Miss America 1923

Miss America 1923, the third Miss America pageant, was held at the Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Friday, September 7, 1923.[1][2] The incumbent, 17-year-old Mary Katherine Campbell, retained her title due primarily to her victory in the bathing suit competition exhibiting "an almost perfect figure."[3]

Miss America 1923
DateSeptember 7, 1923
PresentersKing Neptune (Hudson Maxim)
VenueMillion Dollar Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Placements5
WinnerMary Katherine Campbell
N/A
Opening ceremony

Campbell is the only Miss America to win the title twice. She stated that she was very surprised to have won and was rooting for one of the other girls to win.[4] Joseph Cummings Chase, a judge at the pageant said, "Miss Campbell is possessed of great vivacity and an inherent shyness that constitute a wonderful combination. She is typically American and altogether an ideal type."[5]

Overview

Organization of pageant

The pageant consisted of four phases of competition: evening dress (called King Neptune's Court); roller chair parade, bathing girl revue, and the final.[6] There was no talent competition at this pageant (this would not become part of the Miss America competition until 1935).[7]

Judges

The panel of judges for the national pageant included film director, Penrhyn Stanlaws; painter, Joseph Cummings Chase; glamour artist, J. Knowles Hare; illustrator, Dean Cornwell; and painter and illustrator, Norman Rockwell.[8]

Aftermath

Soon after the conclusion of the pageant, numerous women clubs and church groups protested against any further beauty contests and, "[urged] that they be prohibited by law," and, "[denounced them] as vulgar, undignified 'and demoralizing to young womanhood."[9][10][11] One woman was quoted saying, " 'The beauty of our girls is too glorious, too sacred a thing to be put on exhibition like the freaks in a circus side show, to be commercialized and made the basis for all sorts of mercenary schemes.' "[9]

Another protest arose when Ethelda Kenvin, Miss Brooklyn, was named the 1st runner-up at the conclusion of the contest despite being married since 1921.[9] Some of her fellow contestants insisted that her placement and awards be revoked due to her marital status and violations of eligibility rules.[9] The judges' panel were made aware of this but ultimately decided to allow Kenvin to keep her prizes.[9]

Additionally, Helmar Liederman of New York filed suit against the contest directors, Armand T. Nichols and Harry L. Godshall, Sr., for $150,000 due to their refusal to allow her to enter the national competition as "Miss Alaska" because she was a married woman, despite being authorized to compete by a newspaper in Juneau, Alaska.[9][12]

Results

Placements
Final results Contestant
Miss America 1923
"Golden Mermaid"
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up

Awards

Evening Dress Award

Award also referred to as "King Neptune's Court."[6]

Results Contestant
Winner
Runner-up

Roller Chair Parade
Awards Contestant
Grand Prize
Second Prize
Third Prize
Fourth Prize
Fifth Prize

Contestants
City / Title Name Hometown Age Placement Special awards Notes
Akron, Ohio Thelma Boyd[19] Akron
Alaska Helmar Liederman[9][20] New York City 24 N/A[9][20] Competed in Miss America 1922 pageant as Miss Alaska[21]

