Brace Beemer

Brace Beemer as the Lone Ranger

I was born outside Detroit and lived in that area until I was 5 (I think). No matter. We had a radio in the front room and no TV so the big evening entertainment was to listen to the serials.  

My dad was friends with a fella name Brace Beemer who was an announcer with WXYZ radio and, amazingly, the radio voice of the Lone Ranger. When the series ended on radio and went to TV Beemer then became the voice of Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, a series that started in the late 30s and ended when the TV version hit the air in the middle 50s.

80 years ago today or thereabouts, the Lone Ranger beamed out over the airwaves with Mr. Beemer behind the mask.

The Lone Ranger: Hi-yo, Silver, away.

[first lines for each episode]

Narrator: The Lone Ranger!

[gunshots are fired]

The Lone Ranger: Hi-yo, Silver!

Narrator: A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty "Hi-yo Silver" - the Lone Ranger!

The Lone Ranger: Hi-yo, Silver, away!

Narrator: With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early West. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. The Lone Ranger rides again!

[earliest episodes]

The Lone Ranger: Only you, Tonto, know I'm alive. To the world, I'll buried here beside my brother and my friends... forever.

Tonto: You are alone now. Last man. You are lone ranger.

The Lone Ranger: Yes, Tonto, I am... the Lone Ranger.

[repeated line]

Tonto: Um, that right, Kemosabe.