1927 International Pageant of Pulchritude

The Second International Pageant of Pulchritude and Eighth Annual Bathing Girl Revue was held from May 21 to May 23, 1927, in Galveston, Texas. More contestants from outside the United States entered the pageant compared to the previous year, with women from Cuba, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Spain joining. Canada and Mexico also sent delegates, as they had in 1926. There were also 29 contestants from the United States. An estimated 250,000 people attended the events during that weekend,[1] and over $5000 in prizes were given to the winners.[2] The pageant was becoming known as an opportunity for potential movie and stage actresses to be discovered.[3]

1927 International Pageant of Pulchritude
"Beauty Queen of the Universe" Dorothy Britton
DateMay 21, 1927 (1927-05-21) – May 23, 1927 (1927-05-23)
VenueGalveston, Texas
Entrants38
Placements10
WinnerDorothy Britton
United States
New York

Miss United States, Dorothy Britton, who represented New York City, was crowned Miss Universe 1927 at the end of the event.[4][5] She was considered the first American girl to win an international contest of any importance, as well as the first girl from New York City to win a national prize.[6]

Events

Before the pageant opened, the contestants from Europe toured the Southwest United States for 20 days before arriving at Galveston.[3]

The Second International Pageant opened on May 21 with a parade of the contestants in sports costume after a lunch at Gaido's Restaurant. Bands such as El Toreador Band, Miss Spain's official escort Afterwards, contestants were invited to a dance on the pleasure boat Galvez.[2]

On May 22, the swimsuit parade was held.[7] Conservative estimates put the number of people in attendance at around 250,000. The entire city was crowded, with hotels filled and heavy street traffic. Bands such as the Santa Fe Shop Band, the official escort for Miss Cleburne, the Missouri Pacific Lines Band, and the Palestine Booster's Club accompanied the parade.[1]

The main pageant was held on May 23 at the Galveston City Auditorium. There, Miss United States and the Beauty Queen of the Universe were crowned.[1]

Accommodations for the contestants were provided for at the Hotel Galvez and the Hotel Dallas.[2]

Pageant format

The 1927 pageant saw a change from the previous year, as the contest introduced the selection of a Miss United States. During the final pageant, each of the girls representing cities and states from across the United States were judged, with the top scorer gaining the title of Miss United States. Miss United States would then compete for the Grand Prize and the title of Beauty Queen of the Universe against the foreign competitors.[2] The remaining prizes, from First through Ninth, would then be a free-for-all among the international contestants and the remaining contestants from the United States.[3]

The winner of the Grand Prize would receive $2000 and a silver plaque. In the subsequent free-for-all, First Prize received $1000, Second received $500, and Third to Ninth received $100.[3][5]

Judges
Judge Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr.

The panel of judges were composed of artists, sculptors, and benefactors of the revue. Their identities remained a secret to each other and to the public until the end of the event.[3] The criteria for judging included beauty, form, grace, and personal charm, while costumes and float decorations were not considered.[3]

The judges were as follows:[8]

Results

"I just know they'll give Miss New York the prize. I love her. She's the most beautiful girl in the world, I think."

— Ada Williams, Miss Florida, Galveston Daily News[9]

Dorothy Britton

Dorothy Britton, Miss New York, was awarded both the Miss United States title and the Beauty Queen of the Universe prize.[4][5] For winning, Britton received $2000 in gold and a silver plaque engraved "Beauty Queen of the Universe".[3][5] She attributed her win, in part, to a locket with her mother's picture, which she kept with her throughout the competition.[9]

After the competition, Britton began a 12-week tour in July, making appearances across the United States, such as at Pleasure Beach, Connecticut, on July 1[6] and in Lowell, Massachusetts, on August 22.[10][11]

Britton, 19, from Jersey City, was a saleslady at a New York dress house[6] before entering the Miss New York Contest. She was chosen among 900 contestants for the title of Miss New York, the contest held by N. Y. Mirror and Smart Set Magazine.[12] Britton was said to enjoy three cups of black coffee a day, and was described as an out-of-doors type of girl. She engaged in a variety of sports such as swimming, tennis, fencing, and horseback riding.[12]

Placements

[4][5]

