Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-05
Continued from Page -

the girls on the hop from 9 a. m.
until midnight.
A few times IN the past. the
contestants have threatened TO
strike because of the strenuous
Week-long program.
on the last four nights of the
contest, the girls are put through
their PAGES in Atlantic City's con-
vention hall before nightly audi
ences composed of thousands of
art lovers. They parade IN bath
ing suits and in evening dresses.
before a solemn jury of nationally
known artists and Hollywood and
Broadway big wigs.
Then each little lady must get
up and do her parlor trick.
Apparently tap dancing and
live are on all public school cur
ricula now Because almost every
contestant could do one or the
other or both Everyone, that is,
except Miss Michigan, who was
among the fifteen finalists chosen
by the Judges
Miss Michigan an "old woman
of q Summers in a group whose
average age was between Is and
10, is Gerry MarCouX. She
-Annrea- y ye+ii reporter by coming
onto the stage and giving a brief,
pleasant little talk to explain her
non-tap-dancing, non-singing pro-
clivites.
1t was during this intellectual
interim that this dazzling, au-
burn-haired contestant owned up,
without shame or apology to the
fact that she is majoring in medi-
cal sociology at Marygrove Col
lege
No one seemed to think the less
of her for IT, and when she fin
ished her little speech. the gal
leries cheered her TO the echo.
All of which goes to prove that
in this New Era, even the beauti-
full no longer have to be dumb.
Miss Wisconsin Betty Ann
Miller, 10, added further intel
lectual tone to the affair, by
drawing cartoons and caricaz-
lures. Among the fifteen final
lists, Miss Wisconsin attends
state Teachers College,.
Only a dyspeptic could fail to
be impressed by the youth, the
general school air and the fresh
faced quality of the girls who
now compete for Miss Americas
crown. Most of the contestants
had just been graduated from
high school in June. One or two
would not finish for another year
And several. like Miss Wisconsin,
Miss Michigan and Miss Jo'ja. a
delectable pocket-edition blonde,
are in college.
AS If the ability to impart
oomph to one-piece bathing
suit, personality to aD evening
dress and distinction 10 some
branch of the lively arts were
not enough. the contestants were
subjected to mental drill by the
Judges. The latter included Art
lists John Held Jr, George h.
Petty. Russell Patterson and Ar
mando; John r. Powers, whose
beautiful models are standard
stuff in the commercial world;
Fashion Editor Vyvyan Donner
and Actress Lois Wilson.
At forenoon session, adver-
tised POLITICALLY as a breakfast
party, the gals were mentally
measured for cap and gown in a
seminar session. Judges, in pairs
moved from table TO table. The
object was conversation, persi-
flage, chit-chat and small talk.
Now what Helen Of Troy, who
was involved in the worlds first
beauty contest, thought of the
international Situation no one
knows, although she caused
plenty Of it.
Homer and other bards of the
day were content that Helen the
Miss Greece Of her day, had had
sufficient looks to launch a thou
sand ships and start a 10-year
war.
But the thereHgh-going man
ayers Of this latter day beauty
contest at Atlantic City are de-
termined that no contestant be
crowned Miss America until il Is
proved that she can form SEN
tence with both the subject and
predicate and can, generally
speaking. con her P's and Qs
As a matter of fact the Judges
readily admitted that the 1871
contestants all turned out to be
Whiz Kids
Once the little ladies had
passed their regents exams, one
would have thought the pageant
committee might be willing 20
-c;rii It quits But no. Each con-
testant was asked TO name any
D. a