Goodness gracious! How long ago was it when we used to sit entranced by the 'Lone Ranger?' This masked man on his white horse, dressed immaculately in an all blue outfit, and carrying a silver gun that shot silver bullets at baddies and Red Indians. With one bullet, looking back at a chasing posse of such 'Indians' he could shoot several at once with one shot! This character apeared to be the good guy to us as he, and his Indian accomplice Tonto, ran through each exciting episode doing good.
The TV series ran for 8 years and was watched in Black and White, though the last two series were in colour. Several films of the adventures were made, and many offshoots from the series which began on radio before the war. Sadly I never got myself a magazine like this, these would have been too expensive in those days when we never had it so good, but the thrilling 'William Tell' music stays in the memory.
How different we see this show now.
The cowboys of the 19th century would laugh at the outfit, the Indians, now referred to as 'Native Americans, would not be pleased with the Tonto image, especially as he was a mere secondary plant. And any couple of men 'riding off into the sunset' at the end of an adventure would be seen as suspicious, and as we never find out where they come from or where they go to, nor how they paid their way questions would arise among the local sheriffs. And as for the cost of those silver bullets!
From programmes such as this many consider they understand 'how the west was won.' I consider many white Americans today vote according to the images offered them in such 'John Wayne' type films. Actual History is sometimes taught in the USA, however, people respond emotionally, not factually, and they vote according to the image placed in their heads by those making use of their historical fantasy myths.
