Hi - Yo Silver! The Lone Ranger Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Remember those days long ago, of the golden age of television. He was a fabulous individual, a man whose presence brought fear to the lawless and hope to those who wanted to make the frontier land their home.

Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear...The Lone Ranger rides again!

It's the 50th television anniversary for the resourceful masked rider of the plains. "The Lone Ranger" premiered in the 7:30 pm time slot in 1949 on ABC and quickly became one of the network's few early hits.

Created by George W. Trendel, "The Lone Ranger" had been a radio staple since 1933 as a local program on Detroit's WXYZ before moving to national network airwaves less than two years later. By the end of the decade, the masked man and his faithful indian companion Tonto had etched a place in the annals of pop culture and into the hearts of loyal fans.

When Trendle decided to make the move to television, Clayton Moore was chosen for the lead out of some 200 others who were up for the role. Moore, a prolific actor who was known as "the king of the serials" at Republic studios for his extensive body of work in such thrillers as "G-men never forget," "The adventures of Frank and Jesse James," and "Son of Geronimo" and had just wrapped up portraying another masked hero in the 12-chapter serial "The Ghost of Zoro."

Jay Silverheels, a full-blooded Mohawk Indian from the Six Nations Reservation in Ontario, Canada, took the part of Tonto and the series opened with a special three part episode which explained the origin of the Lone Ranger.

Before donning the mask, John Reid was a young Texas Ranger who accompanied his brother, Capt. Dan Reid, and their fellow Rangers on many missions to enforce the law throughout the Lone Star territory.

On one fateful journey to track down the vile Butch Cavendish gang, the Rangers, betrayed by their scout Collins,were led into the narrow confines of Bryant's Gap where Cavendish and his men ambushed them in a hale of gunfire. All were slain - but one.

John Reid, badly wounded, was rescued by Tonto who nursed the ailing lawman back to health. When Reid recovered and inquired about the whereabouts of his companions, Tonto imparted the dreaded news that he was the only survivor, the "Lone" Ranger left alive.

Returning to the site of the massacre to bury the dead, Reid cut a section of fabric from his brothers black vest to fashion a mask, vowing to roam the west bringing outlaws and killers to justice.

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