Posted on 06/28/2009 2:17:49 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
LOS ANGELES – Gale Storm, whose wholesome appearance and perky personality made her one of early television's biggest stars on "My Little Margie" and "The Gale Storm Show," has died at age 87.
Storm, who had been in failing health in recent years, died Saturday at a convalescent hospital, said her son, Peter Bonnell.
Before landing the starring role in "My Little Margie" in 1952, Storm starred in numerous B movies opposite such stars as Roy Rogers, Eddie Albert and Jackie Cooper. After her last TV series, "The Gale Storm Show," ended in 1960 she went on to a successful singing career while continuing to make occasional TV appearances.
Storm was a Texas high schooler named Josephine Owaissa Cottle when she entered a talent contest for a radio show called "Gateway to Hollywood" in 1940. She was brought to Los Angeles for the finals, where her wholesome vivacity won over the radio audience and she was awarded a movie contract.
The contest's male winner was a lanky would-be actor named Lee Bonnell, who would later become her husband.
Given the quirky name Gale Storm, she went from contracts with RKO to Monogram to Universal, appearing in such low-budget films as "Where Are Your Children?" with Cooper and "Tom Brown's School Days" with Freddie Bartholomew.
She was often cast in westerns as the girl the cowboy left behind, and appeared in such B-movie oaters as "The Dude Goes West" with Albert, "The Kid from Texas" with Audie Murphy and "The Texas Rangers" with George Montgomery.
"I was really scared of horses," she admitted in 2000. "I only rode them because that's what you had to do."
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Loved her shows! Thought she was a major babe. Wasn’t Tommy Ivo on one of them?
I remember My Little Margie from when I was a kid.I didn’t watch it but knew well of it.
RIP!
I LOVED her show!! Zazu Pitts was a HOOT also!
I enjoyed her work. RIP.
Yes, she was. Sad.
I hear you knockin’, but you can’t come in.
I almost went with that, but I think this one is more appropriate: Gale Storm - Memories Are Made Of This
I loved her, too. She was a delightful part of those wonderful years when the shows were charming and truly funny. Thanks for the memories. RIP, Miss Storm.
I wonder if TV Land would dare dedicate some programming to the TV Icon? They have for others in the past and are currently airing a 6 hour movie on The Jacksons.
RIP, Gale.
She entertained many in early television. Remember her well in My Little Margie.
I loved her when I was a kid. I’m sure I saw every episode of the Gale Storm Show. RIP Gale.
Here is a 30 minute documentary she recently taped...she was obviously DEAF.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClUWrr8Fy0o
I used to watch that show and as a 10 yo boy I had a crush on her. She had a drug addiction for a while that kind of ruined her career but she worked through it I believe. Proof of that would be living to 83:)
May she sail timeless seas with Captain Huxley and Zazu Pitts.
May she rest in peace. Enjoyed My Little Margie when I was little.
87 ;) drugs did her body 4 better
*giggle*
I remember her show from the days when we only had three channels to choose from...the days when we left our doors unlocked and stored our rifles and shotguns in our school locker. Freedoms our children will never experience again...RIP, Ms. Storm.
The first wallet I purchased had a picture of Gale Storm in it. I kept that picture for almost 30 plus years because she was one “hunk” of a woman.
“R.I.P. I’m old enough to remember those programs. It was another time and a vastly different culture.”
IMO - Even though we experienced the Cold War the world was a better place then.
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