A Look Back at Ocean City
One hundred and four years ago, September 8, 1921, the first Miss America pageant was won by Margaret Gorman of Washington, D.C. She was named “America’s Most Beautiful Bathing Girl” (a year later, her title was shortened to “Miss America”).
The September 10, 1921 Ocean City Ledger reported: “Ocean City figured quite prominently in Atlantic City’s great pageant this week, and Miss Hazel Harris, who won The Ledger’s prettiest girl contest, got much applause, as Miss Ocean City, from the multitude of spectators as she took part in the various affairs arranged by the committee in charge of the pageant.”
The 1921 pageant also included a “Best Physical Build” contest for lifeguards. It was reported on the front page of the September 15, 1921 Ocean City Sentinel. “A First Award is Won for Ocean City by Young Man; Lifeguard Arthur R. Behan Wins Cup at Pageant in Atlanitc City” was the headline. The article reported, “Out of fourteen contestants for the Best Physical Build among lifegurds, Arthur R. Behan, a member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol was awarded first prize at the Atlantic City Pageant, September 7-8. Behan, who is a strapping big fellow, is rounding out his second year as a lifeguard here.”
