January 30
HI-YO, SILVER DAY
The famous radio western, The Lone Ranger, was heard for the first time on this day in 1933. The program ran for 2,956 episodes and came to an end in late 1954.
George Seaton (Stenius) was the first voice of the Lone Ranger. Jack Deeds and Earle Graser followed in the role. However, it was Brace Beemer who is best remembered as former Texas Ranger, John Reid. He played the part of the black-masked ranger, fighting for frontier justice for thirteen consecutive years.
Riding alongside the Lone Ranger was Tonto, the Indian who had rescued him from death and nursed him back to health after an outlaw ambush had massacred his entire company. The part of Indian scout, Tonto, was played for almost the entire run by a bald-headed Irishman named John Todd. Jim Jewell also fondly referred to the Lone Ranger as ‘kemo sabe’. Jewell produced and directed the series for many years. Silver played the part of the rangers horse, while Scout was Tonto’s steed.
(Clayton Moore [1949-1952 & 1954-1957] and John Hart [1952-1954] as the Lone Ranger, and Jay Silverheels as his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, took to the TV airwaves for years. Moore and Silverheels would also make 1956 and 1958 film versions of The Lone Ranger.)
Created by Fran Striker (of The Lone Ranger comic-book character fame) and George Trendle, this Western radio adventure series had an interesting twist. The Lone Ranger had a nephew, Dan, who was the father of Britt Reid, another avenger of crime known as The Green Hornet. There was no coincidence that Striker and Trendle also were the creators of The Green Hornet.
But no show began as dramatically as The Lone Ranger with Rossini’s William Tell Overture and the voice of announcers, Fred Foy, Harold Golder, Bob Hite, Brace Beemer, Harold True or Charles Woods proclaiming, “A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty ‘Hi-yo, Silver!’ The Lone Ranger rides again!”
And, at the end of each show, with a “Hi-yo, Silver, away!” and the sound of hoof beats fading into the distance, you would almost believe that there was a silver bullet lying by your radio.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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