Miss America 1938

Miss America 1938, the 12th Miss America pageant, was held at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Saturday, September 10, 1938.[1] The decision by the 15 judges there that Miss Ohio, Marilyn Meseke, rather than Miss California, Claire James, as Miss America surprised the audience at the event. Famous Broadway producer Earl Carroll, Murder at the Vanities, also disagreed with their choice and took the runner-up to New York City where he performed a coronation of Miss California as "the true Miss America" shortly after the official pageant. Carroll's actions resulted in widespread publicity of the incident.[2][3]

Miss America 1938
DateSeptember 10, 1938
VenueSteel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Entrants44
Placements15
WinnerMarilyn Meseke
Ohio

Results
Final results Contestant
Miss America 1938
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
  • Utah - Muriel La Von Goodspeed
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 15

Preliminary awards
Awards Contestant
Talent

Contestants
Title Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Awards Notes
Arizona Anna Marie Barnett Bisbee Top 15
Arkansas Lorene Bailey Jonesboro Piano, "Dinah"
Asbury Park Ruth E. Brady Asbury Park Vocal & Tap Dance 3rd Runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
Birmingham Mildred Oxford Birmingham Tap Dance/Toe Ballet Top 15
Brooklyn Barbara Beech Brooklyn Top 15
Burlington Ruth Joan Sada Burlington
California Claire James Los Angeles Dance 1st Runner-up
Charlotte Rebecca Pearl Hankins Charlotte 18
Cleveland Evelyn Bertelsbeck Cleveland Top 15
Colorado Rosanna Bean Montrose
Connecticut Blanche Hawley Stratford
Delray Beach Patricia Hollran Vocal, "A-Tisket, A-Tasket"
Detroit Marjorie Jackson Detroit
District of Columbia Dorothy Parker Vocal & Tap Dance, "How'd You Like to Love Me" Top 15
Eastern Pennsylvania Wilma Kaspar Rahns
Empire State Elissa Winston Top 15
Florida Mary Joyce Walsh Miami Vocal/Ballet
Fort Lauderdale Mary Jane Thomas Fort Lauderdale Top 15
Georgia Alice Talton Atlanta Top 15
Indianapolis Rosemary White
Jacksonville Gloria Smyley Jacksonville Acrobatic Dance 4th Runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
Kansas Blanche Webb Humboldt
Kentucky Evelyn Cooper Somerset Vocal, "A-Tisket, A-Tasket"
Letts Helen Emly Letts Top 15
Long Island Marion Rosamund
Long Island Sound Adeline Shull
Maine Doris Marie Bergeron Lewiston
Maryland Yolanda Ugarte Baltimore
Minnesota Avis Darrow Duluth
Mississippi Frances Sykes Aberdeen
Montgomery Patricia McDaniel Montgomery
Nebraska Emmajane Newby Humboldt
New Jersey Gloria Martha Riley Paterson
New Orleans Irene Blush Schomberger New Orleans Vocal/Trumpet/Dance
Ohio Marilyn Meseke Marion 21 Tap Dance, "How'd You Like to Love Me", "The World is Waiting for the Sunrise", & "Joseph, Joseph" Winner
Oklahoma Marjorie Ann Adams Ada
Philadelphia Kathryn "Kay" Buckley Philadelphia Swing Vocal Top 15
Riverside Dorothy Kathryn Powers Riverside
South Carolina Margaret Simrill Land Chester
Tennessee Victoria Ann Motlow Mulberry Vocal, "You Turned the Tables on Me"
Utah Muriel La Von Goodspeed Salt Lake City Classical Vocal & Piano 2nd Runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
Virginia Kathleen Mann North Arlington
Western Pennsylvania Ruth Willock Pittsburgh

References
  1. "'Beautiful But Dumb' Legend Haunts Miss America 1938". Chester Times. 1938-09-12. p. 7.
  2. Associated Press (1938-09-12). "Producer Carroll Differs in Choice of Miss America". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. p. 5.
  3. Associated Press Wire Photo (1938-09-12). "Meet Miss America - Both of 'Em". Oakland Tribune. p. 5.

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.
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