Gale Storm facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gale Storm
Storm in the 1940s
Born	Josephine Owaissa Cottle (1922-04-05)April 5, 1922 Bloomington, Texas, U.S.
Died	June 27, 2009(2009-06-27) (aged 87) Danville, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	1940–1989
Label(s)	Dot, London
Spouse(s)	Lee Bonnell ​ ​ (m. 1941; died 1986)​ Paul Masterson ​ ​ (m. 1988; died 1996)​
Children	4

Josephine Owaissa Cottle (born April 5, 1922 – died June 27, 2009), known as Gale Storm, was an American actress and singer. She starred in movies from 1940 to 1952. Later, she became famous for two TV shows in the 1950s: My Little Margie and The Gale Storm Show.

Gale Storm also had a successful music career. Six of her songs made it into the top ten hits. Her most popular song was "I Hear You Knockin'", which reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1955.

Early Life and Beginnings

Gale Storm was born in Bloomington, Texas, USA. She was the youngest of five children. Her father passed away when she was very young, and her mother, Minnie Corina Cottle, raised the children by herself.

Gale's older sister gave her the middle name "Owaissa." This is a Norridgewock Native American word meaning "bluebird." Her mother worked hard, first as a seamstress, then by opening a hat shop. The family later moved to Houston. Gale became a skilled dancer and an excellent ice skater.

She went to Holy Rosary School and performed in drama clubs. When Gale was 17, her teachers encouraged her to join a radio contest called Gateway to Hollywood. The show was broadcast from Hollywood. The top prize was a movie studio contract.

Gale won the contest and was given the stage name Gale Storm. Her performing partner, Lee Bonnell, also won. He later became her husband.

A Star on Screen and Stage

Storm in My Little Margie in 1953

After winning the contest in 1940, Gale Storm made many films for RKO Radio Pictures. Her first movie was Tom Brown's School Days. She worked steadily in many films during this time. In 1941, she sang in short musical films called "soundies."

She also acted and sang in films for Monogram Pictures. She often played young, innocent characters. Gale Storm became a big star for Monogram. She had leading roles in many of their movies, including musicals and dramas. She was a top star in The Crime Smasher (1943).

Gale Storm starred in popular films like the romantic comedy G.I. Honeymoon (1945). She also appeared in It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) and the Western Stampede (1949). American audiences loved Gale Storm, and she received a lot of fan mail. She made over 36 movies for Monogram. This experience helped her succeed in television and music.

In the 1950s, she also sang on TV shows like The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom.

Television Success

In 1950, Gale Storm first appeared on television in Hollywood Premiere Theatre. From 1952 to 1955, she starred in My Little Margie. She played Margie Albright, with Charles Farrell as her father. The show was so popular that it ran for 126 episodes. It was broadcast on both NBC and CBS. The same actors also performed the show on CBS Radio.

In 1956, Gale Storm hosted the NBC Comedy Hour. That same year, she starred in another comedy show called The Gale Storm Show. This show ran for 143 episodes until 1960. Gale Storm also appeared on other TV programs. She was a guest and a "mystery guest" on the show What's My Line?

Music Career

Storm with Billy Vaughn. They performed "You're My Baby Doll" on her TV show in 1958.

In 1954, a young girl named Linda Wood was watching Gale Storm sing on TV. Linda's father, Randy Wood, was the president of Dot Records. He liked Gale's singing so much that he signed her to a record deal right away.

Her first song, "I Hear You Knockin'", sold over a million copies. It was a cover version of a rhythm and blues song. Her next hit was "Memories Are Made of This" and "Teen Age Prayer". She also had a hit with her cover of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love".

Gale Storm's song sales later went down, but then she had another big hit. This was a cover of "Dark Moon", which reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Gale Storm had several other hit songs. She also performed in Las Vegas and in many stage plays. She recorded music for about two years.

Personal Life

Gale Storm was married twice. In 1941, she married Lee Bonnell. He was an actor and later a businessman. They had four children: Peter, Phillip, Paul, and Susanna. Lee passed away in 1986.

In 1988, Gale married Paul Masterson. He also passed away before her in 1996.

Gale Storm was an active member of the South Shores Baptist Church. She once said, "Life has been good and I thank God for His many blessings and the happy life He has given to me." She was a member of the Republican Party. She supported U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater in the 1960s.

Later Years and Legacy

Gale Storm made occasional TV appearances in her later years. She was seen on shows like The Love Boat, Burke's Law, and Murder, She Wrote.

She was also interviewed for a book called The Women Who Made Television Funny: Ten Stars of 1950s Sitcoms. Gale Storm continued to meet fans at conventions. She signed autographs with Charles Farrell, her co-star from My Little Margie. She also attended events like the Memphis Film Festival.

Gale Storm lived in Monarch Beach, California. She was close to two of her sons and their families. As her health declined, she moved to a care home in Danville, California. She passed away there on June 27, 2009, at the age of 87.

Gale Storm has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These stars honor her work in television, music, and radio.

Television Appearances

Hit Songs

Images for kids

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  Storm in the 1940s

See also

In Spanish: Gale Storm para niños