Forum: Story Ideas

I asked the wisest author I know questions about this character: His reply and my questions are reproduced below so they won't be lost forever.

Indeed, Richard, a lot of life's questions are like that. These days, when someone gives me instructions and then asks "Do you have any questions?" my stock answer is: "Yes ... what's the meaning of life?"

As for your questions:

Remember, it was a white man who thought up Tonto's name. That was back when there were no technical advisors. I suspect this white man simply used the name he was constantly addressed by, concerning his Mexican housemaid or gardener. He probably thought it was an exotic name for "Most wise."

He didn't have a brother who worked in a bank, as obvious as that might sound. Instead, he was the guy all the other rangers refused to work with. His name was Percy and he liked men, if you know what I mean. So nobody would accept an assignment with him. That's also why he wore a mask. Word got around in those days about guys with limp wrists and he was afraid some settler would recognize him and beat his ass. There are those who will argue about this, but remember. He never kissed a woman and whenever a woman was exceptionally grateful to him, he always rode away. To sleep with Tonto.

Sliver wasn't FROM Ohio. That was his first name. Silver was his last name. He was the only horse in the west that had a first and last name. One of his ancestors carried on the tradition by being known as Mister Ed.

I hope that clears up some important issues for you.

Thanks for reading.
Bob

On Sat, Aug 23, 2014 at 7:05 AM, Richard Shagrin wrote:

Message from: Richard Shagrin Reply Re: Bits and pieces
Posted : 2014-08-23 - 1:07 am
------------------------------

I don't know anyone else I could ask these
questions. Your previous questioner was a young
man. I am nearly 70 (in November) and not nearly
as concerned about sex as I am about the Lone
Ranger. The old radio and TV show I haven't seen
in years.

Why did they name the Indian "tonto"? It means
stupid or a fool in Spanish.

Did the lone ranger have a brother that worked in
a bank as a loan officer, a loan arranger?

His horse, Silver, was from Ohio, which is why
when he rode off he exclaimed Ohio, Silver. Lots
of people heard hiyo but that isn't a word.

Thank you for your help, I don't know if there are
any satisfactory answers, but a lot of life's
questions are like that.

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I hope that Bob meant that Mr. Ed was one of Silver's descendants rather than one of his ancestors, some time travel would have been required otherwise (both in the fictional (Silver - late 19th century; Mr. Ed mid 20th century) and the real (Silver - 1930s; Mr. Ed - 1950s) world ).

Q. What is the definition of an intellectual?

A. A person who can listen to the William Tell Overture - without thinking of The Lone Ranger.