The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger character is perhaps the world's best known Western hero. The Lone Ranger radio program was extremely popular with both children and adults and aired from 1933 to 1956. In fact, surveys at the time indicated that over half of the show's audience was comprised of adults.
It was originally broadcast on Jan 31., 1933 on WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan. The role of The Lone Ranger was played by five different actors: George Stenius, Jack Deeds, James Tewell, Earle Graser, and Brace Beemer. Tonto was played by John Todd. Paul Hughes played numerous roles. The primary writer was Fran Striker. The show was owned and created by George Trendle.
Each show began with Rossini's William Tell Overture, a frantically galloping horse, and the Lone Ranger's famous cry, "Hi Yo Silver!"
The background story of the Lone Ranger is as follows: John Reid was one of six Texas Rangers chasing the dreaded outlaw Butch Cavendish and his gang. The Rangers were ambushed and only one badly wounded man survived.
He was found by an Indian (Tonto) and nursed back to health. When the Ranger woke up, he asked Tonto what had happened and Tonto explained that
the other Rangers had been killed and that, "...You only Ranger left... You lone Ranger." At this point, the Lone Ranger dedicated his life to fighting for justice and Tonto promised to forever be his faithful companion.
The Lone Ranger owned a silver mine that provided him with funds as well as the materials for his matched set of silver six-guns and an endless supply of silver bullets. He named his white wild-stallion horse "Silver" and outfitted it with silver shoes.
The Lone Ranger was a politically correct fellow even for the 1930's and '40s. In fact, he never drank alcohol or smoked, always used correct grammer, and never shot to kill his adversaries. Remarkably, of the hundreds of foes he faced, he actually killed only one of them.