The Miss Subways reunion event at Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Times Square on May 2, brought together three former Miss Subways winners who were local celebrities after their photos appeared on train placards from 1941 to 1976. Ellen Hart Sturm, the March-April 1959 winner, was encouraged by her neighborhood to send in her photo. Mary Gardiner Timoney, Miss Subways May-June 1953, was working for Scandinavian Airlines when her boss submitted her photo. Dolores Mitchell Byrne, Miss Subways January-February 1961, was a receptionist at Gannett in Rockefeller Center when her sister entered her photo.
Eliminations were finalized by the New York Subways Advertising Co. after the finalists, who had to be residents of New York City and subway users, were selected by John Robert Powers. The winners were chosen based on attributes such as grades, hobbies, and personality during the interview process. The winner of Miss Subways did not receive any cash prizes or free subway rides, and some were given a bracelet with a gold-plated subway token. Despite the lack of monetary rewards, the winners gained recognition and extra male attention after their Miss Subways nod.
Ellen Hart Sturm, now the owner of Ellen’s Stardust Diner at the age of 82, was a senior in high school when she won the title. Mary Gardiner Timoney, currently at the age of 89, was surprised and timid when she was selected as a possible Miss Subways and later a model for Radio City Music Hall. Dolores Mitchell Byrne, 81, continued to work in modeling into her thirties after winning the pageant at the age of 17 with her sister’s submission of her photo. All three Miss Subways winners had memorable experiences and faced an increased level of attention from the public after their pictures were displayed on the subway placards.
The Miss Subways pageant, which used to feature the photos of local New York City women, was a way to celebrate the beauty and diversity of the city’s residents. The winners became local celebrities and attracted attention from the public and even potential suitors. Despite the end of the pageant in 1976, the legacy of the Miss Subways winners lives on through their participation in events like the reunion at Ellen’s Stardust Diner. The event allowed the former winners to reminisce about their experiences and the impact that winning the pageant had on their lives.
Through the Miss Subways pageant, women from diverse backgrounds were able to showcase their beauty and personality and gain recognition in their community. The winners of the pageant were able to use the title to further their careers in modeling, entertainment, and other fields. The reunion event at Ellen’s Stardust Diner brought together former winners who shared their stories and memories of their time as Miss Subways. The event served as a reminder of the glamour and excitement that the pageant brought to the lives of the winners and the public who admired their beauty on subway posters.
