The Bridgeport Telegram from Bridgeport, Connecticut • Page 25

Mis THE BRIDGEPORT SUNDAY POST, SEPTEMBER 1954 America Pageant to Sparkle With 'New Look' This Year LOR JOTE: Effrjr jear, lomc of the beautiful la America In the beauty content trafnv. MI B--THREE City. nt nK PUt U( it former Am.rk.'. tblnk tb. whole By JIM TOMLINSON ATLANTIC CITY, N.

Sept. 4-Some arc fidgety, nervous and worried. Others are calm, cool and collected. But all 52 are beautiful. That's why they're here.

With home towns in 44 states New York city, Chicago, Canada, gown. All this in addition to curve, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam and the District of Columbia, they've come to Atlantic City to be judged by their peers in the nation's oldest beauty contest--the 'Miss America pageant. Connecticut's Different In case of Connecticut, how- aver, there will be two young ladies making the journey--one, Dorothy Hopkins, the candidate of the Connecticut Junior Chamber of Commerce and recognized by pageant directors; the other, Violet Fuchs, candidate of Alfred Patricelli 'who managed the state preliminaries until this year, when the Jaycees wart the franchise. Just ahead is a frenzied week preliminary contests, rehearsals picture-taking and a parade. But the chmax--the naming Mist America, 1955 will have a "new look" this year.

It's all par of a campaign on the part Dageant authorities to put some zip Into the affair when the girls bat tie it out for the title and the $50, 000 in awards that goes with it. The successor to last year's wm ner, Evelyn Ay, of Ephrata, Pa will be named at a nationally televised show next Saturday night in Convention hall. For the first time the annual pageant parade down this resort's famed Boardwalk wil be held at night. Night Parade Cooler Pageant officials figure a night parade will be cooler for both spectators and marchers. It will also give more people a chance to view the many floats, bands and girls.

Instead of performing on the vast stage as in years past, the girls will off their curves and talents on a runway jutting ouf. toward the center of tha hall. Aa- a result some of the audience will get a closer look at tha girls. The pageant probably would be unhappy if anyone suggested that burlesque houses had the same Idea years ago. But since the hall Is about the Carlsbad Caverns, fans In distant balcony recesses will still need binoculars.

Why the changes? Publicly, pageant officials say they aren't worried abouf competi- tlon from California's lusty, young Miss Universe contest. But they don't deny Miss Universe Is grabbing a bigger ahare of the beauty spotlight each year. Beauty Not All When the Miss America pageant started--back in 1921--beauty in a bathing suit was all that mattered, juat as It's all that matters today In the Miss Universe competition. Later, the Atlantic City contest turned to a search for "The Ideal American Girl." Beauty, the officials decided, was not just skin deep. So the "Ideal American Girl" had to show a beautiful talent, beautiful personality and beautiful poise In an evening in the right places.

This approach has brought howla from many contest fans. They say the talent show is just plain boring. They plead for a return to the Jays when Miss America was chosen on the basis of the best turned ankle --and similar attributes. Past Winners Opine But even though pageant officials have yielded on some points, the girl who's a knockout in a swim suit, but short on talent or personality, win still wind up a mere also- lan next Saturday. What do the past winners think of the beauty-plua-talent idea? Now, as they look back at It, did their victories really mean anything in their lives? Would they, if they could, enter again? The answers, received In a sampling of past winners, say yes.

"I'd certain'y do it again," says Jacque Mercer Curran, 1949 winner. "I'm praying for a baby girl so she can enter the contest some day. It's an experience a girl can find nowhere else." Mrs. Curran is the wife of Dick Curran, who plays pro football with the Green Bay Packers. They met at the University of Arizona, which BE SHOPP, Miss America of 1948.

with Harry Zimmerman, who her on her televmon show in Minneapolis, Minn. Miss Shopp is to be married this month to Lt. David Waring of the Air Force. she attended one year as a law and drama student after winning the title. Marilyn Buferd's triuwph In 1948 indirectly led to her marriage and the marriage recently ended in di- vore.

