Margie Stewart obit

Obituary: Margie Stewart, U.S. military’s official pinup in World War II

 Margie Stewart, who has died aged 92, was the official US Army poster girl during the Second World War, with millions of her pin-up photos distributed to American GIs around the world.

She was not on the list.

Margie Stewart was the official United States Army poster girl during World War II. She appeared on twelve posters, of which a total of 94 million copies were distributed. 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.

Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, she “dutifully” accepted the US government’s invitation, posing for the Hollywood portrait photographer George Hurrell, who shot pictures for three posters, each of which bore the legend: “Please get there and back,” was the message on some posters. “Be careful what you say or write.”

Miss 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.” In 1944, Stewart was described in a photo caption as “credited with being the favorite poster girl of men in the U.S. Army.” She also posed for posters on the home front, promoting everything from war bonds to security.

Stewart had attempted a career in acting – and did land some small parts in a few movies – but she never hit stardom in Hollywood. She went on to entertain US troops in France, England, Germany and Belgium. In 1945, during a visit to London, crowds of people tried getting a peek of the poster girl, reportedly causing a major traffic jam. The Daily Telegraph had dubbed her “Uncle Sam’s Poster Girl.”

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." In 1944, Stewart was described in a photo caption as "credited with being the favorite poster girl of men in the U.S. Army." She also posed for posters on the home front, "promoting everything from war bonds to security."

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

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.

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.

Stewart died of pneumonia on April 26, 2012, at a hospital in Burbank, California.

Among her roles was that of Marjorie Forrester, Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve's niece, in Gildersleeve's Ghost.

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.

Actress (20 credits)

 1945 Wonder Man

Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)

 1945 Having Wonderful Crime

Guest (uncredited)

 1945 Betrayal from the East

Carter's Showgirl (uncredited)

 1944 Nevada

Saloon Dancer (uncredited)

 1944 The Falcon in Hollywood

Girl (uncredited)

 1944 Heavenly Days

Bit Part (uncredited)

 1944 Music in Manhattan

Airplane Hostess (uncredited)

 1944 Mademoiselle Fifi

Pamela (uncredited)

 1944 Bride by Mistake

Minor Role (uncredited)

 1944 Step Lively

Florist (uncredited)

 1944 Gildersleeve's Ghost

Marjorie Forrester

 1944 Show Business

Mary (uncredited)

 1943 Around the World

Marjorie (uncredited)

 1943 The Falcon and the Co-eds

Pan (uncredited)

 1943 The Fallen Sparrow

Dancer (uncredited)

 1943 Mexican Spitfire's Blessed Event

Model (uncredited)

 1943 Bombardier

Mamie Foster (uncredited)

 1943 Gildersleeve's Bad Day

Barbara - Girl at Party (uncredited)

 1943 The Falcon Strikes Back

Bellhop (uncredited)

 1942 Here We Go Again

Girl Guide (uncredited)