Thank You Mask Man

This short animated piece, set to a live monologue by Lenny Bruce, explores how the Lone Ranger comes to be partnered with Tonto. In the animation, Bruce provides all the voiceovers. It begins with townspeople expressing frustration toward the Lone Ranger for refusing to stay and be thanked after performing a good deed. He then decides to remain and enjoys the praise of being called "Thank you mask man." As the townspeople's attention shifts, he makes a shocking and distasteful final request that upsets them. According to the cartoon’s producer, John Magnuson, at early screenings, some gay audiences were disturbed by what they perceived as "fag-bashing." Part of the piece's effect involves the line "Masked man’s a fag," which provokes and undermines the image of the all-American hero. However, this is framed within Bruce’s broader critique of heroism, and the rejection of the Masked Man by the townspeople is presented as a result of their prejudices, not an endorsement of them. (from: http://ukjarry.blogspot.de/2010/01/352-lenny-bruce-thank-you-mask-man.html)