Lone-Green-Challenge
Season 10, Episode 06
July 18, 2022
Three interconnected radio dramas
Re-Imagined Radio pays tribute to three uniquely connected radio drama series, The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, and The Challenge of the Yukon. Each are examples of pioneering radio storytelling.
NOTE: This episode features excerpts from an historic radio program with characters and dialogue that may be offensive to some listeners. Rather than causing offense, the intent is to portray this radio program as it was heard in its own time, and to promote opportunities for discussion and positive change in the time of our listening.
Access the episode script
Background
The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, and The Challenge of the Yukon is each anchored by a larger than life character. Each stands for something. Each keeps the criminals in check. And each never backs away from their guiding principles.
The Lone Ranger
George W. Trendle, a lawyer specializing in movie contracts and leases, bought radio station WXYZ in
Detroit, Michigan, with partner John H. Kunsky, in 1929. Together, they ran the radio station as Trendle
Enterprises. WXYZ was an affiliate of the CBS network who refused Trendle's request to change the prime
time program schedule. So, he went independent in 1932 and produced his own programs. The first was
The Lone Ranger which went into production that same year.
The Lone Ranger was a popular radio drama, with 2,956 episodes from 31 January 1933 until 27 May 1955. Produced by Trendle, and written by Fran Striker, the radio show spawned novels, films, television series, animations, comic strips and books, video games, premiums, and toys, as well as parodies and spoofs. Although possibly inspired by Texas Ranger Captain John R. Hughes, to whom the book The Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey was dedicated in 1915, the Lone Ranger, and his companion Tonto, are both fictional characters. Even so, they, and their horses, Silver and Scout, are enduring American icons. Hi-Yo, Silver, away!
Bruce Beemer starred as The Lone Ranger.
The musical theme for The Lone Ranger was "The William Tell Overture." So closely are the music and radio program associated that many people think this music was created for The Lone Ranger radio drama. But it was actually composed by Gioachino Rossini as the overture for his 1829 opera William Tell. The music was in the public domain and Trendle thought that young listeners would benefit from hearing classical music.
At the end of each episode, a character would ask, "Who was that masked man?" As his idenity was revealed the Lone Ranger and Tonto were heard galloping off with the cry, "Hi-Yo, Silver! Away!"
The earliest known/surviving episode of The Lone Ranger is "Horse Thieves Steal Silver," first broadcast 2 February 1938. We sample it for this Re-Imagined Radio tribute.
The Green Hornet
Broadcast 1938-1952
The musical theme for The Green Hornet was "The Flight of the Bumblebee" composed 1899-1900
by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov for his opera The Tale of Tzar Saltan. After the musical
beginning, the announcer came in to say . . .
He hunts the biggest of all game, public enemies who try to destroy our America. With his faithful
valet Kato, Britt Reid, daring young publisher, matches wits with the underworld, risking his life
that criminals and racketeers within the law may feel its weight by the sting of The Green
Hornet!
"Words and Music" was first broadcast 30 May 1939. We sample it for this Re-Imagined Radio tribute.
The Challenge of the Yukon
Broadcast 1939-1947
Jay Michael starred as Sergeant Frank Preston, 1939-mid-1940s. Michael also played villain Butch Cavendish on The Lone Ranger series. Bruce Beemer, star of The Lone Ranger, voiced the part of Sgt. Preston in 1955, the last year of the series.
Became a television series 1947-1949.
Returned to radio in 1950 with a new title, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, and continued until 1955.
The musical theme of The Challenge of the Yukon was the overture to Emil von Reznicek's
comedic opera Donna Diana first performed in 1894. Each episode began with this classical
music overture. Then, a bark from Yukon King, and the announcer came in to say . . .
It's Yukon King, swiftest and strongest lead dog in the Northwest, blazing the trail for Sergeant
Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police, in his relentless pursuit of law breakers!
At the end of each episode, Sergeant Preston would say to King, his dog, "Well, King. This case is closed."
The earliest known/surviving episode of The Challenge of the Yukon is "Meeting the Terms of a Contract," first broadcast 28 May 1943. We sample it for this Re-Imagined Radio tribute.
Connections
Both The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet wore masks and colorful outfits.
Both The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet used non-lethal means to subdue criminals.
The Lone Ranger rode a horse named Silver.
The Green Hornet drove Black Beauty, the fastest car in the world.
The Challenge of the Yukon featured Rex, a black horse, and Yukon King, the swiftest and
strongest lead dog in the Northwest.
The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet series shared the same announcer, Bob
Hite.
The Challenge of the Yukon series shared, at its start, the same announcer as The
Lone Ranger, Fred Foy. But he was replaced early in The Challenge of the Yukon
series because his voice was thought too familiar and too identified with The Lone Ranger.
The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet shared family connections.
Recall The Lone Ranger origin story . . . Captain Dan Reid, his younger brother, John, and other Texas Rangers, were ambushed at Bryant Gap by the Butch Cavendish Gang. Dan and John, when not on duty with the Rangers, shared a secret and very rich silver mine. Mortally wounded in the ambush, Dan Reid made his brother John promise that if he survived he would work the silver mine and share its riches with Dan's wife and young son, Dan, Junior. John Reid was gravely injured but survived with the help of Tonto, began his career as The Lone Ranger, and cared for his nephew Dan, as he promised. Dan’s son, Breitt Reid, became The Green Hornet.
Resources
Siegel, Robert. The Lone
Ranger: Justice from Outside the Law. "All Things Considered." National Public Radio, 14 Jan.
2008.
The first episode of a new "In Character" series offered by NPR. Celebrates The Lone Ranger's 75th
Anniversary.
Production
Contents
"Horse Thieves Steal Silver," The Lone Ranger, 2 February 1938
"Words and Music," The Green Hornet, 30 May 1939
"Meeting the Terms of a Contract," The Challenge of the Yukon, 28 May 1943
Credits
Curated, Produced, and Hosted by John F. Barber
Sound Design and Music Composition by Marc Rose
Social Media by Regina Carol Social Media Management
Promotional Graphics by Holly Slocum Design
Collected
Sonic Summerstock Playhouse 13.6A: Reimagined
Radio's "Lone-Green Challenge"
Mutual Audio Society
17 September 2024
Significance
Written and produced by the same team. Broadcast from the same radio station. Sometimes sharing actors, The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, and The Challenge of the Yukon are noted for larger than life characters, adventurous plots, classical music themes. Each is among the best Old Time Radio programs. "Lone-Green-Challenge Tribute" celebrates that legacy.
Considered separately, these unique interconnections might draw a "So What?" response. But considered as an ecology, they speak to a new approach to radio storytelling.
Producer's Notes
***
Promotion
Press
Press release not available.
Graphics
