Writer of Pop Culture

1961: Yogi Bear Starts Stealing Pic-a-nic Baskets

The Yogi Bear Show, a syndicated Hanna-Barbera cartoon series featured the voices of Daws Butler as the sneaky bear always on the lookout for pick-a-nick baskets and Don Messick as little Boo Boo Bear. The pair were often scolded by Ranger Smith and visited by Cindy Bear.

The series also featured episodes of the pink mountain lion Snagglepuss who spent most of his time avoiding the hunter, Major Minor and Yakky Doodle, a duckling and his best friend and protector, bulldog Chopper.

---

1933: ‘The Lone Ranger’ Debuts on Radio

On this day, January 30, 1933, The Lone Ranger made its’ debut on Detroit, Michigan’s WXYZ radio station. It was a creation of the station-owner George Trendle and fellow writer, Fran Striker.

The masked man was voiced by various actors including John L. Barrett, George Seaton and most notably, Earle W. Graser and Brace Beemer who took on the role in 1941 until the radio show ended its run.

With no knowledge about cowboys and Indians, the writers wanted to create an American version of Zorro. As one of the original good guys, The Lone Ranger never smoked, swore, or drank alcohol and he never shot to kill. Tonto was cursed with uttering phrases that never would have been spoken by any native American.

After the radio show aired its last show on May 17, 1956, the popular series went to the movies and TV, becoming ABC’s first hit show in the early 1950’s. Disney tried the most recent revival of the story with a movie in 2013. It starred Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp as Tonto, but it received bad reviews and failed to capture an audience.

---