Miss America 1956

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.

Miss America 1956
DateSeptember 10, 1955
PresentersBert Parks
VenueBoardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
BroadcasterABC
Entrants50
Placements10
WinnerSharon Ritchie
Colorado

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
Final results Contestant
Miss America 1956
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 10

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


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

References
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