Happy Rin Tin Tin Day

Last week, I finished reading Susan Orlean’s Rin Tin Tin: The Life and The Legend. And from now on, September 18 will always be Rin Tin Tin Day to me. It was on September 18, 1918, that Rin Tin Tin, his mother, and littermates were found by in the war-torn French countryside by American soldier Lee Duncan. 

In the book, Orlean writes about her grandfather’s Rin Tin Tin desk statue as a spark to her childhood fascination with America’s most heroic dog. For me, it was an “autographed” black-and-white publicity photo of Rin Tin Tin left in a desk handed down from my older brother. Only after reading Orlean’s book, did I learn that this photo was most likely of Rin Tin Tin IV from the 1950s television series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. 

Discovering Rin Tin Tin’s World War I roots, learning my fascination started with Rin Tin Tin IV and finding out how the legend of Rinty continues into the 21st century were just a few of the surprises of Rin Tin Tin: The Life and The Legend. The book is as much about an American century, pop culture, and Hollywood as it is about the enduring love for a dog and the ideals that dog represents. 

By the way, Orlean recounts how she was able to find a duplicate of her grandfather’s statue (spoiler). I only wish I’d held onto my brother’s hand-me-down photo of Rinty. Happy Rin Tin Tin Day.

Long live Rin Tin Tin.