The view from Dennison\u2019s home in Pine Cove.\u00a0 \u00a0 Photo by Jenny Kirchner<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\tDennison took a three-day train ride from Texas to New Jersey to compete in the Miss America Pageant, representing the great state of Texas. World War II was underway, and the United States needed something positive to hold onto as thousands of troops went to the front lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tDuring this time, the Air Force took over Boardwalk Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey where the Miss America Pageant was to be held. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tThe pageant was about to be canceled until Lenora S. Slaughter, pageant director from 1941-1967, secured the Warner Theater on the Boardwalk with the help of Rose Coyle (Miss America 1936) and her husband Leonard Schlessinger (an executive with Warner Bros. Studios). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tIn September 1942, Dennison, at the age of 18, became the first Texan to take the title of Miss America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\t\u201cI think I won because I\u2019m from Texas and sang \u2018Deep in the Heart of Texas,\u2019\u201d explained Dennison. \u201cI won all three categories in the pageant \u2014 the bathing suit, evening gown and talent sections. As far as I know, I\u2019m still the only one that\u2019s won all three.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During her performance of \u201cDeep in the Heart of Texas,\u201d she was supposed to wear a bathing suit, but was against it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\t\u201cI was the first one who refused to wear a bathing suit because I didn\u2019t think it was what I was about,\u201d said Dennison. \u201cI wore a cowgirl skirt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tDennison and her 29 fellow titleholders carried hope across the nation as they served in camps, hospitals, defense factories, USO clubs and Red Cross canteens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tDennison was happy to be able to put a smile on troops\u2019 faces during such an emotional time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\t\u201cThe really good part about being Miss America is I got to go to service camps everywhere and the boys were so darling,\u201d said Dennison. \u201cI was a very good jitterbug dancer, so we danced and they treated me like I was a symbol of what they were fighting for. It was very touching and tender. What I really got out of being Miss America was this extraordinary feeling of patriotism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tDennison\u2019s life continued to flourish in the entertainment industry after winning Miss America, taking her from a young secretary to a production assistant when television was first making its way into homes across the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\t\u201cI just loved and thoroughly enjoyed it,\u201d exclaimed Dennison. \u201cIt was the very beginning of television and it was the best job I ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, Dennison signed a contract with Twentieth Century Fox and became an actress, entertaining the masses from the stage to the big screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tShe married comedian Phil Silvers, divorcing after five years of marriage and later married Russell Stoneham with whom she had two children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tShe spent many years in the entertainment industry during an exciting time in our history, rubbing elbows with the stars. She would spend every Saturday night dancing in the living room with Gene Kelly at his home in Beverly Hills, had conversations with Marylin Monroe, who was actually a very shy woman according to Dennison, and listened to Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra serenade the parties when they were in town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\t\u201cThere were two pianos at Gene and Betsy Kelly\u2019s house and everyone would gather around and sing six-piece harmonies,\u201d said Dennison. \u201cBut the biggest star that got everyone excited was Greta Garbo. When she came to town, even the stars were star struck. It was an exciting time in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tDespite all of the glitz and glamor of the Hollywood life, the pageants, acting and award shows, Dennison has always felt at home in nature. At the age of 60, Dennison bought a house in Pine Cove \u2014 the place she knew she would spend the rest of her life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\t\u201cThis is why I\u2019m alive, it\u2019s where I live,\u201d said Dennison of Pine Cove. \u201cI was nourishing myself being in nature, absorbing the things around me and strengthening myself. It\u2019s been great therapy for me.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tWhen asked about what she wants to share with the world about her life and what she\u2019s learned Dennison said, \u201cThe things I\u2019ve learned now that I\u2019m toward the end of my life are: Fame and fortune doesn\u2019t mean anything, but the love I\u2019ve given and received does. Every time I did something out of anger or fear, it turned out badly. And every time I did something out of love, it turned out well.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dennison now spends her days with her beloved dog, attributing her long life to her positive attitude and optimism, and still enjoying nature, reading and learning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s not every day you get to talk to Miss America, but as I sat in her living room with the best view of the valley floor, I listened to her life story. Jo-Carroll Dennison, 96, has lived a long and full life with many stories along the way. Dennison was born Dec. 16, 1923. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":413727,"featured_media":63278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"amp_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
A Miss America story • Idyllwild Town Crier<\/title>\n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n