History of Lone Ranger Toys - Gabriel Marx Vintage Action Figure Review / Collection

Join us as we return to those thrilling days of yesteryear and take a deep dive into the history of Lone Ranger toys.
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[@PixelPipes]

Once again the amount of effort, not only in terms of research, writing, performing, and editing, but also in terms of acquisition of a nearly complete set of examples for what may only amount to a few seconds of footage on-screen in some cases, is astounding and inspiring. Thank you for your hard work!

[@AnalogToys]

PixelPipes I really appreciate your comments

[@as-it1id]

Analog Toys ....Hello mucker... been watching your stuff on here for a while. Nothing lesss than I expected from you; one of the best! Looks like you may have found peace to settle your soul. Makes me happy to tune in to your channel for the next enlightenment. Hope to speak to you soon you Ozzie hard case.... love your Scottish Brethern....A.S

[@AnalogToys]

@@as-it1id I only just saw this comment today, please get in touch, I need to know who this is! You can email me at [e-mail]

[@jeffreycoogan09]

@Analog Toys The Lone Ranger may have been inspired by a character who appeared in a series of wild West dime novels that were published between 1877 and 1897 by Edward Lytton Wheeler, know as Deadwood Dick (The Masked Avenger). Oh! Since you mentioned the Captain Action toy line. If I'm not mistaken? Wasn't there a British action figure line from the early 1970s, which was similar to Captain Action called Daredevils?

[@krzi-o5619]

I’m in my mid 50’s , this was just one of my favorite action figure sets to play with when I was a kid. I wasn’t a big fan of super heroes. I was more into planet of the apes and tv show action figures like Starsky and Hutch and Zorro , and this one. Watching this almost brought a tear to my eye , and I’m not just saying that , I literally almost cried , those days were just so cool. 👍👍👍✌️✌️✌️❤️❤️❤️

[@AnalogToys]

So pleased you enjoyed it, I'm very proud of this video!

[@eknoke01]

Amen brother! Me too! This was the best line of toys ever. I’m in the process of getting all the figures I had back then. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@eknoke01]

I was born in 1970 and this is my favorite memory when it comes to the toys I had. I only owned the Lone Ranger and Butch Cavendish but they were my absolute FAVORITE toys in the 70’s. I was 9 when the 79 series came out and would play for hours outside.. like kids those days did. I always had these amazing toys with me! In the tree.. on the rocks.. it’s the Lone Ranger! Simple times but exquisite toys. All you need is your imagination.

[@GoldenfoxxPrime]

Oh, I loved the '81 film and figures. When you're 6yo, you don't even notice that Spilsbury's lines were all dubbed. And I had most of the toys, except for ⅔ of either Grant, Cody, or Custer (pretty sure it was the latter two, but you could just never find them around here). There was something about Silver, Scout, and Smoke that always appealed to me as a kid. Didn't care about the lack of possibility. Just looking at them again I can feel the same draw to wanting to own them that I had as a kid. There was just something really appealing about the whole line to me as a kid.

[@scottm4969]

These were some of my favorite toys back in the 70’s

[@retroblasting]

Amazing work on this, Tony.

[@AnalogToys]

Thanks, thats high praise coming from you guys!!!

[@jaygrinder7694]

I want to thank you very much for producing this video. I was born in the early 70s and I started collecting the Gabriel figures at a pretty young age. When I was a little kid repeats of the Clayton Moore series used to air daily as part of a block of shows that I couldn't go a day without watching. The other two shows were Superman with George Reeves and Batman with Adam West. At the time I didn't really think of the Lone Ranger as a western program, I thought of it as a superhero show because he wore a mask, and he fought crime. Again, I just want to say thank you very much for filling me with a great deal of happy nostalgic memories. I love your channel in general, but this video was particularly special for me.

[@AnalogToys]

Jay Grinder you so very welcome and thank you for your kind words.

