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Tailspin Tommy Tomkins
''Tailspin Tommy'' was an air adventure comic strip about a youthful pilot, "Tailspin" Tommy Tomkins (sometimes spelled Tompkins). Originally illustrated by Hal Forrest and initially distributed by John Neville Wheeler's Bell Syndicate and then by United Feature Syndicate, the strip had a 14-year run from May 21, 1928 to March 15, 1942. In the wake of Charles Lindbergh's 1927 flight across the Atlantic, the public's fascination with aviation escalated. ''Tailspin Tommy'' was the first aviation-based comic strip to appear as a result of this heightened interest. The strip's 1928 launch was followed by others, notably '' Skyroads'' (1929-1942), ''Scorchy Smith'' (1930-1961), ''The Adventures of Smilin' Jack'' (1933-1973) and ''Flyin' Jenny'' (1939-1946). Publication history Scripted by Glenn Chaffin, a newspaper journalist and press agent, ''Tailspin Tommy'' began its run in four newspapers on May 21, 1928. By 1931, it was published in more than 250 newspapers across the coun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hal Forrest
Hal Forrest (Philadelphia, July 22, 1895 - 1959) was an American comic strip artist best known for his work on ''Tailspin Tommy''. Biography When he was 16, he drew a comic strip, ''Percy the Boy Scout'', for the ''Philadelphia Telegraph'', and a year later he became the youngest scoutmaster in the country, heading the 13th troop established in America. From 1911 to 1915, while attending the Art Institute of Chicago, he was a member of the ''Chicago Tribune'' staff and of Troop A, First Illinois Cavalry. In 1915–17, Forrest was a member of Headquarters Troop, Third New Jersey Infantry, and during that period, he collaborated with Lee Pape, author of ''Little Benn's Notebook'', on a color Sunday page of comics for ''The Philadelphia Record''. On the day war was declared, he enlisted and was assigned to the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps in San Antonio, Texas, where he became Sergeant-Major of 144th Pursuit Squadron, Kelly Field. He created Liberty Loan posters and war car ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flyin' Jenny
''Flyin' Jenny'' was an aviation adventure comic strip created by illustrator Russell Keaton and distributed to newspapers by Bell Syndicate from October 2, 1939, to July 20, 1946. Publication history Launched in October 1939, ''Flyin' Jenny'' was published both as a daily and Sunday strip, each running a separate storyline. Gladys Parker drew ''Flyin' Jenny'' from 1942 until 1944, when Keaton's assistant Marc Swayze took over. After Keaton died in 1945 (at the age of 35), Swayze and scripter Glenn Chaffin made an effort to continue the strip, but it became difficult to devise adventures equal to those of the World War II years. The strip began to lose its popularity, and was discontinued in 1946. Characters and story Initially a test pilot at the Starcraft Aviation Factory, Jenny encountered spies, saboteurs and criminals. Since the strip began simultaneously with the start of World War II, Jenny was active in wartime escapades. Keaton's widow, Virginia Keaton Anderson, reca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sky Patrol
''Sky Patrol'' is a 1939 American film directed by Howard Bretherton and starring John Trent (actor), John Trent, along with Marjorie Reynolds, Milburn Stone and Jason Robards Sr. The film also featured actor and comedian Jackie Coogan, who began his film career as a child actor in silent films. ''Sky Patrol'' is based on the comic strip ''Tailspin Tommy'' by Hal Forrest and Glenn Chaffin. The third of four "Tailspin Tommy Tomkins, Tailspin Tommy" films made by Monogram Pictures, ''Sky Patrol''was released on September 12, 1939. Plot In the final flying test for Sky Patrol graduation, instructor Tailspin Tommy Thompson (John Trent (actor), John Trent) flies with the son of flight commander Colonel Meade (Boyd Irwin). Carter Meade (Jackie Coogan) freezes during target practice but Tommy covers for him and he graduates. When Bainbridge (Bryant Washburn), a weapons smuggler, is aware that the Sky Patrol will disrupt his smuggling operations. Carter sees an unidentified amphibious ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stunt Pilot
