"A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty 'Hi-Yo Silver!' The Lone Ranger rides again! Return with us now to those thrilling days of Yesteryear..."

A true American hero if there ever was one, the incognito defender of justice whose weapon of choice was his intellect, rather than his sidearm. Sure, he carried one, but he would never kill with it, only wounding adversaries with his famed silver bullets as a last resort. Created by George W. Trendle, the iconic Lone Ranger first appeared on radio and in film in the 30s, but his popularity assured that he would eventually show his face (or at least a portion of it) on television. That opportunity came in 1949, as The Lone Ranger made its small screen debut - starring Clayton Moore as the fabled hero and Jay Silverheels as his faithful friend and sidekick, Tonto.

Riding atop his trusted steed, Silver, who could be called into action with a hearty “Hi-Yo Silver, Away!” the Lone Ranger was a vigilante, forced to keep a low profile ever since his days as a Texas Ranger, when he was left for dead after an ambush by Butch Cavendish and his infamous “Hole in the Wall Gang.” He was rescued from certain death by a Native-American named Tonto,who nursed him back to health, then became his lifelong friend. Tonto had another reason for his enduring loyalty, however, as a particular medal hanging around the ranger’s neck was the same one Tonto had given to a young boy many years ago – a token of appreciation for the boy saving Tonto’s life when his family was attacked and killed by an enemy tribe. From that point on, The Lone Ranger and Tonto set out together to fight for justice together. To keep his identity hidden, The Lone Ranger crafted a mask from his dead brother’s vest, which forever disguised the brave defender of the law.

Viewing audiences sat faithfully enthralled each week as the heroic pair would stealthily track down bad guys and bring them to justice. Then, a strange thing happened in 1952, when they began to notice that their hero’s voice had changed. Turns out, Moore had asked for a raise and was summarily replaced by actor John Hart. Audiences would have none of it and complained. Although it took two years of protest, Moore was finally returned to the starring role in 1954. The show lasted another 3 years, almost a decade after it had made its debut, and thereby becoming one of the longest running westerns on television. With its constant message of fairness and tolerance, it was embraced by every kid who lived during that era, all of whom made The Lone Ranger one of the most popular shows of the era.

 

 

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