[@milkapeismilky5464]

I had to check your channel name to make sure my little brother didn't write this! He has a similar story to yours, altho we were born in the late 80's. The OG Moore / Silverheels show was still airing and we both watched it, as well as the cartoon and the 1981 legend of the Lone Ranger movie. My little brother had a complete set of the Gabriel action figures as a child and has a complete collection now as an adult. I never got into action figures, for me it was 1/34th miniatures and realistic cap guns. My brother and I both had Nichols Ranch Stallion mk IIs growing up. Our grandmother made wonderful hand sewn costumes for us when my brother was in second grade and I was in 6th. My brother's costume was the Lone Ranger. (I was Davy Crockett) My grandmother took my brother's costume design straight from the 1981 film, not the Gabriel action figure, with the "double breasted" tunic design. I remember him crying because he couldn't take his highly realistic and much too large for his second grade size, Nicholas ranch stallion Mark II to school. Wonderful memories....

[@milkapeismilky5464]

I literally never green hornet was TLR's nephew! I never cared for super heroes, but this is so cool!

[@ollilehtonen2762]

Watching the videos on this channel makes me think that I was born on a wrong decade. I would have loved these toys as a child. Luckily I can enjoy watching these videos. Keep the coming!

[@ivangonzalez8415]

Now this is a video that I will continue to watch over and over again.

[@AnalogToys]

javier gonzalez and I hope you enjoy it every time!

[@waynehaywood4904]

Thanks for the great video. Even though I became a huge Star Wars fan and loved the smaller figures, I agree that the Lone Ranger toys were just about the best. I still remember picking up the Lost Cavalry Patrol set from a local toy store

[@eknoke01]

Lucky 🍀 if I see it I’m getting it!

[@kernowforester2349]

I still have mine from the 1970s, several Lone Rangers, two Tontos, Butch Cassidy, and horses for all three.

[@MrSmitty2733]

Such wonderful memories! Thank you so much for this video. Not only did I get up early on Saturday mornings to watch The Lone Ranger, I also had several of the early figures as well as all of the 1:18 scale figures that came out in the 80's. I appreciate the work you put into this video.

[@vincentfranklin17]

My brother and I got Lone Ranger, Silver, and Scout figures when we were eight years old. We loved them!

[@pauljoyner4338]

I watch Lone Ranger re-runs every Saturday morning. It's good stuff

[@georgegolston5417]

I had these. Im a big Lone Ranger fan.

[@joebud01]

Well done sir, a great line! I love the great way you present any of the lines you cover with enthusiasm. Buddy Finethy- Toylanta toy show

[@AnalogToys]

Buddy finethy thanks mate!

[@alanfunt4013]

Remember these fondly and they were amazing in quality and detail.

[@autoneurotic]

It took me a month to get around to watching this one, but once again Tony you completely knocked it out of the park. I don't seek out videos about toys I'm not interested in, but you always have a way of presenting your material in a way that I enjoy every video you make. Thank you.

[@AnalogToys]

Thanks Brian

[@screenpuller]

This brings back memories. My best friend's dad was taught to shoot by Jay Silverheels. He & Jay became good friends and he used to tell us stories from back in the day.

[@darrellwallace4182]

Finally someone who knows and appreciates how absolutely INCREDIBLE this action figure line was and does such an amazing job at documenting it in such an informative and accurate way! Your reviews are always superb, but this one really got me very excited! I played with these as a kid with a friend who lived across the street from me in the 70s. It is my determination to collect all of these wonderful toys in 2023. Again, I love your video's. Your an excellent toy historian and an intelligent, articulate reviewer. Please keep up the AMAZING work!

[@jonserkspawn7776]

Here in the US, it was first produced by Hubley, then Gabriel. My Hubley produced Lone Ranger and Tonto had less flexible hands than my Gabriel produced Butch Cavendish. That's the only difference I can remember. Anyway, another fantastic video. I love watching these

[@richardlee2120]

I wish that it were possible to find these today complete and affordable. These were among the best action figure lines created. The playsets are among the very best done, exceeding Mego products at the time.

