Miss America 1955

Miss America 1955
DateSeptember 11, 1954
PresentersBob Russell
VenueBoardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
BroadcasterABC
Entrants50
Placements10
WinnerLee Ann Meriwether
California California
← 1954
1956 →

Miss America 1955, the 28th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 11, 1954, and marked the first live nationally televised broadcast of the competition on ABC.[1][2]

Crowned the winner was Lee Meriwether, who later came to fame as co-star of the television series Barnaby Jones and as the character Catwoman in the 1966 film version of Batman, and later, Lily Munster on the television series The Munsters Today.

Results

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Placements

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Placement Contestant
Miss America 1955
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 10

Awards

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Preliminary awards

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Awards Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness
Talent

Other awards

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Awards Contestant
Miss Congeniality
Non-finalist Talent
  • Hawaii Hawaii - Gertrude Kapi'olani Miller

Judges

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Contestants

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State Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Awards Notes
Alabama Alabama Marilyn Tate Haleyville 21 Ventriloquism/Classical Vocal Top 10
Arizona Arizona Marjorie Nylund Phoenix Dramatic Reading, "A Marine's Conversation"
Arkansas Arkansas Sarah Martin Little Rock Classical Vocal
California California Lee Merriwether San Francisco 19 Dramatic Monologue from Riders to the Sea Winner Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Actress best known as Betty Jones in the 1970's TV series Barnaby Jones
Canada Canada Barbara Joan Markham Cornwall
Chicago Chicago Regina Dombeck Chicago Dramatic Monologue from Mary of Scotland by Maxwell Anderson Top 10
Colorado Colorado Barbara Busey Denver Vocal/Dance
Connecticut Connecticut Dorothy Hopkins Storrs Piano
Delaware Delaware Barbara Woodall Claymont Piano
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Linda Weisbrod Washington, D.C. 21 Classical Vocal, "O Mio Fernando" from La favorite Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
Florida Florida Ann Gloria Daniel Dade City 18 Accordion, "Lady of Spain" 1st runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia Mary Jane Doar Macon 19 Vocal Medley of songs by George Gershwin
Hawaii Hawaii Gertrude Kapi'olani Miller Honolulu Hula Non-finalist Talent Award
Idaho Idaho LaVonne Skalsky Nampa Dramatic Monologue, "Children of God"
Illinois Illinois Patsy Bruce Carbondale Dramatic Reading Miss Congeniality
Indiana Indiana Sue Eaton Monticello Art/Photo Display & Hula
Iowa Iowa Carol Morris Ottumwa 18 Violin Later Miss Iowa USA 1956, Miss USA 1956, & Miss Universe 1956
Kansas Kansas Phyllis Danielson Wichita Vocal
Kentucky Kentucky Margaret Diane Hunt Lexington Dance
Louisiana Louisiana Gail Gleason Shreveport Piano & Art
Maine Maine Mary Ellen St. John Old Town Drama
Maryland Maryland Phyllis Yvonne Leftwich Dundalk Vocal
Massachusetts Massachusetts Judith Drake Fairhaven
Michigan Michigan Janice Hutton Somers Lansing Vocal, "You Made Me Love You" 4th runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
Minnesota Minnesota Jeanne Reince Winona Classical Vocal
Mississippi Mississippi Celeste Luckett Clarksdale Drama
Missouri Missouri Carole Wilkinson Maplewood Vocal
Nebraska Nebraska Sue Welch Fisher Kearney Classical Vocal, "Un bel dì vedremo" from Madama Butterfly
Nevada Nevada Janice Babcock Reno Ballet, "Blues"
New Hampshire New Hampshire Mae Allen Epping Drama
New Jersey New Jersey Joan Waller West Orange Vocal/Dance, "Singin' in the Rain"
New York City New York City Heather Taferner New York City Classical Vocal, "L'Air des clochettes" from Lakmé Preliminary Talent Award
North Carolina North Carolina Betty Ring Lexington Dramatic Monologue, "The Sleepwalking Scene" from Macbeth
North Dakota North Dakota Delores Paulson Bismarck Violin, "Méditation" from Thaïs
Ohio Ohio Barbara Quinlin Alliance Classical Vocal, "Habanera" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
Oklahoma Oklahoma Charlavan Baker Oklahoma City Dress Design
Oregon Oregon Diane Carman Milwaukie Drama, "This is America"
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Barbara Sue Nager Philadelphia Egyptian Ballet Dance, "Egyptian Suite" 3rd runner-up
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico María del Carmen Mejías
Rhode Island Rhode Island Virginia Gregory Pawtucket Speech
South Carolina South Carolina Polly Suber Greenville Monologue, "Air Corps" 2nd runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
South Dakota South Dakota Cleo Ann Harrington Colman Classical Vocal
Tennessee Tennessee Gerry Johnson Nashville Vocal/Character Pantomime, "The Deadwood Stage" Top 10
Texas Texas Yvonne Erwin Dallas Piano & Art
Utah Utah Maurine Parker Ogden Drama, "Anne of the Thousand Days"
Vermont Vermont Annabelle Pinkham Brattleboro Drama
Virginia Virginia Julie Ann Bruening Swoope Charcoal Sketch of "The Statue of Liberty"
Washington (state) Washington Frances Graham Spokane Vocal
West Virginia West Virginia Miriam Reep Clarksburg Dance
Wisconsin Wisconsin Dixie Sarchet Stevens Point 19 Modern Dance, "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"

References

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  1. ^ Associated Press and United Press (1954-09-12). "'I Hope My Daddy Knows'". Ogden Standard-Examiner. p. 1.
  2. ^ United Press (1954-09-13). "Bay City Plans Welcome For Miss America". Bakersfield Californian. p. 1, 2.
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