George Ranger Johnson

**George Ranger Johnson** (born March 11, 1946) is an underappreciated author of adventure fiction and proprietor of the Broken Bottle. He currently resides in Tucson, AZ. Johnson is a friend of Tubbs Tarbell.

The *Lonesome Dreams* series unfolds non-chronologically, following the wide-ranging adventures of several characters, (chiefly Huron, Admiral Blaquefut and Helena) whose stories intertwine. A 2013 version of Johnson's website indicates the track order of the album *Lonesome Dreams* is the story chronology.

In recent years, Johnson has sporadically broadcast a pirate radio program, chiefly concerning unexplained phenomena, historical mysteries and questions of extraterrestrial life. He has also devoted entire episodes to playing his favorite music. His taste is obscure and eclectic.

It is unclear whether the *Lonesome Dreams* series will continue.

## Books

The *Lonesome Dreams* series in order of publication date:\*

* *Lonesome Dreams* (1966)
* *She Lit a Fire* (1968)
* *Time to Run* (1969)
* *Ends of the Earth* (1971)
* *The Man Who Lives Forever* (1974)
* *In the Wind* (1977)
* *Brother (Last Ride)* (1979)
* *I Will Be Back One Day* (1983)
* *Lullaby* (1985)
* *The Ghost on the Shore* (1987)
* *Setting Sun* (unfinished)

\*See the Lonesome Dreams album page for the chronological order of the narrative.

## Description and appearances

On his website, Johnson is depicted as a middle-aged man wearing glasses and a tan-colored short-sleeved button up shirt. The website has now been updated to show he has succumbed to time's blur.

He is interviewed on Tubbs Tarbell’s show about his new book, *Ends of the Earth*, suggesting the clip is filmed around 1971-73. Johnson is shown wearing a beige blazer and dark shirt and pants. The interview clip shown in episode 426 cuts off just before he speaks.

In the credits for Products of the Universe, Johnson is included as the spiritual advisor to Marsha Tanley.

## Memorabilia

At some point early in Quentin King’s career, he crossed paths with Johnson. King and a bass player named Francis played at a “dive in the desert" and the owner tried to pay them with his unfinished manuscript. This manuscript was Setting Sun and remains unfinished to this day. King, angry at the form of payment, left behind the manuscript, signing the front “Go Fuck Yourself!! -Q.K”, and allegedly smashed up the bar on the way out. Francis took the manuscript and passed it on to a nephew or niece when he died. They listed it on Craigslist for $465 and said they “can’t vouch for the story in “Setting Sun” but the story around it is amazing!”

## Questions and fan theories

* Does Johnson run George’s Place? It may be his establishment however given the similarities in the names. This is strongly suggested in Lord Huron's AMA on Reddit. However, the timeline is tight. Buck Vernon’s band is shown playing in George’s Place in the “Fool For Love” music video. Buck is a washed up rockabilly singer from the late 50s or early 60s. Johnson would be about 9-18 years old in that timeframe and unlikely to own a bar. However, it possible that by the late 60s, Johnson could have started one. It’s also possible this was simply an Easter Egg and not meant to be the same George. Regardless, he would need to have obtained ownership of the Broken Bottle around about 1971-73, because Tarbell interviews him about his “new” 1971 book on the show, and mentions Johnson run the bar.

* Since Whispering Pines and Tarbell's show were inspired by a chance encounter between Tarbell and Donny and Midge at the Broken Bottle, the Broken Bottle had to be open prior to the interview of Johnson on the show. The earliest shows are in black in white, but by the 1971 interview they are in color, so it’s likely Tubbs met Donny and Midge in the 50s or early 60s, when the transition to color television was not yet universal.

## Gallery

Tarbell holds *Ends of the Earth* on his television showTarbell interviews Johnson on Alive From Whispering Pines about a new book, Ends of the EarthTubbs Tarbell reading Lonesome Dreams
## Sources

1. ↑ Smile Politely interview
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 George Ranger Johnson's website
3. ↑ Lord Huron's official Instagram account
4. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/31qneb/we\_are\_lord\_huron\_ask\_us\_anything/