"IT'S A WONDERFUL TIME of the year", goes the introductory song as the contestants parade on the stage in their national costumes. After the song, Bob Barker presents the Miss Universe Parade of Beauties - each candidate hands to Miss Hospitality her ballot for the Miss Amity award. After the parade, Bob announces the new Miss Amity, Miss Tunisia (Zahara Boufaden) who could hardly overcome her shock. Barker introduces Miss Universe 1968 Marta Vasconcellos from Brazil who is stationed on a elevated platform.

     Bob Barker soon announces the 15 sem-finalists in random order: Misses Australia (Joanne Barret), Finland (Harriet Eriksson), Sweden (Brigitta Lindloff), Chile (Monica Teuber), Norway (Patricia Walker), Peru (Maria Julia Mantilla), Philippines (Gloria Diaz), USA (Wendy Dascomb), Colombia (Margarita Maria Reyes), Yugoslavia (Natasa Kosir), Israel (Chava Levy), Austria (Eva von Reuber-Staeir), Brazil (Vera Fischer), Japan (Kikuyo Osuka), and Switzerland (Patrice Sollner).

     Barker interviews each semi-finalist, and while doing so, the rest of the unselected contestants remain in the background (an absurd practice, I think). Entertainment is provided by guest singer Hal Sinter (?). After his song, Sinter introduces the 13 judges: David Merrick (Broadway producer); Eileen Ford (beauty expert and co-founder of Ford Modeling Agency); Edilson Cid Varela (Brazilian newspaper editor); Norma Nolan (Miss Universe 1962 from Argentina); Don Kingman (Asian-American artist); Monique Van Doren (European actress); Earl Wilson (U.S. columnist); a Belgian judge; a Japanese judge and four other judges whose names I could not understand.

     June Lockhart interviews Marta Vasconcellos, followed by the swimsuit competition of the 15 semi-finalists. All the candidates are wearing one-piece suits. Next, Bob presents three past Miss Universes: Margaretta Arvidsson (Sweden, 1966), Sylvia Hitchcock (USA, 1967) and Marta Vasconcellos herself. Marta gives her farewell speech which is about 1 minute long. An International Medley is sung by the contestants (minus the 15 semi-finalists). Among the songs sung include: "Age of Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In", "True, True, My World is Blue', "Volare", "Girl from Ipanema" and "Those Were the Days My Friend".

     Now, the selection of the five finalists: Finland, Israel, Australia, Philippines and Japan. Bob Barker asks Miss Finland the final question as the four others are sequestered in the isolation booth.

     The final question: "In the next day or so, a man will land on the moon. If a man from the moon landed in your hometown, what would you do to entertain him?" Miss Israel loses her poise while attempting to answer. Miss Australia does not answer the question at all. Miss Japan relies on an interpreter and gives a mediocre answer. Miss Finland gives a straightforward but general answer, and Miss Philippines gives a straightforward but down-to-earth answer.

     Bob announces the final placements beginning with Miss Japan (4th runner-up), followed by Miss Israel (3rd runner-up), Miss Australia (2nd runner-up), Miss Finland (1st runner-up), and then Miss Philippines as Miss Universe 1969 who is crowned by Marta Vasconcellos. Besides the crown, cape and sash, no scepter or flowers was accorded. June Lockhart says goodbye to the viewers. The theme song, "It's a Wonderful Night of the Year", is played in the background.

     NOTE: The reception of the video copy that I received was not good. The copy was made from a direct feed from CBS (thus continuous, without commercials, and even shows the timer on the screen). The images are blurry and the audio is barely comprehensible. That is why I was not able to jot down the exact names of the other judges as well as the last name of the musical guest. If any of our readers have access to other pertinent information, you are welcome to contribute to this site. A copy is better than no copy at all.

Photo courtesy of The Miss Universe Organization

Text by Rafael Robert Delfin.

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