Earl Walter Grasser

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-172091
• Residence: 1911, 6 Gordon Ave., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Misfortune: 1941; died in auto accident

Notes:

Flash From the Past: Radio's masked man had a Kitchener identity

by rych mills

Earl Walter Grasser (1909-1941) possessed, by age 32, the most recognized voice of anyone ever born in Kitchener. His death in 1941 jumped out of the headlines to shock youngsters and adults across North America, especially in Kitchener, even though society was dealing with immense fatalities from the first two years of the Second World War.

Grasser changed the spelling of his name to Earle W. Graser after his parents, Solomon and Mary Anne (Klemmer) Grasser, moved the family to Michigan from Kitchener in 1918. Solomon had taken a job running Detroit's A&P stores.

Regardless of the spelling, his name was seldom recognized. Earle Graser was never promoted as the man portraying the Lone Ranger, one of early radio's superstars, even though his resounding voice created a cultural icon. It wasn't until Earle's death on April 8, 1941, that the general public discovered who was behind that magnificent catchphrase, "Hi-Yo Silver, away-y-y-y-y."

Earle's parents settled into a new house at 6 Gordon St. in Berlin, Ont., in 1908. Earl (with no e) was soon born there. A bright student in his hometown, he finished his education in Michigan, gaining three college diplomas: at Wayne State University he dabbled in oratory and drama while working toward a law degree; a Master of Arts in speech led to odd jobs work in local theatres, itinerant entertainment troupes and on Detroit's WXYZ radio station (nicknamed wicksee.)

Early in 1933, WXYZ introduced "The Lone Ranger," starring George Stenius for the first few months. Dissatisfied with the casting, producer George W. Trendle auditioned several others, including the station's bit actor, Earle Graser. Beginning April 9, 1933, Earle's voice became the new voice of the masked man. For eight years, three nights a week, three times a night (for different time zones) the show went out live over the Mutual network's 150 outlets in the United States as well as to many Canadian stations.

One problem: the Lone Ranger, judging by his voice, was a husky, fearless, forceful character. Earle, possessing the perfect hero's voice, was, alas, well under six feet, quite chubby, sported a pencil-thin moustache, never rode a horse or shot a pistol and never ventured farther west than Michigan. When public appearances were necessary, another WXYZ actor, Brace Beemer, stepped in. Beemer, the show's tall, athletic narrator, looked every inch the Wild West hero when masked and mounted on a beautiful white horse, waving his pistol.

Radio had an immense hold on North Americans in the 1930s. "The Lone Ranger's" audience of many millions was estimated to be 63 per cent adult, but kids were the main target. A single announcement by Earle at the end of one show urging children to write for a free badge brought in almost 1.4 million letters within days.

In hometown Kitchener, few people outside the Grasser family realized one of their own was the Lone Ranger who they had listened to so often. The Kitchener Daily Record's headline on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 8, 1941, revealed all: "Lone Ranger of Radio, Kitchener Native, Killed." Dead tired after the three shows he did Monday evening, Earle rammed his car into a truck on Grand River Avenue in Farmington, Mich., right in front of the Methodist church where his booming bass voice had highlighted the choir.

He died the very day that his parents and sister Eva, having returned to Kitchener, were moving into their new home at 207 Simeon St.

Leaving wife Jeanne and one-year-old daughter Gabrielle, Earle was buried in Farmington near their home. The next few shows featured mainly Tonto, played by John Todd. Tonto was the Lone Ranger's sidekick, who affectionately called his ranger friend "kemo sabe" (gimoozaabi in Anishinaabe, meaning, "he looks out in secret") A week later, Brace Beemer began a long run (1941-1955) as radio's most famous Lone Ranger. On television in the 1950s, Clayton Moore was the masked man while Tonto was Jay Silverheels from the Six Nations Reserve, providing another Lone Ranger link to the Grand River Valley.

While Earle died, his voice did not. For many years the show's introduction continued to use a transcription of his voice combined with rousing music titled "The March of the Swiss Soldiers" from Rossini's opera, "William Tell."

Earle's uncle, Harvey Grasser, is remembered by many as a longtime member of the Kitchener Police Department who served as police chief in 1948-1949.

Flash From the Past: Radio's masked man had a Kitchener identity. (2020). Retrieved 25 July 2020, from https://www.therecord.com/life/local-history/2020/07/24/flash-from-the-past-radios-masked-man-had-a-kitchener-identity.html

___________________

"The Lone Ranger" Earle W. Graser, 32, radio actor known professionally as the Lone Ranger, was killed instantly April 8 In an automobile accident near his home in Farmington, Mich.

Graser had been broadcasting as the Lone Ranger three times a week for the past nine years. Program, which originates in the studios of WXYZ, Detroit, and is heard over the Mutual Broadcasting System and a score of independent stations, is also recorded and rebroadcast over the air in many other English-speaking countries.

Graser started his career in radio Some years ago when he went to work for WXYZ doing character bits. A short time later the original Lone Ranger, Brace Beemer, was promoted to studio manager, and Graser assumed the role, Beemer being retained as narrator. From that time on the popularity of the program steadily increased and the Lone Ranger's familiar call, "Hi-yo, Silver!' " became a byword to thousands of children. It was recently reported that the program had developed into an industry grossing a half million dollars a year.

Ironically, Graser had used the program and his voice to promote traffic safety. Be leaves his wife, a year-old daughter, his parents, and a sister.


Billboard 19 Apr 1941 pg 49