Still, she's all in favor of the beauty contest. "I think it was all worth it," she said. "I think I did very well with all I won." With her $5,000 scholarship, she studied with a Hollywood drama coach, was briefly employed by M-G-M, and then went abroad to earn French and Italian. Wh.il* there, she made several films, Including some, for TV use In the U.S. 1951, she married Frencesco Barbaro, Italian movie agent and jroducer.

Now back In Los Angeles, with a on and a divorce, she plans to ook for film work. Vote of Confidence The contest also gets a vote of onfldence from Mrs. John V. Hummel, who was Barbara Jo Walker when she won in 1947. She used ier scholarship to study voice and he piano for two years.

Now the wife of a physician in Memphis ind the mother of two children, Mrs. Hummel also finds time to un a daily local TV show. The 1944 winner, Venus Ramey, now Mrs. Joseph Murphy of tanford, mother of two chil- ren. As a result of her triumph, he says, she had a "lot of unusual experiences--some good, some bad." But she declined to elaborate.

S.he thinks the beauty pageant, as run today, is worthwhile but wasn't when she won. In those days beauty alone paid off. Her views are interesting--she will be one of this year's judges. NEVA JANE LANCl-EY, MIn Am.rie. .1 1151.

In AtltnU. whirl hn juit of TV ipptarancM. Afttr ftw wMkt ftt In Laktland, will raturn WMltytn COIItgi fr htr lilt ytmr. BEAUTY OF A MOM--Miss America of 1949, now Mrs. Richard Curran of Tempe, with her son, Richard Patrick, and as Jacque Mercer when she won the contest in Atlantic City.

She studied law and drama at the University of Arizona and at Arizona State College before marrying Dick Curran, a football star now with the Green Bay Packers. DOROTHY HOPKINS Miss Jaycee of Connecticut. ROUNDING OUT THE YEARS--Mist America of 1947, Barbara Jo Walker of Memphis, as looks in a bathing suit today (left) and at she appeared at the time she won the beauty contest in Atlantic City, N. J. VIOLET FUCHS "Miss Connecticut." BACK TO REALITY--Out of the dream world in which sha lived for a while after being elected Miss America of 1946, Marilyn Buferd plays with her son, Nickey, 21-2.

Recently divorced from Francesco Barbaro, Italian movie producer and agent, she has returned to Los Angeles, her home when she won the Miss America contest. Worldwide in Scope, Paintings Of Chadbourn to Co on Exhibit By TERE PASCONE From now until Sept. 10, in the Leonid Kipnis gallery, Church lane, Westport, 25 semi-abstract paintings, created by a 33-year-old will be presented in public exhibition for the first time in Connecticut. The artist is Alfred Chadbourn, member of the staff of the Famous Artists school in Westport, and his landscapes and still-Iifes, sparkling nlmlo I'luninitr ALFRED CHADBOURN in full color, are as striking as the blonde, handle-bar mustache he has had since he was In Korea in 1952, In the exhibit are impressionistic scenes of Gerrnany, France, Korea and Spain, and the roving life he has led since childhood is reflected in the fleet, vague buf fascinating pictures he has created on canvas. Born In Turkey Mr.

Chadbourn's father, Philip, was in the U.S. diplomatic service in Turkey when his artist son was born in Symrna, and from that time on Alfred has seen much of the world. He two when his family moved to Paris, was six when his parents opened a school in the Dordognc section near Bordeaux, and was. 10 years old when his mother whisked him, his brother and sister, to Pasadena, CaJ. For nine he atayed put in Pasadena, attending public schools In that city.

Mis artistic talent was recognized at the Pasadena High school, and after he was graduated, he shifted his residence again to accept a scholarship granted him by the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles. In 1942, his studies were interrupted by the'war, and for the next four years, he served in the US. Army Tank corps in the Philippines, Okinawa and the Marshall Islands, Sketches in No matter where he went, he sketched his Impressions in foxholes, saving the rough sketches until the day when tie could transfer them on canvas in oil at the close of the war. That day came in 1946, and "Chad" Chadbourn, who had risen to the rank of staff sergeant, returned home to Los Angeles after his discharge with the zest to paint strong in his blood. Applying for educational aid under the G.I.

