Noticed a 1953 article that went out over the NEA wire service about "predetermined" contest winners in beauty/cheesecake (the art form -- not the dessert) contests. Some ran a photo. Others didn't. The body of the article was deja vu between newspapers, while headlines varied.

For example, the Eugene Register-Guard (Oregon) beckoned readers with "Beauty Races Run-Arounds."

The Sarasota Journal (Florida) recapped the article with, "Beauty Contests Good as Publicity Stunts."

From the Canadian paper, the Ottawa Citizen: " 'Cheesecake' Just a Job"

The attached offering from the Florence Times (Alabama): "Cheesecake Beauty Only Press-Agent Deep."

Among the nuggets revealed: In many cases, beauty title-holders didn't compete for their crowns. "A press agent or the manufacturer himself [when it was a product-related title] will arbitrarily pick the girl" who wins.

And get this: "What does she win? Generally nothing. She brings her own shorts, sweater, bathing suit or evening gown with her. The time she spends competing is her own, and so is her carfare."

There was even a prevailing demographic profile for potential winners:

* Probably from east of the Mississippi and north of Georgia. (Close geographical call! Tennessee sits directly on top of Georgia. Whew!)

* Between 17 and 21 years old. (No wonder Bettie lied about her age! She was 30 by the time this article was written.)

* Been a professional less than 18 months, with 90% of the "competitors" (if you can call them that) sent from a modeling or theatrical agency.

Mark, did Bettie ever run into problems with fixed contests?

What do we know about her being sent from modeling or theatrical agencies to enter these sorts of contests?

Bettie told me several funny stories about fixed beauty contests. She was very matter of fact about it and I got the idea this was a pretty common practice in the early 50's. One story involved a suggestion by a beauty contest judge that he'd "help" her win the contest if she'd "date" him. Another fixed contest took place at the Waldorf-Astoria and Bettie actually won it without having to "date" any of the judges. How did that happen? Stay tuned for details.

Well, there were countless local and small-town contests like these that were, indeed, bullshit. We are less likely today to fall for fixes (urp, yeah, riiight).

Mark B