Miss America 1944, the 18th Miss America pageant, was held at the Warner Theater in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 9, 1944. Venus Ramey, Miss District of Columbia won the title and also received swimsuit and talent preliminary awards.[1]

Miss America 1944
DateSeptember 9, 1944
PresentersBob Russell
VenueWarner Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Entrants33
Placements12
WinnerVenus Ramey
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia
← 1943
1945 →

One of the five finalists, Betty Jane Rase, who would become known as B. J. Baker, was a backup singer for many top recording artists, and also was one of the wives of actor Mickey Rooney.

Results

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Placements

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Placement Contestant
Miss America 1944
1st Runner-Up
  •   Boston – Paulina McKevitt
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
Top 12

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

Contestants

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Title Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Award Notes
  Arkansas Mineola Graham Brinkley
  Atlanta Mary Ann Linane
Birmingham Betty Jane Rase Birmingham Vocal Medley, "My Hero" from The Chocolate Soldier & "Lover, Come Back to Me" 4th Runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award


Preliminary Talent Award

Later known as B.J. Baker, a back-up singer for many recording artists.
  Boston Paulina McKevitt Boston Vocal, "Goodnight, Wherever You Are" 1st Runner-up
  California Shirley Ballard Los Angeles Top 12
  Chicago Elaine Steinbach Chicago Vocal, "You'll Never Know" 3rd Runner-up
Columbia Gloria Mae Grisso Columbia
  Connecticut Barbara Fisher East Hartford
  Delaware Jacquelyn Vasseur Wilmington
Detroit Iora June Victor Detroit Vocal, "Goodnight, Wherever You Are" Grandmother of Miss Michigan 2007 & Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund
  District of Columbia Venus Ramey 19 Vocal in English and Spanish & Dance, "Take It Easy" Winner Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award


Preliminary Talent Award

  Florida Virginia Warlen Violin, "Intermezzo" 2nd Runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award


Preliminary Talent Award

  Georgia Trudie Hayward Atlanta
  Illinois Betty June King Bloomington Acrobatic Dance, "Stardust" Top 12
  Kansas Grace Louise Pittman Wichita
  Maryland Audrey Klingenberg Baltimore
  Massachusetts Lucille Descoteau Lowell
  Miami Vernell Bush Miami Vocal, "It Had to be You" Top 12
  Michigan Beverly Bennett Detroit Vocal, "Stormy Weather" Top 12
  Minnesota Patricia Cummings Minneapolis Hula Top 12
  Mississippi Sarah Topp Tupelo
  New Hampshire Jackie Edson Plaistow
  New Jersey Janice Hansen Union City
  New Orleans Wilhelmina Hoffman New Orleans
  New York Bobby MacAdam Brooklyn
  New York City Betty Jo Dazey New York City Vocal Medley, "Goodnight, Wherever You Are" & "Swinging on a Star" Top 12
  North Carolina Betsy Marie Dalton Winston-Salem
  Ohio Madeline Bohanon Cincinnati
  Pennsylvania Margie Dorie Pittsburgh Vocal, "Big Boy Blue" Top 12
  Philadelphia Itha Duerrhammer Philadelphia Vocal & Dance
  South Carolina Virginia Owens Columbia
  Tennessee Marian Weller Chattanooga Vocal, "Someday I'll Find You"
  Texas Joyce Courrege Orange Comedic Monologue Miss Congeniality
  West Virginia Sharon Allyson Scott

References

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  1. ^ International News Service (1944-09-11). "Venus Ramey, 1944 Beauty Queen, Planning On Retirement To Farm". Port Arthur News. p. 2.

Secondary sources

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  • 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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