Miss USA 1955

Last updated

Miss USA 1955
Carlene Johnson combing hair (cropped).jpg
Carlene Johnson
DateJuly 20, 1955
Presenters Bob Russell
Venue Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California
Entrants43
Placements15
Winner Carlene King Johnson
Vermont
←  1954
1956  →

Miss USA 1955 was the fourth Miss USA pageant, held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California on July 20, 1955.

Contents

At the end of the event, Miriam Stevenson of South Carolina crowned Carlene King Johnson of Vermont as Miss USA 1955. [1] It is the first victory of Vermont in the pageant's history. Johnson later competed at Miss Universe and was named one of the fifteen semi-finalists. [2]

Contestants from forty-three states and cities competed in the pageant. The competition was hosted by Bob Russell.

Background

Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, the venue of Miss USA 1955 Municipal auditorium and lagoon, Long beach, Calif (68317).jpg
Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, the venue of Miss USA 1955

Selection of participants

Contestants from forty-three states and cities were selected to compete in the pageant. The age requirement in this edition is still from 18 to 28, where women who are married and have children can also participate. [3]

Marianne Marcus of Pennsylvania was initially disqualified by her local organizers after competing in the wrong type of swimsuit, as a swimsuit company was sponsoring the Miss Pennsylvania USA contest. [4] However, the decision was reversed, and Marcus was allowed to compete at Miss USA after Don D'Carlo, promoter for the Miss Pennsylvania USA contest, consulted then-executive director of the Miss Universe contest Oscar Minehardt regarding the situation, which resulted in the rule being waived. [5]

Results

Placements

PlacementContestant
Miss USA 1955
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 15

Pageant

Format

From twenty-one semi-finalists in 1954, fifteen semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition. [8] Each of the fifteen semi-finalists gave a short speech during the final telecast. Afterwards, the fifteen semi-finalists paraded again in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and the five finalists were eventually chosen.

Selection committee

Contestants

Forty-three contestants competed for the title. [9]

State/CityContestantAge [a] HometownNotes
Arizona Patti Alexandria Marks [10] 19 Glendale
Arkansas Margaret Anne Haywood [11] 19 Jonesboro Later Miss World United States 1955 [12]
1st runner-up at Miss World 1955 [12]
California Donna Schurr [13] 18 Santa Ana
Colorado Dorothy Jean Bewley [7] 19 Denver
Connecticut Jane Louise Bartolotta [14] 23 Middletown
Delaware Helen Denise Blackwell [15] 21 Wilmington Previously Miss Delaware 1952 [16]
Florida Mariles Gessler [17] 20 Tallahassee
Georgia Carolann Connor [18] 19 Atlanta
Illinois Betty Diane Daniggelis [19] 18 Chicago Winner of the 1955 National Press Photographers Pageant
Indiana Mary Ann Wasick [20] 19 Gary
Iowa Jerri Jean Cole [21] 18 Holstein
Louisiana Merlin Grace Garcia [22] 19 Gretna
Maryland Gloria Ruth King [23] 19 Baltimore
Massachusetts Jean Dernago [24] 18 Springfield
Miami Beach, Florida Beverly Masters18 Miami Beach
Michigan Martha Smith [25] 18 Detroit
Minnesota Sally Ann Colombo [26] 18 Stillwater
Missouri Janet Coker [27] 18 Caruthersville
Nebraska Donna Jo Streever [28] 21 Grand Island
New Hampshire Patricia Ann Mowry [29] 22 Manchester
New Jersey Beverly Rogers [30] 19 Maywood
New Mexico Joan Schwartz [31] 19 Albuquerque
New York Janet Kadlecik [32] 18 Johnson City
New York City, New York Patricia Anne O'Kane [24] 19 Valley Stream
North Carolina Mary Grace Ratliffe18 Wadesboro
North Dakota Joan Roberta Smith [33] 19 Bismarck
Ohio Carol Hagerman20 Columbus
Oregon Rose Karcha [34] 20 Salem
Pennsylvania Marianne Marcus [5] 18 McKees Rocks
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Doris Sommer Klein21 Philadelphia
Rhode Island Beverly Jansen [35] 20 Providence
South Carolina Sara Ella Stone [36] 20 Florence
South Dakota Phyllis Elaine Choquette [37] 19 Jefferson
St. Louis, Missouri Bennie Joan Pritchard20 University City
Tennessee Barbara Gurley [38] 24 Memphis
Texas Mary Miles Daughters [39] 19 Kingsville
Utah Myrna Joy Rasmussen [40] 21 Salt Lake City
Vermont Carlene King Johnson [41] 22 Rutland Top 15 at Miss Universe 1955 [2]
Previously Miss Vermont 1953
Virginia Jeannie Asble [42] 19 Portsmouth
Washington Shirley Jean Givins20 Seattle
West Virginia Barbara Jean Tucker19 St. Albans
Wisconsin Jeanne Marianne Bouley [43] 19 Fond du Lac
Wyoming Barbara Kaye Latta [44] 18 Casper

