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John Todd (actor)
Encyclopedia
John Todd born Fred McCarthy was an American
radio
actor.
A former stage actor known for Shakespearean roles, Todd soon gained work at Detroit radio station WXYZ, as part of director James Jewell
's repertory company, with roles on the various series produced by the station.
His most famous work was on The Lone Ranger
. He played a local sheriff in some of the show's earliest episodes, but on the twelfth broadcast, which aired February 25, 1933, Todd first played his most famous role, the masked man's Native American
companion Tonto
.
In reality a bald, stocky man of Irish
descent in late middle age, Todd occasionally donned a wig for publicity photos, but was usually replaced by a Native American performer for public appearances.
With the exception of a brief period where he was replaced by a real Native American, Todd played Tonto for almost the entire radio run, and was the only original cast member heard on the final broadcast, on September 3, 1954.
Station owner George Trendle wanted to replace Todd in the role of Tonto, because he was "too old". Todd's replacement, a college educated native American refused to perform the "Me do" and "Him go" type lines as written and Todd was given back the role of Tonto.
Trendle had a reputation for keeping his performers working for low pay even when the show was a big money maker. This episode may have been another of Trendle's maneuvers to demonstrate that the actors could be replaced.
Other radio roles included recurring but less significant parts on The Green Hornet
as Dan Reid, the title character's father and the now elderly version of The Lone Ranger's nephew, and on Challenge of the Yukon
, as Inspector Conrad, Sgt. Preston's superior in the North-West Mounted Police.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
actor.
A former stage actor known for Shakespearean roles, Todd soon gained work at Detroit radio station WXYZ, as part of director James Jewell
James Jewell
James Jewell was an American radio actor, producer and director at radio station WXYZ, Detroit, Michigan.-WXYZ:In June 1932, George Trendle, the owner of radio station WXYZ, decided to drop network affiliation and produce his own radio programs. Jim Jewell was hired as the dramatic director for...
's repertory company, with roles on the various series produced by the station.
His most famous work was on The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked Texas Ranger who, with his Native American companion Tonto, fights injustice in the American Old West. The character has become an enduring icon of American culture....
. He played a local sheriff in some of the show's earliest episodes, but on the twelfth broadcast, which aired February 25, 1933, Todd first played his most famous role, the masked man's Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
companion Tonto
Tonto (Lone Ranger character)
Tonto is a fictional character, the Native American companion of The Lone Ranger, a popular American Western character created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker...
.
In reality a bald, stocky man of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
descent in late middle age, Todd occasionally donned a wig for publicity photos, but was usually replaced by a Native American performer for public appearances.
With the exception of a brief period where he was replaced by a real Native American, Todd played Tonto for almost the entire radio run, and was the only original cast member heard on the final broadcast, on September 3, 1954.
Station owner George Trendle wanted to replace Todd in the role of Tonto, because he was "too old". Todd's replacement, a college educated native American refused to perform the "Me do" and "Him go" type lines as written and Todd was given back the role of Tonto.
Trendle had a reputation for keeping his performers working for low pay even when the show was a big money maker. This episode may have been another of Trendle's maneuvers to demonstrate that the actors could be replaced.
Other radio roles included recurring but less significant parts on The Green Hornet
The Green Hornet
The Green Hornet is an American radio and television masked vigilante created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell, in 1936. Since his radio debut in the 1930s, the Green Hornet has appeared in numerous serialized dramas in a wide variety of media...
as Dan Reid, the title character's father and the now elderly version of The Lone Ranger's nephew, and on Challenge of the Yukon
Challenge of the Yukon
Challenge of the Yukon was a radio series that began on Detroit's station WXYZ , and an example of a Northern genre story. The series was first heard on February 3, 1938...
, as Inspector Conrad, Sgt. Preston's superior in the North-West Mounted Police.