Tailspin Tommy

"Tailspin Tommy", debuted in 1928, is a comic strip about a fictional pilot named "Tailspin" Tommy Tompkins, drawn by Hal Forrest.

In the wake of Charles Lindbergh's crossing the Atlantic Ocean a great interest in aviation was created. "Tailspin Tommy" was the first aviation based comic strip to appear as a result of this interest, and also the longest lasting. It was quickly followed by others such as Skyroads and Scorchy Smith.

Comic Strip

"Tailspin Tommy," written by Glenn Chaffin and illustrated by Hal Forrest, began its run in four newspapers on May 21, 1928. By 1931 it was running in over 250 newspapers across the country.

Forrest took over the strip's writing in 1933 and wrote and drew the strip alone for the next three years. In 1936, he took on an assistant, Reynold Brown, who eventually began to ghost draw the strip.

By 1940, interest in aviation was on the decline and "Tailspin Tommy" began to lose papers. A change in syndicates did little to help and the strip ended in 1942.

Comic Books

Slesinger also published a series of 30 "Tailspin Tommy Adventures" in eight-page booklet form as a promotion with Big Thrill Chewing Gum.

In 1936, C.J.H. Publications put out two issues of "Tailspin Tommy Adventure Magazine". The magazines published adaptations of comic strip stories. Publication apparently ceased because the rights to the character had not been properly secured.

After taking over the strip's syndication, United Features published two "Tailspin Tommy" comic books, one in 1940 and one in 1946.

"Tailspin Tommy" also saw reprints in Dell Comics' "The Funnies" and "Popular Comics".

On Film

Tailspin Tommy appeared in movie theaters throughout the 1930s. He first appeared in the twelve episode 1934 movie serial "Tailspin Tommy", played by Maurice Murphy.

Next, another twelve part serial followed, in 1935. This one, entitled "Tailspin Tommy in the Great Air Mystery", starred Clark Williams in the lead role.

Finally, John Trent portrayed Tommy in a series of hour-long features. The titles in the series included "Mystery Plane", "Stunt Pilot", "Sky Patrol" and "Danger Flight". All the films were released in 1939.

Publication

In 1934, "Tailspin Tommy" was among the strips reprinted in the first modern comic book, Famous Funnies, published by Maxwell C. Gaines at Eastern Color Printing.

Also in 1934, Stephen Slesinger Inc. began publishing a series of "Tailspin Tommy" books in its Big Little Book line. Except where noted, all titles were ghost written by Gaylord Du Bois, illustrated by (and fully credited to) Hal Forrest, and were adaptations of the comic strip. The titles were as follows:
*Tailspin Tommy in The Famous Pay-Roll Mystery, 1933
*Tailspin Tommy - The Dirigible Flight to the North Pole, 1934
*Tailspin Tommy - Hunting for Pirate Gold, 1935
*Tailspin Tommy and the Island in the Sky, 1936
*Tailspin Tommy and the Hooded Flyer, 1937
*Tailspin Tommy and the Sky Bandits, 1938
*Tailspin Tommy in The Great Air Mystery (starring Noah Beery), 1938 (based on the screenplay of the serial)
*Tailspin Tommy and the Lost Transport, 1940
*Tailspin Tommy, The Weasel, and His Skywayman, 1941

Also in 1936, a novel written by Mark Stevens, Tailspin Tommy - The Mystery of the Midnight Patrol was published.

External links

* [http://home.comcast.net/~cjh5801a/Tailspin.htm The Halloway Pages]
* [http://www.art4comics.com/tailspin.htm Gallery]
* [http://www.comics.org/search.lasso?query=Tailspin+Tommy&type=character&sort=alpha&Submit=Search Database and Cover gallery for the various Comic Book appearances]
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/tailspin.htm Don Markstein'd Toonopedia listing for "Tailspin Tommy"]