Why did Clayton Moore have to give up wearing the mask of the Lone Ranger back in the 1970s?
The Wrather Corporation, which owned the rights to the Lone Ranger character, was in the process of making a brand new movie called “The Legend of The Lone Ranger.” In it would be a new Lone Ranger and Tonto. Apparently, the Wrather Corporation thought there would be too much confusion in the mind of the public if Clayton Moore was still out making personal appearances as The Lone Ranger and the star of the new movie, Klinton Spilsbury, was also out making personal appearances. In an effort to disassociate themselves from the past, the Wrather Corporation ordered Clayton to quit wearing the mask during public appearances. But that didn’t stop Clayton. He purchased pairs of wrap-around sunglasses and wore those instead of the mask. An outpouring of sympathy and support for Clayton followed. The movie made in the late 1970’s was not a success. In fact, does anybody know where Klinton Spilsbury ended up? As Jack Wrather, owner of The Wrather Corporation, fell ill and felt his days were fe
