<P> In the late 1930s, Trendle acquired the rights to use incidental music from Republic Pictures motion picture serials as part of a deal for Republic to produce a serial based (loosely) on the Lone Ranger . This music was then modified by NBC radio arranger Ben Bonnell and recorded in Mexico to avoid American union rules . This music was used in both the radio and later television shows . </P> <P> The character was originally believed to be inspired by Texas Ranger Captain John R. Hughes, to whom the book The Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey was dedicated in 1915 . A debunked myth was the possible historical inspiration of Bass Reeves, the first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River . Other suggested inspirations were Zorro and Robin Hood . </P> <P> The radio series inspired a spinoff called The Green Hornet, which depicts the son of the Lone Ranger's nephew Dan, Britt Reid, originally played by Al Hodge, who in contemporary times, fights crime with a similar secret identity and a sidekick, Kato . In the Green Hornet comic book series published by NOW Comics, the Lone Ranger makes a cameo appearance by being in a portrait in the Reid home . Contrary to most visual media depictions, and acknowledged by developer / original script writer Ron Fortier to be the result of legal complications, his mask covers all of his face, as it did in the two serials from Republic Pictures (see below). However, rights to The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet have been acquired by separate owners and the familial link has been ignored in the Western character's various incarnations . The Lone Ranger--Green Hornet connection is part of Philip José Farmer's Wold Newton Universe, which connects disparate fictional characters . </P> <P> Republic Pictures released two serials starring the Lone Ranger . The first, released in 1938, utilized several actors playing different men portraying the masked hero, with the true Lone Ranger unknown to the audience until the conclusion; the character played by Lee Powell is ultimately revealed to be the Lone Ranger . The second serial, The Lone Ranger Rides Again, was released in 1939 and starred Robert Livingston . Tonto was played in both by Victor Daniels, billed as Chief Thundercloud . </P>

When did the lone ranger radio show end