Miss America 1940

Miss America 1940, the 14th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the first time since 1933. The finals were held on September 7, 1940.[1] Aside from the winner, Frances Burke, Miss Philadelphia, two other contestants from Pennsylvania placed among the Top 15, one representing Eastern Pennsylvania and the other from Western Pennsylvania.

Miss America 1940
DateSeptember 7, 1940
PresentersBob Russell
VenueBoardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Entrants44
Placements15
WinnerFrances Marie Burke
Philadelphia

The runner-up, Rosemary LaPlanche, would become Miss America 1941, before the pageant instituted rules preventing contestants from competing more than once.

Results
Final results Contestant
Miss America 1940
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 15

Preliminary awards
Awards Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness
Talent

Contestants
Title Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Awards Notes
Arizona Anna Marie Barnett Bisbee
Arkansas Betty Benson Forrest City
Birmingham Evelyn Motlow Birmingham Vocal
California Rosemary LaPlanche Los Angeles 17 Dance 1st Runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness
Central Ohio Bette Jane Hart
Colorado Eileen Hoskins Denver
Connecticut Dorothy Pickard New Haven
Delaware Peggy Insolo Wilmington Piano Top 15
Delaware County Dorothy A. Wall Lansdowne
District of Columbia Catherine Howe 22 Dance, "The Yam" Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award
Eastern New York Geraldine Anne Racine
Eastern Pennsylvania Mildred Saha Secane Top 15
Huntington Juanita Park Wright Huntington Top 15
Indiana Carolyn Akin Evansville Tap Dance
Kansas City Gloria Kathleen Gipson Kansas City
Kentucky Dorothy Slatten Lexington 4th Runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness
Knoxville Thelma McGhee Knoxville
Maine Shirley Edith Houston Augusta
Maryland Marie Beiser Baltimore
Massachusetts Polly Connors Bedford 3rd Runner-up
Miami Mitzie Strother Miami Top 15
Michigan Monnie Drake Detroit Vocal, "Bill" 2nd Runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
Minnesota Virginia Kepler Minneapolis
Mississippi Carolyn Simon Greenville
Missouri Virginia Morrison St. Louis Top 15
Montana Kay Kittendorf Missoula Classical Vocal, "Un bel dì, vedremo" from Madama Butterfly Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award
Montgomery Carolyn Foreman Montgomery
Myrtle Beach LaBruce Sherill Myrtle Beach Tap Dance, "Cocktails for Two" Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award
New Jersey Mildred Marie Selko Kearny
New Orleans Pauline Powell New Orleans
North Carolina Jeanne Wofford Forest City
Ohio Violet Berze Steubenville
Oklahoma Ada Martyne Wood Oklahoma City Top 15
Philadelphia Frances Marie Burke Philadelphia Vocal/Dance, "I Can't Love You Anymore" Winner
South Carolina Vanadora Baker Dillon Recitation
St. Louis LeFern Mueller St. Louis
Tennessee Christine Webb Centerville Dramatic Monologue, "The Waltz"
Texas Gloria Ann Byrns Port Arthur Tap Dance & Baton Twirling
Virginia Virginia Campbell Charlottesville
Washington Peggy Mason Tacoma
West Virginia Mary Schlarmann Bowles Montgomery
Westchester County Constantine Gray Yonkers
Western Kentucky Violet Owen
Western New York Gloria Elizabeth Sheehan Buffalo
Western Pennsylvania Alberta Louise Carts Pittsburgh Top 15

References
  1. Associated Press (1940-09-09). "Miss America 1940 Says Two Sisters Are Prettier". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. p. 7.

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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