Miss American Vampire Beauty Contest

Miss American Vampire Beauty Contest

The Miss American Vampire competition was conducted in various places across the US in 1970 as a promotional tour for House of Dark Shadows. With most of the contestants participating in New York City and Los Angeles, MGM placed ads in newspapers seeking women 18 to 25 with you guessed it, vampire looks. The contestants were to be judged on the following criteria: interpretation of the vampire aesthetic, charm, poise, stage presence and videogenic qualities for television. The first place winner would win a trip to New York for a walk on role on Dark Shadows. The final competition in Los Angeles was hosted by Regis Philbin. In September 1970,

Jonathan Frid who played Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows, crowned model Christine Domaniecki from Belleville, New Jersey. The crowning was at Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey. Actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather was originally named the winner. However, no one knows if she declined the crown or the producers changed their minds.

Christine Domaniecki played a bar maid in one episode, and makes appearances at Dark Shadows conventions. Sacheen Littlefeather went on to represent Marlon Brando at the 1973 Academy Awards when she declined his Oscar for the Godfather.