourth runner-up Rose Marie Elliott had a successful musical career on the Broadway stage as Rose Marie Brown.

Results

Placements

Placement Contestant
Miss America 1939
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
Top 15

Awards

Preliminary awards

Award Contestant
Talent

Other awards

Award Contestant
Miss Congeniality

Contestants

Title Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Awards Notes
Birmingham Florine Holt Birmingham Vocal, "Moonglow" & "A Little Bit of Heaven" Top 15
Arkansas Arkansas Jean Thompson Helena
California California Marguerita Skliris San Francisco Dramatic Monologue, "The Poison Scene" from Romeo and Juliet 3rd Runner-up Preliminary Talent Award Later known as actress Margia Dean
Central Connecticut Catherine Harrison Derby
Charlotte Marguerite Taylor Charlotte
Connecticut Connecticut Frieda Lampar Bridgeport
Coney Island Grayce M. Reilly
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Evelyn Foster 19 Ballet en Pointe
Eastern New York Claire E. Foley Vocal Comedy & Dance Top 15
Eastern Ohio Maxine Drumm
Eastern Pennsylvania Emma Louise Knoell Philadelphia
Florida Florida Rose Marie Magrill Miami Tap Dance Top 15
Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia Mary Durrance Glennville Vocal
Illinois Illinois Ethel Lorraine Lodbell Chicago Monologue, "From the Diary of a Contestant" Top 15
Kansas Kansas Rosemary Winslow Salina
Kentucky Kentucky Louise Holman Pineville
Lexington Mattigene Palmore Lexington
Maryland Maryland Elaine Pasqualla Crisfield
Miami Miami Irmigard Dietel Miami Vocal Medley, "See You Again", "Blue Evening", & "Solitude" Top 15
Michigan Michigan Patricia Donnelly Detroit 19 Vocal/Bass Fiddle, "To You" & "Ol' Man Mose" Winner
Minnesota Minnesota Marion Rudeen Minneapolis Acrobatic Dance Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award
Mississippi Mississippi Doris Coggins Baldwyn Miss Congeniality
Missouri Missouri Margaret Ley St. Louis
Montana Montana Lucille Chouinard Fort Peck
Montgomery Louise Robertson Montgomery
Myrtle Beach Mary Eleanor Parish Myrtle Beach
New Hampshire New Hampshire Lois Marjorie Truax Nashua
New Jersey New Jersey Margo Lundgren Harrison Whistling Tunes Vocal, "Don't Worry About Me" Top 15
New Orleans New Orleans Frances Helen Anello New Orleans
North Carolina North Carolina Margaret Wood Vocal, "If I Didn't Care" Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award
Ohio Ohio Jeanne Saboda Cleveland
Oklahoma Oklahoma Bettye Cornelia Avert Oklahoma City Original Piano & Vocal, "Wondering & Dreaming" 1st Runner-up
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Ruth Phyllis Willock Pittsburgh
Philadelphia Philadelphia Nancy Lee Philadelphia
South Carolina South Carolina Margaret Allan Shealy Clinton Vocal, "Especially for You"
Staten Island Lillian Evelyn Hessen Annadale
Sun Valley Louise Fletchner Clarinet, "Stardust" Top 15
Tennessee Tennessee Judy Jones Tracy City Vocal Medley, "I Surrender" & "Come True"
Texas Texas Charmayne Smith Dallas Vocal, "Round Up Time in Texas" Top 15
Virginia Virginia Rose Marie Elliot Sulfolk Vocal, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" 4th Runner-up Later known on Broadway as Rose Marie Brown
Washington (state) Washington Anna Mae Schoonover Seattle Dramatic Monologue from Accent on Youth 2nd Runner-up
Western Tennessee Louise Bussart Etowah

References

  1. ^ "Miss America History 1939". Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  2. ^ "Miss America Seeks Ways To Mother's Bills". Ogden Standard. Associated Press. September 11, 1939. p. 8.

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.