"I would like to be remembered as a writer."

    About This Interview

    In his nearly four-hour interview, Larry Rhine (1910-2000) speaks of his early years as a writer in radio, which culminated in the position of head-writer of Duffy's Tavern (1949-50). He discusses his work as a staff writer on Private Secretary, Duffy's Tavern, and The Gale Storm Show. He talks about his many years (1960-67) working on The Red Skelton Show and describes how he simultaneously worked on the sitcom Mister Ed (with collaborator Lou Derman). He recounts his work with other comics such as Bob Hope and Lucille Ball and discusses his freelance work on such series as The Brady Bunch, for which he co-wrote the well-known "The Subject Was Noses" episode, and The Odd Couple, for which he co-wrote the series finale. He discusses his work on All in the Family and Archie Bunker's Place, on which he collaborated with writer Mel Tolkin. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview on February 24, 2000.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Larry Rhine

    Larry Rhine on his favorite The Red Skelton Show characters

    02:48
    Thumbnail of Larry Rhine

    Larry Rhine on writing for the Bob Hope Specials

    06:11
    Thumbnail of Larry Rhine

    Larry Rhine on writing the series finale of The Odd Couple

    01:28
    Thumbnail of Larry Rhine

    Larry Rhine on Jean Stapleton as "Edith Bunker" on All in the Family, and on the creation of "Archie Bunker's" bar on the show

    03:59
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on replacing Art Linkletter as a writer/announcer at KGB radio in San Diego; on working as a writer/announcer on radio in New York City on a show for bandleader Ben Bernie, and on Ben Bernie's "feud" with Walter Winchell

    11:35

    On writing gags and B pictures for 20th Century Fox and Universal; on meeting Edward R. Murrow; on his experience with World War II

    18:03

    Chapter 2

    On writing for the radio versions of "The Life of Riley" and the radio version of "Duffy's Tavern"; on the first time he saw television

    16:13

    On writing for Private Secretary starring Ann Sothern; on writing for The Gale Storm Show aka Oh Susanna

    12:30

    Chapter 3

    On The Adventures of Tugboat Annie; on writing for The Gale Storm Show aka Oh Susanna; on how he came to write for All in the Family

    06:08

    On the having writing partners, and on writing for Here's Lucy; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on writing The Tom Ewell Show

    13:19

    On writing for The Red Skelton Show; on the characters of The Red Skelton Show; on Red Skelton missing shows on The Red Skelton Show

    09:44

    Chapter 4

    On his favorite The Red Skelton Show characters; on a typical week on Larry Rhine on The Red Skelton Show; on Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Show, and on the writers of the show including Ed Simmons

    13:49

    On writing for Mister Ed; on the producers and guest stars of Mister Ed; on the cast of Mister Ed

    10:58

    Chapter 5

    On being one of Bob Hope's writers; on writing for Here's Lucy and The Brady Bunch; on writing the series finale of The Odd Couple

    15:56

    On writing for All in the Family, and on writing with Mel Tolkin; on a typical week writing for All in the Family; on Carroll O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family, and on the episode "Two's a Crowd"

    12:41

    Chapter 6

    On Jean Stapleton as "Edith Bunker" on All in the Family, and on the creation of "Archie Bunker's" bar on the show; on the All in the Family actors input into their characters, and on "Archie Bunker's" bigotry; on the character of "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family, played by Carroll O'Connor

    16:22

    On Rob Reiner as "Mike Stivic" on All in the Family, and on various storylines of the show; on Sally Struthers as "Gloria Stivic" on All in the Family; on the All in the Family episode "Joey's Baptism"

    13:20

    Chapter 7

    On the All in the Family episodes "Joey's Baptism" and "Archie Finds a Friend", and on his relationship with Carroll O'Connor; on the relationship between Norman Lear and Carroll O'Connor while working on All in the Family; on the All in the Family episode "Edith's Crisis of Faith"

    08:28

    On various classic episodes of All in the Family; on continuing All in the Family as Archie Bunker's Place; on stories he wrote for All in the Family that weren't used, and on the longevity and continued popularity of the show

    13:49

    On writing for the Sanford and Son sequel Sanford and Joe's World; on writing for The Barkleys and Gimmie a Break!