[@eknoke01]

You CAN find them complete. On EBay. Of course everyone has a different definition of affordable. Couple hundred you can get them new still in box 📦

[@mutantneonmice6822]

i absolutely love the Lone Ranger. its one of my all time favorite franchises. i watch the original TV series every time its shown on TV and Disney's Lone Ranger is my favorite movie, and i have to say watching this video is absolutely amazing! looking at all these amazing toys based on a franchise many hold dearly in their hearts. i especially love how Ideal made the Captain Action Lone Ranger and Tonto, and the fact they also included the Green Hornet and Kato makes it even better. Gabriel clearly gave alot of love to the franchise with their Lone Ranger line just as Ideal did with Captain Action. I must say thank you for this incredible video and i hope you continue to make videos as fantastic as this one along with all your other videos. you are truely the best at reviewing vintage toys and merchandise of the vintage era

[@nosferatu-369]

I had the 10" Lone Ranger Figure with Silver when I was a kid. It was badass with great detail, cool accessories and a nicely made outfit.👍

[@jartladder15]

I had the 10' Lone Ranger and the horse but not any of those playsets. I really didn't even know about them. I think toy lines (in the form of back inventory) used to be in stores for a long time in drug stores and dime shops because I got these in the early 80s. Thanks for another great video!

[@dwaynec7542]

Just picked up a 10” Lone Ranger, Silver, and Tonto to replace my long lost childhood originals. While researching the line, I came across this video for the first time. Don’t know how I missed it! I truly love what you do, Tony! Keep it up! Now I’m off to become a modest Patreon supporter. Apologies for taking so long!

[@AnalogToys]

Thanks man!

[@1995RangeRover]

This was a great toy as a kid!

[@JediMike71]

Thank so much for doing such a great review of the Lone Tanger toys! I had the Gabriel Lone Ranger abs Tonto figures as a kid in the 1970s. I got them again about ten years ago. I agree how well they’re made and all of the great features and accessories that came with them.

[@Willowphase2]

Thank you for doing this as a child I had the Lone Ranger and Silver but knew nothing of the toys history. From the toy I watched reruns of Clayton Moore on Saturday mornings and a love of all things Ranger...it rubbed off on my daughter so no brainer that we went and saw the Disney movie together when it was released.

[@footofjuniper8212]

I'm really enjoying these. I had (and still have) the Lone Ranger, Butch Cavendish and Tonto (large dolls). I have them on display next to Jane West. Sadly, Johnny West passed away when the rubber bands holding his limbs together rotted and snapped.

[@matthewharmer8694]

Great information provided. I still have about three quarters of the line you have shown. All well played with. They were my favorite toys and are living in a box in storage at the moment.

[@rastagideon8236]

So cool. I had Lone Ranger, Tonto and Silver. I didn’t know about all the cool stuff after it. I want the Prospector!

[@havikplur]

I recently picked up the Gabriel 10” Lone Ranger and Tonto from an antique store, this video really helped me, thank you for all that info. Subscribed instantly!

[@paulweston8408]

Being born in the mid 60's i can't tell you how many great memories your videos have bought back. My mom worked in the toy department of a store named Kroger's and I was lucky enough to have a most everything you've shown. Thank you so much for returning me to my childhood for a wonderful trip down memory lane.

[@AnalogToys]

Paul Weston you’re very welcome

[@gazz_N7]

The 1980's Lone Ranger movie and the old show was a childhood favorite of mine! I was disappointed in the latest movie though, it wasn't all bad, but it wasn't all good either. These figures are pretty neat. I never had a Lone Ranger figure and seeing some of these, I wish I had. I never knew that the Green Hornet had a connection to him, that's cool. Thank you for this informative video! Later!

[@clintbronson5]

Born in the 60’s and had Lone-Tonto & Butch! So nice to see ALL these pieces :) Wish they could make a good movie on this great character. Still LONE RANGER & THE LOST CITY OF GOLD is my fav

[@rgd963]

The wagon was originally offered In the bonanza toy line in 66, By American Character which was Marx Up scale subsidiary company like Gabriel was.

[@jameswhitehouse5706]

Yep being 54 now I was really into The Lone Ranger back then. I had most of the main toys and I think I had the Carson city set but I’m not sure. I definitely had the Lost Cavalry Patrol set. It was an amazing outfit for the Lone Ranger and came with a really good mini comic. Don’t also forget at the time back in the mid 70’s the TV series was being shown a lot which really helped the popularity of the toys.

[@hillbillyingenuity7859]

Never knew about Green Hornet's relationship to Lone Ranger. Great research and information. These were a bit before my time but love the look of them. I did have Marx Fort Apache set and some others. Loved the small Marx cowboys and Indians.

