28 Facts About Rupert Hughes

Rupert Raleigh Hughes was an American novelist, film director, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, military officer, and music composer.

Rupert Hughes was the brother of Howard R Hughes Sr.

Rupert Hughes spent his early years in the Lancaster area until age seven when the family moved to Keokuk, Iowa, where his father established a successful law practice.

Rupert Hughes first published a poem while still a child growing up in Lancaster.

Rupert Hughes was a noted founding member of the student newspaper The Adelbert beginning in 1890, contributing numerous submissions of poems, satire, comedy, and storytelling.

Rupert Hughes's first published novel not originally serialized elsewhere was The Whirlwind, published in 1902.

Rupert Hughes was a musician and composed several songs including ones for his first venture as a playwright, the musical comedy The Bathing Girl.

In recognition of his musical efforts Rupert Hughes was elected an honorary member of the Alpha chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity at the New England Conservatory in Boston in 1917.

Rupert Hughes was an essay writer for popular magazines in the 1930s and endorsed the Technocracy movement.

In January 1926, Rupert Hughes was asked to speak at a meeting of the Sons of the American Revolution in Washington DC During the speech he advocated for more truth in the portrayal of the nation's first President, George Washington, pointing out such fables as chopping down a cherry tree, and drawing from Washington's own diary to illustrate some of the man's more human, if less savory, traits and activities.

The story rapidly spread across America, with the misquoted Rupert Hughes lambasted by everyone from newspaper editors to religious figures and temperance leaders coast-to-coast.

Rupert Hughes began the first of a projected four-volume biography of Washington in October 1926.

Rupert Hughes' first foray into the tough world of New York City theater was a failure.

Rupert Hughes persevered however, and between 1902 and 1909 no less than six Hughes-penned plays were staged by touring companies across the United States and in London, England.

Rupert Hughes cast his second wife, Adelaide Mould Bissell, alongside a young Douglas Fairbanks in his first New York theater role in the 1908 production All for a Girl.

Rupert Hughes enlisted in the New York National Guard as a private in 1897, serving in the famous 69th New York regiment, the "Fighting 69th".

Rupert Hughes remained on active duty until mid-1919, meanwhile continuing his writing career in off-duty hours.

Rupert Hughes continued his part-time military career after moving to California, joining the state militia.

Rupert Hughes was a key member of its reorganization in 1940 into the California Army National Guard and as Colonel commanded one of its regiments from 1941 to 1943.

At age 71 and with health becoming frail, Colonel Rupert Hughes was passed over for service in a combat zone again and retired from military service.

Family noted that Rupert Hughes had mumps as a child which left him sterile.

Rupert Hughes starred in his stage production All for a Girl that same year.

The third Mrs Rupert Hughes died from complications of sleeping pills and heart condition in 1945.

Rupert Hughes supported Thomas Dewey in the 1944 United States presidential election.

Rupert Hughes' health began to fail in the late 1940s, leading to a non-fatal stroke in 1953.

Rupert Hughes suffered a fatal heart attack while working at his desk on September 9,1956.

Rupert Hughes is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale in suburban Los Angeles, California.

Rupert Hughes's "Don't Call Me Madame" was filmed as Tillie and Gus.