Disqualified from 1923 pageant because she was married (despite there being no eligibility rules against this)[9][20]
Albany, New York Peggy Ross[22] Albany
Allentown, Pennsylvania Helen Noble[23] Allentown
Altoona, Pennsylvania Margaret Lillian Ross[22] Altoona
Asheville, North Carolina Rose Hildebrand[22] Asheville
Atlanta, Georgia Frances Thayer[22] Atlanta
Baltimore, Maryland Billie Muller[22] Baltimore
Binghamton, New York Bonita C. Bement[23] Binghamton 19
Birmingham, Alabama Louise Newman[22] Birmingham
Boston, Massachusetts Margaret L. Black[22] Boston
Bridgeton, New Jersey Sarah Delp[22] Bridgeton
Brighton Beach, New York Edithea Lois Wild[24] Brooklyn 15
Brooklyn, New York Ethelda Kenvin[22] Brooklyn 24 1st runner-up[15] Roller Chair Parade Fifth Prize[18] Married baseball player, E.D. Barnes, in 1921[9]
Buffalo, New York Irene Knight[22] Buffalo
Burlington, Vermont Hazel Gove[22] Burlington
Cambridge, Massachusetts Doris Rowden George[25] Cambridge
Camden, New Jersey Florence Nurock[25] Camden
Cape May, New Jersey Mildred McCann[25] Cape May
Chicago, Illinois Corrine Dellefield[25] Chicago
Cincinnati, Ohio Olga Emrick[25] Cincinnati Later worked as a stenographer and was active with the "Anti-Flirt Club"[26]
Cleveland, Ohio Mary Jane Clark[25] Cleveland
Columbus, Ohio Genevieve Mambourg[25] Columbus
Coney Island, New York Heather Eulalie Walker[16] Coney Island 2nd runner-up[14][16] Star of the lost musical film, Hit the Deck, opposite Jack Oakie[27]
Cumberland, Maryland Elizabeth Catherine Steele[28] Cumberland 18
Detroit, Michigan Beth Madson[25] Detroit Also competed in Miss America 1922 pageant as Miss Detroit[29]
Easton, Pennsylvania Agnes Connelly[25] Easton
Erie, Pennsylvania Dorothy Haupt[25] Erie Also competed in Miss America 1922 pageant as Miss Easton[30]
Fort Worth, Texas Bessie Laurene Roosa[31] Fort Worth
Hammonton, New Jersey Alice Kind[25] Hammonton
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Helen R. Knisely[32] Harrisburg
Jacksonville, Florida Alyce Phillips[23] Jacksonville
Johnstown, Pennsylvania Betty Grening[33] Johnstown
Lakeland, Florida Mary Weaver[34] Lakeland
Lebanon, Pennsylvania Grace Kohr[35] Lebanon
Long Branch, New Jersey Elene Hicks[7] Long Branch 19 Died of breast cancer in 1940 at age 38[7]
Louisville, Kentucky Juanita Hobbs[25] Louisville
Memphis, Tennessee Elizabeth Mallory[36] Memphis Evening Dress Award[8]

Roller Chair Parade Second Prize[18]
Miami, Florida Katherine Kyle[37] Miami Also known as "Katherine Newlon"[37]
Miss America 1921 C. Margaret Gorman[38]  Washington, D.C. 18 Competed as Miss America 1921[38]
Miss America 1922 Mary Katherine Campbell[25] Columbus 16[10] Winner[13][39] Competed as Miss America 1922[25]

Only woman to win the national pageant twice[13]
New Bedford, Massachusetts Mildred Salisbury[23] New Bedford
New Haven, Connecticut Helen Haddock[25] New Haven
New Jersey Elizabeth McClure[40]
Alberta Dorothy Smith[40]
Elsie Banholzer[40]
New York City, New York Peggy Verna Shevlin[25] New York City
Niagara Falls, New York Nelda Tell[25] Niagara Falls
Norristown, Pennsylvania Mildred Maconachy[41] Norristown
Ocean City, New Jersey Grace Taylor[42] Philadelphia[42]
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mary Deen Overly[43] Oklahoma City
Pensacola, Florida Katherine Floyd[44][45] Pensacola
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Marion Green[46] Philadelphia 4th runner-up[17] Roller Chair Parade Third Prize[18]
Portland, Maine Winona Evelyn Drew[32] Portland
Portland, Oregon Patricia Smith[25] Portland
Pottsville, Pennsylvania Isabel Lynch[23] Pottsville Roller Chair Parade Fourth Prize[18]
Providence, Rhode Island Loretta La Flamme[23] Providence
Reading, Pennsylvania Jane Ondeck[47] Reading
Richmond, Virginia Billie Gates[48] Richmond
Rochester, New York Reta Cowles[49] Rochester
St. Louis, Missouri Charlotte Nash[18] St. Louis 17 3rd runner-up[17] Roller Chair Parade Grand Prize[8][18] Married millionaire and theatre magnate, Fred Nixon-Nirdlinger, twice[50][51]