[@OdeeOz]

All the great poseable action toys came out, after I got drafted. But I do still have my Captain Action, and the Lone Ranger costume set, that I take out now and again, to recapture my youth. Oh to be a kid again, and know then, what I know now.

[@jkgoodspeed]

Incredible job with this! Your video brought me back to my childhood, where my friend owned a collection of Johnny West figures, which I believe were also made by the Marx Company. I'd love to see a video history of that line! Regardless, as always, a phenomenal presentation - keep up the great work, it's much appreciated!

[@opgerotteflikkerop]

I remember the clothed figures vividly, and even had the lone ranger with belt hat etc.

[@dannyd807]

I had it when I was a kid it was very awesome

[@GarysActionManChannel1970]

Excellent video Tony 1970s memories - one of the finest Action Figure ranges ever!

[@onevision5]

Classic stuff. Your videos are so well produced. I look forward to each episode. Well done.

[@MrJohnnyreb123]

excellent series of videos ,love the history of the toys i had as a kid

[@FracBrainStudios]

Just fantastic historic view into one of my favorite toy lines. Thank you for your hard work on this. Keep 'em coming!

[@clintmesle7613]

Great video! I had the Captain Action Lone Ranger and Tonto costumes and the Gabriel figures as well. Thanks for bringing back such happy memories!

[@HollywoodColt]

Your channel wants me to relive my childhood

[@subzero9113]

Great Video Tony Spot on and Super informative. My Favorite Toys growing up , Many fond memories with these toys. Brings back that Christmas memory when I received Tonto the Lone Ranger and Horses and the Mysterious Prospector set !

[@aaroncampbell8303]

Love these episodes. Great info and well done. Cheers!

[@AnalogToys]

Aaron Campbell thanks mate!

[@TheNightBadger]

A line I knew little or nothing about. This was a great education. I was never into 'Western' toys as a kid, but this toyline might have changed my mind. 'Spring-loaded lawsuit-generating feature' more like! Those horses are beautiful toys.

[@Sneekes96]

I had these as a kid in Malta! Thanks for this, what memories!

[@archstanton3636]

Lived in Scotland as a lad and had both the Lone Ranger and Tonto, but I only had Silver, whose feet I had to glue back on a hundred times. His mask broke pretty quickly too, but awesome toys.

[@cjp1599]

Great video, forgot I even owned these in my preschool years. I do remember a problem with the tonto figure, he had two revolvers instead of his knife. Bothered me even at that young age. Toys from Space 1999, evil keneval and Fisher price adventure people I would love to see reviewed.

[@FracBrainStudios]

Still one of my favorite runs. Thanks for doing this video.

[@andrewtaylor940]

Great piece. I loved some of those 70's era figures. I wish I had or today had those horses. They were wonderful. Fun fact about the Lone Ranger. He was one of the first attempts at what we consider a modern shared world. The radio syndicates OTHER hero, the Green Hornet is Britt Reid. The Great Grandson of Dan Reed/Reid, the Lone Ranger's slain brother.

[@paulsaunders2927]

Amazing video as always and you have brought back some very happy memories. Thank you

[@malcr2325]

Thanks for this. I remember myself and my older brother having a Lone Ranger each one Christmas. Later my brother got Tonto. We could never get Butch Cavendish or any of the other figures though. I remember seeing Silver but it was expensive for us at the time. 50p a week pocket money didn't go far in the mid 70's. Thought about doing some Micronauts? I loved those.

[@renemarrero6523]

Good memories

[@Paul-fq9pj]

I always loved these figures. Great quality and I remember these compared to Action man which was very good and the Six Million dollar man which was also excellent These figures are head and shoulders above the rest in finish and quality and the accessories are also top quality

[@michaelcasalta7679]

Another Great Episode!!!

[@anthonycurtis7990]

That was a trip down memory lane. Only found your channel, I had Butch Cavendish, El Lobo, and Tonto as a kid in the 70s I also had the Bar tender outfit with the shotgun and whiskey bottle... Hours of fun in simpler times.

