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Legendary actor Clayton Moore's cowboy hat for personal appearances as his signature character, The Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger proved so popular as a radio show that it was made into the classic George W. Trendle and Fran Striker television series, becoming ABC's first hit. Moore made more than 170 appearances as the do-gooder in the series and two feature films. In 2005, Moore was nominated for a TV Land Award® for Favorite Crimestopper for his performances.
Few objects carry the emotional power of actor Clayton Moore's white Stetson. To generations of Americans, it represented far more than a television costume - it was the unmistakable emblem of honor, justice, and moral courage. When producers of a new Lone Ranger film obtained a court order in 1979 preventing him from appearing as the character in public, fans rallied behind Moore. Following a five-year legal battle, Moore prevailed, transforming the dispute into a larger public defense of the character he had come to embody. By then, he had achieved something rare: not simply beloved actor, but American folk hero. He remains the only performer whose Hollywood Walk of Fame star bears both actor and role, while his mask is preserved in the Smithsonian as an icon of American popular culture.
In the years after the legal battle, Moore appeared at numerous promotional events in costume as the masked hero, forever cementing his association with the beloved character. This white beaver felt Stetson hat (size 6 3/4) - one of two purchased directly from legendary Hollywood tailor Nudie Cohn circa the early 1980s for formal engagements, including the Golden Boot Awards and Moore's induction into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame - originates from the personal collection of Moore's daughter, Dawn Moore.
The hat is stamped with Nudie's maker's mark and features a leather sweatband stamped with the Nudie's Rodeo Tailors logo. Also included is Moore's original traveling hat case from the 1960s. The hat shows evidence of wear throughout the felt and leather, a demonstration of its value within Moore's personal wardrobe across multiple decades. Dimensions: (box) 19.25" x 19.25" x 13" (48.5 cm x 48.5 cm x 33 cm)
Additional Provenance: Letter of Authenticity signed by Dawn Moore.
Estimate: $40,000 - 80,000
View all lots from THE LONE RANGER (TV SERIES, 1949-1957)
View all lots from Dawn Moore Collection
This item comes with a Propstore Certificate of Authenticity.