Shot and killed Nixon-Nirdlinger in March 1931 in Nice, France[50][52]
Was acquitted after successfully arguing act was in self-defense[53][54]
San Antonio, Texas Katherine Helmsley[25] San Antonio
San Francisco, California Violet Regal[55] San Francisco
Sunbury, Pennsylvania Mary Botto[32] Sunbury
Syracuse, New York Eileen Snyder[6] Syracuse Evening Dress Award Runner-up[6]
Trenton, New Jersey Alma D. DeCone[25] Trenton
Tulsa, Oklahoma Constance Crosby[25] Tulsa
Vineland, New Jersey Mary E. Edwards[25] Vineland
Washington, D.C. Lorraine Bunch[25] Washington, D.C.
West Virginia Neva Jackson[56] Philippi
Wildwood, New Jersey Eleanor Addis[25] Wildwood
Wilmington, Delaware Ruth Agnes Brady[48] Wilmington
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References
  1. "Miss Columbus Again Captures Beauty Title". The Norwalk Hour. 1923-09-07. p. 16.
  2. "Ohio Girl Again is 'Miss America'". The Sandusky Register. 1923-09-08. p. 1.
  3. "Twice Honored As Miss America". The Sandusky Star Journal. 1923-09-08. p. 5.
  4. "Miss America History 1923". Archived from the original on 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  5. "Miss America History 1923". Archived from the original on 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  6. Croyle, Johnathan (September 8, 2018). "Miss Syracuse charms at the 1923 Miss America Pageant". Syracuse.com.
  7. Schnitzspahn, Karen (September 8, 1997). "There She Was – Miss Long Branch". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. ...talent contest that was established in 1935.
  8. "Columbus, O. Girl Again Wins Title of "Miss America"". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September 8, 1923. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Why They Want a Law Forbidding Beauty Contests". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. November 11, 1923. p. 56 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Watson, Elwood; Martin, Darcy (2004). "There She Is, Miss America”: The Politics of Sex, Beauty, and Race in America’s Most Famous Pageant (1 ed.). New York, New York: Springer Publishing. ISBN 1403981825 – via Google Books.
  11. "Attacks Bathing Review: Preacher Says Atlantic City Event Endangers Youthful Morals". The New York Times. New York, New York. September 11, 1923. p. 15.
  12. "Harry Lincoln Godshall, Sr". Find A Grave. ...he was a member of the first board of directors of the Miss America beauty pageant.
  13. "Miss Columbus Again Captures Beauty Title". The Norwalk Hour. September 7, 1923. p. 16.
  14. "Miss Columbus Again Elected Beauty Queen". Wausau Daily Herald. Wausau, Wisconsin. September 8, 1923. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "1923 Miss America Pageant 1st Runner-Up Trophy - Brooklyn Kid Makes Good". Lelands. September 21, 2016.
  16. "Beauty Escapes Death; Miss Coney Island Arrives Too Late for Fatal Flight". The New York Times. New York, New York. September 9, 1923. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com. ...who finished third in the international beauty tournament...
  17. "Columbus Girl Wins for Second Time Title of Miss America". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. September 8, 1923. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com. ...Miss Charlotte Nash of St Louis and Miss Marian Green of Philadelphia were the runners up, in the order named.
  18. "Miss St. Louis First in Atlantic City Beauty Trials". Pittsburgh Daily Post. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September 6, 1923. p. 2.
  19. "Be Chosen In Beauty Show". The Lima News. Lima, Ohio. September 7, 1923. p. 1 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
  20. Dunn, Geoffrey (August 24, 2011). "Arctic Venus: The first Miss Alaska". Anchorage Press. Anchorage, Alaska.
  21. "Miss Alaska Follows Trail of Ice, Water, Air, Rail to Beauty Camp". Daily News. New York, New York. September 3, 1922. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Golden Apple Is Sought by Scores". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. September 6, 1923. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Half a Dozen America Beauties, Please". The Daily News. Frederick, Maryland. September 6, 1923. p. 11 – via Newspaper.com.
  24. "Lois Wilde, Famous Model at 15, Still Loves Dolls, but Aspires to Be a Bernhardt". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. December 10, 1922. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. "Golden Apple Is Sought by Scores". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. September 6, 1923. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. Coe, Alexis (February 12, 2013). "Stop That Skirt-Chaser! The Movement to Outlaw Flirting in the 1920s". The Atlantic. Olga Emrick, a Cincinnati stenographer, shows how a jiu-jitsu twist