[@johnno7429]

Awesome presentation. Thank you. I have been collecting these over the years. Along with fighting furirs the lone ranger was my favourite toy. Pity my children dont have these toys which stimulated the mind and imagination

[@eknoke01]

These were so well made all you needed was your imagination.

[@thedaveanddaveshowlive3765]

I had The Lone Ranger and Tonto as well as Silver and Scout.

[@dinomonzon8853]

Another great video review, Mr. Tony, and well worth the wait! Thanks for noting the blood relationship between the Lone Ranger & the Green Hornet. The Lone Ranger was a throwback to simpler times, with cleancut heroes. Didn't know of the '70s era Gabriel toys, but I do remember the 1980s series to promote the Legend of the Lone Ranger movie, which was rather good, granted its hard to credit that in the movie, Buffalo Bill Cody, & Gen. George Custer would've crossed paths in real life. Btw, "Dodge City" is usually connected to the TV series Gunsmoke, didn't Gabriel/Marx Toys get into legal issues? Can't wait for your next video. Evel Knievel was a childhood hero of mine growing up. Please keep up the detail and quality. 👍

[@martinanderson8815]

Had the lone ranger and tonto loved them bigger line than I realised loved the tv ads

[@johanndarkblade2706]

Man! I loved your video. Turns out that I love The Lone Ranger since childhood. I'm 44 now and I am happy to tell you that I recently got the Gabriel Lone Ranger, Tonto & Silver complete in perfect condition with all their original accessories as well as a metal mini lunchbox and 3 Gabriel 3/4 inch Lone Ranger figures also complete with accessories. These are 2 Lone Rangers and 1 Tonto. Congratulations. Very nice video and detailed information. Greetings from Mexico City. Rock On!!

[@DougPalumbo]

Great video! Loved this line...definitely at the top of my favorites list!

[@WarmasAsunnedcat]

Love your channel mate. I had these figures as a kid (in the toy cabinet now, sadly not the originals). Thanks for all the great out put , much better than the crap on T.V.

[@countofdownable]

Had the Lone Ranger and Silver, Tonto and Butch as a kid. You amount of sets you could buy.

[@richardmark9161]

Terrific video Tony. Thank you. The Lone Ranger was very popular in syndication here in New York City in the 70's on WPIX. I can remember running home after school to catch the line-up of from 3-5 pm of The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Superman, and back-to-back BATMAN before my dad got home from work (I'd just be getting around to my homework around 5pm) The Gabriel and MARX connection is very interesting as I did have the entire line of MARX Best of the West Johnny West 12 inch figures and accessories. The Lone Ranger 10 inch figures looked more like Mego style and did not resemble the 12 inch Johnny West figures at all, but the accessories look much like MARX pieces. The Johnny West family included smaller figures and accessories for the characters of his children which appeared to be about 8 to 9 inches tall. Are you familiar with the MARX Best of the West? They also did Knights, Mike Hazard, Stony Smith and others. I don't know if that was popular in Australia but I hope you can find time to research. Thanks. Also, I wanted to get information from you about the GI Joe / Action Man BULLETMAN. That figure history has always fascinated me.

[@jonserkspawn7776]

Me too.... Ch 11 was my go to cartoon channel. Except in the morning before school. Ch 5 WNEW had Bugs Bunny in the morning. I'd hit up WPIX for Tom and Jerry after school I also remember not digging the episodes where Clayton Moore didn't play the Lone Ranger

[@stephan6025]

Thanks for the memories l had them when I was a boy l still have Silver in good condition and lone ranger is just surviving and lm 53

[@AnalogToys]

steve kerry you’re welcome

[@GoodMrDawes]

Beautiful

[@scottieboy9722]

Thanks for the great video. It brought back a lot of memories as a child. I'm in Australia and I had The Lone Ranger, Tonto, Butch and Red Sleeves with his spring-loaded thumb, the horses, Dodge City (a chunk broke off the corner in front of the Post Bank when a folded-up step ladder tipped over onto it!) and the Stable, the Tipi, Chuck Wagon, and a STACK of outfits. The kits all had a heaps of accessories in them and the detail was amazing. The quality of these toys was outstanding when I think about it. God only knows what happened to them when I moved out. I wish I still had them to display.

