In 1946 the war had ended only a few months before. The nation was slowly recovering, and changing back to a peace-time economy. The summer had proved that Seaside, if it was to recover its position as the leading beach resort in the state, must act, quickly and effectively.
During the summer Max Schafer, then a member of the chamber board, suggested the appointment of a special events committee, to plan events for the following year which would not only attract visitors but provide publicity for the community. He was promptly named chairman of such a committee by C.C. McGee, president.
The committee worked all winter, with the result that some sort of a special event was held every two weeks from the middle of June until after Labor Day. The procedure was to plan an event, and then name a committee to perfect the plans and carry them out.
In the search for ideas Schafer decided to investigate the possibility of participating in the Miss America program. At his personal request the chamber manager wrote to the Miss America organization to ask for information. In return the chamber not only received information, but a franchise for the Miss Oregon Pageant.
The special events committee promptly named a committee to handle this event, which was scheduled for the following July. Merrill Meade, then Chamber manager, at his own request was made chairman. M.C. Thorn was named to the committee. The personnel of the committee shifted constantly and at one time or another probably twenty persons were involved.
During the spring of the year 1947 it was apparent that the methods of promotion were not getting results. Consequently Thorn was named chairman, and as a result of his vigorous promotion it was possible to obtain co-operation from a number of communities. In addition he worked out the format for the show and was master of ceremonies. Mrs. Thorn was chairman of the hostess committee and extremely active in the event. Mrs. Slaughter, head of the Miss America Pageant, visited Seaside in February, 1947, and gave a great deal of help to the local committee.
Thorn remained chairman of the Miss Oregon committee for two years, after which he was transferred to The Dalles. While he was no longer able to head the committee he continued to be master of ceremonies until his death. When he left, Schafer was made chairman of the committee, a position which he held for eight years, with one year intervening when the chamber manager took over. The pageant was carried out successfully during those years under a great deal of difficulty, as the chamber had no affiliate organization throughout the state which would cooperate. Yet during these pioneering days three of Oregon’s representatives were included in the ten finalists and one became the first runner-up for the title of Miss America.
Because of this factor the chamber was very glad to turn over the Pageant to the Seaside chapter of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, with the hope that the affiliation of this organization with dozens of similar groups throughout the state would reduce the difficulty of obtaining cooperation and result in even greater success. This hope has been fully realized and the Miss Oregon Pageant has become on of the outstanding events of it kind in the United States.
