Jo-Carroll Dennison
Born(1923-12-16)December 16, 1923
Florence, Arizona, U.S.
DiedOctober 18, 2021(2021-10-18) (aged 97)
Idyllwild–Pine Cove, California, U.S.
TitleMiss America 1942
PredecessorRosemary LaPlanche
SuccessorJean Bartel
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1945; div. 1950)​
    Russell Stoneham
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1954; div. 1981)​
    Children2

    Jo-Carroll Dennison (December 16, 1923 – October 18, 2021) was an American actress and model who was Miss America 1942.

    Early years

    Dennison was born on December 16, 1923 in Florence, Arizona,[1] the daughter of Elizabeth (née Brownd) and Harry Arthur Dennison, who ran a traveling medicine show in Texas.[2][3] She was born in the infirmary of a men's state prison in Arizona, delivered by the prison doctor as he was the only medical help her traveling parents could find.[4] Her father had wanted her to be born in California so the couple had been driving west from Texas when her mother went into labour.[4]

    Her family later lived in San Francisco; Santa Barbara, California; and Tyler, Texas.[2] She graduated from Hale Center High School in 1940,[3] and was a stenographer in Tyler for Governor Earl B. Mayfield.[1][5]

    Pageantry

    Dennison was crowned Miss America September 12, 1942, after having entered the contest as Miss Texas.[2] She had earlier won both the talent and the swimsuit competitions in the contest.[6] As Miss America during World War II, much of her time was spent visiting "Defense plants, hospitals and service camps" and selling war bonds.[7] Per the Miss America tradition, it was insisted that she perform and dine with senior military personnel. She lobbied instead for doing so with the enlisted men, which helped set the standard for Bob Hope and other higher profile entertainers to do the same.[8]

    She was one of the first Miss Americas to refuse wearing a bathing suit during the year-long tour required of winners.[4] She delivered a video-taped message at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Miss America organization, in which she said "I am glad to have lived long enough to see how women’s fight against inequality, sexual harassment, and abuse has finally come to the fore. And I hope that future Miss Americas can help further the progress of healing the divisions in our country along racial lines, fight voter suppression, and motivate us all to respond to the specter of climate change."[9]

    Film and television career

    After her time as Miss America, Dennison went to Hollywood. On November 18, 1942, 20th Century Fox signed her to a seven-year contract.[10] She had roles in Winged Victory and The Jolson Story, and many television roles, including The Frank Sinatra Show, Adventures of Kit Carson, Dick Tracy, Abbot and Costello, and Perry Mason[7][1]

    As described in her memoir, “normal” life in Hollywood revolved around the party scene at the homes of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Danny Kaye. Most influentially, she was a regular at Saturday gatherings at Gene Kelly’s home, infused with music (including impromptu piano and song with Andre Previn and Paul Robeson) and literary conversation. These evenings of “radical liberal intellectualism” were punctuated with rare drop-ins the like Garbo, Garland, and Monroe. She watched friends and colleagues persecuted under McCarthy’s Red Scare and witnessed the ravages of blacklisting throughout her cultural world.[1]

    Later life

    She lived in Greenwich Village in the 1950s, working briefly with Look magazine and then as a secretary at the offices of Rodgers and Hammerstein.[1] Later, after moving back to Los Angeles, she worked as a production assistant at LUX Video Theater--the first live television drama--and later as a hospice care provider.[1] Dennison lived for two years in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, working on her memoir, which was published in 2021.[1] She ultimately settled in |Idyllwild, California.[11][12]

    Personal life

    Dennison married comedian Phil Silvers on March 2, 1945.[7][13] They divorced March 8, 1950.[14] The union produced no children. Dennison later married television producer Russell Stoneham and had two sons, Peter and John, with him.[15] Her second marriage inspired the storyline for Redford and Streisand’s dilemma in Arthur Laurents’ The Way We Were, she the free-spirited liberal and he the conservative pragmatist.[1] Other close relationships included journalist Blackie Sherrod and Sydney Chaplin, son of Charlie Chaplin.

    Dennison was the oldest-living Miss America when died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on October 18, 2021 at the age of 97.[4][16][17]

    Filmography

    Year Title Role Notes
    1943The Song of BernadetteYoung Nununcredited
    1943The Gang's All Hereminor roleuncredited
    1944Ladies of WashingtonFriedauncredited
    1944Something for the Boysminor roleuncredited
    1944Winged VictoryDorothy Ross
    1945State FairGirluncredited
    1946The Missing LadyGilda Marsh
    1946The Jolson StoryAnn Murray
    1950Beyond the Purple HillsMollie Rayburn
    1950Prehistoric WomenNika
    1951Secrets of BeautyJo Carroll Dennison
    1951PickupIrma
    1951A Millionaire for ChristyNurse Jacksonuncredited
    1976Everybody Rides the CarouselStage 5voice

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dennison, Jo-Carroll (2021). Finding My Little Red Hat. Independent. ISBN 979-8517776662.
    2. 1 2 3 "Miss America '42 Is Texan". The Times Leader. The Wilkes-Barre Record. September 14, 1942. p. 16. Retrieved October 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    3. 1 2 ""Miss America" To Visit Hale Center". Lubbock Morning Avalanche. Lubbock Morning Avalanche. January 1, 1943. p. 1. Retrieved October 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    4. 1 2 3 4 Seelye, Katharine Q. (2021-10-29). "Jo-Carroll Dennison, Miss America During World War II, Dies at 97". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
    5. ↑ "(untitled brief)". The Waxahachie Daily Light. The Waxahachie Daily Light. August 17, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved October 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    6. ↑ "'Miss America' Named Tonight". Santa Ana Register. Santa Ana Register. September 12, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved October 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    7. 1 2 3 "Miss America History 1942". Archived from the original on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
    8. ↑ Kitche, Kate (2004). The Strength of Grace: A Tribute to those who wear the Miss America crown: Their Tears - Their Triumphs. Eastman Press. ISBN 978-0975918906.
    9. ↑ "Jo-Carroll Dennison". October 3, 2023.
    10. ↑ "Jo Carroll Dennison, Miss America of 1942, Given Movie Contract". The Waco News-Tribune. The Waco News-Tribune. November 18, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved October 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    11. ↑ PINE COVE: Reflection from 1942 Miss America’s home
    12. ↑ A Miss America story
    13. ↑ "Jo-Carroll Dennison Is to Wed on Friday". The Piqua Daily Call. The Piqua Daily Call. March 2, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved October 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    14. ↑ "Mate Stays With Mother-in-Law". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. The Ogden Standard-Examiner. March 9, 1950. p. 8. Retrieved October 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    15. ↑ Tauber, Michelle; Neill, Mike; Russell, Lisa; Fowler, Joanne; Dam, Julie; Tresniowski, Alex; Miller, Samantha; Dougherty, Steve; Yu, Ting (October 16, 2000). "American Beauties: 80 Years". People.
    16. ↑ "Jo-Carroll Dennison, oldest ex-Miss America and longtime Idyllwild-area resident, dies". Retrieved October 18, 2021.
    17. ↑ "Jo-Carroll Dennison obituary". The Times. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.


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