Pennie Lane Trumbull

Pennie Ann Trumbull (born July 3, 1954) is an American socialite, philanthropist, businesswoman, and entrepreneur. During the 1970s she formed the group The Flying Garter Girls, who traveled around the country as the promoters for famous rock bands. Her time as a band promoter was chronicled in the 2000 film Almost Famous, and portrayed by actress Kate Hudson.^[2]

Personal life

She was born in Portland, Oregon, the daughter of Elnora Mary (née Hoffine 1913-1992)^[3] and Lyman Willard Trumbull (1912-2006). Her father was an electrician and her mother worked in sales. The family also owned a farm and rental properties. She was an only child. She attended Roosevelt High School, where she was an award-winning equestrian and competed to be on the Olympic team. Her love of music began at an early age and she started attending concerts at 16. When she was 18 she moved to Los Angeles with a boyfriend who was in a rock band and returned to Portland a few months later.^[4][5]

The Flying Garter Girls

In the early 1970s she became immersed in the rock music scene. She and four other girls decided to form a group and begin promoting bands. They each gave themselves nicknames and Trumbull chose the name "Pennie Lane" in part from the song by the Beatles. The other girls in the group were Marvelous Meg, Sexy Sandy, The Real Camille, and Caroline Can-Can. The girls had matchbooks made with The Flying Garter Girls printed on them to promote themselves, and quickly became successful and worked with countless rock bands over a period of three years, after which the girls left the rock music world behind them.^[6]

Later life

Trumbull lived in San Diego for many years and married Mink Stavenga, a banker. She obtained her Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Cal State Northridge, where she was a competitive fencer, and her Masters degree (M.B.A. in Marketing) in 1988 from Alliant International University.^[7] She owned her own marketing firm for a time. Upon her divorce in the early 90s, she decided to move back home to be closer to her parents. She bought property on Sauvie Island and built a ranch, which she describes as a "Rock n Roll Ranch" due to her frequent parties on the property. She owns her family farm that she uses to grow organic food. She also owns her own wine label titled Swallows and grows her own Pinot noir grapes. She continues to be involved in the music scene in the Portland area. Trumbull is an ordained minister and officiates weddings at her ranch.^[8]

She is a longtime member of the Sauvies Island Grange Association and various other community organizations.^[9]

Portrayal in media

Her friend, film director Cameron Crowe, asked for her permission to use her name and likeness in a feature film he was creating. Crowe used her as a consultant on the film. Trumbull was hesitant about losing her privacy, but Crowe insisted that the character be named Pennie Lane, and agreed to change the spelling from Pennie Trumbull to Penny Trumble. Crow and Trumbull had met in the 1970s while Crowe was working as a journalist covering rock music for Rolling Stone, and he wanted to create a film about that time period. When Crowe suggested that actress Kate Hudson be cast as herself, she was initially hesitant, but later agreed that she was the right choice. Hudson was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and won the Golden Globe Award for her performance as "Penny Lane".^[10]

In 2012 Trumbull was the special guest at the San Diego Film Festival, which featured a special screening of Almost Famous. She continues to make appearances discussing the film and her life in the 1970s.^[11][12]

References