Miss America 1959 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Miss America 1959
Mary Ann Mobley, Miss America 1959
Date	September 6, 1958
Presenters	Bert Parks
Venue	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Broadcaster	CBS
Entrants	52
Placements	10
Winner	Mary Ann Mobley Mississippi
← 1958 1960 →

The Miss America 1959 pageant was a big event held on September 6, 1958. It was the 32nd time this famous competition took place. The show happened at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Millions of people watched it live on the CBS television channel.

A young woman named Mary Ann Mobley from Mississippi won the crown. She was the first winner ever from her state! After becoming Miss America, Mary Ann Mobley went on to become a successful actress. She even starred in two movies with the famous singer Elvis Presley. Another contestant, Anita Bryant, who placed as the second runner-up, also became well-known later as a singer and TV personality.

Who Won? The Miss America 1959 Results

The Miss America pageant is a competition where young women from different states show their talents and personalities. They compete for the title of Miss America. Here's how the top contestants placed in 1959:

Top Winners and Runners-Up

• Miss America 1959: Mary Ann Mobley representing  Mississippi
• 1st Runner-Up: Joanne Lucille MacDonald representing  Iowa
• 2nd Runner-Up: Anita Bryant representing  Oklahoma
• 3rd Runner-Up: Sandra Lee Jennings representing  California
• 4th Runner-Up: Betty Lane Evans representing  North Carolina

Other Top Contestants

Ten contestants made it to the final round. Besides the top five, these young women also reached the Top 10:

•  Alabama – Lee Thornberry
•  Arkansas – Sally Miller
•  Connecticut – Billie June Turner
•  Texas – Mary Neil Hendricks
•  Utah – Janet Carolyn Secor

Special Awards Given at the Pageant

Besides the main title, contestants could also win special awards. These awards recognized different skills and qualities.

Preliminary Awards for Talent and Fitness

During the days leading up to the final show, contestants competed in preliminary rounds. Awards were given for their performances in these rounds.

• Lifestyle and Fitness Award: This award recognized contestants who showed great physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
  • Sandra Lee Jennings
  • Anita Marie Hursh
  • Betty Lane Evans
• Talent Award: This award celebrated contestants who performed exceptionally well in their talent presentations.
  • Lee Thornberry
  • Billie June Turner
  • Mary Ann Mobley

Other Special Recognitions

Some other special awards were given to contestants who stood out in different ways:

• Miss Congeniality: This award goes to the contestant who is voted by her fellow contestants as the most friendly and pleasant.
  • Ann Louise Willis
• Non-Finalist Talent Awards: These awards recognized contestants who did not make it to the final top group but still showed amazing talent.
  • Classical/Semi-Classical Vocalist: Gene Lenoir Wilson
  • Instrumental Talent: Bonnie Baird
  • Dancer: Audra Deckmann
  • Popular Vocal Talent: Marilyn Beryl Rockafellow
  • Overall Non-Finalist Talent: Sherry Johnson and Mary Morin

Meet the Contestants of Miss America 1959

Fifty-two young women from different states and regions competed in the Miss America 1959 pageant. Each contestant represented her area and showcased her unique talents. Here are some of the contestants and their talents:

