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Suvenir N.A.R.D. Miss America A collectible Miss America souvenir, 1985 Awards Ball Rare Vintage 1972 Miss America Pageant Metal Lunchbox by
Bottle/ National Association Of Miss America Pageant (Winner Sharlene Wells (Hawkes), Aladdin Industries featuring the bathing suit competition, ball
Retail Druggists, Atlantic City, New Utah). Set of three ivory colored plastic material napkin gown competition, the crowning of the new Miss America and the
Jersey, October 1970, 7.5” x 3” x rings with 1 1/2” diameter opening. Blue print with crown talent competition. Copyright 1972 Miss America Pageant.
2”, selling for $39.99 at Etsy. logo. Selling for $16 at Etsy. Selling for $208 at Etsy.

that reflect a social advancement or a particular era.
And All That Comes With It For instance, in 1945, mere months after the end of
An abundance of Miss America memorabilia celebrates the Holocaust, Bess Myerson became the first Jewish
pageants past. Over the years, for example, organizers commis- woman to become Miss America. Her trophy depicts an
sioned countless amounts of promotional material like press kits, exquisite, 13” high golden figure of a woman poised
posters, flyers, and brochures. In addition, lavishly designed Pageant triumphantly, with arms aloft.
program booklets, commemorative postcards, calendars, autographed
images, and panoramic photographs, were acquired at the events them-
selves. Many of these, once taken home, were pressed in scrapbooks or Turning Miss America into
tucked away safely in dresser drawers. a Souvenir Juggernaut
Year by year, the Miss America Organization presented unique, From the start, advertisers realized that any product
themed gifts and souvenirs to their judges, chaperones, and associated with the Miss America Pageant put money in the
contestants. In the 1930s, for example, participants received bank. In the 1930s, for example, the Alvin Corporation
shimmering pink, diamond-cut “ Miss America” glassware, among produced opulent sets of “Miss America” sterling silver
them candy dishes, tumblers, goblets, cake plates, sugar bowls, flatware, including demitasse spoons, jelly servers, oyster forks,
creamers, and more. In 1985, Miss America Logo Awards Ball iced teaspoons, and other implements reflecting that era.
napkin rings were all the rage. In 1994, participants received “Miss Soon, her sultry silhouette graced everything from girly
America Pageant 50-Contestant Card Collections” and in 2014, calendars, alarm clocks, Jergens Face Cream, Miss America Mother
lucrative Lenox seashell figurines with matching pins. They also dis- of Pearl Buttons, Lucky Strike Cigarettes, fine grind coffee, and
tributed Lenox shoe figurines, tie tacks, and Golden Crown neck- Kellogg’s Corn Flakes to larger items like Philco Transistors, Bally
laces. Some years, participants even received watches emblazoned Pool Tables, Texaco Racing Boats, and Oldsmobiles.
with decorative crowns and logos of ABC, then their Over time, manufacturers also pitched Miss America-themed
television broadcaster. products to young girls dazzled by her glimmer and
In addition, the Organization supplied glamour. The rare, Miss America Pageant Metal
contestants with an array of onstage accessories Lunchbox, produced by Aladdin Industries in 1972,
including satin ribbon sashes, scepters, jeweled for example, depicts the bathing suit, ball gown, and
crowns, and regal velvet capes. In time, small talent competitions, as well the new Miss America
numbers have reached the market. Most, receiving her crown. Miss America paper dolls,
however, along with related films, slides, with an extravagant 29-piece wardrobe featuring
printed matter, and oil paintings of winners, pre-cut clothes, were also a hit with the younger
currently fill five rooms, floor to ceiling, of set. But the highly desirable Quick Curl Miss
|the Miss America Archives, located in Sewell, America Barbie Doll, introduced by Mattel, Inc.
New Jersey. Those seeking a peek can in 1972, was a dream come true. This perfectly
eventually view their digitized images at proportioned beauty not only wore a flowing
www.lib.rowan.edu and put Miss America gown, gold lamé bodice, lettered satin ribbon
into the search. The site is hosted by nearby sash, and a red fleece-like cape but bore a regal
Rowan University. crown and carried a scepter.
When the Pageant became associated
This stunning award measures 13” with the trophy, and
The Top Tier the base is 8” wide in diameter, and 8” tall. According with the Atlantic City Convention Hall, a
Though all Pageant contestants bore similar to the plaque on the base, “Miss America 1945 / Sept premier place of assembly, organizers of hosted
onstage accessories, only Miss America win- 3rd to 9th 1945 / Atlantic City, N.J. / -Won By- / Bess conferences distributed souvenirs featuring
ners (and her runners-up) were awarded glow- Myerson / New York City.” Sold at Heritage Auctions images of crowned Miss America winners.
ing, imaginatively designed trophies. Because for $2,125 in November, 2020. In 1970, for instance, the “National
they bear personally engraved plaques, each is photo: Heritage Auctions, ha.com Association of Retail Druggists,” distributed
a very collectible, one-of-a-kind work of art. ones aptly resembling medicine bottles. Other
The earliest trophies, like the stunning, organizations distributed Miss America-
silver-plated clamshell dedicated to “The Most themed items like ashtrays, pennants, mugs,
Beautiful Professional Bathing Girl, Bathers Revue, Atlantic City shot glasses, and cup and saucer sets.
Pageant, September 8-12, 1925,” are especially desirable. So are those Atlantic City businessmen and tourist bureaus also played up the

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