Title: Larry Rhine Papers

Dates: 1934-1983

Collection Number: WGF-MS-065

Creator/Collector: Rhine, Larry, 1910-2000

Extent: 9.5 linear feet

Repository: Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Abstract: The bulk of the Larry Rhine Collection consists of scripts written by Rhine for film, television and radio programs spanning the 1930s through the 1970s. Other material consists of jokes, sketches, and Rhine’s unpublished memoir.

Language of Material: English

Most scripts were cataloged and placed in the library Core Collection. Please refer to library catalog for specific titles. For access to non-script material, please make an appointment.

The responsibility to secure copyright and publication permission rests with the researcher.

Larry Rhine Papers. Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Donated by Robert Rhine on 7/25/2017.

Larry Rhine was born in San Francisco on May 26, 1910. He received his BA from University of California Berkeley in 1931, where he also competed as a member of the debating team. In 1934, Rhine began his entertainment career in radio at KGB in San Diego alongside Art Linkletter, as a writer, announcer and director. He moved to New York and worked on national shows such as Ben Bernie (The ‘Ol Maestro), Life Of Riley, G.E. Theater, Colgate Comedy Hour and Duffy’s Tavern where he met his wife actress Hazel Shermet. In 1936, Rhine went to work as a screenwriter for Universal Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox. His credits from this period include Chip of the Flying U (1940), The Devil’s Pipeline (1940) The Leather Pushers (1940), A Dangerous Game (1941), Top Sergeant, Timber, and Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga (1941). While at Universal, he was hired to create numerous musical shorts from the leftover sets of feature films. During World War II, Rhine served as Chief of the Philippine Division, in the Office of War Information. He worked out of San Francisco, broadcasting American propaganda into Japan, including an American version of Japan's "Tokyo Rose." He worked extensively to publicize General Douglas MacArthur's historic "I shall return" speech, distributing the vow on matchbook covers and other printed materials as well as over the airwaves. When Rhine informed MacArthur that he felt he should say, “We Shall Return,” MacArthur removed him from a shore boat that was later fired bombed. After WWII, Rhine worked on the popular radio program Duffy’s Tavern and stayed on during its transition to television in 1954. Rhine worked steadily for the next three decades as a television writer, working on The Gale Storm Show, Mr. Ed, The Brady Bunch, Gimme a Break, The Bob Hope Show and the Red Skelton Show. The latter earned him an Emmy nomination in 1963. Rhine worked on the acclaimed sitcom All In The Family from 1975-1979 and during this time received one Emmy nomination, two Writers Guild Award nominations (one win), and two Humanitas Award nominations (one win). A long time Writers Guild of America member, Rhine served on the board of trustees of the Producer-Writers Guild of America Pension Plan throughout the 1960s, heading the board in 1968. The organization awarded him its Founders Award in 1974 and its Founders Plaque in 1980. A member of both the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and Pioneer Broadcasters, he received the Pioneer Broadcasters Diamond Circle Plaque just two weeks before his passing. In 2000, Rhine was filmed as part of the Television Academy of Art and Sciences Archive of American television. During hiatus and semi-retirement, Larry and his wife Hazel were travel journalists. Their international travel stories appeared in travel sections in major national papers throughout the United States and Canada for over nine years. Rhine passed away on October 27, 2000 at the age of 90. He was survived by his wife of 50 years, Hazel Shermet Rhine (1920-2016); their son, Robert; and their daughter, Vicki Rhine Trevena.

The Larry Rhine Papers are organized into two series. Series I: Scripts, 1934-1982 makes up the bulk of the collection and is divided into three subseries according to medium. The largest group consists of scripts for TV Series, 1953-1982 that Rhine worked on as a staffer or freelancer. Shows represented are Duffy’s Tavern, Private Secretary, The Adventures of Tugboat Annie, The Gale Storm Show/Oh Susanna, Mister Ed, Red Skelton Show, The Tom Ewell Show, Diff’rent Strokes and various others. This series also contains many drafts and development and production materials related to Joe’s World, a TV series Rhine created with partner Mel Tolkin after All in the Family ended. Radio programs, 1940-1951 contains scripts for Duffy’s Tavern as well as sketches and material for a radio shows that Rhine worked on early in his career including the Ben Bernie Show and $64 Dollar Question and material from his time as a writer and producer at KGB station in San Diego. The last group contains produced and unproduced Film Scripts, 1939-1941. Series II, Professional Papers, undated, contains writings and clippings related to both Larry and Hazel Rhine. Included is paperwork related to the WGA pension plan, an unpublished novel The Merry Wives of Winston, various sketches and ideas, and hundreds of typed 3x5 notecards containing Rhine's joke file, organized by subject. Lastly, this series contains sheet music and lyrics used by Hazel Rhine, clippings of travel articles published by Hazel and Larry during the 1980s, a commemorative plate from the WGA Pension Plan, and two drafts of an unpublished memoir by Rhine about his life and work in entertainment.