Fred Foy

Announcer

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his over two-hour 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 workweek 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's (The Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy) 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 on May 5, 2008 in Studio City, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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."

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Fred Foy

Highlights

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

04:49

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

13:18

On the memorable opening that he did for both radio and TV's "The Lone Ranger" - he performs the narration

Fred Foy on the importance of the mask of the "Lone Ranger" and on the one time he did reveal his identity -- to "Cavendish"

02:29

Fred Foy on announcing the Daytime Emmy awards at ABC in New York

02:59

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on developing an early love of theater and acting

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

On a radio show he produced with Jack Benny while in the Special Services unit in Cairo; on the special "Christmas Overseas" from Egypt

On returning to his career as an announcer at WXYZ; on getting the job as an announcer on "The Lone Ranger" radio show; on developing the voice for the announcer role

On the first broadcast of "The Lone Ranger" and saying, "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"

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

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

Chapter 2

On the narration and commercials on The Lone Ranger; on his role on the show

On working at a toy store when he was younger, and dressing 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

On The Green Hornet; on Sergeant Preston of the Yukon; on moving to New York and working at ABC News in the 1960s as a news announcer

On working on The Dick Cavett Show and the fact that Cavett was a Lone Ranger fan; on being inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame by Richard Benjamin; on throwing a pie at Cavett

On The Les Crane show, a late-night network show for which he was the announcer

On the craft of announcing; on his technique and his voice; on announcing for the Daytime Emmys; on changes in technology for announcers and voiceovers

Chapter 3

On his family; on his proudest achievements; on advice to aspiring hosts and TV professionals

On the memorable opening that he did for both radio and TV's "The Lone Ranger" - he performs the narration

On b-roll photos from his career

Shows

Dick Cavett Show, The

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Fred Foy on working on the Dick Cavett Show as an announcer and how Cavett was a big Lone Ranger fan: he had Zubin Mehta conduct the "William Tell Overture" once on the show