When I was in the Cub Scouts, I remember taking a trip one Saturday to Harrisburg to see some circus where the Lone Ranger was scheduled to be the special guest.

The Long Ranger was, of course, Clayton Moore, wearing his trademark mask and riding his famous stallion Silver, or a reasonable facsimile thereof.

While searching for something else yesterday, I happened to come across this clipping:

So now I can date that Saturday with some precision. It was April 11, 1959.

The only thing I recall about seeing the Lone Ranger in person is him riding around the ring on Silver a few times (this was an indoor venue, fairly large) but he didn’t do any crazy stunts, and Clayton was probably too long in the tooth for stunts anyway, assuming he had ever done any of his own stunts himself in the first place, so I recall he rode around the ring a few times, getting as close to the audience as he could, and then he took a few questions from the crowd.

The only question that I recall is the last one, when some sweet little girl asked him if he was married.

“Honey,” he replied, “I’m the Lone Ranger.” 

It got a huge laugh.

And then he waved at the crowd as he rode off into the sunset. Or whatever passed for sunset on that circus set.

I’m pretty sure that question was a plant.

Clayton Moore spent the rest of his career making personal appearances as the Lone Ranger as I recall. I don’t think he was ever seen in public again without that mask.

And with that face, could you blame him?