Stunt flying refers to any stunts performed in an aircraft. It encompasses aerobatics, wing walking, and transferring from one airplane to another or to a moving vehicle on the ground, such as an automobile or train, and vice versa. History From the Wright brothers to World War I The Wright brothers showed that motor-powered flight was possible, with their first sustained flight on 17 December 1903. Aerobatics followed within a decade. Frenchman Adolphe Pégoud was the first to fly inverted, on 1 September 1913. On 9 September, Russian Pyotr Nesterov flew the first loop. World War I (1914–1918) was a major impetus to the development of aerobatics. Those who mastered it were more likely to survive dogfights. The 1920s: era of the barnstormer After the war ended, some of these pilots used the skills they had mastered by barnstorming to earn a living, traveling across the country performing stunts and providing rides. It was helpful that the US government was selling plentiful ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mystery Plane
''Mystery Plane'' (aka ''Sky Pilot'' and ''Sky Pirate'') is a 1939 American action film directed by George Waggner and written by Paul Schofield and George Waggner. The film is based on the comic strip ''Tailspin Tommy'' by Hal Forrest and Glenn Chaffin. The film stars John Trent, Marjorie Reynolds, Milburn Stone, Jason Robards Sr., George Lynn and Lucien Littlefield. ''Mystery Plane'', the first of four "Tailspin Tommy" films made by Monogram Pictures, was released on March 8, 1939.Erickson, Hal"Review: 'Mystery Plane' (1939)."''AllMovie'', 2019. Retrieved: July 15, 2019. Plot In the fall of 1923, young Tommy Tomkins (Tommy Bupp) admires Captain Brandy Rand ( George Lynn), a World War I ace. Brandy flies in and parachutes out of his aircraft, but lands in a lake. Tommy rescues him in a rowboat, then shows Brandy a scrapbook about the flyer's exploits, who encourages the young man to become a flyer himself. Many years later, Tommy ( John Trent) becomes a pilot and is managing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Trent (actor)
John Trent (born LaVerne Ward Browne, December 5, 1906 – May 12, 1966) was an aviator-turned-actor-turned-aviator, best known as an actor for the "Tailspin Tommy" adventure film series in the 1930s. From 1931 to 1941, under the stage name John Trent, Browne appeared in 16 Hollywood films. While flying was a natural for him, acting was not, and he eventually turned his back on his Hollywood career, resuming his career in aviation, as a test pilot. Early life Born in Orange, California, as the third child of Edwin J. Browne, a farm worker, and Phebe Alice Proctor Browne. His first focus was in the legal field. Attending the University of Southern California (USC), he switched career aspirations only after completing his law studies. Aviation Browne attended the Hancock School of Aeronautics and Flying School, Santa Maria, California. He found steady work as a commercial pilot for Transcontinental & Western Airways flying the Douglas DC-2 airliner, just entering service. He wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clark Williams
Myron Clark Williams (May 2, 1870 – December 18, 1946) was an American banker and politician. Life Born in Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York, Williams was the son of George N. Williams, a banker, and Abigail (Clark) Williams (daughter of Governor Myron H. Clark). He was educated at Canandaigua Academy, and graduated from Williams College in 1892, as a member of The Kappa Alpha Society. He later served for many years as a Trustee of Williams. After graduation, he became a clerk at the First National Bank in New York City, then at the New York Guarantee and Indemnity Company, and later at the United States Mortgage and Trust Company of which he became Vice President. On April 29, 1897, he married Anna Murphy Plater in Nashville, Tennessee, a portrait of whom by the Swiss-born American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury is in the Williams College Faculty Club/Alumni Center, Williamstown. In 1905, he left US Mortgage & Trust to co-organize the Columbia Trust Company of which he beca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1935 In Film
The following is an overview of 1935 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths. The cinema releases of 1935 were highly representative of the early Golden Age period of Hollywood. This period was punctuated by performances from Clark Gable, Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and the first teaming of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. A significant number of productions also originated in the UK film industry. Top-grossing films (U.S.) The top ten 1935 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows: Events * February 22 – '' The Little Colonel'' premieres starring Shirley Temple, Lionel Barrymore and Bill Robinson, featuring famous stair dance with Hollywood's first interracial dance couple * February 23 – Gene Autry stars as himself as the Singing Cowboy in the serial ''The Phantom Empire''. He would later be voted the number one Western star from 1937 to 1942. * February 27 – Seven-y ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tailspin Tommy In The Great Air Mystery
