Columnist Susan Snyder: Shepherding in a new Lone Ranger

Friday, Feb. 9, 2001 | 9:43 a.m.

Susan Snyder's column appears Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays. Reach her at snyder@lasvegassun.com or 259-4082.

The Lone Ranger isn't dead.

He lives -- right here in Las Vegas.

Does too. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman called him up before the City Council for recognition Wednesday. And the Lone Ranger was right there -- sans that form-fitting, baby-blue cowboy suit from the 1950s television show.

"A cowboy in a stretch-blue polyester suit doesn't work these days," says Scott Shepherd, the Las Vegas man who now stands behind the famous mask.

Well, it works in some places. But we're not exploring those facets of Las Vegas entertainment at this time.

Shepherd, 34, has been chosen to step into a 2001 version of the role the late Clayton Moore immortalized for the television generation.

"I'm the Lone Ranger," Shepherd says.

The Lone Ranger now wears a gray Western shirt and black pants with his white hat and pearl-handled pistols. He still wears a black mask, but this time his identity isn't a secret, Shepherd says. The Lone Ranger of 2001 has a new attitude for that new look.

"It's actually good that people know there's a real man behind the mask," Shepherd says. "I believe in the same things the Lone Ranger does. The human being does exist."

Shepherd, who has been an actor since appearing in a cereal commercial at age 13, says he devotes much of his free time and income to supporting programs that help children. He loves kids, honesty, justice and fair play, and figures that helped him land the role as much as any other ability (he rides a horse and can throw his own rope).

Tonto, the Lone Ranger's American Indian sidekick, presents some sticky social issues in 2001. As always, an American Indian will fill the role. But the hokey pressed-fringe getup will be replaced by something more 1880s authentic. And Tonto will be a partner, not a servant. (Hopefully they'll allow him to speak in full sentences, too.)

The images of the Lone Ranger, Tonto and all their trappings belong to Golden Family Books Entertainment. The company is resurrecting the Lone Ranger in preparation for an upcoming movie, Shepherd says.

But it's promoting the character before launching a movie because some people need to be reminded of who he was, Shepherd says. Many people younger than 30 have never heard of him.

"I'm called 'Zorro' by some kids, even though I carry silver guns and wear a cowboy hat," he says.

Those guns can present another tangle in 2001. But Shepherd says the Lone Ranger is, after all, a Texas Ranger. He's allowed to carry a gun.

"The Lone Ranger is the only superhero who is a police officer," Shepherd says. "He has no super powers. He used his wit or his rope or whip more than his gun. A lot of times the only time he used his gun was in the opening credits (of the TV show)."

Shepherd recalls many afternoons when he rushed home from school and watched the Lone Ranger fire that single shot into the air on reruns. His parents had divorced, and the Lone Ranger gave him a male figure to look up to. He dreamed of being the Lone Ranger when he grew up.

"I feel honored to be in his boots," Shepherd says. "I'm the original good guy with a white hat."

Heigh-ho Silver.

He lives.