Mailbag -- Deborah Dodge

I thoroughly enjoyed the article on the Miss Burbank and Miss Teen

Burbank Pageant. I loved the large color picture of our new queens of

Burbank: Miss Teen Burbank Lynee Hastings and Miss Burbank Grace

Calderone, who are great representatives of our wonderful city.

The article stated that the Junior Chamber of Commerce has been in

charge of the event since 1996. Actually, I was the director and producer

in 1996. To the best of my knowledge, the Jaycees started the pageant in

1946 when Debbie Reynolds was crowned Miss Burbank.

I obtained this information from former Jaycees, former council

members and from Ms. Reynolds herself.

The Jaycees stopped producing the pageant in 1990. Luckily, Janet Datu

of Datu Productions grabbed the torch. Ms. Datu was very successful as

the director of the Miss Burbank USA and Miss Burbank Teen USA pageants.

This was the first time our pageant was divided for teens as well as for

young adult women.

I won the title of Miss Burbank USA in 1993 under Ms. Datu’s

direction. It was one of the best years of my life.

One year after I gave up my title, Ms. Datu passed the torch on to me.

I took over as executive director, producer, choreographer, coordinator,

etc. During my directorship, I was extremely involved with the Chamber of

Commerce.

In 1998, I collaborated with Jim Lawson -- a Burroughs alumni and Long

Beach Jaycee -- on starting up the Burbank Junior Chamber of Commerce for

a second time. The Burbank Jaycees had been nonexistent for nearly a

decade.

I was thrilled when they showed interest in running the pageant. I was

ready to pursue other avenues in my life. However, I would not give up my

role as director until I found that special person or persons who had the

community’s interest at heart.

To run a pageant, one must get a business license, DBA and a

trademark. It’s not an easy thing to do, and it’s very expensive. As a

pageant director, one has to actually become a business owner.

Fortunately, the Jaycees took over the pageant in 1998.

I just wanted to remind the community that in between the existence of

the original Jaycees and our current Jaycees, the pageant was in the

hands of a former Miss Burbank USA.

I take great pride in the city in which I was born and raised. Even in

the 21st century, I am so glad to see that our city still has that

small-town quality.

During my reign as Miss Burbank and during my three years as the

pageant’s director and producer, the Burbank Leader was more than kind.

Your paper is such a great source of information, and it’s so well

organized. I have been reading it since the 1980s.

In a world of Jerry Springer and local news sensationalism, I thank

you for your wholesome and positive articles.

I love the Burbank Leader. Keep up the good work.

DEBORAH DODGE

Miss Burbank USA 1993-94

Burbank