Skip to Navigation
TV Video Library: Interviews and Video Clips – Archive of American Television
  • A program of the Television Academy Foundation

Capturing Television History, One Voice At A Time

|  EMMYS.COM  |  EMMYSFOUNDATION.ORG  |  EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG  |  MEMBER LOGIN  |

Home › People

Fred Foy

Announcer

"I remember the first broadcast when I was in the studio and here was 'The Lone Ranger' right across from me....You've got the William Tell Overture leading in and then he would say "Hi-yo Silver!" and I would say: 'A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty 'Hi-yo Silver!', the Lone Ranger!' That was exciting."

About This Interview

In his over two-hour Archive interview, Fred Foy (1921-2010) talks about his first work in broadcasting at the 250-watt radio station WMBC, where he worked for on-the-job experience. He talks 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 gives 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 speaks in great detail about his long tenure as narrator for the legendary WXYZ radio show "The Lone Ranger." For "The Lone Ranger" he describes a typical work-week on the series and gives his impressions of Brace Beemer (who played the Ranger) and others in the cast. Foy performs the famous opening narration ("A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty Hi-Yo Silver….") and recounts the story of how, for one broadcast, he subbed for Brace Beemer, who had laryngitis. Foy then talks 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 looks back on his association with WXYZ's other popular radio adventures "The Green Hornet" and "Challenge of the Yukon." He chronicles his move to New York City and his over twenty-year tenure as a staff announcer at the ABC network. He discusses 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. Lastly, he relates his experience appearing at SPERDVAC (The Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy) 's 75th anniversary celebration of "The Lone Ranger."  B-roll includes photos from Foy's career in radio and television ("The Lone Ranger," The Dick Cavett Show) and a shot of the program cover from the SPERDVAC event. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview in Studio City, CA on May 5, 2008.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Shows

  • Dick Cavett Show, The
  • Emmy Awards, The (primetime and daytime)
  • Green Hornet, The
  • Les Crane Show, The
  • Lone Ranger, The

People

  • Dick Cavett

Topics

  • Characters & Catchphrases
  • Creative Influences and Inspiration

Professions

  • Hosts
  • Performers

Featured Content

Video: Embeddable interview excerp - Fred Foy discusses his classic opening lines to The Lone Ranger radio and TV series:

YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
  • Highlights
  • Interview
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres
  • Professions

Highlights

  • Fred Foy on how Richard Benjamin, a huge<i> Lone Ranger </i>fan, was once a guest on the <i>Dick Cavett Show</i> and Foy announced the "Hi Ho Silver" opening as a surpriseFred Foy on how Richard Benjamin, a huge Lone Ranger fan, was once a guest on the Dick Cavett Show and Foy announced the "Hi Ho Silver" opening as a surprise
    Clip begins at: 25:33
  • Fred Foy on Richard Benjamin, a huge<i> Lone Ranger </i>fan, was once a guest on the <i>Dick Cavett Show</i> and Foy announced the opening as a surpriseFred Foy on Richard Benjamin, a huge Lone Ranger fan, was once a guest on the Dick Cavett Show and Foy announced the opening as a surprise
    Clip begins at: 25:33, Duration: 13m 18s
  • Announcer Fred Foy performs the memorable opening narration that he did for both radio and TV's "The Lone Ranger"Announcer Fred Foy performs the memorable opening narration that he did for both radio and TV's "The Lone Ranger"
    Clip begins at: 06:46, Duration: 00m 58s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • On his childhood and early influences; developing an early love of theater and acting
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On his first job in radio at WMBC; on working in radio at WXYZ which broadcast the radio show "The Lone Ranger"; on his military service in WWII in the Special Service unit which is where he learned how to be an announcer
    Clip begins at: 08:17
  • On a radio show he produced with Jack Benny while in the Special Services unit in Cairo; on the special "Christmas Overseas" from Egypt; 
    Clip begins at: 18:20
  • On returning to his career as an announcer at WXYZ; getting the job as an announcer on "The Lone Ranger" radio show; on developing the voice for the announcer role
    Clip begins at: 22:25
  • Fred Foy on the first broadcast of The Lone Ranger when he says "A fiery horse with a speed of cloud and dust, and a hearty 'Hi-yo Silver, the Lone Ranger!"; on the time he stood in for the Lone Ranger
    Clip begins at: 31:13
  • On the production of The Lone Ranger radio show and a typical workweek; on the rest of the cast ; on why he believes the show was so popular
    Clip begins at: 35:46
  • On why the Lone Ranger's identity was kept masked; on the beginning of the television version of the radio show; on George Trendle, Clayton Moore
    Clip begins at: 45:50
  • Part 2
  • On the narration and commercials on The Lone Ranger; on television on his role on the show; 
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On working at a toy store when he was younger, and had to dress as the" Lone Ranger"; on the popularity of the television show on ABC;  on how "The William Tell Overture" is identified with The Lone Ranger; on the final show
    Clip begins at: 02:47
  • On T he Green Hornet; Sgt. Preston of the Yukon; on moving to New York, working at ABC News in the 1960s as a news announcer
    Clip begins at: 09:48
  • On working on The Dick Cavett Show; Cavett was a Lone Ranger fan; on being inducted to the Radio Hall of Fame by Richard Benjamin; throwing a pie at Cavett
    Clip begins at: 22:17
  • On The Les Crane show; he was the announcer, a late-night network show
    Clip begins at: 38:51
  • On the craft of announcing; his technique and his voice; announcing for the Emmys; on changes in technology for announcers and voiceovers
    Clip begins at: 43:31
  • Part 3
  • On his family; his proudest achievements; advice to aspiring hosts and TV professionals
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Announcer Fred Foy performs the memorable opening narration that he did for both radio and TV's "The Lone Ranger"
    Clip begins at: 06:46

