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Miss America 1956

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29th Miss America pageant
Miss America 1956
DateSeptember 10, 1955
PresentersBert Parks
VenueBoardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
BroadcasterABC
Entrants50
Placements10
WinnerSharon Ritchie
Colorado
← 19551957 →

Miss America 1956, the 29th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 10, 1955 and was broadcast of the competition on ABC.

Sharon Ritchie became the first Miss Colorado to be the winner. As she was crowned, master of ceremonies Bert Parks performed the song "There She Is..." for the first time.

Results

Placements

Placements Contestant
Miss America 1956
1st Runner-Up
  •  Oregon – Dorothy Mae Johnson
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
Top 10

Awards

Preliminary awards

Awards Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness
Talent

Other awards

Awards Contestant
Miss Congeniality
Non-finalist Talent

Contestants

State Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Awards Notes
Alabama Alabama Patricia Huddleston Clanton 21 Classical Vocal, "Pace, Pace Mio Dio!" from La Forza del Destinó Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
Arizona Arizona Beth Andre Phoenix Comic Monologue, "What Do I Do Now, Mr. McLeod?" Top 10
Arkansas Arkansas Charlene Bowers Helena Vocal, "I Want to be Evil"
California California Barbara Harris Santa Cruz Vocal, "Over the Rainbow"
Canada Canada Dalyce Gail Smith Whitehorse
Chicago Chicago Florence Gallagher Chicago Semi-classical Vocal, "Love is Where You Find it" 2nd runner-up
Colorado Colorado Sharon Ritchie Denver 18 Recitation, "The Murder of Lidice" by Edna St. Vincent Millay Winner
Connecticut Connecticut Audrey Figlar Hartford Charleston Dance
Delaware Delaware Joanne Sakowski Wilmington Vocal
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Judith Dunkle Washington, D.C. 19 Vocal
Florida Florida Sandra Wirth Miami Fire Baton, "Jazz Medley" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia Jeanine Parris Atlanta 22 Dramatic Monologue
Hawaii Hawaii Barbara Mamo Vieria Honolulu Vocal/Hula, "The Night is Young" Top 10 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award


Miss Congeniality

Idaho Idaho Judy Voiten Boise 19 Vocal/Guitar, "Western Folk Song Medley"
Illinois Illinois Marian Elizabeth Cox Oak Park Vocal, "If I Loved You"
Indiana Indiana Carolyn Turner Indianapolis Chalk Talk & Poetry
Iowa Iowa Kay Taylor Iowa City 20 Tap Dance, "French Maids Dreaming of Marriage"
Kansas Kansas Gail White Arkansas City Piano
Kentucky Kentucky Ann Shirley Gillock Carrollton Organ
Louisiana Louisiana Jan Aline Johnston Ruston Drama
Maine Maine Janice Vaughn Waterville Dramatic Monologue
Maryland Maryland Carol Jeanette Westminster Fashion Display & Speech, "How to Pack a Suitcase"
Massachusetts Massachusetts Virginia Maffucci Watertown Dramatic Monologue, "Solitary Confinement" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
Michigan Michigan Margaret Devereaux Howell Piano, "Flight of the Bumblebee"
Minnesota Minnesota Marlyse Reed Fairmont Dramatic Monologue from L'Aiglon
Mississippi Mississippi Carolyn Cochran Lucedale Dramatic Monologue
Missouri Missouri Sharon Knickmeyer St. Louis Synchronized Swimming Non-finalist Talent Award
Montana Montana Bertha Mae Huebl Glendive Vocal
Nebraska Nebraska Sandra Spiecher Omaha Speech, "Teaching Handicapped Students"
Nevada Nevada Vivienne Potter Reno Dramatic Monologue, "An Address to the Jury"
New Hampshire New Hampshire Margaret Johnson Dover Dramatic Monologue
New Jersey New Jersey Patricia Campbell Camden Dance
New York City New York City Diana Deutsch New York City Art Sketching
North Carolina North Carolina Clara Faye Arnold Raleigh Monologue, "Sabrina Fair" 3rd runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
North Dakota North Dakota MaryAnn Gibbs Williston Vocal
Ohio Ohio Marguerite Garr Cincinnati Vocal & Zither, "Old Black Joe"
Oklahoma Oklahoma Ann Campbell Oklahoma City Speech & Furniture Design Display 4th runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Oregon Oregon Dorothy Mae Johnson Portland Dramatic Monologue from Macbeth 1st runner-up
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Pam Ulrich Sinking Spring Drama, "Proper Recitation"
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Gladys Rodríguez
Rhode Island Rhode Island Claire Mae Emerson Pawtucket Dramatic Monologue
South Carolina South Carolina Martha Chestnut Conway Piano
South Dakota South Dakota Connie White Canistota Piano
Tennessee Tennessee Patty Williams Jackson Vocal, "The Student Prince"
Texas Texas June Prichard Seymour Horseback Riding 1st runner-up at Miss Dixie 1957
Utah Utah Suzanne Storrs Poulton Salt Lake City Non-finalist Talent Award
Vermont Vermont Phyllis Reich Bennington Vocal & Dance
Virginia Virginia Betty Sue Matthews Norfolk Vocal, "There's No Business Like Show Business"
West Virginia West Virginia Mary Fryman Madison Vocal
Wisconsin Wisconsin Margaret Walls Milwaukee 18 Ballet, "Dying Swan"

External links

Miss America
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