[@PozerAdultRacingTeam]

I wish I still had my Lone Ranger and Silver I had back in the day.

[@ChapMeifan]

Amazing video. Wow. That was a walk down memory lane for me and I thank you. As a kid I only had the Lone Ranger and Tonto (and was frustrated how easily their hands broke off) but I still have them and wish I had been able to add more to this line.

[@MichaelJShaffer]

Excellent review. So complete and comprehensive. Interesting that the European market got the better play-sets. Most of the time, Europe got the short end of the stick (Palitoy - Star Wars). Speaking of Clayton Moore/The Lone Ranger - Jay Thomas tells (in David Letterman's words) "The greatest talk-show story ever told". Letterman liked it so much he had Jay on every Christmas to retell the story. If you want a good laugh, you won't be disappointed.

[@New-York-Guy-90.]

My bestfriend’s dad has all these from his childhood....back in his day

[@adamblanchard3692]

I've learned so much with this video, can't thank you enough! You've convinced me to start collecting the seventies Gabriel line!

[@billpagan3070]

Wow! Another great review friend! I love the history behind these toys! Thanks😁👍

[@wrekk]

Educational, Informative and a downright commendable job on this segment. One that is pulled straight from my childhood. A deep heartfelt token of gratitude is in order here. Thank you.

[@vivere00]

This video is so comprehensive that it's practically all I'll need as reference to collect the 10 inch line!!! Just made a few eBay purchases; now to actually start watching the old show lol. Thanks, Tony!

[@AnalogToys]

You're very welcome!

[@shavanzar]

Awesome video Have 3 of the figures.....but mine have seen better days I have:Lone Range (no mask,hat), Tonto, and Butch (missing hat) Thought these were neat as a kid, and loved them Do not care what anyone says, "The Legend of the Lone Ranger" movie was fantastic. Keep making awesome video Tony

Wow, talking about a trip down memory lane. I used to play with these A LOT. They where compatible in size to the mattel Big Jim action figures, so clothing and equipment could be swapped. From the look of it I seem to have most of the range including a orange colored canou (which you don't show unfortunately). I still have the somewhere safely tucked in a suitcase. Maybe it's time to show them to my kids.

[@Hottoyscollectoruk]

Great toy line only had lone ranger and tonto would have been cool having them all. you got love lone ranger

[@raypitcher9767]

The only thing that they didn't point out amongst the accessories with Silver the horse, was the fact that the saddle came with a series of small sticker shapes that could be placed in a design of your choice, these were also silver coloured and could be peeled off easily. It really made the saddle stand out but you needed to be careful when applying them as very small shapes. Something that a lot of people may have forgotten about but certainly included in the box.

[@zzzombie888]

I had The Lone Ranger and Butch and I clearly remember the clicking sound when you turned their torsos

[@PhD777]

Excellent video! Thank you for producing this! 👍🏻🎅👍🏻

[@shanemorton78]

Truly enjoyed watching this great video. So much great information. Fantastic job!👏

[@johnnedward1083]

You could still find these in stores in the early eighteens.

[@615al4]

Just found your channel. I got the Lone Ranger for Christmas when i was 7. 1977.

[@toytantrumretroandvintaget7756]

I love the 3.75 Gabriel line. I am dying to get more in that style, Butch Cassidy and Zorro lines.

[@Twirlyhead]

Very interesting video, thanks.

[@sidekickfanboy]

Your presentation to this video was awesome thank you for all the details

[@1000thGhost]

Another great video. Thank you for all of your hard work and research.

[@raymondfung1672]

Hey Tony, once again, super detailed review. Excellent work!

[@richardmark9161]

Also, would be cool to see a special video about GI Joe / Action Man Bulletman. It's a weirdly fascinating figure with a cult fan base.

[@MrDparker69]

Yet another excellent video. Thanks as always 👍

[@jokerproduction5135]

I’ve been collecting this Lone Ranger series for a wile Got most of the figures lots of doubles is that your collection Tony lots of nice examples I have seen blow molded Lone Ranger action figures that have to be older than the captain action Lone Ranger action figure

[@AnalogToys]

Dale Rockwell yes they’re all from my collection.

[@jokerproduction5135]

Analog Toys very nice thanks for your hard work great videos