Notes

  1. ↑ Ages at the time of the pageant

Related Research Articles

Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant that has been run since 1983 by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19 years old as of January 1st of the competition year. They must be US citizens, and cannot have been married, pregnant, or have children. Unlike its sister pageants Miss Universe, which currently broadcasts on JKN18 and like its sister pageant Miss USA, it is televised on The CW television network starting in 2024, after being streamed online for several years. The Miss Universe Organization previously operated Miss Teen USA, as well as Miss USA, until 2020 when the rights to produce both pageants were licensed to Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart prior to her suspension in October 2022, thus returning the said pageants to the Miss Universe Organization. The parent company of all three pageants and the Miss Universe organization remains the same under the licensing agreement: JKN Metaverse Inc., a subsidiary of JKN Global Group.

Miss Arizona USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arizona in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by its winner. The pageant is directed by Casting Crown Productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1959</span> 8th Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1959 was the eighth Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States on 24 July 1959. This was the last year that the pageant was held in Long Beach before it moved to Miami Beach, Florida in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1958</span> 7th Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1958 was the seventh Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States on 25 July 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1957</span> 6th Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1957 was the sixth Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States on 19 July 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1953</span> 2nd Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1953 was the 2nd Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States of America on 17 July 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1952</span> 1st Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1952 was the first Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States on 28 June 1952.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1954</span> 3rd Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1954 was the 3rd Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States on 24 July 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1960</span> 9th Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1960 was the ninth Miss Universe pageant, held at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida, United States on 9 July 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1955</span> 4th Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1955 was the 4th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States on 22 July 1955. This is the first time that the pageant was televised.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1956</span> 5th Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1956 was the fifth Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States on 20 July 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1961</span> 10th Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1961 was the 10th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida, United States on July 15, 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Universe 1962</span> 11th Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe 1962 was the 11th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida, United States on 14 July 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 1954</span> 3rd Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 1954 was the third Miss USA pageant, held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California on July 24, 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 1956</span> 5th Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 1956 was the fifth Miss USA pageant, held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California on 18 July 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 1952</span> 1st Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 1952 was the first Miss USA pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California on June 27, 1952.

Miss U.S. International is the official United States preliminary to the Miss International Beauty Pageant. The United States has sent a representative to the Miss International pageant since its inception in 1960. The only year a representative was not sent was in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 1957</span> 6th Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 1957 was the sixth Miss USA pageant, held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California on July 17, 1957, during the run-up to the year's Miss Universe pageant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 1964</span>

Miss USA 1964 was the 13th Miss USA pageant, held in Miami Beach, Florida on July 29, 1964. This was the last Miss USA pageant to be held as an inclusive part of the Miss Universe event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss USA 1953</span> 2nd edition of Miss USA pageant

Miss USA 1953 was the second Miss USA pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California on July 16, 1953.

