RGold Collection-Miss America 1926
This collection includes vintage photographs and other memorabilia from the 1926 Miss America Pageant.
I originally had started, for my two daughters, a collection of programs from every Miss America contest beginning with the first year in 1921. However, in my search for vintage programs, I found and puchased an actual 15 minute film of the 1926 Miss America Pageant, and its winner, Miss Tulsa Norma Smallwood.
I was also able to obtain a photograph picturing all 63 contestants from 1926 which was assembled into a panoramic view by Miss Smallwood's father, who was a traveling artist. The original frame measuring 11" X 27" was also made by Mr. Smallwood, and the photograph was given for safekeeping to an acquaintance, where it remained in an attic for almost 70 years.
The 18 year old Norma Smallwood was one of the most interesting Miss Americas. She was only 5 ft. 4 1/2 inches, weighing 118 lbs. She was part Native American, yet had fair skin and blue eyes. She had a keen financial sense, earning a small fortune from her title, and was known for her dispute and holdout with pageant officials over an appearance fee for the next year's contest. She married not one, but two oil men, and was later called "Mistress America", earning the nickname for a messy divorce.
Another item of interest about the 1926 pageant was that Miss Dallas Rosebud Blondell later became known as movie star Joan Blondell.
Although too large to scan, I will try to get a picture of the panoramic view to include here. I have collected many other items over the years relating to the 1926 Miss America Pageant, and I will add scans as I recover items from storage. |
Album by RONALD GOLDBERG. 1 - 16 of 16 Total. 5231 Visits. |
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