Hall of Fame of Western Film & TV Stars
Clayton Moore (The Lone Ranger)

On February 2, 1933, “The Lone Ranger” premiered on WXYZ-AM Detroit, Michigan. The station created the show since they could not afford network programs. In order to get the part, Clayton Moore trained his voice to match the voice of the radio’s “The Lone Ranger”.

As an actor, Clayton Moore gained his greatest fame by playing “The Lone Ranger” on television and in two feature films. He became so totally connected with the role that the contract he had with his producers strictly forbade him to make any personal appearances that were associated with “The Lone Ranger” without wearing a mask. However, in 1975, the Wrather Corporation, which owned “The Lone Ranger” rights, got a court order to stop Clayton from appearing in public as “The Lone Ranger”. They planned to film a new “The Lone Ranger” feature movie and did not want the public to confuse its new star with the old one. After the film flopped, Clayton was given permission to again appear as “The Lone Ranger”.

A former circus trapeze aerialist, he performed for two circuses thought the United Sates. In 1934, he performed at the Chicago’s World Fair as the Flying Behrs. He made his motion picture debut in 1938. Beginning as a bit play, he participated in many features and serials, which made use of his talents as a stuntman before gaining stardom in 1942. That year, Republic chose him as male lead in a Republic chapter-play called The Perils of Nyoka, and shared top billing with Kay Aldridge.

During World War II, Clayton served in the U.S. Army Air Force. Because of a trick knee from a trapeze accident, he served serve on an air force base in Kingman, Arizona. In 1945, the air force assigned him to the motion picture unit in Culver City. After World War II, he returned to these supporting roles while concentrating on Westerns. In the years that followed, Clayton was to become well known for his two-fisted action portrayals in serials for studios like Republic and Columbia. He performed some of the most hair-raising stunts ever devised for the movies and, on occasions, doubled for stars like Don Barry, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.

The studios overlooked Clayton when it came to giving him a regular series of feature Westerns. He was so busy with stunt work and serials that all he had time for was to make appearances as a villain. Nevertheless, he did manage to turn out some good chapter plays that have a Western theme, The Adventures of Frank and Jesse James, Jesse James Rides Again, Ghost of Zorro and Son of Geronimo.

Having earned his reputation for being a top-notch action star, the studio choose Clayton to portray “The Lone Ranger” on TV in a new syndicated series that began in 1950. After successfully being presented on radio, comic strips and motion picture, it was only natural that the famed masked rider be brought to televisions and it was a role that Clayton Moore was ideally suited for. With the exception of a very brief interval when an actor named John Hart played the part, Clayton remained the star of the popular series through its existence on TV. Riding his white horse "Silver," and aided by his faithful Indian friend “Tonto,” The Lone Ranger raced across the television screen in one wonderful adventurer after another.

The series was so popular on TV that in 1956, Warner Brothers decided to film a full-length color feature entitle The Lone Ranger with Clayton Moore in his usual role and Jay Silverheels repeats his part as Tonto. The picture was such a hit that United Artist took no time in deciding to follow up with an equally successful film called The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold. Released in 1958, it also had the team of Moore and Silverheels in their original roles.

Clayton married four times. His first wife was Mary Francis, second wife was Sally Allen (ended with her death in 1986), third is Connie which lasted three years, and the fourth is Clarita.