Shows

  • Dick Cavett Show, The
    • Fred Foy on working on the Dick Cavett Show as an announcer; how Cavett was a big Lone Ranger fan; he had Zubin Mehta conduct the "William Tell Overture" once on the show
      Clip begins at: 22:17, Duration: 03m 16s
    • Fred Foy on how Richard Benjamin, a huge Lone Ranger fan, was once a guest on the Dick Cavett Show and Foy announced the "Hi Ho Silver" opening as a surprise
      Clip begins at: 25:33
    • Fred Foy on doing the on-air commercials during The Dick Cavett Show
      Clip begins at: 30:22
    • Fred Foy on meeting Fred Astaire when he was a guest on The Dick Cavett Show; getting to meet his idols while working as an announcer on that show
      Clip begins at: 33:59
    • Fred Foy on the format of The Dick Cavett Show
      Clip begins at: 37:12, Duration: 01m 39s
  • Emmy Awards, The (primetime and daytime)
    • Fred Foy on announcing the Daytime Emmy awards at ABC in New York
      Clip begins at: 46:33
  • Green Hornet, The
    • Fred Foy on The Green Hornet 's opening, which he announced on radio
      Clip begins at: 10:50, Duration: 00m 28s
  • Les Crane Show, The
    • Fred Foy on The Les Crane show; he was the announcer
      Clip begins at: 38:51
  • Lone Ranger, The
    • Fred Foy on listening to "The Lone Ranger" on the radio when he was very young; he would one day become the show's announcer/narrator.
      Clip begins at: 03:35, Duration: 01m 20s
    • Fred Foy on getting the opportunity to become the Lone Ranger's announcer when it was a radio show on WXYZ
      Clip begins at: 23:02, Duration: 04m 45s
    • Fred Foy on developing the voice as The Lone Range r's announcer; his influences
      Clip begins at: 27:48, Duration: 04m 51s
    • Fred Foy on his first broadcast of The Lone Ranger on radio when he says "A fiery horse with a speed of cloud and dust, and a hearty Hi-yo Silver, the Lone Ranger!"
      Clip begins at: 31:13, Duration: 01m 26s
    • Fred Foy on the cast of The Lone Ranger; Brace Beemer (Ranger), John Todd (Tonto) on radio
      Clip begins at: 38:18, Duration: 07m 32s
    • Fred Foy on why The Lone Ranger was so popular on radio; the mystique of the characters
      Clip begins at: 45:50, Duration: 07m 45s
    • Fred Foy on the importance of the mask of the Lone Ranger; the one time he did reveal his identity --to Cavendish
      Clip begins at: 51:06, Duration: 02m 29s
    • Fred Foy on the transition from the radio show The Lone Ranger to the television series
      Clip begins at: 54:45, Duration: 04m 16s
    • Fred Foy on re-recording the opening lines of The Lone Ranger on television; "with just the fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty 'Hi yo, Silver!' the Lone Ranger."
      Clip begins at: 55:44, Duration: 03m 17s
    • Fred Foy on the popularity of the television The Lone Ranger on ABC
      Clip begins at: 04:33
    • Fred Foy on how "The William Tell Overture" is identified with The Lone Ranger show
      Clip begins at: 05:40
    • Fred Foy on the final episode of The Lone Ranger; 
      Clip begins at: 06:40
    • Announcer Fred Foy on being recognized from his voice, due to his work on "The Lone Ranger"
      Clip begins at: 03:32, Duration: 01m 17s
    • Announcer Fred Foy performs the memorable opening narration that he did for both radio and TV's "The Lone Ranger"
      Clip begins at: 06:46, Duration: 00m 58s