    07:47

    Chapter 8

    on advice to aspiring television writers; on his proudest career achievements; on how he's like to be remembered

    08:08

    On b-roll pictures from his career- with musician Ben Bernie; with Ben Bernie in his hotel room; on the set of All in the Family with Carroll O'Connor; with The Red Skleton Show writing staff; with Carroll O'Connor; with Norman Lear; on the set of a pilot; with his family on his 80th birthday

    04:42

    Adventures of Tugboat Annie, The

    Larry Rhine on The Adventures of Tugboat Annie

    01:14

    All in the Family

    Larry Rhine on how he came to write for All in the Family

    02:18

    Larry Rhine on writing for All in the Family, and on writing with Mel Tolkin

    05:25

    Larry Rhine on a typical week writing for All in the Family

    02:19

    Larry Rhine on Carroll O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family, and on the episode "Two's a Crowd"

    04:57

    Larry Rhine on Jean Stapleton as "Edith Bunker" on All in the Family, and on the creation of "Archie Bunker's" bar on the show

    03:59

    Larry Rhine on the All in the Family actors input into their characters, and on "Archie Bunker's" bigotry

    07:53

    Larry Rhine on balancing the comedy and drama on All in the Family

    01:55

    Larry Rhine on the character of "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family, played by Carroll O'Connor

    02:35

    Larry Rhine on Rob Reiner as "Mike Stivic" on All in the Family, and on various storylines of the show

    07:04

    Larry Rhine on Sally Struthers as "Gloria Stivic" on All in the Family

    03:34

    Larry Rhine on the All in the Family episode "Joey's Baptism"

    01:34

    Larry Rhine on the All in the Family episodes "Joey's Baptism" and "Archie Finds a Friend", and on his relationship with Carroll O'Connor

    04:35

    Larry Rhine on the relationship between Norman Lear and Carroll O'Connor while working on All in the Family

    01:26

    Larry Rhine on the All in the Family episode "Edith's Crisis of Faith"

    02:27

    Larry Rhine on the All in the Family episode "The Brother"

    02:16

    Larry Rhine on Danielle Brisebois as "Stephanie Mills" on All in the Family and Archie Bunker's Place

    02:13

    Larry Rhine on stories he wrote for All in the Family that weren't used, and on the longevity and continued popularity of the show

    06:18

    Archie Bunker's Place

    Larry Rhine on Danielle Brisebois as "Stephanie Mills" on All in the Family and Archie Bunker's Place

    02:15

    Larry Rhine on continuing the character of "Archie Bunker" on Archie Bunker's Place the death of "Edith Bunker" on Archie Bunker's Place

    03:00

    Barkleys, The

    Larry Rhine on writing the series The Barkleys

    01:12

    Bob Hope Specials

    Larry Rhine on writing for the Bob Hope Specials

    06:11

    Brady Bunch, The

    Larry Rhine on writing episodes of The Brady Bunch

    05:18

    Duffy's Tavern

    Larry Rhine on writing for the radio versio of "The Life of Riley" and the radio version of "Duffy's Tavern"

    12:39

    Gale Storm Show, The aka Oh Susanna

    Larry Rhine on writing for The Gale Storm Show aka Oh Susanna

    04:44

    Larry Rhine on writing for The Gale Storm Show aka Oh Susanna

    02:36

    Gimme A Break!

    Larry Rhine on writing for the series Gimme a Break!

    01:08

    Here's Lucy

    Larry Rhine on having writing partners, and on writing for Here's Lucy

    05:34

    Larry Rhine on writing for Here's Lucy

    02:59

    Joe's World

    Larry Rhine on creating the series Joe's World

    03:15

    Life of Riley, The

    Larry Rhine on writing for the radio versions of "The Life of Riley" and the radio version of "Duffy's Tavern"

    12:39

    Mister Ed

    Larry Rhine on writing for Mister Ed

    05:07

    Larry Rhine on the producers and guest stars of Mister Ed

    02:54

    Larry Rhine on the voice of Mister Ed, Allan "Rocky" Lane

    01:41

    Larry Rhine on Alan Young as Wilbur Post on Mister Ed, and the rest of the cast

    01:16

    Odd Couple, The (1970-75)

    Larry Rhine on writing the series finale of The Odd Couple

    01:28

    Private Secretary

    Larry Rhine on writing for Private Secretary starring Ann Sothern

    07:14

    Red Skelton Show, The

    Larry Rhine on writing for The Red Skelton Show

    02:19

    Larry Rhine on the characters of The Red Skelton Show

    04:49

    Larry Rhine on Red Skelton missing shows on The Red Skelton Show

    02:36

    Larry Rhine on his favorite The Red Skelton Show characters

    02:48

    Larry Rhine on a typical week on The Red Skelton Show

    03:56

    Larry Rhine on Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Show, and on the writers of the show

