Actress Gale Storm Dies at 87 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 06-28-2009, 04:43 PM

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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 in Danville, 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."

She appeared in three Republic westerns with Rogers and recalled that his horse Trigger did what he could to cause her trouble. As she would smile and ride alongside Rogers while the king of the cowboys crooned a song, Trigger (out of camera range) would lean over and bite her horse's neck.

With her movie roles diminishing in the early 1950s, Storm followed the path of many fading movie stars of the day and moved on to television.

"My Little Margie" debuted on CBS as a summer replacement for "I Love Lucy" in 1952. It quickly became an audience favorite and moved to its own slot on NBC that fall.

The premise was standard sitcom fare: Charles Farrell was a business executive and eligible widower, Storm was his busybody daughter who protected him from predatory women.

The year after "My Little Margie" ended its 126-episode run in 1955, she moved on to "The Gale Storm Show," which lasted until 1960. This time she played Susanna Pomeroy, a trouble-making social director on a luxury liner.

Storm, who had taken vocal lessons, sang on her second series, and three of her records became best sellers: "I Hear You Knocking," ''Teenage Prayer" and "Dark Moon."

She appeared only sporadically on TV after "The Gale Storm Show," guest starring on such programs as "Burke's Law," ''The Love Boat" and "Murder, She Wrote."

Her fans were surprised to read in her 1980 autobiography, "I Ain't Down Yet," that she was an alcoholic.

"I had hidden it socially, never drank before a performance," she said. After being treated in three hospitals, she found one that helped her break the habit.

Born April 5, 1922, in Bloomington, Tex., Storm was only 13 months when her father died. Her mother supported five children by taking in sewing.

A lifelong Christian, Storm and Bonnell named their sons after the Biblical figures Philip, Peter and Paul and their daughter after her TV character Susanna.

Bonnell died in 1987, and in 1988 Storm married former TV executive Paul Masterson. He died in 1996.

Mr. Television · 06-28-2009, 04:49 PM

Oh God...you have to be kidding me? What is it with all these deaths? Gale Storm was really a TV Legend. It's too bad her shows aren't rerunned that much or she'd be more popular. I haven't seen MLM since the early '80's. I've never seen The Gale Storm Show.. R.I.P. Miss Storm.

Scoobiedoo30 · 06-28-2009, 04:59 PM

R.I.P.

MickeyMac · 06-28-2009, 05:39 PM

I got a chance to see My Little Margie not too long ago and was wondering what Gale Storm was up to.

The bad news continues. R.I.P. Hopefully this is it for a while. Too many people died this week.

DLevine2 · 06-28-2009, 05:42 PM

There's been too many deaths the last week of the month of June.

R.I.P.- Gale

catlover79 · 06-28-2009, 06:28 PM

dakert · 06-28-2009, 10:16 PM

RIP Gale Storm

Marvo301 · 06-28-2009, 11:11 PM

Gale Storm. I remember the Cunningham family on Happy Days gathering around their television to watch "My Little Margie".

Mr. Television · 06-28-2009, 11:13 PM

I've been listening to some of her songs over on youtube. She had a very nice voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSkBl...eature=related

catlover79 · 06-29-2009, 08:40 AM

I'll have to check out those DVDs. She was a very pretty lady.

tv star collector · 06-29-2009, 01:44 PM

She was a very funny actress and an excellent vocalist. I have one of her
gospel albums. She is missed by all who have seen (or heard) her work.

cmjohnson87 · 06-29-2009, 03:02 PM

There is also a delightful 7 part interview from 1999 with Gale Storm on youtube that is an utter delight to watch.

Jude The Obscure · 06-29-2009, 04:03 PM

Yes, indeed her death is sad and hopefully her work will find someway of keeping her legacy alive.

I remember watching Margie on the old CBN cable network. I have never seen The Gale Storm Show--from what I read on GS's website, the shows may no longer exist in a playable state. That is sad too.

comedyfreak · 06-30-2009, 05:53 AM

That's really sad the classic stars are passing away.

ponytail · 06-30-2009, 06:35 AM

That is sad. I remember watching her show. I always thought she was such a pretty woman.

