logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2012
25m 8s

Who was the real Lone Ranger?

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

The Lone Ranger has traditionally been portrayed by white actors, but many believe this character is based on an African-American named Bass Reeves. A former slave, Reeves became one of the most successful lawmen in U.S. history. Tune in to learn more.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Edwin Howard Armstrong
Edwin Howard Armstrong isn’t exactly a well-known inventor, but his work in radio literally changed communications around the globe. But his most famous invention – FM radio – became a source of constant frustration after he developed it. Research: Armstrong, Edwin H. “Frequency ... Show More
33m 22s
Jul 7
The Humble Ballpoint Pen
Before the ballpoint pen, people used their hands, reeds, bamboo, brushes, quills, and eventually nibs to write or draw. But how did things evolve from there to get to things like the fountain pen, and eventually, a ballpoint? Research: "pen." Britannica Library, Encyclopædia Bri ... Show More
35m 35s
Jul 5
SYMHC Classics: Lettuce, Slavery, and the Bibb Legacy
This 2022 episode starts with the story of John Bibb, credited with cultivating Bibb lettuce. But his family’s legacy, good and bad, is all tied to having enslaved people build their familial wealth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
33m 51s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2021
Bass Reeves - Le 1er Marshal noir américain
Premier deputy marshal noir des Etats-Unis en 1875, Bass Reeves est l’objet depuis une dizaine d’années d’un d’intérêt croissant. Grâce à plusieurs historiens qui ont sondé les archives et retracé sa vie, ce personnage a pris une place dans le récit de la conquête de l’Ouest amér ... Show More
19m 49s
Aug 2020
Official Trailer - American Shadows
American Shadows is a bi-weekly podcast from iHeartRadio and Aaron Mahnke’s Grim & Mild. The show focuses on the darker stories from American history: the people, places, and things that are hidden and forgotten in the shadows. From better-known tales like the conspiracy to steal ... Show More
1m 43s
Apr 2021
The Double Agent
The Chevalier d'Éon was a diplomat, spy, traitor, and international celebrity. She's also sometimes regarded as one of the most prominent transgender figures in European history. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener f ... Show More
25m 46s
Jul 2022
Surprising Former Careers of the Famous
Did you know Abraham Lincoln was an infamous, trash-talking wrestler? Ronald Reagan spent his younger years saving people from drowning (and throwing rocks at them) as a lifeguard. And before Norma Jean became the iconic Marilyn Monroe, she built drones during World War II. In to ... Show More
48m 13s
Mar 2022
The Real Cyrano de Bergerac
One of the world's much loved stage and screen characters has just returned to the cinema in a new film version starring Peter Dinklage. But what may not be generally known is that Cyrano de Bergerac was a real person who was sharper, funnier and more modern than the romantic her ... Show More
41m 48s
Aug 2019
John Willis Menard: The First African American Elected To US Congress
A statesman, editor, publisher, poet, activist and more, John Willis Menard was a true Renaissance man, and he dedicated his life to public service. Listen in to learn more about the life and times of John Willis Menard. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca ... Show More
26m 18s
Jan 2019
The Forgotten Forerunners
Mo tells the stories of three remarkable people who changed history - but whose names you've probably never heard. They are the pioneers before the pioneers. Before Rosa Parks, there was Elizabeth Jennings. Before Jackie Robinson, there was Moses Fleetwood Walker. And then there' ... Show More
43m 29s
Nov 2019
The Black Congressmen of Reconstruction: Death of Representation
During the 1870s, more than a dozen African American men, many of whom had been born into slavery, were elected to the U.S. Congress. These political pioneers symbolized the sky high hopes of millions of former slaves during the years right after the Civil War. It was a period th ... Show More
44m 31s
Oct 2023
The Real Wild West
Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, John Wayne. We've seen them roping and wrangling and defeating their enemies, all by the time the credits role. But what was the role of cowboys in the real wild west? What was the role of black men in this industry? And how have they been erased i ... Show More
38m 55s
Jul 2021
Is Paul Bunyan Based on a Real Person?
Tall tales about the logger Paul Bunyan and his big blue ox, Babe, are American classics. Learn about the real people they're based on and how they got so popular in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/real-paul-bun ... Show More
5m 37s