Bill of Rights, he was able to continue his art studies in France, and soon after his marriage to Dorothy Conradt, a Los reporter, whom ha had met at art school before the war, he headed Europe-way with his bride and settled down for a spell of five years. During that period, he was graduated from Ecole des Beaux Arts and the Academic de la Grande Chaumiere, met and studied also with George Braque, noted modern French painter, and held two successful one-man shows in the Palais Royal gallery in 1949 and the Gallery Creure, in 1950, one of which wag completely sold out before the exhibit was over. While in Paris, he also made trips to Italy and Spain, spending two months in the latter country, and from each he returned with water color Impressions of scenes which he later transferred to canvas in oil. U.S. Job in Germany Upon Kraduation from the art schools in Paris, Chad took a job with the U.S.

State department In Germany. The work assigned him was chief of design in a group of architects, coordinating American Know-how with ideas of German decorators and designers in two big building projects going on In Frankfurt and Bonn, and he hftld the job a year, painting and sketching scenes of the war-torn areas In his spare time. In 1952, he and his wife returned to the United States and for one term, Chad taught painting at Queens college until he received a governmental appointment to go with five other artists to Korea to help boost the morale of stationed there by painting their portraits and sending tha back to their families In the States. In the Kipnis exhibit, many foreign places are used as in Korea," "Market Scene in Paris," "Ruins of Duesseldorf" "Ruins of Frankfort," "Seville," "Spanish Street Scene," "Street in Spain." "Street Scene In ParK" and "Vendor in Korea" Since he became a resident of Westport a year ago, he has observed life arpund him and from these impressions have emerged "Avalon" and "Be- -)t Scene," also in the exhibit. Amateurs Encouraged Mr.

Chadbourn, although a professional, is till for the encouragement of painting amonfr amateurs, rrom a hoboy viewpoint, ana as part of the cultural development of the individual. Works of tha Westport painter may be found today in private collections In the United States and Europe, and in the permanent collections of the National Academy, New York; Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Chicago Art Institute, and Pennsylvania Academy in Philadelphia. In Connecticut, they are framed In the homes of Pianist-Comedian Victor Borgr and Mrs. Huntingdon Wilson, both of Woodbury; Mr. and Robert Hunger, of Waterbury, and Mr.

and Mrs. Donald Tuttle, of Mlddlebury. iimlaT iif Fl FRANKFORT RUINS-- Alfred Chadbourn uses stron with brick red predominant in these patterns of buildings in Frankfort, Germany, darks and bombed-out PRIEST AND found inspiration when ha saw the somber shadow of priest sat ajamst violent colors of wall pos ters in Paris. for United Life's sales champs, including 17 associates of Bridgeport's I. L.

Hartenberg agency Tonight's showing of "Ugetsu," the prize Japanese film at Lucille Lortel's White Barn in Westport precedes by 48 hours the Broadway premiere S. Silver, the leather goods store, a to honor its oldest living customer, and asks this column's help in finding same The Shakespeare "Celebrity Xight" gross in Stamford topped $20.000 Tip to Ruth Steinkraus: not invite Samuel Chotzinoff of Ridgefield to your "Music for a Sunday Evening?" One of the area's rcallv global industrialists. A. O. Samuels of Connecticut Chemical Research Corp.

is off for England tomorrow Something to anticipate: Weston's Eva Le Callienne as the Quern Mother in "Hamlet" in the forthcoming cinematizatiori of "Prince of Players," the Edwin Booth biog. Incidentally Wilton's Raymond Massey will be seen as Booth's father Bill and Gladys Burlant and Buddy and Marge Meade, August grandparents, dancing long night through--the final fling, I suppose, before babv-sitting begins to keep them home. BIG DOINGS at Good Luck's Tuesday as roor Richard, himself, is planning a special program to mark his birthday anniversary Incidentally, the Mixologist club of Dick. Charley Peterson, Mike Lambro and silent Joe Solan take off for Miami and Havana by plane Sept. 13 Tom Kearney had more tree branches, etc to clean up after Tuesday's big 1 a anvbody in the Overland avenue area, so to placate his nerves he took the next day off to go fishing and came back home i enough to supply the neighbors Perry Pilotti, "Little of Arctic Sport Shop, is due back tomorrow after a month's junket across the nation including a profitable stop at Las WALTER C.

