Hi and welcome to the September Womanac. Historically September has been the month when new TV shows debut, and man do I have some wild ones for you. If you think the world of prime time television is insane today, wait…
September 1
In 1949 the radio series The Lone Ranger made the leap to TV. Clayton Moore starred as the masked hero, and the series was the fledgling ABC network’s first hit. Moore would be replaced in the 4th season, but then came back for the 5th and 6th seasons.
After the show concluded, Moore frequently appeared as the Lone Ranger in TV guest spots, commercials, and public appearances. But on Sept 1, 1979, an LA Court told Moore that he could no longer wear the mask, because the owner of the character planned to recast the role in a new movie.
It was a big mistake. Moore began wearing a pair of wraparound Foster Grant sunglasses, countersued and eventually won. Meanwhile people hated the fact that this had been done to him and the Lone Ranger movie tanked.
Every year in December, David Letterman would have actor Jay Thomas on to tell a true story about Moore. Check it out.
September 6
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