MYERSON, BESS

MYERSON, BESS
MYERSON, BESS (1924– ), Miss America and philanthropist. Born to Louis and Bella Myerson in the Bronx, New York City, Myerson grew up in the Sholom Aleichem Cooperative. She attended the High School of Music and Art and graduated from Hunter College in 1945. In 1945, the 5-foot-10 Myerson won the Miss New York City pageant after her sister Sylvia entered her in the contest, and on a lark she entered the Miss America contest with the hope of winning a $5,000 scholarship to continue with her music studies and buy a piano. A pageant official suggested she change her name to the less Jewish-sounding Beth Merrick, but she refused. After her win, Myerson encountered blatant antisemitism among sponsors and during her tour of the United States over the next year. Inspired by the bigotry she encountered, she spoke out on behalf of the Anti-Defamation League. Myerson went on to study music at Juilliard School and Columbia University, and appeared as a guest soloist for the New York Philharmonic in 1946. In October 1946, she married Allan Wayne. The couple had a daughter together, but divorced in 1957. Myerson became a hostess and game show panelist on a variety of television programs from 1947 to 1968. In 1962, she married Arnold Grant, who adopted her daughter. Mayor John Lindsay appointed Myerson as New York City's commissioner of consumer affairs in 1969. During her four-year term, she helped pass the city's Consumer Protection Act and hosted the consumer affairs television show, What Every Woman Wants to Know. She went on two publish two books, The Complete Consumer Book and the I Love New York Diet. Myerson enjoyed presidential appointments to a variety of commissions in the 1970s, but the decade also brought another divorce and a fight with ovarian cancer. In 1980, she lost a Democratic Senate bid and suffered a stroke. From 1983 to 1987 she served as New York's commissioner of cultural affairs, but her reputation was tarnished by bribery and conspiracy charges. Myerson was acquitted, but not before pleading guilty to separate shoplifting charges in South Williamsport, Pa. In 1987, she released her autobiography, Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson's Own Story. A founder of the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, she continued to champion social causes and Israel. (Adam Wills (2nd ed.)

Encyclopedia Judaica. 1971.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bess Myerson — (born July 16, 1924 in Bronx, New York) became in 1945 the first Jewish woman to win the Miss America pageant. She appeared in various television shows in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1970s and 80s, she was involved in New York City politics.While …   Wikipedia

  • Myerson — can refer to: Adam Myerson, professional bicycle racer Bess Myerson, former Miss America and TV personality Dean Myerson, American Green Party politician Jonathan Myerson, dramatist, writing principally for television and radio Julie Myerson,… …   Wikipedia

  • Ed Koch — Koch at the commissioning of USS Lake Champlain in New York City, August 12, 1988 105th Mayor of New York City …   Wikipedia

  • Мейерсон, Бесс — Бесс Меиерсон (англ. Bess Myerson; род. 1924, Бронкс, Нью Йорк)  американская телеведущая и участница шоу. Известна тем, что была первой еврейкой по происхождению, выигравшей знаменитый конкурс Мисс Америка в 1945 году, а также первой… …   Википедия

  • Miss America 1945 — Date September 8, 1945 Presenters Bob Russell (entertainer) Venue Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey Entrants 39 Placements …   Wikipedia

  • Miss America — Not to be confused with Miss USA. For other uses, see Miss America (disambiguation). Miss America The Miss America logo Formation 1921 …   Wikipedia

  • Miss New York — For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss New York USA. Jessica Lynch, Miss New York 2003 …   Wikipedia

  • The Big Payoff — Infobox Television show name = The Big Payoff caption = The Big Payoff title card format = game show camera = picture format = audio format = runtime = 30 minutes creator = developer = executive producer = starring = Randy Merriman, Bob Paige,… …   Wikipedia

  • Miss America award winners — The most frequently presented Miss America Awards are for preliminary talent and swimsuit. The Talent award was introduced in 1936, and Swimsuit in 1940. In the 2000s preliminary awards for evening gown and interview were briefly introduced but… …   Wikipedia

  • The Second City — For other uses, see The Second City (disambiguation). The Second City logo by Chicago calligrapher John Weber The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago s Old Town neighborhood. The Second City Theatre… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”