Entries should include the following: photograph, 25¢ and entry
blank. Entry blank to be printed with: name and address, where working,
type of work, registration number, hospital staff and school of nursing.

If any of the 25 finalists should be an airline hostess, then choose
an active duty nurse as winner. Object is to pick the "most represen-
tative nurse" and airline hostesses do not necessarily practice the
profession of nursing. When winner is chosen a letter to the hospital
will be sent asking about the nurse's record. There will be no runner-up.

Space for the contest was a point for discussion with no definite
result. The Guild has limited space as does the ANA. Also staff to
handle various steps for contest is limited. Photographs are not being
returned, must be glossies. Miss Johnson of the AHA would like the job
of screening applicants.

Don Coplin is to arrange for a Post Office Box to handle mail.
Deadline: "All entries must be post-marked by midnight of June 30th.

Rewards: Week at the Waldorf. Gala week, presentation at party,
theatre party at "Allegro," matinee and evening performances at "Mr.
Roberts," "Streetcar Named Desire," "Oklahoma!," Stork Club, "21," &c.
El Marocco and 6 uniforms have been promised by Mr. Berman of the Uniform
Guild. Possibility for Life to cover proceedings. July 12 will be the
night of the presentation at the Waldorf. Mr. Heidt will contact Ted
Saucier, publicity director for the Waldorf.

All printed matter on contest will go to ANA to be distributed to
hospitals for the bulletin boards, etc.

A parchment framed scroll for citation. Copy to be handled by
Mr. Dorais and Mr. Gilbert, they being versed in the proper nursing
language.

Radio spots to be arranged. First announcement to be sent to drama
editors by Mr. Heidt. ANA will send to city editors. All releases will
go through ANA. Guild will cooperate closely with newspapers. Mr. Heidt
will take care of New York and ANA will take care of national releases.

To be included in wire for tea: "Please be present at The Theatre
Guild cocktail party, etc." for judges, etc.

# # #

DETAILS OF CONTEST TO SELECT "MISS ALLEGRO, R.N."

MAY 11 1948

Jointly sponsored

by

The American Nurses' Association and The Theatre Guild

1. This is a contest to select the nurse who in the opinion of the Board of Judges exemplifies those qualities which make her America's most representative nurse.

2. The winner of the contest will be known as "Miss Allegro, R.N."

3. The judges for this contest will be:

Theresa Helburn and Lawrence Langner, Co-directors, Theatre Guild

Colonel Mary G. Phillips, Chief, Army Nurse Corps

Captain Nellie Jane DeWitt, Director, Navy Nurse Corps

Ella Best, R.N., Executive Secretary, ANA

Leonard Lyons

Elsa Maxwell

Madeleine Carroll

These judges will be invited to participate by telegram sent over the name of Miss Best (copy of this wire to be prepared by the Bernays office),

4. Any registered professional nurse, who is active in the profession, is eligible to enter the contest. To enter she must submit an entry blank, a photograph of herself taken within the past year, and a 25¢ entry fee.

5. The monies raised by the entry fee will be donated to American Overseas Aid - UN Appeal for Children. The press office of this organization has been notified and arrangements for cooperation will be worked out between Mr. Fay of UN Appeal for Children and Mr. Dorais of Bernays.

6. The contest will be officially announced on May 21 at a cocktail party at The Theatre Guild Building, to which will be invited the judges, other key people and the press.

7. All entries must be postmarked not later than midnight June 30.

8. The winner will be presented a citation at a ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria, the evening of July 12. Copy for this citation to be prepared by the Bernays office, cost of printing to be assumed by The Theatre Guild.

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Miss Allegro contest

Page 2

9. A small leaflet announcing the contest and containing a detachable application blank is to be prepared. Copy will be written by the Bernays office, and approved by both the ANA and the Guild, the latter to assume the printing costs. This leaflet will be mailed by the ANA to all state and district nursing associations in the country, and also be sent to hospitals and schools of nursing for bulletin board use. The ANA will assume mailing costs.

10. The winner of the contest will receive the following:

a) A week's stay at the Waldorf-Astoria

b) A theatre party at "Allegro"

c) Tickets to "Mr. Roberts", "Oklahoma", "A Street Car Named Desire".

d) An evening at the Stork Club, El Marocco, "21", The Copacabana

e) Six nylon "Allegro" uniforms, exact duplicates of those worn by Miss Lisa Kirk in the hit musical

The Theatre Guild to provide an escort for "Miss Allegro, R.N.".

11. Contestants will be notified that no photographs will be returned. Preliminary elimination will be made under supervision of Mr. Heidt of The Theatre Guild and Mr. Dorais.

12. The Theatre Guild will arrange for a post office box to handle incoming mail.

13. Basic publicity will be handled as follows:

a) Opening announcement to be sent simultaneously by The Theatre Guild and the ANA to drama editors and city editors, respectively.

b) The Guild will cover New York papers and the ANA will prepare national releases. All releases to be approved by ANA.

c) Continuing publicity, radio announcements, etc. to be issued as agreed upon by The Theatre Guild and the Bernays office throughout the length of contest.

# # #

MAY 12 1948

May 12, 1948

TO: LL, TH, AM, BF, PD, SG, WC, SW, PC.

On Friday evening from 4 until 6 there will be a cocktail party in the ballroom to inaugurate the nationwide campaign for the selection of "Miss Allegro, R.N." which is being sponsored by the American Nurses Association and The Theatre Guild.

There will be 75 people at the party including the Press and the publicity department suggests that we have a caterer and that Martinis, Manhattans and canapes be served.

Mr. Langner and Miss Helburn will represent the Guild on the Board of Judges selecting the winning nurse. Others who will be on the Board will be Elsa Maxwell, Madeleine Carroll, Leonard Lyons, Colonel Phillips, Chief, Army Nurse Corps, Captain Nellie Jane DeWitt, Director, Navy Nurse Corps, Miss Ella Best, R.N., Executive Secretary ANA.

Your presence is requested.

Jo Heidt

May 15, 1948

Mr. George Bugbee, Executive Director
American Hospital Association
18 East Division Street
Chicago 10, Illinois

Dear Mr. Bugbee:

Thank you for yours of May eleventh.
We are certainly glad to be able to cooperate
with you in this matter.

LL:mh