References

  1. ↑ "Miss Vermont named Miss U.S.A." The Boston Globe. 21 July 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 5 September 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 "Finalists". The Logan Daily News . 23 July 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 14 May 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Williams, Vera (23 March 1952). "Pageant of Pulchritude". Long Beach Press-Telegram . p. 50. Retrieved 7 July 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Beauty winner now disqualified". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. July 11, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Area beauty has a close call". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 12, 1955. p. 15. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Google Books.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Blond Vermont jewelry maker named Miss U.S.A." St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 21 July 1955. p. 25. Retrieved 5 September 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "JC girls Miss U.S.A. finalist, Miss New Mexico is favorite". Press and Sun-Bulletin. 20 July 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 5 September 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 "Miss New Mexico favored to win Miss USA title". The Tuscaloosa News. July 20, 1955. p. 2. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Google Books.
  9. ↑ "Here's official list of Miss Universe charmers". Long Beach Press-Telegram . Long Beach, California. 17 July 1955. p. 8. Retrieved 10 May 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Beauty contestant". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. June 5, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Beauties tell pet fads, foods". Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. July 15, 1955. p. 21. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 "Susanna Djuim (uit Venezuela) Miss World" [Susanna Djuim (from Venezuela) Miss World]. Het vrije volk (in Dutch). 21 October 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 22 June 2024– via Delpher.
  13. ↑ "Regal smile". The Bulletin. July 11, 1955. p. 7. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Google Books.
  14. ↑ "Miss Connecticut". Hartford Courant. May 9, 1955. p. 6. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Helen Blackwell vies for "Miss Universe"". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. 12 July 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 10 May 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Miss Delaware due to leave Monday for beauty pageant". The News Journal. August 30, 1952. p. 10. Retrieved January 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Miss USA contestants". Orlando Evening Star. July 20, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Peach". Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. July 2, 1955. p. 9. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Illinois sends Diane". Independent. Long Beach, California. July 14, 1955. p. 48. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Represents Indiana". The Indianapolis News. July 5, 1955. p. 14. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Holstein's charming Jerri Jean Cole to represent state in Miss Universe competition at Long Beach". The Sioux City Journal. June 28, 1955. p. 6. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Miss Merlin Grace Garcia". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. July 14, 1955. p. 16. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "2 Baltimoreans win beauty titles". The Evening Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. 30 June 1955. p. 34. Retrieved 17 May 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  24. 1 2 "Best pictures of the day". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. July 16, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Long Beach next". The Daily Reporter. Greenfield, Indiana. June 29, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "She's a winner". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. June 28, 1955. p. 10. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ ""Miss Missouri" off to Los Angeles for "Miss Universe" try". The Democrat-Argus. Caruthersville, Missouri. July 15, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Best year for Nebraska beauties". Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. July 31, 1955. p. 97. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "New England's beauty queens". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. July 3, 1955. p. 4. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "Maywood beauty to represent NJ in Miss Universe contest". The News. Paterson, New Jersey. July 1, 1955. p. 27. Retrieved 17 May 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ "Miss New Mexico". The Albuquerque Tribune. May 9, 1955. p. 4. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "JC Girl crowned state queen in Miss Universe beauty test". Press and Sun-Bulletin . Binghamton, New York. 6 June 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 17 May 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ "See a beauty queen crowned". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. July 5, 1955. p. 8. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ "Rose Karcha of Salem wins in beauty contest". The Capital Journal. June 25, 1955. p. 3. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ "Candidates for Miss Universe crown". The Telegraph. July 20, 1955. p. 11. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Google Books.
  36. ↑ Raymond, Robert (July 3, 1955). "New S.C. queen". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. 10. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ "Queenly reward". The Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. September 2, 1955. p. 19. Retrieved January 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ "Barbara Gurley winner over 20 for beauty title". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. July 2, 1955. p. 11. Retrieved May 17, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ "Miss Texas A&I". The Kilgore News Herald. Kilgore, Texas. p. 3. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  40. ↑ "Beautiful 'Miss Utah' off for world contest". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. July 14, 1955. p. 26. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  41. ↑ "Beauties meet". Standard-Speaker. Hazleton, Pennsylvania. July 16, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  42. ↑ Anderson, Dick (July 11, 1955). "Norfolk County model gets shot at Miss Universe title". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. p. 36. Retrieved January 8, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  43. ↑ "Contestant visits here". Green Bay Press-Gazette . Green Bay, Wisconsin. June 30, 1955. p. 14. Retrieved 17 May 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  44. ↑ "Salutes oil show". Casper Star-Tribune . Casper, Wyoming. 23 June 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 17 May 2023– via Newspapers.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.