Model, Actress. Called "Uncle Sam's Poster Girl", she is remembered for her pictures on a dozen World War II US Army publicity posters. Born Margery Stewart, she was raised in northern Indiana, attended Indiana University for a year, then moved to Chicago where she worked as a department store model. Relocating to Los Angeles in 1941 she was signed by RKO pictures and made her silver screen debut in the 1942 "Here We Go Again". That same year she was asked to pose for three posters reminding GIs to keep secrets, write home, and buy War Bonds; Margie's wholesome image quickly became popular with Soldiers who wanted to meet the girl behind the photographs, though Eleanor Roosevelt thought she was a bit too wholesome and would make the troops homesick. The Army, however, refused to replace her and eventually 12 posters were created with Margie becoming a most welcome guest when she visited bases in America and England. She continued her movie work, making 20 films including "The Fallen Sparrow" and "Bombardier" (both 1943)and 1944's "Gildersleeve's Ghost". She earned her final credit with the 1945 "Wonder Man" then after RKO declined to renew her contract undertook a 1945 USO tour that took her throughout Europe. Married to Captain Jerry Johnson in 1945 she settled in Southern California and in later years worked in the music business booking acts for the Hollywood Bowl while continuing to support the military by donating the profits from sales of coffee cups and other items carrying reproductions of the posters to the USO. At her death from the effects of advanced age a few of her movies had been preserved on DVD.
Model, Actress. Called "Uncle Sam's Poster Girl", she is remembered for her pictures on a dozen World War II US Army publicity posters. Born Margery Stewart, she was raised in northern Indiana, attended Indiana University for a year, then moved to Chicago where she worked as a department store model. Relocating to Los Angeles in 1941 she was signed by RKO pictures and made her silver screen debut in the 1942 "Here We Go Again". That same year she was asked to pose for three posters reminding GIs to keep secrets, write home, and buy War Bonds; Margie's wholesome image quickly became popular with Soldiers who wanted to meet the girl behind the photographs, though Eleanor Roosevelt thought she was a bit too wholesome and would make the troops homesick. The Army, however, refused to replace her and eventually 12 posters were created with Margie becoming a most welcome guest when she visited bases in America and England. She continued her movie work, making 20 films including "The Fallen Sparrow" and "Bombardier" (both 1943)and 1944's "Gildersleeve's Ghost". She earned her final credit with the 1945 "Wonder Man" then after RKO declined to renew her contract undertook a 1945 USO tour that took her throughout Europe. Married to Captain Jerry Johnson in 1945 she settled in Southern California and in later years worked in the music business booking acts for the Hollywood Bowl while continuing to support the military by donating the profits from sales of coffee cups and other items carrying reproductions of the posters to the USO. At her death from the effects of advanced age a few of her movies had been preserved on DVD.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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