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The Lone Ranger is the sole survivor of a group of six Texas Rangers killed in ambush. He wears a mask to conceal his identity as he travels throughout the West fighting for law and order.

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The Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) and Silver

Origin

(Although there have been several differing versions of the Lone Ranger's origin over the years, the basic story has remained the same.)

Six Texas Rangers, led by Captain Dan Reid and his younger brother John, were in pursuit of a gang of desperadoes led by the notorious Butch Cavendish. Led by a tracker named Collins, who was secretly employed by Cavendish, the Rangers were lured into a canyon called Bryant's Gap, and ambushed. Cavendish was led to believe that all the Rangers in the Gap were dead, but one actually survived.

Barely alive, Ranger John Reid managed to crawl to safety near a water hole where he was later found and nursed back to health by an Indian named Tonto, who remembered Reid, who had once rescued Tonto when they were younger. When John recognized Tonto, he remember the name the Indian game him: "Kemosabe", which meant 'trusty scout'. Tonto made the observation that Reid was the only Ranger left- the "lone ranger". Reid then realizes that he will be a marked man once Cavendish finds out that he survived, but Tonto reassures him that me made six graves while burying only five men, so the outlaws will think Reid died with the others. Showing a determination to bring Cavendish and his gang to answer for the ambush and their assorted other crimes, Reid decides that his name must remain buried with his brother and his colleagues and resolves to assume a secret identity and wear a disguise. When he declares that he'll be the Lone Ranger, Tonto vows to help him.

Right before the ambush, Dan confides in John that his wife and son were coming from the East, and urges John to take care of them in the event that he is killed; he also expects John to resign from the Rangers and work the silver mine they own together, and to see that his family get his share, which John promises. John hires an old friend, a retired Ranger named Jim, to work the mine for him. John tells Jim about the ambush and his intent to become the Lone Ranger and then makes an unusual request for Jim to forge silver bullets for him. Thinking that lead bullets would be just as effective, Jim asks why such an unusual request; when John remarks the silver bullets are to be used not as a weapon but a symbol of justice, Jim likes the idea and agrees to make them. John then swears Jim to secrecy about his true identity, and then tells him that as far as anyone else is concerned, the mine belongs to him. Jim agrees, and John, with Tonto, sets out for the first time as the Lone Ranger.

Though his ultimate goal is to capture Cavendish and his gang, the Lone Ranger makes it a point to help anyone along his way who needs it or asks for it. And true to his word that they were not to be used as a weapon, the Lone Ranger's silver bullets became his calling card. His adventures and deeds earned him and Tonto a widespread reputation as being defenders of law and justice, respected by friend and foe alike.

After rounding up Cavendish's gang, The Lone Ranger and Tonto were now hot on the trail of Cavendish himself when he fired from ambush on the two of them inadvertently killing the Lone Ranger's horse. Needing a new mount, the Lone Ranger recalls a magnificent wild white stallion he had once seen in the Valley of Horses, and decides to search for the horse while trailing Cavendish. They find the mustang in a fierce battle with a buffalo, who had gained the upper hand and was about to finish the horse off when the Lone Ranger shot and killed the beast. Tonto and the Lone Ranger then nursed the wounded horse back to health. As much as the Lone Ranger wanted the horse, he was willing to let it go as it fought for his freedom and deserved to be free. When Tonto remarked on the horse's gleaming white coat saying it looked "silver white", the Lone Ranger decided that Silver would be a good name for the horse and called out to it. In an unspoken show of gratitude and friendship, the horse returned and became the Lone Ranger's partner. The Lone Ranger then trains the wild stallion, and after a few days he was ready. With the stronger and faster Silver as his mount, the Lone Ranger was now able to overtake and capture Cavendish, completing his long mission.

But even after finishing what he originally set out to do, the Lone Ranger decided it was for the greater good to continue to pave the way for law and order in the untamed territories of the West, and witn Tonto still at his side, continued to wear the mask and maintain the identity of the Lone Ranger.

Radio

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Brace Beemer

The radio version of the Lone Ranger was portrayed by several actors over the course of the series. The most memorable were Earle Graser, who played the role from April of 1933 until he died in a car accident in April of 1941, and Brace Beemer, who took over after Graser's death and played the Ranger until the end of the series in September of 1954. In order to ease the transition between Graser and Beemer, the Lone Ranger spent several episodes injured and unable to speak above a whisper. The original Lone Ranger was George Seaton, who was on the radio show from January through April, 1933. Director Jack Deeds and long-time announcer Fred Foy stepped in for fill-in episodes in 1933 and 1954, respectively.

