Alan Rinehart

Alan Gillespie Rinehart (1900–1982) was a writer, film producer, and playwright. Rinehart was a son of mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart and a brother of book publishers Stanley Rinehart, Jr. and Frederick Roberts Rinehart.[1]

Early life and education

Rinehart was born in Allegheny, PA (which has since merged with Pittsburgh, PA) in 1900. He graduated from the Morristown School in Morristown, NJ (now Morristown-Beard School) in 1919.[2] During his time at the school, Rinehart wrote stories and poetry for The Morristonian, the student newspaper.[3] After studying at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Rinehart received his bachelor's degree from the School of Mining at the University of Pittsburgh.[4] During the period between his studies at the two universities, Rinehart worked as a cowboy in the Western U.S.[3]

Career and military service

Rinehart joined the Story Department at Paramount Pictures Corporation in 1931.[5] He worked as an editor and producer for Paramount. Rinehart also worked as a correspondent and national affairs editor at Time Magazine during its early years in the 1920s.[1]

During World War II, Rinehart served as a special assistant to the War Shipping Administration's East Coast Director. He worked as a convoy truant officer. Rinehart also served in the U.S. Marines during World War I.[4] In 1930, Rinehart penned the play Volcano. Messmore Kendall, owner of the Capitol Theatre, acquired it in November of that year. He tasked Robert Milton with staging the play.[6] Farrar & Rinehart, the publishing company run by Rinehart's brothers, published the play's text in wide release.[7]

Purchase of Cabbage Island

In 1936, Rinehart bought Cabbage Island, a 100-acre island located five miles from Pine Island, Florida. Rinehart's mother Mary constructed a six-bedroom winter home on the island to craft her novels. In 1938, Rinehart and his mother provided a facility on the island to run a tarpon study by Charles Breder, curator and director of fishes and aquatic biology at the American Museum of Natural History.[8] The Rinehart property now operates as the Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant.[9]

Family

In 1925, Rinehart married Gratia Houghton Rinehart on September 19, 1925. She was a niece of Alanson B. Houghton, the U.S. Ambassador to England.[10] They had two children together before their divorce in 1938. In 1946, Rinehart married textile designer and stylist Ernestine Hines Dobbs.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 Pendergast, Tom; Pendergast, Sara (2000). St. James encyclopedia of popular culture. 4. St. James Press.
  2. ↑ Harvard University, ed. (1921). The Harvard University Register, Volume 47.
  3. 1 2 Cohn, Jan (1980). Improbable Fiction: The Life of Mary Roberts Rinehart.
  4. 1 2 "Alan G. Rinehart". The New York Times. May 13, 1982.
  5. ↑ "With Paramount". The Pittsburgh Press. May 31, 1931.
  6. ↑ "Theatrical Notes". The New York Times. November 15, 1930.
  7. ↑ "Books and Authors". The New York Times. December 28, 1930.
  8. ↑ Friends of the Randell Research Center
  9. ↑ John Doussard (December 27, 1986). "The Charm of Cabbage Key is a well-kept secret". Miami News.
  10. ↑ "MISS HOUGHTON-ONE OF TODAY'S BRIDES; Ambassador's Niece to Wed Alan G. Rinehart -- Nuptials of Misses Abeel and Quinn". The New York Times. September 19, 1925.
  11. ↑ "Alan G. Rinehart Weds Mrs. Dobbs; Son of Noted Author Marries Former Ernestine Hines at Ceremony in Queens". The New York Times. July 9, 1945.
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