Jay Silverheels a condemned criminal about to be executed. He played a substantial role as John Crow in "Santee" (1973), starring Glenn Ford. One of his last roles was a wise white-haired chief in "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing" (1973). Jay Silverheels achieved his greatest fame as Tonto on "The Lone Ranger". The fictional story line maintains that a small group of Texas Rangers were massacred, with only a "lone" survivor. The Lone Ranger and Tonto then ride throughout the West to assist those challenged by the lawless element. Their expenses and bullets are provided through a silver mine owned by
Contemporary Native American issues in the United States were first performed by European Americans dressed in mock traditional attire. Examples included "The Last of the Mohicans" (1920), "Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans" (1957), and "F Troop" (1965–67). In later decades, Native American actors such as Jay Silverheels in "The Lone Ranger" television series (1949–57) came to prominence. Roles of Native Americans were limited and not reflective of Native American culture. For years, Native people on U.S. television were relegated to secondary, subordinate roles relative to the white protagonists as shown in notable works like "Cheyenne" (1957–1963) and "Law of the Plainsman" (1959–1963). By the 1970s some