People: Sep. 25, 1964

Beauty contestants should be seen and not heard. But not the new Miss America, who is a ventriloquist and thus has two voices. The night she reached the finals, Vonda Kay Van Dyke, 21, of Phoenix, chirruped: "Barry Goldwater, here I come!" But once the crown was in place, she became a benign queen, and said: "I think the President is our greatest man." Then she was off for a series of nationwide appearances that will earn her $75,000, in addition to the $11,000 in scholarships she will use next fall at the State...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!