Something to Ponder

[caryc]

Watched an episode of the Lone Ranger this morning and got to thinking about it.

The thing is "why did he need the mask"? People only ever see him in his Lone Ranger suit or in a disguise as an old geezer with his face covered with a beard.

Think about it, this guys rides into town and he's wearing a powder blue jump suit and sporting a fancy double gun rig with silver bullets and he's riding a big white horse. OK, so he's the lone ranger. There's no mistaking that. So why the mask? If he took the mask off would anyone recognize him? Why did he need to cover his face if everyone knew he was the Lone Ranger? Technically, no one ever saw his face uncovered at any time. No one knew him as a plain old civilian.

The whole thing just doesn't make sense. :roll:

 

[fiasconva]

Wasn't he wearing the mask to hide his identity because he survived an ambush and was supposedly dead?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

It's a TV show aimed at twelve-year-olds.

Willing suspension of disbelief required.

:wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[Igor]

The legend of the Lone Ranger has it that he was the only survivor of a posse of Texas Rangers, led by his brother Captain Dan Reid, who were betrayed, ambushed and left for dead.

Tonto discovered the massacre and saw his old friend, John Reid, who was clinging to life. Tonto nursed him back to health and John vowed he would avenge his brother's death. To do this he needed to conceal his identity from the outlaw Butch Cavendish in order to be able to track him down.

He took a part of his dead brother’s vest and cut out the mask he would wear, and to make sure the ruse would not be discovered, he and Tonto dug 6 graves so the outlaws would think that all the Rangers were dead.

 

[Jeepnik]

It is TV, old TV at that. Folks are way over thinking this one.

 

[kramden]

Absolutely loved that show as a kid. As well as Superman and Zorro. Wonderful simple times.

 

[loaded round]

Because HE is the Lone Ranger!

 

[arfmel]

I am beginning to suspect that Santa Claus may not be real, either.

 

[caryc]

The legend of the Lone Ranger has it that he was the only survivor of a posse of Texas Rangers, led by his brother Captain Dan Reid, who were betrayed, ambushed and left for dead.

Tonto discovered the massacre and saw his old friend, John Reid, who was clinging to life. Tonto nursed him back to health and John vowed he would avenge his brother's death. To do this he needed to conceal his identity from the outlaw Butch Cavendish in order to be able to track him down.

He took a part of his dead brother’s vest and cut out the mask he would wear, and to make sure the ruse would not be discovered, he and Tonto dug 6 graves so the outlaws would think that all the Rangers were dead.

So, did he ever get Butch Cavendish? I still don't see what good the mask is. The bad guys all want to kill the Lone Ranger anyway. What's the difference if he dies as the Lone Ranger or Dan Reid?

And I still say that Silver must have been deaf as a post.

 

[ned]

Digging six graves in the desert is no small trick.....I’ve never seen a cowboy with a shovel.....how did they do it......ah, Hollywood

 

[gunzo]

Batman?

 

[Johnnu2]

It's a TV show aimed at twelve-year-olds.

Willing suspension of disbelief required.

:wink: :wink: :wink:

PLEASE, DON'T TELL ME THAT.............

 

[Igor]

On a 1969 episode of The Johnny Carson Show, Carson did a sketch in which he interviewed Jay Silverheels—who portrayed Tonto on the Lone Ranger TV series—in character, for a new job at NBC. “I work 30 years as faithful sidekick for kemosabe,” Silverheels tells Carson in the bit. “Hunt, fish, make food, sew clothes, sweep up, stay awake all night, listen for enemies for kemosabe. Risk life for kemosabe. Thirty lousy years.” When Carson wonders why Tonto’s former employer let him go, the once-faithful sidekick replies, “Him find out what kemosabe mean.”

 

[Montelores]

It's a TV show aimed at twelve-year-olds.

Willing suspension of disbelief required.

:wink: :wink: :wink:

A pretty good description of life in the U.S. in 2020.

Monty

 

[Bob Wright]

Digging six graves in the desert is no small trick.....I’ve never seen a cowboy with a shovel.....how did they do it......ah, Hollywood

"Back in the day" it was the thing to poke fun at Matt Dillon's (William Conrad) line after a shooting out on the prairie: "Chester, get a shovel and bury him."

And immediately: "Yessir, Mr. Dillon."

Bob Wright

 

[Bob Wright]

And, while you're pondering, ever wonder why Gene Autry rode a horse to the airport?

And, after the dudes arrived in the station wagon, why they went horseback the rest of the time?

Bob Wright

 

[blackhawknj]

I recall at least one episode where the Lone Ranger disguised himself as an old miner-complete with change of voice-to get information. Part of the masked hero idea is the Secret Identity into which the hero can disappear when needed. I recall a Justice League of Anerica story in which they all decided to change into their secret identities to lure the villain out into the open-and they didn't know each other's disguise. And in the old B movies and serials having the hero wear a mask made it easier for the stunt doubles. There's a classic Republic serial from 1943, The Masked Marvel in which the hero is supposedly one of four men who all dress identically, but whenever you see the Marvel on screen it's actually the famous stuntman Tom Steele.

 

[LDM]

Today's PC crowd would be throwing hissy fits if a show like the Lone Ranger would try to be aired. Screams of ethnic stereotyping, racial profiling, cultural appropriation and white privilege would be loud and long. Silver would be branded a racist because he's white. Disgusting how the country is being dragged down.

 

[redhawker]

He wore the mask so in his off hours he could take it off and go drinking at the saloons or partake in the cat houses without soiling the Lone Ranger's image.

 

[coach]

And nobody ever recognized Clark Kent without his glasses. It must have been the tights that distracted everyone. :wink:

 

[Jeepnik]

Digging six graves in the desert is no small trick.....I’ve never seen a cowboy with a shovel.....how did they do it......ah, Hollywood

Actually, a lot of cowboys had small shovels and axes. They didn't cross the plains, mountains and deserts just on a horse with saddle bags. They usually had several pack animals. But you can't run from bandits or injuns dragging along a pack string.

 

[Igor]

The Lone Ranger theme (William Tell Overture) done right:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUBhE00h9U0&list=RDGUBhE00h9U0&start_radio=1&t=1

 

[blackhawknj]

For the PC crowd, the idea of a hero as someone who lives by a moral code, believes in ideas such as honor and integrity, is willing to go in Harm's Way to protect others and correct wrongs is something they can't understand.

 

[Acorn]

He wore the mask so in his off hours he could take it off and go drinking at the saloons or partake in the cat houses without soiling the Lone Ranger's image.

RH, I think you’re on to something!

 

[krw]

The legend of the Lone Ranger has it that he was the only survivor of a posse of Texas Rangers, led by his brother Captain Dan Reid, who were betrayed, ambushed and left for dead.

Tonto discovered the massacre and saw his old friend, John Reid, who was clinging to life. Tonto nursed him back to health and John vowed he would avenge his brother's death. To do this he needed to conceal his identity from the outlaw Butch Cavendish in order to be able to track him down.

He took a part of his dead brother’s vest and cut out the mask he would wear, and to make sure the ruse would not be discovered, he and Tonto dug 6 graves so the outlaws would think that all the Rangers were dead.

Sir, You get the Pabst Blue Ribbon award!!