• Alabama – Lee Thornberry from Birmingham. Her talent was vocal and dance, performing "Honey Bun." She made it to the Top 10 and won a Preliminary Talent Award.
• Alaska – Stuart Johnson from Douglas City. Her talent was playing the piano, performing "Alaska's Flag."
• Arizona – Donna Riggs from Phoenix. Her talent was vocal and dance, performing "Teacher's Pet."
• Arkansas – Sally Miller from Pine Bluff. Her talent was classical vocal, singing "Caro Nome." She was in the Top 10.
• California – Sandra Jennings from Riverside. Her talent was piano, playing "Clair de Lune." She was the 3rd runner-up and won a Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award.
• Canada – Danica d'Hondt from Vancouver.
• Chicago – Audra Deckmann from Chicago. Her talent was dance. She won a Non-finalist Talent Award.
• Colorado – Cynthia Cullen from Boulder. Her talent was drama.
• Connecticut – Billie June Turner from New Canaan. Her talent was ballet en pointe. She was in the Top 10 and won a Preliminary Talent Award.
• Delaware – Nancy M. Williams from Wilmington. Her talent was dance.
• District of Columbia – Lee Berkow from Washington, D.C.. Her talent was vocal, singing "Come Rain or Come Shine."
• Florida – Dianne Tauscher from Orlando. Her talent was ballet.
• Georgia – Jeanette Ardell from Marietta. Her talent was archery.
• Hawaii – Georgietta Kahalelaukoa Parker from Honolulu. Her talent was hula.
• Idaho – Bonnie Baird from Heyburn. Her talent was playing the clarinet. She won a Non-finalist Talent Award.
• Illinois – Anita Ruth Olson from River Forest. Her talent was piano.
• Indiana – Anita Hursh from Goshen. Her talent was piano. She won a Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award.
• Iowa – Joanne MacDonald from Ames. Her talent was dramatic recitation. She was the 1st runner-up.
• Kansas – Sharon Whitacre from Mission. Her talent was playing the accordion.
• Kentucky – Sandra Sue Smith from Harlan. Her talent was pantomime and dance.
• Louisiana – Alberta Louise Futch from Hammond. Her talent was fire baton twirling.
• Maine – Terry Suzanne Tripp from Lewiston. Her talent was ballet.
• Maryland – Mary Roberta Page from Bethesda. Her talent was chalk sketching.
• Massachusetts – Patricia Nordling from Lexington. Her talent was vocal and piano.
• Michigan – Patience Pierce from Detroit. Her talent was drama.
• Minnesota – Diane Albers from St. Paul. Her talent was piano.
• Mississippi – Mary Ann Mobley from Brandon. Her talent was vocal medley and dance. She was the Winner and won a Preliminary Talent Award.
• Missouri – Marjorie Critten from Kansas City. Her talent was tap dance.
• Nebraska – Sherry Johnson from Omaha. Her talent was monologue. She won a Non-finalist Talent Award.
• Nevada – Judy Wadsworth from Sparks. Her talent was dramatic monologue.
• New Hampshire – Mary Morin from Manchester. Her talent was pantomime. She won a Non-finalist Talent Award.
• New Jersey – Marilyn Beryl Rockafellow from New Monmouth. Her talent was vocal. She won a Non-finalist Talent Award.
• New Mexico – Lois Wilson from Hobbs. Her talent was vocal.
• New York – Miriam Sanderson from Rensselaer. Her talent was French vocal.
• New York City – Bette June Piller from New York City. Her talent was a speech on art.
• North Carolina – Betty Evans from Greenville. Her talent was vocal, piano, skit, and dance. She was the 4th runner-up and won a Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award.
• North Dakota – Helen Korfhage from Grand Forks. Her talent was classical vocal.
• Ohio – Margaret Putman from Ada. Her talent was a dramatic sketch.
• Oklahoma – Anita Bryant from Tulsa. Her talent was vocal. She was the 2nd runner-up and later became a popular singing star.
• Oregon – Mary Ellen Vinton from McMinnville. Her talent was piano and tap dance.
• Pennsylvania – Rosalie Samley from Bethlehem. Her talent was ballet.
• Rhode Island – Ann Willis from Cranston. She won the Miss Congeniality award.
• South Carolina – Gene Wilson from Charleston. Her talent was vocal. She won a Non-finalist Talent Award.
• South Dakota – Carolee Nelson from Irene. Her talent was drama.
• Tennessee – Patricia Eaves from Cookeville. Her talent was dramatic monologue.
• Texas – Mary Nell Hendricks from Arlington. Her talent was vocal. She was in the Top 10.
• Utah – Janet Carolyn Secor from Salt Lake City. Her talent was classical ballet. She was in the Top 10.
• Vermont – Sandra Sinclair from South Burlington. Her talent was vocal and dance.
• Virginia – Barbara Guthrie from Martinsville. Her talent was drama.
• Washington – Anne Henderson from Spokane. Her talent was pantomime and Charleston dance.
• West Virginia – Sandra Boyd from Fairmont. Her talent was vocal.
• Wisconsin – Kay Ross from West Allis. Her talent was art presentation with vocal and dance.