I’m Sure Glad the Army isn’t in the Navy
October 19, 1956. Gravel Roads was eleven months old.
Rin Tin Tin sails to Canada. Endears himself with the Vancouver, B.C. detachment of the North West Mounted Police. Meets up with the great White Wolf.
Will Rinny return to Rusty and the U.S. Army? Or run with the wolves of his ancestors north of the 49th parallel forever?
Could the cliffhanger get any better?
Yes. When it was re-broadcast several years later. At which time I was sufficiently of memory-age to, well, remember. Followed shortly thereafter by the episode resolving Rinny’s dilemma.
No spoilers here.
I must say, you enlist rather young in the United States
Just watch the first few seconds of this clip, a sea-sick Corporal Rusty and Private Rin Tin Tin, both grateful for their rightful place on land, with the army . . .
Rin Tin Tin (1918 – 1932)
Rinny was a German Shepherd rescued from a World War I battlefield in France. How did he get there?
As the story goes, a dog kennel was bombed and an American soldier, one Corporal Lee Duncan, came upon a mother dog and her five puppies. Duncan later located the German kennel-master captured by the Americans and learned of their breeding. Dogs of pedigree, to be sure.
Two months later in July of 1919, Rin Tin Tin sailed to the U.S. with his litter-mate, Nanette.
And Rinny’s name?
Tous les enfants played with tiny puppets named — you guessed it — Rin Tin Tin and Nanette. These French puppets were given to American soldiers for good luck.
Fast Forward Hollywood
Rinny made the first of many silent film appearances starting in 1922. And in support of the war effort, many ads.
By 1954 he had earned his very own TV series, “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin”.
At ease, soldier, circa 1956.
And his very own Dell Comics publication.
Dell Comics, Volume 1, #34, 1960.
As I always say, all good things . . . .
Rinny passed away on August 10, 1932. His death went viral with even Movietone News taping a feature to be shown in movie theaters before the main movie.
Lee Duncan who rescued then trained him, passed away in 1960.
Rinny was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1963.
He and Nanette, his litter-mate also shuttled over by Duncan, produced some 48 puppies. Purportedly, his descendants were continued to be bred in Texas.
A love letter from Gravel Roads to Rin Tin Tin
Remember Spirit, Uncle Eddie’s dog?
Gravel Roads had a German Shepherd, Rusty.
And a Labrador Retriever, Goldie.
And then Shadow. And then Skipper.
I also recall brother Orest’s pups named Winston (an off-black, stiff tail) and Churchill (straw-red, bushy tail). You can pretty much guess the era and the ages, thereof.
But Rinny, I sure do wish you were here and could meet Maxwell Jeffrey and Heidi Claire. I just know you’d all hit it off so well.
Thanks, Rinny, for just being you. And for your show’s theme song, that to this day, takes me somewhere it was so good to be.
Yo, Rinny . . . .
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