    04:48

    Larry Rhine on Red Skelton Show producer Cecil Barker and on head writer Ed Simmons

    02:16

    Sanford

    Larry Rhine on writing for the Sanford and Son sequel Sanford

    01:10

    Tom Ewell Show, The

    Larry Rhine on writing The Tom Ewell Show

    04:12

    Advice

    Larry Rhine on advice to aspiring television writers

    04:00

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Larry Rhine on his experience with World War II

    07:08

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Larry Rhine on the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:21

    Industry Crossroads

    Larry Rhine on the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:21

    Television Industry

    Larry Rhine on the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:21

    Larry Rhine on advice to aspiring television writers

    04:00

    War

    Larry Rhine on his experience with World War II

    07:08

    World War II

    Larry Rhine on his experience with World War II

    07:08

    Writers

    Larry Rhine on having writing partners, and on writing for Here's Lucy

    05:34

    Larry Rhine on advice to aspiring television writers

    04:00

    Comedy Series

    Larry Rhine on writing for Private Secretary starring Ann Sothern

    07:14

    Larry Rhine on writing for The Gale Storm Show aka Oh Susanna

    05:55

    Larry Rhine on writing for The Gale Storm Show aka Oh Susanna

    02:36

    Larry Rhine on how he came to write for All in the Family

    02:18

    Larry Rhine on the Hollywood Blacklist having writing partners, and on writing for Here's Lucy

    05:34

    Larry Rhine on writing for The Red Skelton Show

    09:44

    Larry Rhine on writing for the Bob Hope Specials

    06:11

    Larry Rhine on writing for Here's Lucy

    02:59

    Larry Rhine on writing episodes of The Brady Bunch

    05:18

    Larry Rhine on writing The Odd Couple

    01:28

    Larry Rhine on writing All in the Family

    12:41

    Larry Rhine on writing for All in the Family

    29:41

    Larry Rhine on writing for All in the Family

    22:17

    Danielle Brisebois

    Larry Rhine on Danielle Brisebois as "Stephanie Mills" on All in the Family and Archie Bunker's Place

    02:13

    Bob Hope

    Larry Rhine on being one of Bob Hope's writers

    06:11

    Norman Lear

    Larry Rhine on the relationship between Norman Lear and Carroll O'Connor while working on All in the Family

    01:23

    Art Linkletter

    Larry Rhine on replacing Art Linkletter as a writer/announcer at KGB radio in San Diego

    03:55

    Edward R. Murrow

    Larry Rhine on meeting Edward R. Murrow

    01:52

    Carroll O'Connor

    Larry Rhine on Carroll O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family

    04:57

    Larry Rhine on the character of "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family, played by Carroll O'Connor

    02:36

    Larry Rhine on the relationship between Norman Lear and Carroll O'Connor while working on All in the Family

    01:23

    Rob Reiner

    Larry Rhine on Rob Reiner as "Mike Stivic" on All in the Family, and on various storylines of the show

    07:03

    Ed Simmons

    Larry Rhine on Red Skelton Show producer Cecil Barker and on head writer Ed Simmons

    02:16

    Red Skelton

    Larry Rhine on writing for The Red Skelton Show

    02:19

    Larry Rhine on the characters of The Red Skelton Show

    04:49

    Larry Rhine on Red Skelton missing shows on The Red Skelton Show

    01:25

    Larry Rhine on Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Show, and on the writers of the show

    04:58

    Ann Sothern

    Larry Rhine on writing for Private Secretary starring Ann Sothern

    07:14

    Jean Stapleton

    Larry Rhine on Jean Stapleton as "Edith Bunker" on All in the Family, and on the creation of "Archie Bunker's" bar on the show

    03:59

    Gale Storm

    Larry Rhine on writing for The Gale Storm Show aka Oh Susanna

    04:44

    Sally Struthers

    Larry Rhine on Sally Struthers as "Gloria Stivic" on All in the Family

    03:34

    Mel Tolkin

    Larry Rhine on writing for All in the Family, and on writing with Mel Tolkin

    05:23

    Walter Winchell

    Larry Rhine on working as a writer/announcer on radio in New York City on a show for bandleader Ben Bernie, and on Ben Bernie's "feud" with Walter Winchell

    03:46

    Alan Young

    Larry Rhine on Alan Young as Wilbur Post on Mister Ed, and the rest of the cast

    01:16

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