The Tail Spin Club appears to be a short lived, air-minded Hollywood group. Headed by Ruth Nichols, Teddy Kenyon, Betty Gillies, and Margo Tanner, it existed for the purpose of promoting aviation. Undoubtedly, the noted aviatrices listed above acted as flying emissaries for the new film, Tail Spin. Gilles explained the Tail Spin Club in a Ninety-Nines Newsletter article.
“The movie industry possesses the reputation of doing things in a ‘colossal way’ and the trip proved that. To be asked out of a clear sky to fly to Hollywood proved breathtaking. Evidently, the studio wanted a group of authentic pilots to promote film. Tail Spin became the first women in aviation movie in 1939.
“We were to answer the questions regarding real flying and the Hollywood starlets to lend glamour to the photo. As a result, we stayed in stupendous suites at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. Photographers took our pictures for advance local publicity. Our wardrobe for the photo shoots included street clothes, evening clothes and uniforms Gladys O’Donnell served us a delicious buffet supper attended by thirty 99s.
Jackie Cochran entertained us at her desert ranch for a weekend. One day we breakfasted at Pendleton, Oregon, lunched at Salt Lake City, and dinner in Denver. Subsequently, each town tried to outdo in hospitality all other towns. In Detroit, we dined at a buffet supper with several 99s. At a large aviation dinner, Ruth and I received admiralships to American Airlines. We hope the movies will want more of that type of promotion!”