Was an African American cop the real Lone Ranger?

By Sheena McKenzie, CNN

Updated 1841 GMT (0241 HKT) August 6, 2013

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

The Lone Ranger is one of the most iconic figures in Wild West folklore, and his story has been rebooted by Disney this year in a film starring Johnny Depp as American Indian tracker Tonto (left) and Armie Hammer as the title hero (right).
Photos: Unmasking the real Lone Ranger
New age ranger – The Lone Ranger is one of the most iconic figures in Wild West folklore, and his story has been rebooted by Disney this year in a film starring Johnny Depp as American Indian tracker Tonto (left) and Armie Hammer as the title hero (right).
Hide Caption
1 of 5
One of the most famous Lone Rangers was actor Clayton Moore, who appeared in the TV series throughout the 1950s. Reeves is certainly not the first Wild West lawman credited as the inspiration behind the fictional character. A 1915 book, "The Lone Star Ranger," was dedicated to real-life Texan Ranger John R. Hughes.
Photos: Unmasking the real Lone Ranger
Moor to the eye – One of the most famous Lone Rangers was actor Clayton Moore, who appeared in the TV series throughout the 1950s. Reeves is certainly not the first Wild West lawman credited as the inspiration behind the fictional character. A 1915 book, "The Lone Star Ranger," was dedicated to real-life Texan Ranger John R. Hughes.
Hide Caption
2 of 5
The Lone Ranger character spawned novels, comic books, a TV series and films around the world. Here Moore visits London's Buckingham Palace in costume as part of an appearance on BBC radio and TV in 1958.
Photos: Unmasking the real Lone Ranger
Wild West to the world – The Lone Ranger character spawned novels, comic books, a TV series and films around the world. Here Moore visits London's Buckingham Palace in costume as part of an appearance on BBC radio and TV in 1958.
Hide Caption
3 of 5
However, one historian believes that this 19th-century Deputy U.S. Marshal, an Arkansas slave named Bass Reeves, was the real-life inspiration for the Lone Ranger. In his book on Reeves, Art Burton points to similarities such as their gray horses, penchant for disguises, use of American Indian trackers, and unusual calling cards.
Photos: Unmasking the real Lone Ranger
The real Lone Ranger? – However, one historian believes that this 19th-century Deputy U.S. Marshal, an Arkansas slave named Bass Reeves, was the real-life inspiration for the Lone Ranger. In his book on Reeves, Art Burton points to similarities such as their gray horses, penchant for disguises, use of American Indian trackers, and unusual calling cards.
Hide Caption
4 of 5
The Lone Ranger remains a legendary character in the American consciousness -- strong, moral, and mysterious -- as portrayed in this 1919 film, "The Lone Star Ranger." As Burton says, Bass Reeves was "a combination of the Lone Ranger, Sherlock Holmes and Superman," due to his cowboy skills, detective mind and almost mythical super strength.
Photos: Unmasking the real Lone Ranger
Leading man – The Lone Ranger remains a legendary character in the American consciousness -- strong, moral, and mysterious -- as portrayed in this 1919 film, "The Lone Star Ranger." As Burton says, Bass Reeves was "a combination of the Lone Ranger, Sherlock Holmes and Superman," due to his cowboy skills, detective mind and almost mythical super strength.
Hide Caption
5 of 5
lone ranger filmlone ranger clayton moorelone ranger londonbass reeveslone ranger old film

Story highlights

  • Disney releases latest Lone Ranger film, but who was the real-life inspiration?
  • Historian believes it could be African American U.S. Deputy Marshal, Bass Reeves
  • The 19th-century Arkansas slave became legendary lawman in what is now Oklahoma
  • They have many similarities, such as a gray horse, silver calling cards and disguises
More than a century before Johnny Depp wore a terrifying crow headpiece in new Disney film "The Lone Ranger," another hero of the Wild West was carefully arranging his own remarkable disguise.
Sometimes he dressed as a preacher, at other times a tramp, and occasionally even a woman.
But beneath the elaborate costumes was always Bass Reeves -- a 19th-century Arkansas slave who became a legendary deputy U.S. marshal, capturing more than 3,000 criminals with his flamboyant detective skills, super strength and supreme horsemanship.
'Texas in Queens': The story of New York City's black cowboys
Sound familiar? As one historian argues, Reeves could have been the real-life inspiration behind one of America's most beloved fictional characters -- the Lone Ranger.
"Many of Reeves' personal attributes and techniques in catching desperadoes were similar to the Lone Ranger," says Art Burton, author of "Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves."
"He was bigger than the Lone Ranger -- he was a combination of the Lone Ranger, Sherlock Holmes and Superman," Burton told CNN. "But because he was a black man his story has been buried. He never got the recognition he deserved."
Legendary Lone Ranger
It's a world apart from the fictional Lone Ranger, who remains one of most the iconic Wild West heroes of the 20th century.
First appearing on a Detroit radio station in 1933, the masked man on a white stallion who brought bad guys to justice was hugely successful, with the series running for over two decades. It spawned novels, comic books and an eight-year TV show starring the most iconic Lone Ranger of all -- actor Clayton Moore.
Indeed, Disney's new film -- featuring Armie Hammer as the Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp as his tr