The legendary Zorro, the masked renegade who rode through the night defending justice in late 18th century Spanish California, became in 1957 the topic for Walt Disney Studios' first continuing live-action series and the name of a new American icon. Based on the stories of Johnston McCulley, the legend of Zorro gave birth to the archetypal dual-identity crime fighter, inspiring the creation of such future pop icons as Batman and the Lone Ranger. This book documents the conception and success of a television legend that has endured for over 40 years. The opening chapter discusses the growth of...