The Lone Ranger
If you were a young child in the 1930s to the 1950s, you probably tuned in three days a week to hear the Lone Ranger ride again. The Lone Ranger is one of the best-known radio shows and Westerns in history. It actually aired for over twenty years and spawned several generations of fans from its thousands of shows.
The Lone Ranger whose real name was John Reid was the story of a Texas Ranger who was the most well respected and most feared deliverer of justice in the West. Outlaws didn’t stand a chance against the Lone Ranger and his trusty steed, Silver.
The Lone Ranger began as a member of a group of six Texas Rangers in the West who were ambushed by a gang of outlaws, and only he survived. As the story goes, he was found lying injured by an Indian named Tonto (played by John Todd for the whole two decades of its run) who helped him to mend his wounds. But instead of returning to his day job as a Texas Ranger, the Lone Ranger helped to dig six graves and assumed a new identity.
He wore a mask to disguise his true self and used silver bullets as his calling card. However, the Lone Ranger never shot to kill. He only shot outlaws when absolutely necessary and only enough to wound them so they could be taken into the hands of the law.
George Stenius first played The Lone Ranger from 1931 - 1933, followed by Earle Graser until 1941, and Brace Beemer (pictured opposite in 1942) until 1954. But no matter who played the Lone Ranger, audiences couldn’t wait to tune in each week.
It was so popular that it spawned comic books, films, books, and the long-running television show. It also resulted in a spin-off show called The Green Hornet about the Lone Ranger’s great-nephew Britt Reid; his father, Dan Reid had been the teenage nephew who appeared on many of the Lone Ranger Shows.
The Lone Ranger was a favorite of children and adults alike. In fact, many of its childhood audience grew into adulthood with the Lone Ranger and Tonto as a part of their lives.
If you find yourself wishing for the days when you could listen to The Lone Ranger on the airwaves, you’ll be pleased to know that there are hundreds of episodes available in recorded form. With the advent of modern technology, you’ll only be a few clicks away from The Lone Ranger riding again. You’ll find your heart racing as you hear the famous words, “Hi-Yo Silver, Away!”
Happy listening my friends,
