Lee Powell the "Lone Ranger". If I'm correct, Mr. Powell was the "Lone Ranger" on Radio and "Buck Rogers" in the Movie Serials. |
Thursday, October 01, 2015
Wild West #10
Posted by Buckles at 10/01/2015 05:15:00 AM
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Lee Powell was the first movie Lone Ranger in the 1938 Republic serial THE LONE RANGER. (Actually, he was one of 5 rangers who were all possible candidates to be THE Lone Ranger. It just happened that he was the one who was revealed to be the Lone Ranger at the end. Buster Crabbe played Buck Rogers in the movie serial. The radio Lone Rangers were Earle Graser and Brace Beemer (who took over the role after Graser was killed in an auto accident in 1941.) Clayton Moore played the Lone Ranger on television (except for a single season when the role was taken over by John Hart when Moore went out on strike over a salary dispute. Clayton Moore continued to appear as the Lone Ranger in commercials and personal appearances long after the TV show went off the air. (I seem to recall that the owners of the Lone Ranger title eventually went to court to keep Clayton Moore from appearing as the Lone Ranger.)
Lee Powell did have a supporting role in FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE, in which Buster Crabbe played Flash.
I recall when the Wrather organization wouldn't let Clayton Moore appear has the Lone Ranger wearing a mask. Moore continued to appear wearing "mask-like" sunglasses.
Clayton Moore came to Columbus Ohio around 30 years ago plugging for Chevrolet. He was set up in a western display at the dealership on Rt 161. I don't recall the media announcement from that time, whether he was billed as the Lone Ranger or just Clayton Moore, etc. But aside from the full-frame sun glasses because he was not allowed to wear the mask, he was otherwise in full Lone Ranger outfit. In that setting at least he was quite the gentleman, talked about the ailing Jay Silverheels, and really impressed my then pre-teen kids. It was a memorable life moment for this long-time fan of the character that goes back to the radio series.
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