People

  • Fred Astaire
    • Fred Foy on meeting Fred Astaire when he was a guest on The Dick Cavett Show; getting to meet his idols while working as an announcer on that show
      Clip begins at: 33:59, Duration: 04m 52s
  • Richard Benjamin
    • Fred Foy on Richard Benjamin, a huge Lone Ranger fan, was once a guest on the Dick Cavett Show and Foy announced the opening as a surprise
      Clip begins at: 25:33, Duration: 13m 18s
  • Jack Benny
    • Fred Foy on a radio show he produced with Jack Benny while in the Special Services unit in Cairo; 
      Clip begins at: 18:20, Duration: 02m 38s
  • Dick Cavett
    • Fred Foy on working on the Dick Cavett Show as an announcer; how Cavett was a big Lone Ranger fan; he had Zubin Mehta conduct the "William Tell Overture" once on the show
      Clip begins at: 22:17, Duration: 16m 34s
    • Fred Foy on Dick Cavett being the best interviewer he'd ever known
      Clip begins at: 33:41, Duration: 00m 18s
  • Clayton Moore
    • Fred Foy on Clayton Moore who played The Lone Ranger on television
      Clip begins at: 55:44, Duration: 03m 17s

Topics

  • Pivotal Career Moments > Creative Influences and Inspiration
    • Fred Foy on the advent of radio in the early 20th century; and the influences shows such as "The Shadow" had on him as a youth
      Clip begins at: 03:35, Duration: 01m 20s
  • Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
    • Fred Foy on developing the voice as The Lone Range r's announcer; his influences
      Clip begins at: 27:48, Duration: 03m 25s
    • Fred Foy on the first broadcast of The Lone Ranger when he says "A fiery horse with a speed of cloud and dust, and a hearty Hi Ho Silver, the Lone Ranger!"
      Clip begins at: 31:13, Duration: 01m 26s
    • Fred Foy on "The Lone Ranger"' he was never portrayed as a killer
      Clip begins at: 49:19
    • Announcer Fred Foy performs the memorable opening narration that he did for both radio and TV's "The Lone Ranger"
      Clip begins at: 06:46, Duration: 00m 58s

Genres

  • Game Shows
    • Fred Foy on being an announcer for game shows and changing his voice for that genre
      Clip begins at: 45:01

Professions

  • Hosts > Announcer
    • Fred Foy on the craft of announcing; his technique and his voice
      Clip begins at: 43:31
  • Performers
    • Fred Foy on realizing an early love for acting while in high school; an early role in "Scrooge" and his love of the theater
      Clip begins at: 05:22
SHARE THIS PAGE Bookmark and Share
Tweet

Submitted by afanofoldradio on Fri, 2010-12-24 06:39.
R.I.P. Simply put....

Submitted by jgbennie on Thu, 2010-12-23 05:00.
Rest in peace, Fred.

Submitted by radiotubes on Fri, 2010-09-10 19:48.
Great voice.Still sounds great.

Post new comment

  • Home
  • Interviews
    • People
    • Shows
    • Topics
    • Professions
    • All Interviewees
    • Featured Playlists
  • About The Interviews
  • News
  • Search
  • Resources
Academy of American Television
  • Home
  • The Interviews
  • News
  • Privacy Policy
  • License Our Clips
  • Emmys.com
  • Emmysfoundation.org
  • About The Archive
  • Copyright Policy
  • Transcripts
© 1995-2013 Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation All Rights Reserved Emmy and The Emmy Statuette are the trademark property of ATAS/NATAS
Site developed by FivePaths