ABC's First Big TV Show Was A Hit Western Series With Over 200 Episodes
Hi-yo, Silver! Back in the 1950s, the stunning success of one long-running Western show helped put ABC - then a much smaller network - on the map.
In the 1950s, a single Western series stood out from the crowded television landscape: The Lone Ranger. This classic Western, which originated from radio, debuted on the ABC network in 1949, starring Clayton Moore as the masked hero and Jay Silverheels as Tonto. Moore's portrayal of the Lone Ranger proved to be a game-changer, as the show's popularity skyrocketed and secured ABC's first big hit.
The Lone Ranger's success was undeniable; in fact, it was the only ABC program to rank in the top 15 national ratings by the A.C. Nielsen Company just a year after its debut. The half-hour Western series captivated both younger and adult audiences, cementing its place as a beloved classic in television history.
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