Margie Stewart

Margie Stewart
Born (1919-12-14)December 14, 1919
Wabash, Indiana, U.S.
Died April 26, 2012(2012-04-26) (aged 92)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Occupation Model/Actress
Years active 1939–1945
Spouse(s) Jerry Jeroske (later Johnson) (1945–2003; his death); 1 child

Margie Stewart (December 14, 1919 – April 26, 2012) was the official United States Army poster girl during World War II.[1][2] She appeared on twelve posters, of which a total of 94 million copies were distributed.[1][2]

She was born in Wabash, Indiana and attended Indiana University. She became a model and appeared in about 20 RKO movies, often in uncredited roles.[1][2] Among her roles was that of Marjorie Forrester, Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve's niece, in several films about The Great Gildersleeve.[3]

In addition to appearing in the posters, Stewart toured the U.S. as one of the four members of a group called the Bondbardiers, accompanied by various Hollywood stars, to sell war bonds. In 1945, she toured Europe and was one of the first civilians to enter Germany after the end of the war. Her appearance in London's Hyde Park "caused gridlock." [1][2]

Modeling

Described as "the U.S. military's official pinup" during World War II,[4] Stewart worked as a model for posters to boost the morale of men in the United States armed forces during that war. A 1943 news brief noted, "Though she quit as a poster model to become a movie starlet ... Margie Stewart will ... appear on two special posters to be circulated by the army among overseas troops -- for morale effect."[5] In 1944, Stewart was described in a photo caption as "credited with being the favorite poster girl of men in the U.S. Army."[6] She also posed for posters on the home front, "promoting everything from war bonds to security."[7]

She once estimated that more than 94 million of her posters were distributed worldwide during the war.[4]

Later life

Stewart and her husband lived in Studio City, California, and produced concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. She also did volunteer work at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.[4]

Personal life

In 1945, she married Jerry Jeroske, an army captain. The Jeroskes later changed their last name to Johnson. They had one child, Stephen, and three grandchildren. Jerry Johnson died in 2003.[1][2]

Death

Stewart's death from pneumonia occurred April 26, 2012, at a hospital in Burbank, California. Survivors included a son, Stephen Johnson, and three grandchildren.[4]

Filmography

Year Title Role
1942 Here We Go Again [8]
1943 The Falcon Strikes Back [4]
1943 Gildersleeve's Bad Day Marjorie Forrester[9]
1943 Bombardier the ingenue[10]
1943 Mexican Spitfire's Blessed Event [9]
1943 The Fallen Sparrow [9]
1943 The Falcon and the Co-eds [9]
1944 Mademoiselle Fifi [9]
1944 Show Business [9]
1944 Gildersleeve's Ghost Marjorie Forrester[11]
1944 Step Lively [9]
1944 Bride by Mistake [9]
1944 Music in Manhattan [9]
1944 Heavenly Days [9]
1944 The Falcon in Hollywood [9]
1944 Nevada [9]
1944 Around the World [12]
1945 Betrayal from the East [9]
1945 Having Wonderful Crime [9]
1945 Wonder Man [9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Margie Stewart, WWII Pinup Girl With Wholesome Air, Dies at 92". New York Times. May 6, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Margie Stewart". Daily Telegraph. May 3, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Necrology for 2012". Nostalgia Digest. 39 (2): 24–31. Spring 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Shapiro, T. Rees (May 8, 2012). "Obituary: Margie Stewart, U.S. military's official pinup in World War II". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Keeping Posted". Waco Tribune-Herald. September 12, 1943. p. 25. Retrieved May 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Favorite". The Paris News. July 4, 1944. p. 5. Retrieved May 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Bloomfield, Gary L.; Shain, Stacie L. (2004). Duty, Honor, Applause: America's Entertainers in World War II. Guilford, Connecticut: Lyons Press. p. 413. ISBN 1-59228-550-3.
  8. ↑ "(photo caption)". The San Bernardino County Sun. September 27, 1942. p. 24. Retrieved May 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Lentz, Harris M. III (2013). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2012. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 275. ISBN 978-0-7864-7063-1. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Movie Stars Sing At Juarez Breakfast". El Paso Herald-Post. May 17, 1943. p. 9. Retrieved May 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Fayette Theater". Washington C.H. Record-Herald. October 21, 1944. p. 5. Retrieved May 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Kay Kyser Musical On Ritz Calendar". The Anniston Star. January 2, 1944. p. 11. Retrieved May 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
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