Television

The best remembered adaptation of the character is probably from the television show. The Lone Ranger debuted in 1949 and was the first western program to air on television. Actor Clayton Moore was the Lone Ranger for the first two seasons, from 1949-1952. After a contract dispute, Moore was replaced in season three (1953-1954) by John Hart. Moore returned to the role for the final seasons (1954-1957), and he remained associated with the character until his death in 1999.

In 2003 the WB television network sought to create a new Lone Ranger TV series, and commissioned a two-hour pilot episode. Chad Michael Murray was cast as the Ranger. The producers changed multiple aspects of the story, including the Ranger's real name (to Luke Hartman), to try and attract the teenage Dawson's Creek audience. The pilot was not well received, and a new series never produced.

Animation

There have been two animated versions of The Lone Ranger, both of which aired on CBS. The first was produced by Halas and Batchelor with 26 episodes (each consisting of three short stories) airing from 1966 to 1969; the Lone Ranger was voiced by Michael Rye, and Tonto was voiced by Sheperd Menken.

A second version, produced by Filmation, aired 28 episodes from 1980 to 1982; in this version The Lone Ranger was voiced by actor William Conrad (credited as "J. Darnoc"), while Tonto was voiced by Ivan Naranjo, a Blackfoot Southern Ute actor who hailed from Colorado.

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John Hart

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Chad Michael Murray

Films

Early Films

The first filmed version of the Lone Ranger was a 15-chapter movie serial in 1938. Titled 'The Lone Ranger,' it starred Lee Powell as the Masked Rider, but was actually designed to leave both the villains, and audience, guessing which of five men was, in fact, the Lone Ranger. This serial was later edited into a feature under the title 'Hi-Yo Silver.' A second serial, 'The Lone Ranger Rides Again,' also 15 chapters, followed in 1939. This time Robert Livingston took over the role.

Clayton Moore took the character from the TV screen to the movie screen for two full-length motion pictures. The first, 1956's 'The Lone Ranger' from Warner Brothers, was the first time the Ranger appeared on film in color. It was released the summer before the TV show's only season of color episodes. The second feature, 1958's 'The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold' from United Artists, was the last time Moore would offically play the character, as it was released after the TV series' cancellation.

1981 Film

The Lone Ranger returned to the big screen in 1981 with the big-budget 'The Legend of the Lone Ranger.' Klinton Spilsbury played the title character this time, though his dialogue was overdubbed by James Keach. The film retold the origin story of the Ranger. This film was a major flop at the box office, partly because of the public relations nightmare it caused. In an effort not to 'confuse' the fans, the producers of the film got a court-order preventing Clayton Moore from appearing in public with the mask on. Because Moore had been making public appearances in costume since the television show was on, and everyone remembered him as the Lone Ranger, this was not a move looked upon favorably by the general public.

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Klinton Spilsbury

Besides the PR disaster, 'Legend' is the first time the Lone Ranger is officially given a full name. His last name was obviously Reid, but throughout the radio and TV series a first name was never given. This movie is the first "official" appearance of the name John (the name previously appeared in book about the history of radio), which has been given the character since.

2013 Film

A new Lone Ranger film, directed by Gore Verbinski, was, as of early March of 2013, scheduled for release on May 31 of that year. Armie Hammer, who had acted out both twins in The Social Network, was chosen to act out the Lone Ranger, and as Tonto, Verbinski chose Johnny Depp. Even though Tim Burton had not directed it, Helena Bonham-Carter also starred.

Dynamite Entertainment

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Dynamite Entertainment's Lone Ranger

In 2006, Dynamite Entertainment began a new comic book series based on the Lone Ranger legend. The series began with a six-issue story-arc retelling the origin of the Lone Ranger. This re-imagining of the story featured some alterations from previous versions. Most notably, Butch Cavendish, though he ordered the ambush, did not lead it. He was elsewhere pursuing political ambitions. Also, the addition of Julius Bartholomew, a.k.a. Black Bart, as Cavendish's enforcer sent to ensure all the Rangers were killed. Additionally, Dan Reid did not lead the Rangers into the ambush. Instead, the captain is James Reid, father of Dan and John. This series shows John Reid experiencing many more growing pains than previously shown, on his way to becoming the Lone Ranger.

See Also

Lone Ranger Appearances

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