Rintintin

Has anyone out there figured out the connection of Rin Tin Tin, the TV series in the 1950s with the Rusty film series of a decade earlier? My hunch is this: The popular TV series which I faithfully watched from 1955-59 (itself spawned by the one year radio show in 1955), is a conflation of the popular Rin Tin Tin canine hero of the post-World War I era in books and movies with the Rusty movie series of eight films produced by Columbia Pictures 1945-1949. In the Rusty movies the German Shepherd is named Rusty and there are various young boys in the lead roles. In the TV series, the dog becomes again Rin Tin Tin and the boy lead becomes Rusty, played by Lee Aakers. Those folks old enough to have been fans in the 1930s and 1940s would have caught the connection at once. But those of us who were 1950s fans would have missed it entirely. Our Rusty for the years 1955-59 (and later in reruns) was a survivor of an Indian raid, who with his dog that he called "Rinty," as in the original books, was rescued by Cavalry to live in the confines and supportive community of Fort Apache. We came to think of characters like Sgt. Biff O'Hara and Lt. Rip Masters as part of our extended family. By the way, James Brown, who played Lt. Rip Masters, showed up again as a regular former policeman-turned J.R. Ewing informant and operative on the Dallas Series in the 1970s.

When I was little, I always got this series mixed up with Lassie. Dog hero - little boy who was friend of dog. Pretty similar, except for the cavalry part and the era being quite different. And, oh yeah - German Shepherd and Collie.

I was very small when I watched this show. It was in syndication at this time.

Basically, I remember Rinny helping rustle bad guys and being the mascot of the Cavalry troop. I also remember Rusty as being a red-haired freckle-faced boy who was cute, a la Beaver Cleaver.

This was an entertaining show - good moral stories with good ending - typical for the fifties.

And really, who could resist a show with a boy and a dog?

This show kept this little kid riveted to the lounge room in the mid 60s after which I would go and play with my 'Timpo Toys' miniature cavalry soldiers. Most memorable aspects of the show for me was how lucky Rusty was to be in the cavalry at his age (mine too) and that bugle call that was played whenever the cavalry, led by Rip and Biff, were coming over the hill to save the day. I used to mimic that bugle call with my toys and drive my mother nuts. Only disappointing thing was that Rusty never carried a gun, although I seem to remember that he did get his hands on one in one episode. Does anybody else remember that? Rusty the orphan found his family in the paternal Lt Rip Masters, the avuncular Sgt Biff O'Hara and the fraternal Cpl Boone (don't know if I ever heard his first name). The show was notable for its dearth of female characters. I would like to hear Quentin Tarantino's comments about that. As a catholic schoolboy I always half expected the nuns to arrive in a wagon one day and try to cart Rusty off to an orphanage. I actually used to pray that that would never happen

Forty years ago my French colleague told me that the name Rin Tin Tin was French and should be pronounced "rrrran tan tan", nasally. It's the sound of the drumstick tapping on the drum; it's the cavalry's drum. Presumably this name goes back to the old days when French was spoken in some of the southern states of the US. (This comment really belongs under Trivia; I tried unsuccessfully to put it there.)

This year marks the 50th anniversary of two great family programs -- Lassie (q.v.) and the subject of this comment, Rin Tin Tin. I remember that the show was sponsored by the National Biscuit Company, Nabisco to you, and that the stars, like stars of other programs of the time advertised certain products. Needless to say, Rinty and Rusty sold a great deal of Shreaded Wheat, to say nothing of Oreo cookies.

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin was part of my growing up years and the call 'Yoooooooo, Rinty' echoes in my ears to this day.

'Lassie' and 'The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin' are proof positive that the dog is man's (and woman's) best friend.

Happy 50th television anniversary, Rinty.