Miss America 1961, the 34th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 10, 1960, on CBS.

The telecast was watched by a reported 85 million viewers. Nancy Fleming, the winner as Miss Michigan, later became a television personality and the wife of Jim Lange, host of TV's The Dating Game.

Results

Placements

Placement Contestant
Miss America 1961
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
Top 10

Order of announcements

Awards

Preliminary awards

Award Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness
Talent

Other awards

Award Contestant
Miss Congeniality
Non-finalist Talent

Contestants

State Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Awards Notes
Alabama Alabama Teresa Rinaldi Birmingham 21 Vocal, "Addio" from La bohème Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
Alaska Alaska June Bowdish Anchorage 22 Dramatic Monologue from St. Joan
Arizona Arizona Georgia Garbarino Flagstaff 18 Modern Dance, "An American in Paris"
Arkansas Arkansas Claudette Smith Star City 18 Vocal Mother of Miss Arkansas 1991, Heather Hunnicut
California California Suzanne Reamo La Mesa 20 Vocal, "Love is Where You Find it" 1st runner-up
Canada Canada Iris Elaine Thurwell Northtown Vocal Non-finalist Talent Award
Chicago Chicago Margaret McDowell Evanston 21 Dramatic Reading Non-finalist Talent Award
Colorado Colorado Anne Walker Littleton 18 Dance
Connecticut Connecticut Wendy Mitchell New Haven 18 Vocal, "Just in Time"
Delaware Delaware Deborah Dunkenfield Benoit Wilmington 21 Composite Expression of Special Training
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Ruth Rea Chevy Chase, MD 18 Vocal, "A Little Brains, A Little Talent" from Damn Yankees 3rd runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Florida Florida Kathy Magda Fort Lauderdale 19 Dramatic Monologue from Our Town
Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia Sandra Tally Homerville 18 Piano, "Deep Purple"
Hawaii Hawaii Gabriella Haleakala'l Honolulu 20 Hula
Idaho Idaho Marlene Coleman Pocatello 18 Vocal, "If I Were on the Stage" Top 10 Contracted laryngitis and was unable to perform her talent during the national telecast
Illinois Illinois Vicky Joyce Nutter Vandalia 18 Presentation of Fashion Designs Non-finalist Talent Award
Indiana Indiana Tommye Glaze Culver 21 Classical Vocal, "Una Voce Poco Fa" from The Barber of Seville 4th runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
Iowa Iowa Sally Neville Davenport 18 Dramatic Reading, "Mother on a Moment's Notice"
Kansas Kansas Gayla Leigh Shoemake El Dorado 19 Original Dramatic Interpretation, "Rude Awakening"
Kentucky Kentucky Alice Chumbley Jamestown 21 Dramatic Monologue from The Country Girl
Louisiana Louisiana Judith Ann Coday Baton Rouge 20 Vocal
Maine Maine Sally Ann Robinson Enfield 20 Monologue/Piano Non-finalist Talent Award
Maryland Maryland Robin Carole Davis Hyattsville 18 Vocal, "I Cain't Say No"
Massachusetts Massachusetts Brenda Crovo Reading 20 Vocal Medley, "Bill" & "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" from Show Boat Top 10
Michigan Michigan Nancy Fleming Montague 18 Presentation of Dress Design Winner Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award

Preliminary Talent Award

Minnesota Minnesota Jean Elverum Fairbault 22 Vocal, "Romany Life" from The Fortune Teller
Mississippi Mississippi Patricia McRaney McComb 20 Speech & Art Presentation Non-finalist Talent Award
Missouri Missouri Dusene Vunovich Kansas City 19 Vocal, "Honey Bun" from South Pacific
Montana Montana Lois Marie Volkel Missoula 18 Classical Vocal, "Voi lo Sapete" from Cavalleria rusticana
Nebraska Nebraska Cheryl Ann Jacke Shelton 18 Vocal
Nevada Nevada Nancy Bowen McGill 19 Humorous Reading & Piano
New Hampshire New Hampshire Drina Bouchard Rochester 18 Cha-cha-cha Interpretation
New Jersey New Jersey Ann Barber Westfield 18
New Mexico New Mexico Carolyn Moore Carlsbad 18 Caricature Drawing
New York (state) New York Susan Talbert Ogdensburg 19 Dance Miss Congeniality
New York City New York City Sherrylyn Patecell New York City
North Carolina North Carolina Ann Herring Winston-Salem 19 Vocal, "The Lonely Goatherd" from The Sound of Music 2nd runner-up
North Dakota North Dakota Carol Olson Fargo 21 Dramatic Monologue from Mary Stuart
Ohio Ohio Alice McClain Marion 18 Vocal, "Summertime" & "I Got Plenty of Nothin'"
Oklahoma Oklahoma Donna Kay Creed Enid 20 Vocal, "The Sound of Music"
Oregon Oregon Rosemary Doolen Salem 19 Vocal, "A Heart That's Free" Non-finalist Talent Award
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Priscilla Mae Hendricks Shillington 19 Original Display of Art Work
Rhode Island Rhode Island Sally Saabye Warwick 18 Piano/Pantomime
South Carolina South Carolina Edith Sandra Browning Greenwood 19 Comic Dance/Pantomime, "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like my Sister Kate" Top 10 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
South Dakota South Dakota Janet Barber Britton 18 Dramatic Interpretation, "Casual Approach to Violence"
Tennessee Tennessee Jenny Thomas Nashville 19 Modern Ballet, Porgy and Bess
Texas Texas Mary Cage Moore Laredo 18 Spanish Dance with music by Manuel de Falla Non-finalist Talent Award
Utah Utah Marian Faye Walker Salt Lake City 27 Classical Vocal, "The Waltz Aria" from Mireille Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
Vermont Vermont Anne Masino Randolph 18 Accordion, "China Boy"
Virginia Virginia Catherine Birch Staunton 19 Classical Ballet Later married magician John A. Daniel
Washington (state) Washington Connie Hughes Bellingham 18 Original Monologue
West Virginia West Virginia Mary Hoback Bluefield 18 Original Dramatic Reading
Wisconsin Wisconsin Karen Fahrenbach Racine 21 Classical Ballet en Pointe, The Sleeping Beauty
Wyoming Wyoming Sharon Luond Cheyenne 18 Dramatic Monologue from Wingless Victory by Maxwell Anderson

References

  1. ^ a b "Michigan Girl Miss America". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Associated Press. 11 Sep 1960. p. 1. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Miss America To Go to College When Reign Ends". Philadelphia Daily News. United Press International. 12 Sep 1960. p. 8. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_America_1961
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