The Lone Ranger (1966 TV series) facts for kids

The Lone Ranger is an exciting American animated TV show. It aired on Saturday mornings on CBS from September 10, 1966, to September 6, 1969. The series had 26 episodes. It was made by Herb Klynn and Jules Engel at Format Films in Hollywood. The animation and design work were done in London, England, at Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Film studios. Some work was also done at Artransa Park Studios in Australia.

Years later, in 1980, another Lone Ranger cartoon series was made by Filmation.

About the Show's Adventures

The adventures in this Lone Ranger cartoon were quite unique. They were a bit like another CBS show called The Wild Wild West. This means some stories were very unusual and included elements of science fiction. They even featured cool, old-fashioned technology known as steampunk.

One of the Lone Ranger's main enemies was a small person named Terrible Tiny Tom. He was similar to Dr. Miguelito Loveless from The Wild Wild West. Other super-villains in the series included characters like the Fly, Frogman, Black Widow, Iron Giant, Mephisto, Mr. Happy, and the Puppetmaster. These villains made each episode a thrilling challenge for the Lone Ranger and Tonto.

Meet the Voices Behind the Heroes

The talented actors who brought the characters to life were:

• Michael Rye — The Lone Ranger
• Shepard Menken — Tonto
• Dick Beals — Tiny Tom
• Agnes Moorehead — Black Widow
• Hans Conried — Mephisto
• Paul Winchell — The Rain Maker

How the Show Was Made

Michael Rye was the voice of the Lone Ranger. Shepard Menken voiced his loyal friend, Tonto. The show's opening had a narrator, Marvin Miller. He told viewers about the Lone Ranger's legend.

He explained how pioneers moved West. They faced many dangers like rivers, mountains, and outlaws. From this tough life, a hero was born. This hero hated stealing and unfairness. He wore a mask and rode a white horse. With his Native American friend, Tonto, he fought bad guys. He would then disappear as quickly as he arrived. His special sign was a silver bullet. His name was The Lone Ranger!

Other famous voices like Paul Winchell, Agnes Moorehead, and Hans Conried also appeared.

The animation style was special. It used dark backgrounds with bold colors. This made the show look different from other cartoons of that time. The amazing music was created by Vic Schoen. He also arranged Gioachino Rossini's William Tell Overture. This famous music became the show's memorable theme song. The artists used a unique method. They drew with chinagraph pencils on clear sheets. Then, they placed colored papers under the drawings. This created a dramatic and rich look for the backgrounds.

Episodes