If we examine the list of the recently departed, you could draw that conclusion. Dale Evans and Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Rex Allen, and Clayton Moore have all gone to the great stable in the sky leaving us Front Row Kids saddened and cast astray.
"Whatever happened to Randolph Scott riding the trail alone?" the Statler Brothers asked in their popular song. Well, Randolph and his compadres have passed on but, if you listen carefully, in the distance, you can make out the thundering hoof beats of the great horse Silver and the LONE RANGER!
Yes, the Lone Ranger does live. Golden Books, 2 years after the death of Clayton Moore (God rest his soul), has officially authorized Scott Shepherd to don the mask and guns to bring the masked rider of the plains to the young and old of North America yet another time!
In a recent conversation with Scott, I asked him how he viewed himself as the Lone Ranger.
"I see myself as the ambassador bringing back the good guy in the white hat bringing back the values and ethics that some of today's so called role models have seemed to forget. Out of respect for Clayton Moore, I will not be portraying the character exactly like he did. My outfit is more updated for today, the new outfit looks like the one Lee Powell and Robert Livingston wore in the Lone Ranger serials."
I asked him what his place in Ranger history was.
"I am technically the 11th Lone Ranger, and the first since Clayton Moore (this includes radio, cartoon voices, film and TV). Though Klinton Spilsbury was the last Lone Ranger on film, Clayton still did appearances after Klinton.
"How did you get authorization from Golden Books to appear as the Lone Ranger?"
"It took me three years in working with Golden Books, the trademark owners, to get the authorization to wear the mask. It took a lot of convincing, testing and persistence. It was well worth the wait. Like Clayton found out, the mask can be taken away at any time. So, while I have the ability to wear the mask, I will make the most of it,"
"After the long absence of the Lone Ranger from the publics eye, what are the plans for the masked man?"
"It's tough. The last movie was in 1981 and that was a bust. There have been no comic books, or extended reruns of the TV show. The Hallmark ornaments are primarily bought by collectors who know of it's existence. This is primarily a re-birth scenario with a mission. I love the challenge. We are trying to gain some hype through selected appearances and promotions. We are also working on 2 commercials and print ads. Eventually there will be a movie for feature release or television. My plan for the Lone Ranger is to touch as many children as I can with the creed and code of ethics."
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