Richard G. Hubler
Encyclopedia
Richard G. Hubler born Richard Gibson Hubler 20 August 1912 in Dunmore, Pennsylvania
died 21 October 1981 of Parkinson's disease
in Ojai, California
was a prolific American author of biographies, fiction and non-fiction. His most well known work was as the co-author of Ronald Reagan
's 1965 autobiography
Where's the Rest of Me?.
then graduated from Swarthmore College
in 1934. Hubler began writing for many magazines. In 1941 he wrote his first biography
Lou Gehrig the Iron Horse of Baseball followed by I Flew for China in 1942;
a biography of Royal Leonard
, Chiang Kai-Shek
's personal pilot.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in December 1942. He served for three years in the Corps obtaining the rank of Captain. He wrote many articles for the Marine Corps Gazette
one of which criticised the American military's awarding of decorations Winning Medals and Alienating People. Hubler also published a World War II history of Marine Aviation Flying Leathernecks: The Complete History of Marine Corps Aviation 1941-1944 in 1944.
After the war, Hubler used his Marine experience as inspiration for his first novel published in 1946 I've Got Mine that was filmed as Beachhead
in 1954. It was republished as Walk Into Hell in 1963. Hubler became a Hollywood Scriptwriter with a screenplay based on Jim Corbett's Man-Eaters of Kumaon
. This led him to be signed as a scriptwriter for Belsam Productions to write a trio of films for Tom Conway
.
In addition to Reagan's autobiography, he also wrote SAC: The Strategic Air Command (1958), St. Louis Woman with Helen Traubel
(1959), Big Eight: A Biography of an Airplane (1960) Straight Up: The Story of Vertical Flight (1961) and The Cole Porter Story as told to Richard G. Hubler (1965).
In February of 1954 he had a piece entitled Dogs Are Dumb published in Coronet magazine, relating the lack of intelligence in dogs. He quickly became deluged by irate dog-owners' correspondence and can be heard making an apologetic appearance on the 19th May 1954 edition of You Bet Your Life
defending his opinion and stating that he owned a dog himself.
Hubler was commissioned by Walt Disney Productions
and the Disney family to prepare a biography of Walt Disney
shortly after Disney's death, which he researched and wrote during 1967-1968. Upon submission he was paid a contractual penalty and the manuscript never saw print. "No comments, no reasons, no nothing at all", Hubler stated to animation historian Michael Barrier
as to why it remained unpublished. Animation historian Wade Sampson notes when Bob Thomas
some years later was engaged to write what became Walt Disney: An American Original, Disney executives explained that "two other writers had tried their hand at writing the official biography but both of the attempts had proven unsatisfactory."
A number of the interviews Hubler conducted on Disney have been published in the book series Walt's People edited by Dider Ghez.
Hubler's papers are held by the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University
. This includes the manuscript of the unpublished Disney biography and much material from its preparation. Many of the interview transcripts are also held by the Disney Archives.
Dunmore, Pennsylvania
Dunmore is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, adjoining Scranton. Dunmore was settled in 1835 and incorporated in 1862. Extensive anthracite coal, brick, stone, and silk interests had led to a rapid increase in the population to 8,315 in 1890, 12,583 in 1900, 17,615 in 1910, 20,250 in...
died 21 October 1981 of Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
in Ojai, California
Ojai, California
Ojai is a city in Ventura County, California, USA. It is situated in the Ojai Valley , surrounded by hills and mountains. The population was 7,461 at the 2010 census, down from 7,862 at the 2000 census.-History:Chumash Indians were the early inhabitants of the valley...
was a prolific American author of biographies, fiction and non-fiction. His most well known work was as the co-author of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's 1965 autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
Where's the Rest of Me?.
Biography
Hubler attended Wyoming SeminaryWyoming Seminary
Wyoming Seminary, founded in 1844 and currently led by President Kip P. Nygren, is a private college preparatory school located in the Wyoming Valley of Northeastern Pennsylvania, in Kingston and Forty Fort It is near the Susquehanna River and the city of Wilkes-Barre...
then graduated from Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
in 1934. Hubler began writing for many magazines. In 1941 he wrote his first biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
Lou Gehrig the Iron Horse of Baseball followed by I Flew for China in 1942;
a biography of Royal Leonard
Royal Leonard
Captain Royal Leonard , a Texan pilot who previously flew for TWA, was, in 1935-1941, the personal pilot of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.In 1935 Leonard was first to fly the new Gee Bee Q.E.D. in the Bendix Race...
