TRS, PRL are the closet I've come to anything remotely decent in recent years, closely followed by Bill's Khakis.  PRL have pleats yet are not too horrifying.
What are horrifying are my pale, English, slightly hairy legs. 
My PRL were bought off Ebay and are USA-made.  No silly little pony, just a wee tag above the right hand back pocket.

Best I've found recently are Lands End, nowhere near as good as the khaki pair I have from 10 years ago, but OK, I bought the navy, around £20 a go right now in the sale if you can find your size,
Description as follows:-
Stretch cotton twill
Garment washed
Zip fly
Side pockets; coin pocket at waist
Welted back pockets, one with button fastening
Traditional fit: sits at the waist, straight hip/thigh
98% cotton/2% elastane
Machine wash
23cm/9ins inseam

When I was kid a neighbour who had been in the Desert Rats used to wear his army shorts very occasionally. That was in the days when grown ups did not wear shorts unless they were scout leaders or ramblers. They were not particularly flattering shorts but at least they were authentic.

For a different breed of classic American shorts, Birdwell Beach Britches and Kanvas by Katin both offer versions of corduroy surf shorts that were ubiquitous in the later 1970’s and 1980’s, and a few other things that would have fit into the “surf ivy??  thread on here years back. Much of the Birdwell stuff is still USA made and consequently more expensive. Both appear to be vanity sized, one reviewer says his waist is 35 and he takes a 32.

As you see, Tim even has 'notions' when it comes to shorts.

Sing, Lofty...

I'm thinking of going LLBean.
The Double L classics are supposed to sit on the waist. The darker colour looks like an old military style khaki.
There is also a discount off when you sign up.

I don't think you can ever say Ralph without actually seeing the item in the flesh. The specs change so frequently that what is great one season is buggered about with the next.
Take for example their classic Seersucker shorts. Once 100% cotton, next season a cotton stretch and in May I tried on a pair that the leg length was shortened but flared.

Chums,

Not within the ol’ Curric perhaps, but the Patagonia stand up shorts in khaki were always a favorite.  Esp for beach, hiking, almost any sport, puttering about the old homestead, climbing or cutting or trimming trees etc.

TRS: Uniqlo chino shorts have a lot right (good rise, flat front, good deep pockets, lots of colours) BUT they have a 10" inseam so need taking up.