Pageant Press: Former Miss America contestant to celebrate 90th birthday
Below is a cute article from The Ridgway Record showing that press coverage and prestige of being a Miss America contestant never ends...
Former Miss America contestant to celebrate 90th birthday
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Marie Blose had one big event for which to get ready 70 years ago.
In less than three weeks, the former Miss Western Pennsylvania will have another one to enjoy.
Blose will mark her 90th birthday by Wednesday, Aug. 23 with a celebration which Blose is thrilled to report will include her entire family.
“My 90th birthday is in a few weeks,” Blose said. “My whole family is coming for the birthday.”
The party may be just as special, but will likely pale in scope to the one Blose, then Marie Ketter, attended in September, 1936.
The 19-year-old Ridgway native won the title of Miss St. Marys to advance to the competition for Miss Western Pennsylvania. She emerged from that contest victorious as well, allowing her to advance to the Miss America pageant.
Blose recalls the setting and the situation being memorable and satisfying.
“It was marvelous,” Blose said. “I went down to Atlantic City in 1936 and there were 53 girls there.”
She said there were a number of activities to keep the girls busy for the larger than life event.
“We all took a bicycle ride and they let each of us have a bicycle,” Blose said. “We took a car ride as well but they didn't let us keep the car.”
Blose did not end up taking home the Miss America crown. While Miss Philadelphia walked away as the new Miss America, Blose was ecstatic to be a part of the experience.
“I didn't win but that wasn't the important thing,” Blose said. “I had a wonderful time.”
She remembers being approached by movie executives, who wanted her to bring her beauty to the big screen.
“I had an offer from the head of Paramount Pictures to come to New York to be in the movies,” Blose said. “I turned them down, that wasn't what I wanted.”
Blose said her heart was in Ridgway and she ended up marrying a fellow local, Bob Blose. The two were married for 59 years before he died.
Blose's legacy at the pageant was never forgotten, a fact she holds on to with great joy.
“I went back years ago and they all knew who I was,” Blose said. “They had me stand up and they recognized me for being Miss Western Pennsylvania.”
Now, 70 years after one celebration gave Marie Blose a place in pageant history, she has another celebration on the way.
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Marie Blose had one big event for which to get ready 70 years ago.
In less than three weeks, the former Miss Western Pennsylvania will have another one to enjoy.
Blose will mark her 90th birthday by Wednesday, Aug. 23 with a celebration which Blose is thrilled to report will include her entire family.
“My 90th birthday is in a few weeks,” Blose said. “My whole family is coming for the birthday.”
The party may be just as special, but will likely pale in scope to the one Blose, then Marie Ketter, attended in September, 1936.
The 19-year-old Ridgway native won the title of Miss St. Marys to advance to the competition for Miss Western Pennsylvania. She emerged from that contest victorious as well, allowing her to advance to the Miss America pageant.
Blose recalls the setting and the situation being memorable and satisfying.
“It was marvelous,” Blose said. “I went down to Atlantic City in 1936 and there were 53 girls there.”
She said there were a number of activities to keep the girls busy for the larger than life event.
“We all took a bicycle ride and they let each of us have a bicycle,” Blose said. “We took a car ride as well but they didn't let us keep the car.”
Blose did not end up taking home the Miss America crown. While Miss Philadelphia walked away as the new Miss America, Blose was ecstatic to be a part of the experience.
“I didn't win but that wasn't the important thing,” Blose said. “I had a wonderful time.”
She remembers being approached by movie executives, who wanted her to bring her beauty to the big screen.
“I had an offer from the head of Paramount Pictures to come to New York to be in the movies,” Blose said. “I turned them down, that wasn't what I wanted.”
Blose said her heart was in Ridgway and she ended up marrying a fellow local, Bob Blose. The two were married for 59 years before he died.
Blose's legacy at the pageant was never forgotten, a fact she holds on to with great joy.
“I went back years ago and they all knew who I was,” Blose said. “They had me stand up and they recognized me for being Miss Western Pennsylvania.”
Now, 70 years after one celebration gave Marie Blose a place in pageant history, she has another celebration on the way.
posted by Abby Bollenbacher at
6:14 PM
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