, Chiang Kai-Shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
's personal pilot.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in December 1942. He served for three years in the Corps obtaining the rank of Captain. He wrote many articles for the Marine Corps Gazette
Marine Corps Gazette
Marine Corps Gazette is a professional journal for U.S. Marines founded in 1916 at Marine Corps Base Quantico for members of the United States Marine Corps. Begun by then Col John A. Lejeune as the vehicle to launch the Marine Corps Association , the journal is known as "The Professional Journal...
one of which criticised the American military's awarding of decorations Winning Medals and Alienating People. Hubler also published a World War II history of Marine Aviation Flying Leathernecks: The Complete History of Marine Corps Aviation 1941-1944 in 1944.
After the war, Hubler used his Marine experience as inspiration for his first novel published in 1946 I've Got Mine that was filmed as Beachhead
Beachhead (film)
Beachhead is a 1954 Technicolor war film based on Captain Richard G. Hubler USMCR's 1945 novel I've Got Mine. It was filmed in Kauai by Aubrey Schenck Productions, released through United Artists and directed by Stuart Heisler.-Plot:...
in 1954. It was republished as Walk Into Hell in 1963. Hubler became a Hollywood Scriptwriter with a screenplay based on Jim Corbett's Man-Eaters of Kumaon
Man-Eaters of Kumaon
Man-Eaters of Kumaon is a book written by hunter-naturalist Jim Corbett. It details the experiences Corbett had in the Kumaon region of India from the 1900s to the 1930s, while hunting man-eating tigers and leopards. One tiger, for example, was responsible for over 400 human deaths...
. This led him to be signed as a scriptwriter for Belsam Productions to write a trio of films for Tom Conway
Tom Conway
Tom Conway was a British film and radio actor, and elder brother of actor George Sanders.-Early life:...
.
In addition to Reagan's autobiography, he also wrote SAC: The Strategic Air Command (1958), St. Louis Woman with Helen Traubel
Helen Traubel
Helen Francesca Traubel was an American opera and concert singer. A dramatic soprano, she was best known for her Wagnerian roles, especially those of Brünnhilde and Isolde. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, she began her career as a concert singer and went on to sing at the Metropolitan...
(1959), Big Eight: A Biography of an Airplane (1960) Straight Up: The Story of Vertical Flight (1961) and The Cole Porter Story as told to Richard G. Hubler (1965).
In February of 1954 he had a piece entitled Dogs Are Dumb published in Coronet magazine, relating the lack of intelligence in dogs. He quickly became deluged by irate dog-owners' correspondence and can be heard making an apologetic appearance on the 19th May 1954 edition of You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life is an American quiz show that aired on both radio and television. The original and best-known version was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show debuted on ABC Radio in October 1947, then moved to CBS Radio in September...
defending his opinion and stating that he owned a dog himself.
Hubler was commissioned by Walt Disney Productions
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
and the Disney family to prepare a biography of Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
shortly after Disney's death, which he researched and wrote during 1967-1968. Upon submission he was paid a contractual penalty and the manuscript never saw print. "No comments, no reasons, no nothing at all", Hubler stated to animation historian Michael Barrier
Michael Barrier (historian)
Michael Barrier is an American animation historian. Barrier was the founder and editor of Funnyworld, the first magazine exclusively devoted to comics and animation. It began as a contribution to the CAPA-Alpha amateur press association...
as to why it remained unpublished. Animation historian Wade Sampson notes when Bob Thomas
Bob Thomas (reporter)
Bob Thomas is an American Hollywood film industry biographer and reporter who has worked for the Associated Press since 1944.-Personal life:...
some years later was engaged to write what became Walt Disney: An American Original, Disney executives explained that "two other writers had tried their hand at writing the official biography but both of the attempts had proven unsatisfactory."
A number of the interviews Hubler conducted on Disney have been published in the book series Walt's People edited by Dider Ghez.
Hubler's papers are held by the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. This includes the manuscript of the unpublished Disney biography and much material from its preparation. Many of the interview transcripts are also held by the Disney Archives.