A Look Back
By Fred Miller
Miss America 1923, was the third Miss America pageant, held at the Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City on Friday, Sept. 7, 1923. At the conclusion of the event, King Neptune crowned the incumbent titleholder Mary Katherine Campbell as Miss America 1923.
Contestants from 75 cities competed at the event including Ocean City’s Grace Taylor. “Miss Ocean City will look fine” was the headline of the Sept. 1, 1923 Ocean City Ledger. The article reported, “Miss Grace Taylor, Miss Ocean City, will leave Ocean City on Tuesday for Atlantic City to take part in the great pageant in that resort.”
The pageant drew thousands of people to Atlantic City and the committee organizers considered it a great success.
There were people, including Ocean City’s Rev. James E. Lake, who was not happy with the pageant. “Attacks Bathing Review; Preacher Says Atlantic City Event Endangers Youthful Morals” was the headline in the Sept. 11, 1923 New York Times.
A resolution was adopted by the Ocean City Camp Meeting Association began: “There can be no objection to such a carnival conducted on the restriction of common decency. The danger lies in taking girls of tender years and robing them in attire that transgresses the limit of morality.”
