Being Miss America: Behind the Rhinestone Curtain (Discovering America) (31 page)

p. 198
.
her work with AIDS charities on NBC’s
Today. “Meet the New Miss Universe,”
Today
(video), August 26, 2010.

p. 198
.
a number of other HIV/AIDS specific organizations
. “Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo Returns to AID FOR AIDS,” editorial, aidforaids.com, April 8, 2013.

p. 199
.
an HIV-positive child fostered by her family
. “Miss America’s AIDS Platform: Making It Personal,” FoxNews.com: Infectious, April 9, 2010.

p. 199
.
“and the girl can sing!!”
Roxanne Roberts and Amy Argetsinger, “Miss America Judge Rush Limbaugh: Miss VA ‘Has It All,’
”
Washington Post
, February 1, 2010.

p. 199
.
an AIDS volunteer at age nine
. Macy L. Freeman, “Miss America Headlines Conference at Howard in Personal Campaign Against HIV,” Howard University News Service, November 15, 2010.

p. 199
.
Miss America 1971, Phyllis George
. “American Signature, Inc., to Debut the Miss America Youth Collection,” Miss America: Press Releases, October 14, 2010.

p. 200
.
a World AIDS Day conference at Howard University
. Freeman, “Miss America Headlines Conference.”

p. 201
.
“where the Miss America pageant belongs.”
Wayne Parry, “Atlantic City Welcomes Home Miss America Pageant,” ap.org., February 14, 2013.

p. 202
.
Don Wadsworth . . . made it happen
. Parry, “Atlantic City Welcomes Home.”

p. 202
.
Casino Reinvestment Development Authority
. Jennifer Bogdan, “Miss America Pageant Will Get $7.3M to Return to Atlantic City,”
Press of Atlantic City
, April 15, 2013.

p. 202
.
asserting that the price was too low
. “Lender Says He Won’t Approve Sale of Atlantic City Trump Plaza,” Associated Press, April 23, 2013.

p. 203
.
spread over a three-year contract
. Bogdan, “Miss America Pageant Will Get $7.3M.”

p. 203
.
both of whom work to stop child sexual abuse
. Miss America Organization, “Two Miss Americas to Speak on Child Abuse Tuesday,” April 23, 2013. Via e-mail.

p. 205
.
“worthy of his Hollywood roots.”
Jennifer Bogdan, “Miss America’s Finances Fluctuate, Records Show,”
The Press of Atlantic City
, February 8, 2014.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This one really did take a village; I’m grateful to all those who contributed stories, memories, details, photos, and the various other types of fuel that propel a writer toward the finish line.

It’s fair to say that without Mark Crispin Miller, this book probably wouldn’t have gotten off the ground. After I spoke in one of his NYU classes, Mark encouraged me, strategized with me, pitched me to the higher-ups, and helped me to shape the story of Miss America as I have lived it. Thank you for having confidence in a rookie nonfiction writer, and for guiding me to the University of Texas Press.

Speaking of UT, I would have been lost without the patience, diligence, and vision of Robert Devens, Lynne Chapman, Sarah Rosen, Jan McInroy, and their terrific team in Austin. They pushed, they advised, and they inspired me to improve upon what was already on the page.

Thanks also to my literary agent, Laurie Liss, who has been an awesome advocate and guide for me, and is just generally an all-around cool chick. And to the various other agents and managers in my life, thank you for understand
ing when I needed to batten down the hatches and turn down offers.

To those who generously provided photos, without hesitation, and without even having a complete manuscript to read: Vicki Gold Levi, Bob Ruffolo, Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, Don Kravitz, and Daryl Schabinger, I am indebted to you.

Thanks to Doug Wert, a tireless champion who has always been in my corner.

Thank you to whichever genius decided to run train tracks through the Adirondack Mountains; Amtrak’s round trips to Montreal were often the only way for me to escape the craziness of a million other projects and focus on this one . . . even if the border patrol guards thought I was a little crazy.

This book would not have been possible without those who guided me through the Miss America experience: the “Dream Team” in Chicago, my traveling companions, Marilyn and John Feehan (and all the rest of the amazing volunteers who showed me what Miss America can be and encouraged me to see it through), and the countless contestants and other Miss Americas who have inspired me more than they know.

Finally, thanks to you, the reader. This is one person’s interpretation, through a single lens, and based on a specific set of experiences. Clearly, there are many others. But I appreciate that you took the time to consider mine.

INDEX

ABC (network),
38–39
,
54
,
195–196

Abs of Steel
,
132

Adams, Abigail,
42

AIDS.
See
HIV/AIDS

American Cancer Society,
90

American Heart Association,
90

American Idol
,
117

American Nursing Association,
90

“American Pie” (McLean),
58–59

Amway,
196

And the Band Played On
(Shilts),
98–99

Anti-Defamation League (ADL),
25–26

anti-Semitism,
24
,
25

Archibald, George (
Washington Times
),
167

Atlantic City,
17
,
39
,
61
,
66
,
151
,
153
; Bathing Beauty Contest in,
14–15
,
17
; and friction with pageant,
18
; Miss America week in,
72
,
142
,
146
; move of pageant from,
154
,
160–161
,
182
; pageant and public image of,
16
; popularity of Miss America Pageant in,
68–69
,
143
; return of pageant to,
201–203
,
205
.
See also
Miss America Boardwalk Parade

Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority (ACCVA),
182
,
202–203

