Lone Ranger (fictional character)
The Lone Ranger is a fictional Western vigilante character who has become a significant part of American popular culture since his creation in 1933 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker. Originating from a radio show, the character is depicted as a masked Texas Ranger who survives a deadly ambush and dedicates his life to fighting crime alongside his Native American partner, Tonto, and his trusty horse, Silver. The backstory reveals that the Lone Ranger, originally named John Reid, was the sole survivor of an attack on his fellow Rangers, prompting his transformation into the heroic figure known for his moral code and commitment to justice.
The character gained immense popularity through various media adaptations, including radio, television, and film. The original radio series, which aired until 1954, captivated audiences with its strong moral lessons and exciting adventures. Notable adaptations included the successful ABC television series from 1949 to 1957, starring Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger and Jay Silverheels as Tonto. While interest in the character waned after the 1950s, the Lone Ranger remains an enduring symbol of classic Americana, with several films and television projects continuing to explore his legacy even into the 21st century. The character is characterized by his use of silver bullets, his avoidance of killing, and his iconic phrase, "Hi-yo, Silver, away!"
Lone Ranger (fictional character)
The Lone Ranger is a fictional Western vigilante and one of the most recognizable and beloved characters in American popular culture. Created by radio station owner George W. Trendle and script writer Fran Striker in 1933, the Lone Ranger is a heroic Texas Ranger who dons a mask and commits himself to the relentless pursuit of justice after surviving a harrowing ambush. In most of his adventures, the Lone Ranger is accompanied by Tonto, his Native American partner, and rides Silver, his faithful steed. Upon making his debut as the star of a radio show, the Lone Ranger became an immediate hit with children across the United States. In time, the widespread popularity of the Lone Ranger radio serial made the character a commercial success and enabled his subsequent transition into both film and television. While the Lone Ranger's popularity largely faded after the 1950s, the character remains an enduring example of classic Americana.
Background
Although it was not officially adopted until after the first several episodes of the original radio program, the Lone Ranger has a firmly established legend that explains his backstory and defines his motivations. According to the legend, the Lone Ranger was a Texas Ranger named John Reid before he donned his famous mask. Specifically, Reid was part of a group of six Texas Rangers led by his older brother, Dan. One day, as the Rangers rode across the canyon floor at Bryant's Gap, they were ambushed by a nefarious gang led by Butch Cavendish. When the dust settled, it appeared that all six Rangers had been killed, and the gang rode off. A short time later, a Native American named Tonto stumbled upon the horrific scene and discovered that Reid, a childhood friend, was still alive. Thinking quickly, Tonto buried the murdered Rangers and dug a sixth grave to make it appear as though Reid had been killed as well. After nursing Reid back to health for a few days, Tonto told him what happened and revealed that Reid was the sole survivor, or the "Lone Ranger." Upon learning of the fate that had befallen him, Reid dedicated his life to bringing evildoers to justice, donned a mask to hide his true identity, and called himself the Lone Ranger.
Through his different incarnations over the years, the Lone Ranger has always had a definitive characterization. First and foremost, he always travels through the American West and fights crime along the way with Tonto and Silver in tow. He is sometimes accompanied by his nephew Dan, the young son of his murdered brother. He typically uses silver bullets as both ammunition and a personal calling card. Though well-armed, the Lone Ranger rarely kills anyone, instead preferring to simply "wing" his targets in the arm or leg when necessary. He avoids smoking, drinking, and fraternizing with women and is always careful to use proper grammar. Most episodes of the Lone Ranger radio and television shows ended with the Lone Ranger capturing the evildoers he was after and riding off into the sunset while shouting his trademark line, "Hi-yo, Silver, away!"
Overview
When George W. Trendle purchased the Detroit-based, CBS-affiliated radio station WXYZ in 1930, he set his sights on making the station as profitable as possible. As part of his effort to do so, Trendle split from CBS in 1932 and recreated WXYZ as an independent station that offered original programming. While working to develop new shows to fill out his programming schedule, Trendle hit on the idea of a Western show featuring the exploits of a hero on horseback who followed a strict moral code in his ongoing pursuit of justice. To bring this idea to fruition, he then turned to script writer Fran Striker, who further fleshed out the story and eventually created the Lone Ranger character.
The Lone Ranger radio show debuted on WXYZ on January 30, 1933, with law student Earle Graser playing the title character and actor John Todd playing Tonto. While Todd remained on the show for its entire twenty-two year run, actor Brace Beemer replaced Graser after the latter died from injuries he sustained in a car accident in 1941. Practically as soon as the Lone Ranger hit the airwaves, it became an instant hit. With its action-packed fun and strong morals, the program was wildly popular among children and their parents alike and quickly became a nationwide radio staple. In addition to the advertising revenue it generated, the show became a commercial success from the wide range of Lone Ranger toys, books, and costumes that soon flooded the market. The Lone Ranger radio show remained on the air until September 1954.
As the Lone Ranger grew in popularity, his story was quickly adapted to other mediums. The first such adaptation was a movie serial that played in theaters during the 1930s. The most successful screen adaptation, however, was the long-running Lone Ranger television series that aired on the ABC television network between 1949 and 1957. Starring Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger and Native American actor Jay Silverheels as Tonto, the show was one of early television's first big hits and continued to air in reruns long after its cancellation.
Eventually, the Lone Ranger also made the transition to feature films. The first two major releases, The Lone Ranger (1956) and The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1958), starred Moore and Silverheels in the lead roles. Other Lone Ranger films included The Return of the Lone Ranger (1961) and The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981). Chad Michael Murray and Nathaniel Arcand starred in The Lone Ranger, a 2003 television movie produced by the WB network as a pilot for a new television series that was never made. In 2013, Walt Disney Pictures revived the Lone Ranger franchise with The Lone Ranger, an origin story directed by Gore Verbinski. Starring Armie Hammer as the Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp as Tonto, the film was deemed a critical and commercial flop.
Bibliography
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