and Me           

He was my ultimate TV cowboy hero.  Roy Rogers and Chuck Connors were second and third.  They (the Lone Ranger and Tonto) appeared in one of the most memorable television episodes ever...at least from the viewpoint of a six year old.  In "Pete and Pedro" our heroes and the folks they re trying to protect are bound and locked in a barn.  The barn is then set  ablaze.  Through bravery, ingenuity and teamwork they turn back to back and untied eah other and released the captive ranchers.  It was truly thrilling.

The only thing more thrilling, (or Moore thrilling) was when Dad took me to see the Lone Rsnger, aka Clayton Moore, in person!  We had been given a handout in school about how our hero would be the featured guest star on Saturday morning at the mayor of St. Paul, MN's Christmas party for kids. 

Friday night was terrible for my Dad.  The last thing that he wanted to do on his one day to sleep in was to spend it with 8000 screaming kids.  But this was one thing I clearly recall begging and pleading for.  At first he was a firm no, but litle b y little he relented.  With my Romper Room stick horse I did victory laps around the house while shouting the notes of the Willam Tell Overture.  I think I gave Dad a headache, but boy was I excited!

The show itself still shines in my memory.  It was emceed by local kiddie TV hosts Casey Jones and his sidekick Roundhouse Rodney.  Roger Awsumb and Lynn Dwyer were gifted childrens entertainers who were as wildly popular locally as their headliner.  They did a couple of bits and then introduced a second string cowboy hero who did some trick shooting.  Later he would lose in a quick draw contest with the Lone Ranger.  Clayton was then introduced in character and we were really off to the races. 

There were three parts to his presentation.  He told us the legend, he had two fast draw contests:  one with the second stringer and one with a 14 year old girl champion.  That one ended in a draw.  Then he answered questions.  One little girl asked, "Are you married?"  (Moore was, for 43 years.)  But in the mask he replied, "Honey, I'm the LONE Ranger!" 

What I remember most was that gentle humor and his marvelous unmistakable voice.  I believe it was Moore's voice that did in his one season replacement John Hart.  As soon as he tried talk we all said, "Who is this masked man?  We know who he's NOT.  He's NOT the Lone Ranger!"  But the true hero that day has always been a real life hero to me, and thats my Dad who gave up his Saturday to take his kids to the party.

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Clayton Moore was never typecast because he never wanted another role.  He so defined the character, and what that character stood for, so that three generations of devoted fans would reject as pale imitations any who dared try to follow him.  Like Roy Rogers, he understood the impressionable nature of his audience.  Even though he owed them nothing but a good performance he made the decision to invest his professional life in being a role model that stood for honor, valor, friendship, purity and patriotism. His lifelong characterization never made him very wealthy, but he still lives richly in the hearts of all of us who still remember "those thrilling days of yesteryear."