Lone Ranger press junket

I must say that I am looking forward to this movie. I hope that Johnny Depp will be able to pull off an interesting , charismatic performance that manages to remain respectful of the Native American community.

Well, there was that Willie Wonka debacle.

Nice to see that Depp and Hammer aren't the only ones getting press for The Lone Ranger. My friend Damon has been in the limelight locally...and the article has a quote from yours truly.

http://www.dfw.com/2013/07/03/807482/arlington-deli-owner-rides-high.html

I had lunch at the Tin Cup today and got there before the rush. Damon filled me in on attending the Hollywood premiere on Monday night. He showed me on Google how that article had over 100 hits and I looked at him with a wicked grin and said, "I'm hungry feed me! We both laughed. It wasn't long before the place got busy and I sat near the entrance and really enjoyed the people that came in, took a good look at Damon and finally said, "Are you that actor in the 'The Lone Ranger?'

Good times..... 

Good that he's getting recognized, but it hasn't opened yet, so how ? ....oh, his local publicity and rep ?..

Banjo wrote:Good that he's getting recognized, but it hasn't opened yet, so how ? ....oh, his local publicity and rep ?..

It opened yesterday. His publicity agent got on the phone and when she got off...WOW!

Damon told me they had a premiere at the ABQ studios a week or two ago and one of the other actors who plays a Ranger told him it was awesome and all the scenes they shot were kept in.

I haven't seen it yet. Damon did tell me that there are scenes in the movie he feels are the best or the best. He just glows when talking about the ranger chasing the train. But, at the end of the movie he has some reservations. No spilling until everyone has seen it.

This is going to look GREAT on Damon's resume. Could be the beginning of a real acting career for him. Fingers crossed!

Hope Damon's acting career does take off. The reviews have been mixed and the general 'tone' of the movie seems to be different than many were expecting. One criticism, beyond the pro reviewers, is the reason that the Lone Ranger wears a mask, completely different than the original motivation.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/entertainment/20130705/US--Lone.Ranger-Box.Office/

If they expected this to appeal to children then they were naive from the start and it is true that no one under about age 40 or maybe 30, is familiar with the Lone Ranger, even the TV version. Couple that with the fact that this movie version is so "far out" from the standard legend that it isn't appealing to me to go see it even to see the NM scenes.

Having listened to the Lone Ranger on the radio in grade school, I would rush home to catch the Lone Ranger, Superman (my favorite), Sky King, and Tennessee Jed, which was apparently so obscure , or localized in its markets, that I seem to be the only one that has even heard of it... By the time the TV show appeared I had "outgrown" the genre and/or was into S-F too heavily to bother.

Anyway, to stick to the familiar Lone Ranger scripts and legend may not be "sensational" enough to support a movie, but they went something like this:

"A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-ho, Silver! The Lone Ranger 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!"

 (William Tell Overture plays)

Opening scene:

The Lone Ranger and Tonto are camped in a secluded 'draw' near the town of RimRock.

The Lone Ranger speaks:

"Tonto, go into town and see what you can find out about Slade's attempt to steal the widow Jones' land "(one of many variations).

"Okay, Kemo sabe, I will investigate".

In town Tonto inconspicuously overhears Slade discussing their plans with his henchmen. This almost invariably take place in a saloon.

"Ok boys, here's what we do".....blah, blah.  Tonto has heard enough and returns to report to the Lone Ranger.

"Tonto, we'd better get into town right now and put a stop to this".....sound effects of horses hooves galloping.....shortly followed by horses neighing and the Lone Ranger saying , "Whoa, big fellow," as they "rein up" outside the saloon. They walk inside and confront Slade and his cronies. An alternate version has the encounter in the "general store" where Slade is harassing the widow Jones. In either  version words are exchanged and a fist fight breaks out.

Slade escapes, but later comes back with more help. In  the meantime there is expository dialog from the Lone Ranger to the widow Jones, or sometimes to the thin air about how he is dedicated to defeating the forces of evil. Tonto concurs.

When Slade returns a gun battle breaks out and one or more of his men, and often himself , are wounded. No one is ever killed outright.

Slade retreats, never to be heard from again (there were recurring 'bad guys' in some episodes, but not frequently), the widow Jones' farm is saved...the Lone Ranger and Tonto mount up....usually with some banter inserted to add levity..."Hiyo Silver, away !....(William Tell overture)...."tune in next week".......etc.

That's it in a nut shell....don't mess with it...

At least someone else has heard of Tennessee Jed.  I wasn't aware that there was an actual person doing his "publicity", but I do remember the Tip-Top  Bread, although my mother never bought it. Nor would she ever buy Ovaltine the sponsor of Superman, Jack Armstrong the All American Boy, and I think Captain Marvel. I survived.... And that opening of each show gave no doubt that someone had caught a 30-30 slug and was much worse the wear for it.... 

http://www.otrcat.com/tennessee-jed-p-1912.html

That audio clip is classic ! That one henchman sounds like an imitation Gabby Hayes....