The WXYZ Radio Hour

November 21, 2024 — The Lone Ranger, The Challenge of the Yukon, The Green Hornet. I listened to all these George W. Trendle-produced action-adventure shows in the mid to late '40s and early '50s on radio. In another of their popular annual live radio shows, the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith, New Hampshire presented all three in The WXYZ Radio Hour: American Radio Classics Live On Stage, directed by Brendan Berube.

In a departure from previous live radio shows, actors in this production were more activated and gesturing, with some occasional physical contact, losing some of the sense of an actual radio performance. They still read from hand-held scripts. An announcer broke in regularly to describe the action, necessary on radio to help listeners visualize what they can't see. At the back of the stage, the "foleys" stand by to produce the sounds called for by the script, such as galloping horses and cold Canadian winds. The same thirteen actors appeared in all three "playlets." Sorting them all out is a bit more than I can get into here, but I've identified the key players. Suffice it to say, all the actors, members of the Winni Players Community Theatre, were excellent.

In the first presentation, The Lone Ranger (Winnipesaukee veteran Jim Rogato), one important character was conspicuous by his absence — Tonto! The hero's "faithful Indian companion" was permanently by his side in radio, TV, movies and other media. I was disappointed by this omission. However, in a little online research I learned in the very earliest radio episodes, Tonto wasn't present. He was added later simply to give the Lone Ranger someone to talk to when alone, rather than having long silences, or worse, have the "daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains" talk to himself. Be sure to read the final paragraph of this commentary for some interesting facts about the Tonto character.

In the second playlet,  The Challenge of the Yukon, Sergeant Preston (Pat Kelly) of the Canadian Mounted Police and his dog, Yukon King (Hazel Haywood, don't even try to picture it, you have to see it) trudge through the snows of Canada to solve crimes and apprehend bad guys. The episode ends with a couple of quotes I clearly remember to this day: "You're under arrest in the name of the Queen" and to his dog, "Well, King, it looks like this case is closed."

In the third episode (they were about 45 minutes each) Britt Reid (Hazel Heywood again), secretly fights crime as the Green Hornet. Like the Lone Ranger, the Green Hornet is also missing a trusty partner in this production, Kato. Alone of the three episodes, this one takes place in the present. The Green Hornet goes after a pair of con men attempting to trick the wealthy out of their money with false messages from departed loved ones.

A note on Tonto: Tonto was portrayed on TV by Jay Silverheels, an Iroquois-Canadian actor and athlete. The original Tonto on radio was a different story. The role was offered to a native American who refused the part because he felt Tonto's dialog was degrading. John Todd, a portly, bald Shakespearean actor of Irish descent, landed the role and played Tonto on radio for 21 years. Todd's rich baritone gave Tonto, in spite of his limited vocabulary, an air of intelligence and wise observation.