Jo-Carroll Dennison
Encyclopedia
Jo-Carroll Dennison was a beauty queen
and actress originally from Tyler, Texas
.
Dennison, a self-supported student at the Federal Institute in Tyler, Texas
was lured into competing in the Miss Tyler pageant by the offer of a free swimsuit from Swartz Department Store. She won the pageant, and reluctantly agreed to represent Tyler in the Miss East Texas pageant.
Although Dennison was an involuntary participant, she won over the judges and took the East Texas title. As Miss East Texas, Dennison then competed in the Miss Texas
pageant held at Austin Stadium in August 1942 where she won her third pageant crown.
Unenthusiastic at the idea of competing in state pageants, Dennison then faced a three-day train trip to compete for the title of Miss America
in the national pageant held in Atlantic City, New Jersey
. She won both the swimsuit and talent sections of the contest, and ultimately the Miss America
crown. As a Wartime Miss America
, Dennison traveled to visit defense plants, hospitals and service camps and sold war bonds. She was the first Miss Texas
to win the Miss America
crown.
Dennison later moved to California and signed with Twentieth Century-Fox and became a successful actress, with appearances in the acclaimed Winged Victory
and the Oscar-winning The Jolson Story
.
Dennison, who was briefly married to comedian Phil Silvers
from 1945–1950. In 1954 she married movie producer Russell Stoneham (divorce 1981) and successfully raised a family. For many years, she was involved with hospice care in her community and was later involved in writing a book entitled "Finding My Little Red Hat".
LIVES: in Idyllwild, CA
Beauty Queen
"Beauty Queen" is the second song from Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. The lyrics refer to Ferry's girlfriend, Valerie Leon, one-time UK beauty queen, B-movie actress and model working in the Newcastle area, circa 1973.-Musicians:...
and actress originally from Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
.
Dennison, a self-supported student at the Federal Institute in Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
was lured into competing in the Miss Tyler pageant by the offer of a free swimsuit from Swartz Department Store. She won the pageant, and reluctantly agreed to represent Tyler in the Miss East Texas pageant.
Although Dennison was an involuntary participant, she won over the judges and took the East Texas title. As Miss East Texas, Dennison then competed in the Miss Texas
Miss Texas
The Miss Texas competition was founded in 1936 as a scholarship contest for young women. The winner represents Texas in the Miss America pageant; three winners have gone on to be crowned Miss America ....
pageant held at Austin Stadium in August 1942 where she won her third pageant crown.
Unenthusiastic at the idea of competing in state pageants, Dennison then faced a three-day train trip to compete for the title of Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
in the national pageant held in Atlantic City, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. She won both the swimsuit and talent sections of the contest, and ultimately the Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
crown. As a Wartime Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
, Dennison traveled to visit defense plants, hospitals and service camps and sold war bonds. She was the first Miss Texas
Miss Texas
The Miss Texas competition was founded in 1936 as a scholarship contest for young women. The winner represents Texas in the Miss America pageant; three winners have gone on to be crowned Miss America ....
to win the Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
crown.
Dennison later moved to California and signed with Twentieth Century-Fox and became a successful actress, with appearances in the acclaimed Winged Victory
Winged Victory (film)
Winged Victory is a 1944 drama film directed by George Cukor, a joint effort of 20th Century Fox and the U.S. Army Air Forces. Based upon the successful play with the same name by Moss Hart, who also wrote the screenplay, the film only opened after the play's theatre run.-Plot:Frankie Davis , Allan...
and the Oscar-winning The Jolson Story
The Jolson Story
The Jolson Story is a 1946 musical biography which purports to tell the life story of singer Al Jolson. It stars Larry Parks as Jolson, Evelyn Keyes as "Julie Benson" , William Demarest as his manager, Ludwig Donath and Tamara Shayne as his parents, and Scotty Beckett as the young Jolson.The...
.
Dennison, who was briefly married to comedian Phil Silvers
Phil Silvers
Phil Silvers was an American entertainer and comedy actor, known as "The King of Chutzpah." He is best known for starring in The Phil Silvers Show, a 1950s sitcom set on a U.S...
from 1945–1950. In 1954 she married movie producer Russell Stoneham (divorce 1981) and successfully raised a family. For many years, she was involved with hospice care in her community and was later involved in writing a book entitled "Finding My Little Red Hat".
LIVES: in Idyllwild, CA