An ABC-TV series followed in 1949, starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. Aimed at children, The Lone Ranger was a big hit with Depression era adults, who took comfort in the chance to "return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear." The show was acquired by ABC in 1942, by which time Republic Pictures had already adapted the material for two serials. The first Lone Ranger adventures were broadcast over WEBR in Buffalo, New York, before landing at Detroit's, WXYZ. The Lone Ranger, that masked righter of wrongs who rode the West with his Indian companion Tonto, was the creation of Francis "Fran" Striker, a radio writer who introduced the character in 1933. As Welcome swears to absolve the name of Kilgore, The Lone Ranger and Tonto depart before she can thank them. Several weeks later, The Lone Ranger goes to visit the mission church where Lila and Welcome have sought refuge. Cassidy attempts to flee, but The Lone Ranger pursues and apprehends him. When accused of murdering Ramirez, Kilgore turns on Cassidy, who shoots him. Kimberly, leading a cavalry troop, finally arrives with a warrant for the arrest of Kilgore and Cassidy. Together, they take the dynamite to a narrow pass leading to the reservation, and keep the warring factions apart by hurling dynamite sticks at them. Soon after, Tonto locates his wounded friend and the two discover that the mountain is laden with silver, and that Kilgore has been fomenting unrest to gain control of the mountain. Alone, The Lone Ranger attempts to stop him and his men, but Kilgore wounds him and flees, leaving the dynamite behind on a pack mule. While the townspeople gather at Pilgrim's Crossing, Kilgore goes to Spirit Mountain to obtain dynamite to use against the Indians. After winning the fight, The Lone Ranger rescues Lila and takes her to her mother, who tells him of Kilgore's treachery.
Learning of the child's abduction, The Lone Ranger goes to the reservation and battles Angry Horse. Shortly after Lila departs, an arrow bearing her scarf is shot into Kilgore's door. He sends his daughter Lila to safety, but refuses to permit his wife Welcome to accompany her because he hates her for failing to bear him a son. Kilgore, meanwhile, is inciting the ranchers to war against the Indians. When the Indians are unmasked as white men working for Kilgore, The Lone Ranger sends the sheriff to the governor's office to arrange for Kilgore's arrest. While riding back to their camp, they spot four Indians burning a rancher's field and capture them and take them to Kimberly's office. He and Tonto then return to the reservation, where they find the Indians, led by Angry Horse, who has taken control from the ailing Red Hawk, preparing for war. Disguised once again as the old prospector, The Lone Ranger travels to Abilene and from the storekeeper learns about the dynamite shipment and Ramirez' murder. Although he fights valiantly, Tonto is captured by Kilgore, but manages to send his riderless horse back to The Lone Ranger, who rides to town and frees Tonto, thus saving him from a lynching. Seeing Tonto, an Indian, wearing a gun, Kilgore attacks him. When Ramirez fails to return with the others, The Lone Ranger sends Tonto into Brasada to inquire about him. Upon reaching Abilene, Ramirez notices a shipment of dynamite addressed to Kilgore and soon after, is murdered in his room. En route to Abilene, Cassidy rustles the herd owned by Sheriff Kimberly's father and shoots the old man. In Brasada, meanwhile, Cassidy, Kilgore's foreman, assembles a crew to drive the herd to Abilene, and Ramirez reluctantly joins them. After conferring with the governor, The Lone Ranger and Tonto proceed to the Indian reservation, where Chief Red Hawk promises to keep the peace and confides that his braves are furious because of the spurious accusations of the whites. At a mission church, the governor keeps his appointment with The Lone Ranger, who, disguised as an old prospector, shows him a silver bullet, the mark of The Lone Ranger. The next day, the governor comes to Brasada, posing as a guest of wealthy rancher Reece Kilgore, so that he can meet covertly with The Lone Ranger. After ruefully recounting how the Indians slaughtered his small herd of cattle, Ramirez warns the masked man to steer clear of the town. On the outskirts of town, they witness a band of Indians attack rancher Pete Ramirez and come to his rescue. After being secretly assigned by the governor to investigate unrest that has been festering between the Indian and white people of the territory, the masked rider known as The Lone Ranger and his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, head for the cow town of Brasada.