Kanab in Kane County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
"Jay Silverheels"
Utah's Little Hollywood
Photographed by James Hulse, April 8, 2025
1. "Jay Silverheels" Marker
Inscription.
"Jay Silverheels". . On May 12, 1912 an Indian child was born on the Six Nations Reservation at Branford Ontario, Canada. His birth name was Harold J. Smith, but once he started working in the motion picture industry he started to gain notice (such as "Geronimo") in "Broken Arrow" with James Stewart. The role brought some much wanted and welcomed notre for the now re-named Jay Silverheels. Jay was not happy with the way Hollywood treated it's Indian Actors and he got heavily involved with various groups. In 1949 was a pivotal time for Jay when he was hired to portray the "Tonto" loyal side kick to "The Lone Ranger", Jay gave all he had to his portrayal of the "Masked Rider" of the plains and the series was to run from 1949-1957 and its constant re-runs. It has been reported that Clayton Moore and Jay worked well as "The Lone Ranger" with Jay and always pushing for Indian rights. Once the T.V. series ceased Jay still worked on but not as "Tonto". Jay was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Two fabulous feature "Lone Ranger", films starring Clayton Moore and Jay which were huge successes with location of the "Lone Ranger", in Kanab (1956) and two years later (1958) to "The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold".
On May 12, 1912 an Indian child was born on the Six Nations Reservation at Branford Ontario, Canada. His birth name was Harold J. Smith, but once he started working in the motion picture industry he started to gain notice (such as "Geronimo") in "Broken Arrow" with James Stewart. The role brought some much wanted and welcomed notre for the now re-named Jay Silverheels. Jay was not happy with the way Hollywood treated it's Indian Actors and he got heavily involved with various groups. In 1949 was a pivotal time for Jay when he was hired to portray the "Tonto" loyal side kick to "The Lone Ranger", Jay gave all he had to his portrayal of the "Masked Rider" of the plains and the series was to run from 1949-1957 and its constant re-runs. It has been reported that Clayton Moore and Jay worked well as "The Lone Ranger" with Jay and always pushing for Indian rights. Once the T.V. series ceased Jay still worked on but not as "Tonto". Jay was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Two fabulous feature "Lone Ranger", films starring Clayton Moore and Jay which were huge successes with location of the "Lone Ranger", in Kanab
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(1956) and two years later (1958) to "The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold".
Erected by Kane County Office of Tourism and Kanab Utahs "Walk of Fame".
Location. 37° 2.805′ N, 112° 31.577′ W. Marker is in Kanab, Utah, in Kane County. It is on South 100 East (U.S. 89) north of E 100 S, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located along the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 98 S 100 E, Kanab UT 84741, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Color Country. It is also in the American Southwest, in the Mountain West, in Colorado Plateau, and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At
Photographed by James Hulse, April 8, 2025
2. The "Jay Silverheels" Marker is the first marker on the right
Jay Silverheels (born Harold Jay Smith; May 26, 1912 March 5, 1980, Mohawk) was a Canadian actor and athlete, descended from three Iroquois nations. He was well known for his role as Tonto, the Native American companion of the Lone Ranger in the American Western television series The Lone Ranger.
(Submitted on May 18, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 181 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