Miss Universe and Free-for-all
Place Contestant
Grand Prize
Beauty Queen of the Universe		 Miss New York - Dorothy Britton
1st Prize Miss Florida - Ada Williams
2nd Prize Miss Luxembourg - Rosa Blanq
3rd Prize Miss Spain - Maria Casajuana
4th Prize Miss Pine Bluff - Dorothy Fisk
5th Prize Miss Canada- Madeline Woodman
6th Prize Miss Brooklyn - Lesley Storey
7th Prize Miss France - Roberte Cusey
8th Prize Miss Dallas - Moselle Ransom
9th Prize Miss Italy - Maria Gallo

Miss United States
Miss United States Miss New York - Dorothy Britton
Finalists Miss Brooklyn - Lesley Storey

Miss Chicago - Frances Dempsey
Miss Denver - Dulcy Burke
Miss Florida - Ada Williams
Miss Fort Worth - Gertrude Sheffield
Miss Houston - Alberta McKellop
Miss Pine Bluff - Dorothy Fisk
Miss Point Isabel - Bess Enness
Miss Shreveport - Janet Currie
Miss Dallas - Moselle Ransom

Delegates
The 38 contestants of the Second International Pageant of Pulchritude line up at the beach in Galveston, Texas.

Thirty-eight women entered the pageant in 1927, one less from the previous year's.[7] However, there were more competitors in the event from outside the United States compared to 1926. Also, restrictions were placed on the contestants in that they should be chosen in an elimination contest in their home city, conducted by a newspaper, theater, commercial or civic body.[3]

Contestants had to be unmarried, aged 16 to 25, and not connected with any stage presentation, movie studio, or similar industries. The contest was open to women from any city anywhere in the world except Galveston.[3] For example, Miss Italy was chosen in a nationwide contest by Rome newspaper Tevere,[13] and Miss France was chosen in a contest conducted by Le Journal of Paris.[14]

Contestants

[7]

Controversy

In April 1927, a French woman who sought to enter the pageant after claiming she was the "most beautiful woman in France" was detained at Ellis Island. Official sponsors of Miss France, Roberte Cusey, protested her claim.[19]

Notable guests

Major General Mason Patrick[1] attended the event, bringing with him a detail of over 60 planes.[2] Also present were Congressman Clay Stone Briggs[2] and newspaper publisher Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr.[7]

  • Miss Universe 1927
    Miss New York
    Dorothy Britton
  • Miss France
    Roberte Cusey
  • Miss Spain
    Maria Casajuana

References
  1. "New Pageant Record Set". Galveston Daily News. May 23, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  2. "Second International Pageant Opens With First Parade Today". Galveston Daily News. May 21, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  3. "Galveston Event Is Only International Comeliness Contest". Galveston Daily News. May 22, 1975. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  4. "New York Girl Is Winner". Galveston Daily News. May 24, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  5. "Miss Britton Wins First at Beauty Event". Hattiesburg American. May 24, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  6. "Amusements: Pleasure Beach". Bridgeport Telegram. July 1, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  7. "World Beauty Crown Aspirants On View as Thousands Applaud". Galveston Daily News. May 22, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  8. "Artists and Sculptors Select Winners of Second International Beauty Revue". Galveston Daily News. May 24, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  9. "Beauty Queen Holds Picture of her Mother". Galveston Daily News. May 24, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  10. "Miss Universe". Lowell Sun. August 22, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  11. "World Beauty at Merrimack Park". Lowell Sun. August 19, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  12. "19-Year Old Dress Shop Girl Gets Beauty Crown". Santa Fe New Mexican. May 19, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  13. "Miss Italy". Piqua Daily Call And Piqua Press Dispatch. April 26, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  14. "Paris Peach In Texas Pageant". Frederick News Post. May 9, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  15. "Miss Bessemer". Clearfield Progress. May 2, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  16. "Beauteous". Moorhead Daily News. May 23, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved September 4, 2019 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  17. "Junior C.C. Aids "Miss Florida"". The Miami News. May 18, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  18. ""Miss Utah" in Beauty Review". Hattiesburg American. May 24, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  19. "French Girl Protested in Beach Revue". San Antonio Light. April 5, 1927. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
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