Ay, Evelyn (Miss America 1954),
31
,
32
,
179–180

Bacharach, Harry,
18

Bachelor, The
,
184

Banet-Weiser, Sarah,
81
,
119–120

Baraquio, Angela Perez (Miss America 2001),
40
,
145
,
151
,
166

Barker, Olivia (
USA Today
),
169

Bartel, Jean (Miss America 1943),
29
,
31
,
92
,
139
; death of,
12–13
; legacy of,
13–14

Bauer, George,
159
,
162
,
166–169
,
175–176

Beatles,
76

Beck, Rob,
145–150
,
153
,
161
,
175

Benham, Dorothy (Miss America 1977),
40
,
76
,
77
,
78–79

Bergeron, Marion (Miss America 1933),
17

Berry, Jennifer (Miss America 2007),
40

Betbeze, Yolande (Miss America 1951),
26
,
27–28
,
30
,
40
,
139
; legacy of,
29
; on Lenora Slaughter,
31
; and refusal to wear swimsuit,
26–27
,
28

Beyer, Bud,
97

Big Bopper,
58–59

Black Panthers,
58

“Blues in the Night,”
76

Bogdan, Jennifer (
The Press of Atlantic City
),
204

Boston Globe
,
108–109

Bow, Clara,
42

Brando, Marlon,
30

Brigantine, New Jersey,
65–66

Bush, Barbara,
118

Cabaret
,
134

Caligari, Bill,
114

“Call Me ‘Ms.,’
”
75

Cameron, Caressa (Miss America 2010),
198–200
,
209
; and AIDS/HIV platform issue,
198–199

Campbell, Mary Katherine (Miss America 1923),
16

Carlson, Gretchen (Miss America 1989),
92
,
179–180
,
181

Carney, James,
161

Carroll, James (
Boston Globe
), on Kate Shindle,
108–109

Carson, Johnny,
78

Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA),
202–203

CBS (network),
54

chaperoning,
36
,
69–71

Charity Navigator,
204

Charles, Suzette (Miss America 1984),
86–87

Chicago Jewish News
,
24

Chicago Tribune
,
162

Children’s Miracle Network (CMN),
196–198
,
200
,
211

Christie, Chris,
201–202

Chu, Carl,
171–174

Claridge Casino and Hotel,
7
,
132
,
150–151

Clinton, Bill,
78
,
110

Clinton, Hillary,
118

Clymer, Misty,
163

CMT (Country Music Television),
182
,
195

Collins, Gary,
78
,
115

controversies,
17
,
20
,
78
,
86
,
120
,
149
,
162–163

Cooper, Bette (Miss America 1937),
20

Corcoran, Eddie,
18

Cornett, Leanza (Miss America 1993),
121
; and refusal to wear crown at appearances,
120
,
139

crown, Miss America,
120
,
139
,
178
,
190
; Tara Dawn Holland on,
123

“Day the Music Died, The,”
58–59

Dean, James,
30

Deatherage, Scott,
96
,
98

Deford, Frank,
x
,
41
,
54–55
,
79
,
158
,
209

Diana, Princess of Wales,
10

Dietrich, Marlene,
44

“Dixie,”
83

Don’t Forget the Lyrics
,
190–191

Downs, Deidre (Miss America 2005),
176

DSW,
196

Dunlap, Ericka (Miss America 2004),
169–170

Eaby, Harry,
160

Earhart, Amelia,
25

Early, Gerald, on Vanessa Williams,
85–86

eating disorders,
131–136

Ely, Ron,
78

ephedrine,
134

Express,
196

Feehan, John (Sir),
69

Feehan, Marilyn (Ma’am),
69
,
70

“Feelings,”
76

feminism,
139
,
169
,
206–208
; post–World War II,
44–45
; Sarah Banet-Weiser on,
119–120
; Second Wave,
60–61
,
77

Ferentz, Ric,
19

Fitzgerald, Zelda,
15

flappers,
15
,
30

Ford, Judi (Miss America 1969),
40
,
61

Fox, James,
163

French, Heather (Miss America 2000),
121
,
166

Friedan, Betty,
60

Frisch, David,
146

Fuhs, Steve,
180
,
181–182

Fulmer, Phil,
9

Garbo, Greta,
30
,
44

George, Phyllis (Miss America 1971),
62
,
76
,
78–79
,
199

Gifford, Kathie Lee, and Regis Philbin,
115
,
118

Gladwell, Malcolm,
96

Glass, Nancy,
118

Glen Osser Orchestra,
76

Godin, Tawny (Miss America 1976),
62
,
78
,
139

Goldman, William,
87
,
90
,
115

Good Morning America
,
7

Gorman, Margaret (Miss America 1921),
15–16

Graham, Billy,
32

Gravatt, Frank P.,
18

Great Depression,
29–30

Guadagno, Kim,
201–202

Guccione, Bob,
86

Hagan, Mallory (Miss America 2013),
201
,
203

Haglund, Kirsten (Miss America 2008),
183
,
200

Handler, Chelsea,
188

Harman, Darla and Glen,
154–155
,
156
,
158

Harman, Katie (Miss America 2002),
154–157
,
158
,
161
,
166

Harold, Erika (Miss America 2003),
164–169
,
170

Haskell, Sam,
195–196
,
203–204

Hepburn, Katharine,
44
,
56

Hitler, Adolf,
21
,
22
,
44

HIV/AIDS: education and prevention,
8
,
99–100
; epidemic,
89
,
96–98
; and NAMES Project’s AIDS Memorial Quit,
6
,
100
; and National HIV/AIDS Hotline,
107
; as platform issue for Miss America,
8
,
51–52
,
96–102
,
106–112
,
198–200
; as platform issue for Miss Universe,
198
; treatment,
111–112

Holland, Tara Dawn (Miss America 1997),
123
,
145