RICHTER, former Bridgeport Policeman who resigned from the department in 1945 after six years of natrolling A beat, is driving a bus for the Schenectady a i a comnnnv. Schenectady, N. Y. Walter was in the companv jjarace at 3 a. m.

one morning last week when reporter Petr Mastronardi slopped in to seek directions to Canada A a i Clifford Bright veteran operator of the city emcrgcncv is a a i i in Peru N. Y. It's a baby bov for Dr. and Mrs. John C.

Olsavsky, of Boston avenue. New firrnal was born last week in St. Vincent's hospital Alexander L. Basso, ex-switchboard operator for the State Police department, has gone to work as a cab driver for the Kickey Taxi companv Ralph Foskett and his wife, Mabel, (he's nicfht telephone operator af the Pnst- elegram) are today celebrating their 35th wcddiujj anniversary The Town of Stamford i i in footsteps of his-City of Bridgeport, bv setti'iitr up a. Youth bureau to handle juvenile cases.

Tt was back in a Police Supt. John A. Lyddy established such a branch here for boys and girls under the ages of 16. THOMAS COCCO, of 1077 North avenue, is packing bags i week in preparation frr his departure via boat to Italy where Ire is a i Rome Medical school. Tom enters his final year at the collecr and comes back here in as Dr.

Thomas Cocco Robert Patrick formerly of Gurdon street, and about as a drummer a few years back a patient in West Veterans hospital Robert Krysiak, chanced from a Bridgeport police i to that nf a state patrolman sevcraf ago. has posted a notice on 1 precinct in board a i his desire to sell blue Park Citv i "and other police items Theresa librarian at the Burroughs library is missing from the Bishop a leave of absence" Newest model 5n town is "hanely blonde Laura Fiore, Dick Kopsick, recent i in the Connecticut a Golf association's 27-hole tourney held in Wheeler nark, may leave the Warner company anvrlay i his i at the University of Conn i Dick defeated 172 plavers in the CSGA tourney. BILL LORENZO, of 2R Fox Run road. Fairfield. is owner of new Dairy Queen More.

4201 Main street PAT, band nembers crucsts of George Roraback, manager of the Merritt a at shou ing of police i Dragnet Television and 1 3768 Main street, owned by Daniel J. Trivers and Charles Marsillio, celebrating their i a a i More and better telephone ice is in store for l-airheld residents when construction complete a new i extending through the a Brooklaun sections Mrs. Doris LaBarr fCowalski, i out i vacation time as nurse in he emergency room at Bridgeport hospital Xew owner cTvirf a i at Main and i streets is Walter Yaremich, of 12 Green street, House at Main street and P.IOIIK a across the street from St Vincent's hospital, being com Tied i a medical center for i doctors' offices. George Polena. of 2S37 Main street is of the building Florence Halloren is supervisor of out-patient and emergency a at Bridgeport "hospital Each year it is the i i of a a i at the Bridgeport hospital School of i to present the i i i some tokens as a remembrance.

The gift of the class of 1953 arrived recent a a a i clothes Jack Sullivan, Brass company a i a i i a i i his new home in Lake Forest i company boasts one of the most modern a hospitals in the a facilities added to the a a a i i complete care for accident cases It i be cocktails on the house this evening for members of ongshore Beach and Country Club as President Julius L. Ballet his annual party in the club's terrace room. Members of the cast of the Longshore Follies will help as host s. There ill be a dinner-dance following the parly, i young singing star Billy Fields heading the en- a i MIKE AND SYLVIA KESSELMAN, 1575 North avenue, happily celebrating 15th wedding anniversary. Mike is proprietor of Mike's Variety store, 268 State street Looka- iikc-: Pmc Rock Park's Marion Davey and Godfrey's Marion Marlowe Firefighter John Moore, of Engine 9, Maplewood avenue, heads committee of arrangements for annual ball of the Fire department scheduled for Thanksgiving eve, Nov.

24, in Stratficld hotel ballroom. Tickets now being sold by firefighters'. Carol--no relation to the hurricane by the same name --is name of the new daughter born to the Thomat (Continued on Page 12) (4.