''Tailspin Tommy in the Great Air Mystery'' is a 12-episode 1935 Universal movie serial based on the Tailspin Tommy comic strip by Hal Forrest and starring Clark Williams, Jean Rogers and Noah Beery, Jr. The picture was the 96th of the 137 serials released by the studio (the 28th of which to be made with sound). Plot "Tailspin" Tommy (Clark Williams) and his fellow pilots, Betty Lou Barnes (Jean Rogers) and Skeeter Milligan ( Noah Beery, Jr.) prevent a group of corrupt businessmen from stealing Nazil Island's oil reserves. The villains are Manuel Casmetto (Herbert Heywood), the half-brother of Don Alvarado Casmetto, Nazil Island's ruler and villainous oil tycoon Horace Raymore (Matthew Betz). Tommy and his friends are aided in their efforts by news reporter Bill McGuire (James P. Burtis). Milt Howe (Pat J. O'Brien), a masked mystery plot known as The Eagle and El Condor stands in their way. When Tommy is triumphant, he also finds he has a movie contract. Chapter titles # Wreck ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tailspin Tommy (serial)
''Tailspin Tommy'' is a 12-episode 1934 Universal film serial based on the ''Tailspin Tommy'' comic strip by Hal Forrest. Directed by Lew Landers and produced by Milton Gatzert, the serial was the 97th serial of the 137 released by that studio (and the 24th with sound). The plot of ''Tailspin Tommy'' concerns a conflict over a government airmail contract. Plot Two cargo airlines clash over a government mail contract. "Tailspin" Tommy (Maurice Murphy), a young mechanic, gets a job with Three Points Airlines, which wins the contract. Their opponents resort to sabotage in order to have the contract for themselves. Wade "Tiger" Taggart ( John Davidson) becomes their enemy, a man who will do anything to stop the airline from doing business. After Tommy becomes a pilot, he prevents a runaway aircraft from crashing into a crowd of children, among other adventures that put him into the public eye. Eventually Taggert and his gang are brought to justice. Tommy goes on to win a movie contra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Serial (film)
A serial film, film serial (or just serial), movie serial, or chapter play, is a motion picture form popular during the first half of the 20th century, consisting of a series of short subjects exhibited in consecutive order at one theater, generally advancing weekly, until the series is completed. Generally, each serial involves a single set of characters, protagonistic and antagonistic, involved in a single story, which has been edited into chapters after the fashion of serial fiction and the episodes cannot be shown out of order or as a single or a random collection of short subjects. Each chapter was screened at a movie theater for one week, and ended with a cliffhanger, in which characters found themselves in perilous situations with little apparent chance of escape. Viewers had to return each week to see the cliffhangers resolved and to follow the continuing story. Movie serials were especially popular with children, and for many youths in the first half of the 20th centu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1934 In Film
The following is an overview of 1934 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths. Top-grossing films (U.S.) The top ten 1934 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows: Events *January 26 – Samuel Goldwyn (formerly of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) purchases the film rights to ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' from the L. Frank Baum estate for $40,000. *February 19 – Bob Hope marries Dolores Reade. *April 19 – Fox Studios releases ''Stand Up and Cheer!'', with five-year-old Shirley Temple in a relatively minor role. Shirley steals the film and Fox, which had been near bankruptcy, finds itself owning a goldmine. *May 18 – Paramount releases ''Little Miss Marker'', with Shirley Temple, on loan from Fox, in the title role. *June 13 – An amendment to the Production Code establishes the Production Code Administration, and requires all films to obtain a certificate of approval before being released. *July 28 – ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
