When The Lone Ranger premiered on the evening of January 31, 1933, no one involved with the creation of the program suspected that "Hi-Yo, Silver!" would become an expression that would enter America's lexicon. For more than two decades, radio listeners were treated to the adventures of the "masked rider of the plains," who rode a fiery horse across the length of seven western states in pursuit of lawbreakers. With the assistance of Tonto, his faithful Indian companion, The Lone Ranger exchanged fisticuffs with outlaws who preyed upon the meek. The Lone Ranger quickly became mythic to juvenile listeners who faithfully tuned in to the radio program three nights a week.

Regrettably, it was not until 1938 that the radio broadcasts were recorded on a regular basis. Consequently, very little has been documented about those first five years, herein referred to as "The Early Years." Historians Terry Salomonson and Martin Grams have combined three decades of research to present the facts behind the origin of The Lone Ranger, and the ongoing development both artistic and commercial, along with scans of archival documents to back up the facts. In addition, this book offers plot summaries for pre-1938 radio broadcasts, filling a void that was sorely needed. Did you know The Lone Ranger and Tonto had a juvenile sidekick named Little Davy? Did you know our heroes had a canine companion? Did you know Tonto was once engaged? This definitive history presents a portrait of both the beloved characters and their dramatic adventures that fans of The Lone Ranger will enjoy reading.