Close your eyes and journey back on the carpet in front of the family’s Zenith radio as the staccato blast of the ‘William Tell Overture’ opening notes ushers in a fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty ‘Hi yo, Silver, away!’ On February 9 at 7 p.m., The Lone Ranger will ride again, straight into the Pierson Playhouse, where he and his loyal Native American sidekick, Tonto, will thrill his fans once again. In honor of the 75th anniversary of the masked cowboy avenger, the Pacific Palisades Historical Society will present ‘The Resurrection of the Lone Ranger and Tonto.’ Ted Ashby, a retired LAPD officer with a life-long interest in the ‘old wild West’ will host the event. While researching famous movie horses 17 years ago, Ashby arrived at the Lone Ranger’s faithful steed, Silver, which led to him unlocking fascinating information on how ‘The Lone Ranger’ radio program came about. His desire to share his knowledge with kindred spirits led him to conducting presentations at such places as the Kiwanis Club of Eagle Rock (where he has been an active member for 25 years) and various schools and organizations. His presentations on the Pony Express and stagecoach routes have become something of a second career for Ashby. ‘Now the Autry Museum wants me to come up there and talk,’ Ashby says of the Griffith Park destination, which, by the way, houses the original saddle from the TV ‘Long Ranger.’ Created by George W. Trendle and developed by writer Fran Striker in 1930, ‘The Lone Ranger’ quickly became a radio staple. The silver bullet-shooting vigilante was portrayed on the radio by several actors, including John L. Barrett (who played the role on the original WEBR-Buffalo test broadcasts), George Seaton, series director James Jewell, Earle Graser, and Brace Beemer, originally the show’s announcer. The last new radio episode aired on September 3, 1954. ‘The Lone Ranger’ radio serial even inspired a popular superhero spin-off: ‘The Green Hornet.’ On television, Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels, as Lone Ranger and Tonto, respectively, popularized the Wild West crime-fighters on ABC from 1949 to 1957. The subject of various feature films, ‘The Lone Ranger’ continues to thrive today in a Dynamite Entertainment comic book series created by Brett Matthews and Sergio Cariello. Ashby’s presentation will feature ‘how and why ‘The Lone Ranger’ program got started. It came about because of the William Tell Overture. George Trendle wanted a kid’s show that featured a character with values, who would leave before you get the accolades. Trendle liked classical music and he could visualize a cowboy riding to the William Tell Overture.’ By 1937, it was the number one radio show. ‘Ninety-four percent of the radio stations carried ‘The Long Ranger,” says Ashby. The program will run about 45 minutes. Expect a visual presentation to accompany the radio recordings. Contact: www.pacificpalisadeshistory.org
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