John Devereaux Wrather Jr. (May 24, 1918 – November 12, 1984), was an entrepreneur and petroleum businessman who became a television producer and later diversified by investing in broadcast stations and resort properties. He is best known for producing The Lone Ranger, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, and Lassie television series in the 1950s as well as marrying actress Bonita Granville. His daughter, Linda Wrather appeared in one of the last episodes of the Lone Ranger, The Angel and the Outlaw.
Biography
Wrather was born in Amarillo, Texas on to Mazie (Cogdell) and John Devereaux Wrather. They moved to Tyler, where he grew up and graduated from the local high school in 1935. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 1939. He worked in the oilfields of East Texas as a wildcatter and pipeline walker as his college summer job. He bought a home in Hollywood
In 1954, Wrather-Alvarez purchased the complete rights to the Lone Ranger character and took over production of the television series (1954–1957). The corporation also purchased the Lassie television series in 1956 and the Sergeant Preston of the Yukon television series in 1957.
Other investments
Wrather further diversified his holdings by building or buying resort hotels and other properties throughout the United States.
In addition to the Disneyland Hotel, he owned the Twin Lakes Lodge in Las Vegas, the L'Horizon Hotel in Palm Springs, California, the Balboa Bay Club & Resort in Newport Beach, and the Inn at the Park in Anaheim. In the 1970s, there was talk of the Disneyland-Alweg monorail being expanded to stop at the Inn at the Park, but it never came to fruition. The Inn at the Park has changed ownership frequently, and is currently operated as the Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort.
In 1957, Wrather purchased the Muzak corporation, a company providing "elevator music" for business environments. The company owned an extensive library of easy listening music and one of the world's largest recording plants. Wrather sold the company in 1972.
In the early 1980s, Wrather purchased, restored and made tourist attractions of the Spruce Goose and the in Long Beach, California.
Over the years, he created or purchased many companies for his businesses and investments, including Evansville Refining Co., Overton Refining Co., Jack Wrather Pictures, Inc., Freedom Productions Corporation, Western States Investment Corporation, Wrather-Alvarez Broadcasting, Inc., General Television Corporation, Jack Wrather Productions, Wrather Hotels, Lone Ranger Inc., Lone Ranger Television, Lone Ranger Pictures, Lassie Television, the Muzak Corporation,
Death and aftermath
thumb|right|Wrather's grave, next to that of his wife [[Bonita Granville, at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California]]
Wrather died of cancer at age 66 on November 12, 1984, at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. and at the Harry Ransom Center.
Filmography
Films
- The Guilty (1947)
- High Tide (1947)
- Perilous Waters (1948)
- Strike it Rich (1948)
- Guilty of Treason/Treason (1950)
- The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1958)
- The Magic of Lassie (1978)
- The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981)
TV shows
- The Lone Ranger (1949–57)
- Lassie (1957–74)
- Sergeant Preston of the Yukon (1955–58)