The Mr. Mature America Pageant showcases the talents and honors men 55 years and older.
OCEAN CITY -- The 4th annual Mr. Mature America Pageant had a special buzz about it as people began filing into the Ocean City Music Pier Saturday night.
Just hours after being the grand marshal of the city's Doo Dah Parade, television personality Regis Philbin took the stage as the emcee for a pageant that celebrates men 55 and older.
Ten contestants from the area put their talent, humor, and wisdom on the line to capture a crown like no other in the United Sates.
Vying for the title were:
- Matthew Allen, a 64-year-old singer from Newtown, Pa., whose brother was an astronaut on three space shuttle missions
- Jack Byrne, an 88-year-old comedian from Cherry Hill and Ocean City
- Gregg Clayton, a 58-year-old guitarist and singer from Somers Point, who performed "The Purple People Eater"
- William Andrew Dowling, a 65-year-old Christopher Walken fan from Ventnor, who read his poetry
- Frank Formica, a 65-year-old third-generation owner of the famed Atlantic City bakery and an Atlantic County freeholder, who sang and played guitar
- Jay Keally, a 58-year-old from Ocean City, who told the crowd a story dressed in an elf outfit
- Rich LaLena, a 60-year-old singer from Berlin who has served as the "town crier" for the N.J. League of Municipalities
- James Rago, a 69-year-old comedian from Linwood
- Joseph Stefano, an 85-year-old saxophonist from Ocean City
- Tom Troncone, a 64-year-old singer from Pennsauken
Allen was crowed Mr. Mature America 2017.
"I was surprised," said Allen, minutes after being crowned. "I thought I would do OK, but I was very pleasantly surprised."
The pageant opened with the contestants dancing side by side to "Macho Man" by the Village People. The talent portion of the competition followed.
Some dressed in costume, as did Keally, who donned an elf outfit complete with Santa's list.
For his talent, Allen sang a Sonny and Cher song dressed as both Sonny, on one side of his head, and Cher on the other.
During the poise and onstage interview, the contestants sat face to face with Philbin as he asked questions about their life.
Allen thought that the best thing about the pageant was having Philbin involved. "To have a sit-down interview like that was meaningful," Allen said.
Judging the pageant were Miss New Jersey Brenna Weick, Jack McDade, who was Dick Clark's first musical guest on "American Bandstand" in 1956, and QVC on-air host Bethanie Lori.
This pageant is a way to "pay tribute to older men," said Allen. "Though they are older, they are still very active and still very young at heart."
"I feel incredibly good about the whole thing," he added.
Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @photogthawk. Find NJ.com on Facebook.