Fred Foy, Celebrated Lone Ranger Announcer, Dies
Foy lent his resonant voice to The Lone Ranger as well as game shows and other television productions.
Fred Foy, the announcer best known for calling out “Hi-yo, Silver!” in his introduction to The Lone Ranger, died of natural causes on December 22, 2010, at his home in Woburn, Massachusetts home. He was 89.
Described by radio historian Jim Harmon described as “the announcer, perhaps the greatest announcer-narrator in the history of radio drama,” Foy and his unmistakable voice lent energy to the productions he worked on, particularly The Lone Ranger, for which his opening delivery is considered the most recognizable opening in U.S. radio history:
“Hi-yo, Silver! A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty ‘Hi-yo Silver’... The Lone Ranger! With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early Western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoof-beats of the great horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again!”
Frederick William Foy was born in Detroit on March 27, 1921. Upon completing high school, he found a job with WMBC, a local 250-watt radio station. In 1942 he joined WXYZ in Detroit, where The Lone Ranger originated.
Wile serving in the Army during World War II, Foy was an announcer for Armed Forces Radio in Cairo. After the war he returned to WXYZ. There, beginning in 1948, he narrated The Lone Rangerr live in the studio.
When The Lone Ranger moved from radio to television in 1949, Foy remained with until it ended in 1957.
He went on to become a staff announcer for ABC Television and worked on such series as The Dick Cavett Show.
Foy was a frequent speaker at classic radio conventions in 2000 was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Frances Foy, three children and three grandchildren.
On May 5, 2008, Foy had the distinction of being interviewed by the Television Academy Foundation’s Archive of American Television. During the interview, which was conducted in Studio City, California, and lasted more than two hours, Foy talked about his first work in broadcasting at the 250-watt radio station WMBC, where he worked for on-the-job experience.
He also talked about his start at Detroit station WXYZ, interrupted by his service during World War II, and his return to the station following his service. He gave a description of his years during the war, working in Cairo, Egypt, as the “American” announcer on the all-British announcing staff there, and how he came to participate in a radio broadcast opposite Jack Benny.
He went on to speak in great detail about his long tenure as narrator for the legendary WXYZ radio show, The Lone Ranger. For The Lone Ranger he described a typical workweek on the series and gave his impressions of Brace Beemer (who played the Ranger) and others in the cast. Foy performed the famous opening narration (“A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty Hi-yo Silver….”) and recounted the story of how, for one broadcast, he subbed for Brace Beemer, who had laryngitis.
Foy then talked about The Lone Ranger’s transition to television, noting actors who moved from the radio to the television show, describing the back story of the Lone Ranger character (re-established on television), and relating his meeting of television’s Lone Ranger, Clayton Moore.
Foy also looked back on his association with WXYZ’s other popular radio adventures The Green Hornet and Challenge of the Yukon. He chronicled his move to New York City and his over 20-year tenure as a staff announcer at the ABC network. He discussed several of the shows he worked on, including The Les Crane Show (ABC’s first foray into late-night programming), The Dick Cavett Show and the Daytime Emmy Awards.
Finally, he related his experience appearing at SPERDVAC — the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy — for its 75th anniversary celebration of The Lone Ranger.
The interview is available online here.