The new Lone Ranger movie opens tomorrow, but today this double feature starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels brings back a lot of memories at a bargain price ($5.99 on AMAZON). In the 1950s, The Lone Ranger TV program was a fixture on Saturdays. I watched every episode (but, the truth be told I was also a big fan of Sky King). The Lone Ranger and The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold showed up at our local movie theater. Yes, they’re low budget compared to the July 3rd Lone Ranger extravaganza, but fun nonetheless. Sadly, westerns are pretty much a dead genre today, but I still hold fond memories of the Lone Ranger and Tonto and those thrilling tales of yesteryear.
I have a feeling they’re going to be a lot better than the new movie…
After hearing native American scholars talk about the new movie and its offensiveness, I will stick with this pairing.
Patti, we’ll probably see the new LONE RANGER movie. But we’re in no rush.
Jeff, sometimes less is more. This new LONE RANGER movie is supposed to be 142 minutes long and jammed with CGI. What ever happened to storytelling?
If you happen to have an obscure cable channel named Cozi TV, you’ll find the original Lone Ranger show on every weekday, followed by Roy Rogers.
We have TV LAND that sometimes shows the LONE RANGER episodes, Art. And, of course, there are DVD box sets, too. Diane was a big ROY ROGERS fan.
I remember going to see The Lost City of Gold movie with my Cub Scout troop. I always thought a lost city should have been a plot for an Indiana Jones movie . . .
Speaking of lost cities, and gold, a couple of weeks ago TCM had on one of my Guilty Pleasures, MacKenna’s Gold. It’s basically a terrible movie with an all-star cast of Gregory Peck , a bunch of character actors with 8 Best Supporting nominations but no wins, and Julie Newmar in a nude swimming scene. However the business with the treasure map, the shadow of a desert rock formation pointing out the entry to the hidden canyon/lost city, the conveniently-timed earthquake, etc. remind me of several of Carl Barks’s best treasure hunt/adventure stories, and could have served quite well in an Indy movie.
Stan, I’m a sucker for Lost Cities. Some of my favorite Tarzan novels involve Lost Cities.
Art, I’ll be looking for MCKENNA’S GOLD. You had me at Julie Newmar!
OMG!!! I once had the book!! Oh, what I would give to have it now!
Seems to me Evan (Dave) Lewis just posted something about this the other day. In regards to Patti’s comment, I’ll voice my thought that these days, it seems everyone finds something offensive, and everything is offensive to someone. Instead of just not buying, seeing, going, eating, reading or whatever, a lot of loud squeaking seems to be the preferred mode. That’s too bad, but I guess it’s the way it is. Personally, I don’t let the opinion or reaction of any one person or group influence me much, preferring to make up my mind from personal experience, with the obvious exceptions of some reviewers on some blogs, such as this one.
I still remember the Playboy layout (so to speak)/tie-in with Julie Newmar’s swimming scene.
*sigh*
Just checked. We do have COZI TV on TWC Ch. 161. In addition, the Lost City of Gold movie is on tonight at 8.
I recorded it.
George, Jackie was also a big SKY KING fan as was, if his song “Pencil Thin Mustache” is any indication, Jimmy Buffett.
(The line is “Writing fan letters to Sky’s niece Penny…”)
Rick, we’ve become an uncivil society. People who complain the most seem to draw the most attention. Like you, I go my own way on most issues.
Jeff, I loved Julie Newmar as Catwoman!
Jeff and Art, no COZI TV on our TWC. But I’ll track down MCKENNA’S GOLD.
THE LOST CITY OF GOLD was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. I have the both on individual DVDs and watch them every now and again. I’ feel like the new film will be a mess. When I see the Ranger riding Silver across roof tops and leaping onto a speeding train, I lost the faith. A special effects monster and tha’s not what westrns are all about. I’m not sure I’ll even watch it when it hits On Demand.
I saw McKenna’s Gold in a theater and enjoyed it as I recall. Julie Newmar was an eyeful, although I thought she was a bit tall to play an Indian woman.
So… did anyone go? The film got an awful review in this morning’s Portland newspaper. “Not worth your Silver” they said.
I recall seeing these films on a double-feature at the local neighborhood theater when I was a kid, and I still enjoy them today.
Art, MCKENNA’S GOLD is one of my guilty pleasures as well. Back in college I used to drag my disbelieving hippie friends to see if it didn’t approximate a drug trip.
Clayton Moore will always be THE Masked Man to me, but I’m going to see LONE RANGER and check it out.
And by the way: Does anyone remember Lenny Bruce’s hilarious “Thank You, Masked Man” routine?
No, I don’t remember that Lenny Bruce bit, Dan. But I do remember Bill Cosby’s hilarious “Don’t Go To Town, Tonto.”