  27. "Hit the Deck – 1929". IMDb.
  28. "Elizabeth Catherine Steele Crowned "Miss Cumberland"". Cumberland Evening Times. Cumberland, Maryland. August 30, 1923. p. 1 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
  29. "America's Prettiest Girls". The Evening News. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. September 14, 1922. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. Arbuckle, Alex Q. (July 12, 2015). "1922:The first Miss America". Mashable. Gorman, far right, poses in swimwear, with Mary Dague as "Miss Wheeling," Dorothy Haupt as "Miss Easton,"...
  31. "Wins Beauty Contest". National Petroleum News. 15 (3). National Petroleum Publishing Company. September 5, 1923. p. 62 – via Google Books.
  32. "More Beauties". The Daily News. Frederick, Maryland. September 6, 1923. p. 11 – via Newspaper.com.
  33. "Miss Johnstown Selected by Judges". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September 1, 1923. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. Hetherington, M.F. "History of Polk County Florida". Lakeland, Florida: The Record Company. Miss Mary Weaver represented Lakeland in the Beauty Pageant at Atlantic City in September, 1923.
  35. "Miss Grace Kohr Wins Right to Represent Lebanon in Shore Beauty Pageant Next Month". Evening Report. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. August 21, 1923. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. "Trade Conditions". The Jewelers' Circular. 88. April 23, 1924. p. 92 – via Google Books. Miss Elizabeth Mallory, Miss Memphis for 1923, pitched the first ball.
  37. "Miss Newlon Is to Represent City". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. September 3, 1923. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. "Margaret Gorman Cahill, 90; First Miss America". Los Angeles Times. October 5, 1995.
  39. "1922 Prize Beauty Is Winner Again: 17-Year-OId "Miss Columbus" Defends Laurels Against This Year's 74 Candidates". The New York Times. New York, New York. September 8, 1923. p. 8.
  40. "Miss America 1923 Candidates". Miss America. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  41. "Miss Norristown". The New York Times. New York, New York. September 2, 1923. p. 74 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. "Grace Taylor Is Miss Ocean City". Cape May County Times. New York, New York. August 17, 1923. p. 1.
  43. "illegible". Dixon Evening Telegraph. Dixon, Illinois. September 8, 1923. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. "illegible". Albert Lea Freeborn County Standard. Albert Lea, Minnesota. September 27, 1923. p. 3 – via NewspaperArchive.com. Katherine Floyd...was entered as “Miss Pensacola” in the National Beauty Show at Atlantic City, NJ.
  45. "From the Sunny South". The Daily News. Frederick, Maryland. September 6, 1923. p. 11 – via Newspaper.com.
  46. "Miss Philadelphia Leads the Parade". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. September 7, 1923. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. "ineligible". Reading Times. Reading, Pennsylvania. October 4, 1923. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com. Miss Jane Ondeck who represented Reading at the Atlantic City pageant...
  48. "Beauties". Times Herald. Olean, New York. September 5, 1923. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. "Daily Graphic Review of News Events". Athens Messenger. Athens, Ohio. September 4, 1923. p. 7 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  50. "Beauty Contest Girl Held as Husband Shot to Death". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. March 13, 1931. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. "Charlotte Nash". The St. Louis Star and Times. St. Louis, Missouri. May 19, 1926. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. "Mrs. Nixon-Nirdlinger Goes on Trial Today". The New York Times. New York, New York. May 20, 1931. p. 13.
  53. "First Intimate Details of Her Romance With the Theatrical Magnate". The St. Louis Star and Times. St. Louis, Missouri. July 7, 1931. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com. ...acquitted in Nice, France of the murder of her husband.
  54. "Takes Jury Ten Minutes to Acquit US Beauty". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. May 20, 1913.
  55. "Extra Attraction". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. August 22, 1923. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. "West Virginia's Best". The Daily News. Frederick, Maryland. September 6, 1923. p. 11 – via Newspaper.com.

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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