Tonto the 11th episode of the radio show, which originated on the Detroit, Michigan, radio station WXYZ. Though he became well known as the Lone Ranger's friend, Tonto was originally created just so the Lone Ranger would have someone with whom to talk. Throughout the radio run (which spanned 21 years), with only a few exceptions, Tonto was played by American actor John Todd. Jay Silverheels portrayed the (arguably best-remembered version) in "The Lone Ranger" television series. This was the highest-rated television program on the ABC network in the early 1950s and its first true "hit". Ivan Naranjo, a Blackfoot/Southern Ute
Rescue 8 in an automobile accident and is also the target of an assassin, portrayed by Vito Scotti. Denver Pyle guest stars as Sergeant Frank Hogan. In "The Third Strike" (December 2, 1959), John Beradino, a professional baseball player-turned-actor, was cast in the role of a baseball player who loses consciousness when struck by a wild pitch. He soon awakes with short-term amnesia. On January 6, 1960, Jay Silverheels of "The Lone Ranger" played an American Indian fireman fighting a forest fire in the episode "Leap of Life". In "Breakdown" (March 31, 1960), one of the last episodes of "Rescue 8", Robert