06-28-2009, 04:43 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Actress Gale Storm Dies at 87 Link LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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 in Danville, 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." She appeared in three Republic westerns with Rogers and recalled that his horse Trigger did what he could to cause her trouble. As she would smile and ride alongside Rogers while the king of the cowboys crooned a song, Trigger (out of camera range) would lean over and bite her horse's neck. With her movie roles diminishing in the early 1950s, Storm followed the path of many fading movie stars of the day and moved on to television. "My Little Margie" debuted on CBS as a summer replacement for "I Love Lucy" in 1952. It quickly became an audience favorite and moved to its own slot on NBC that fall. The premise was standard sitcom fare: Charles Farrell was a business executive and eligible widower, Storm was his busybody daughter who protected him from predatory women. The year after "My Little Margie" ended its 126-episode run in 1955, she moved on to "The Gale Storm Show," which lasted until 1960. This time she played Susanna Pomeroy, a trouble-making social director on a luxury liner. Storm, who had taken vocal lessons, sang on her second series, and three of her records became best sellers: "I Hear You Knocking," ''Teenage Prayer" and "Dark Moon." She appeared only sporadically on TV after "The Gale Storm Show," guest starring on such programs as "Burke's Law," ''The Love Boat" and "Murder, She Wrote." Her fans were surprised to read in her 1980 autobiography, "I Ain't Down Yet," that she was an alcoholic. "I had hidden it socially, never drank before a performance," she said. After being treated in three hospitals, she found one that helped her break the habit. Born April 5, 1922, in Bloomington, Tex., Storm was only 13 months when her father died. Her mother supported five children by taking in sewing. A lifelong Christian, Storm and Bonnell named their sons after the Biblical figures Philip, Peter and Paul and their daughter after her TV character Susanna. Bonnell died in 1987, and in 1988 Storm married former TV executive Paul Masterson. He died in 1996.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

06-28-2009, 04:49 PM	#2
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	Oh God...you have to be kidding me? What is it with all these deaths? Gale Storm was really a TV Legend. It's too bad her shows aren't rerunned that much or she'd be more popular. I haven't seen MLM since the early '80's. I've never seen The Gale Storm Show.. R.I.P. Miss Storm.
	__________________ Sonny

06-28-2009, 04:59 PM	#3
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	R.I.P.
	__________________ Who Dat

06-28-2009, 06:28 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-28-2009, 11:11 PM	#8
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	Gale Storm. I remember the Cunningham family on Happy Days gathering around their television to watch "My Little Margie".
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

06-28-2009, 05:39 PM	#4
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	I got a chance to see My Little Margie not too long ago and was wondering what Gale Storm was up to. The bad news continues. R.I.P. Hopefully this is it for a while. Too many people died this week.

06-28-2009, 05:42 PM	#5
DLevine2 DLevine2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2006 Location: Fayetteville, Ga. Posts: 2,961	There's been too many deaths the last week of the month of June. R.I.P.- Gale

06-28-2009, 10:16 PM	#7
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,410	RIP Gale Storm

06-28-2009, 11:13 PM	#9
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	I've been listening to some of her songs over on youtube. She had a very nice voice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSkBl...eature=related

06-29-2009, 08:40 AM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I'll have to check out those DVDs. She was a very pretty lady.

06-29-2009, 01:44 PM	#11
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	She was a very funny actress and an excellent vocalist. I have one of her gospel albums. She is missed by all who have seen (or heard) her work.

06-29-2009, 03:02 PM	#12
cmjohnson87 Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Jun 27, 2009 Location: American Fork, UT Posts: 3	There is also a delightful 7 part interview from 1999 with Gale Storm on youtube that is an utter delight to watch.

06-29-2009, 04:03 PM	#13
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	Yes, indeed her death is sad and hopefully her work will find someway of keeping her legacy alive. I remember watching Margie on the old CBN cable network. I have never seen The Gale Storm Show--from what I read on GS's website, the shows may no longer exist in a playable state. That is sad too.

06-30-2009, 05:53 AM	#14
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	That's really sad the classic stars are passing away.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

06-30-2009, 06:35 AM	#15
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,272	That is sad. I remember watching her show. I always thought she was such a pretty woman.