Bonanza had a 14-year run with 431 total episodes, making it the longest-running Western television series in NBC’s history. Do you still remember that iconic show and look for reruns? Let’s go back in time right now to see some fascinating facts about the cast and filming!
Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
Lorne Greene was a musician and Canadian actor who landed the part for Ben Cartwright, a widowed leader of his clan. One TV Guide survey shows him as the second-favorite dad on television in 2007.
Lorne Greene As Ben Cartwright
The Father Figure
TV shows were depicting dads as dimwitted men who required their wives for help during the time that Bonanza premiered. However, David Dortort (the producer) wanted something different. Ben had to be admired and worthy of respect and demanded an hour-long show to explore this character fully.
The Father Figure
Never Changed Clothes
If you were a die-hard fan of the show, you may have noticed that your beloved characters didn’t change clothes. That way, the production crew could use stock footage and keep costs low. Still, it was quite expensive to create each episode!
Never Changed Clothes
Michael Landon as Joseph Cartwright
Michael Landon was an American writer, actor, producer, and director who played Little Joe, the youngest son. His mother had French Creole descent. Before and after his appearance here, he was in many movies and television shows. Sadly, he passed in 1991.
Michael Landon As Joseph Cartwright
Michael Landon’s Name
Eugene Maurice Orowitz was Michael Landon’s real name. Initially, he wanted Michael Lane as his screen name, but another actor had it. He went through an old phone book to find “Alf Landon,” and he transformed into Michael Landon.
Michael Landon’s Name
Multitalented Cast
The actors were quite talented in front of the camera, and many could sing. Four Cartwright brothers were part of a Christmas album in 1964 called Christmas at the Ponderosa. Plus, Lorne Green had a huge hit from “Ringo.”
Multitalented Cast
Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright
Pernell Roberts Jr was an American singer and actor who played Adam, the oldest Cartwright son. He guest-starred in over 60 television shows, leaving Bonanza after six years. He retired in the 90s and died at 81 years old in 2010.
Pernell Roberts As Adam Cartwright
Pernell Hated the Show
Roberts left the show after six years, surprising the viewers. However, people behind the scenes realized that he hated the show because of it’s low intelligence in writing and politics.
Pernell Hated The Show
Television Inspires Restaurant Chain
The Bonanza Steakhouse and Ponderosa Steakhouse were inspired by the television show. Dan Blocker was a cast member on Bonanza and founded them. The first one opened in 1965 and expanded to Canada in the early 1970s.
Television Inspires Restaurant Chain
Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing
Art imitates life with Victor Sen Yung. He played the family cook on the show and was an accomplished chef in his real life. He authored a book and appeared on other cooking shows when this one ended.
Victor Sen Yung As Hop Sing
Western King Arthur
Dortort thought about the show and how to put it together, picturing it as the Old West version of the King Arthur story. In his version, Ben was King Arthur, with his sons being knights. That came true because Ben guided his kids throughout their lives.
Western King Arthur
Dan Blocker as Hoss Cartwright
Dan Blocker was Eric “Hoss” Cartwright. His character was dimwitted, sweet, and gullible, which is the opposite of the man in real life. Before becoming an actor, he was a teacher. He died at 43 years old in 1972 before the next production of the series was set to start.
Dan Blocker As Hoss Cartwright
The Massive Baby
Dan Blocker weighed a whopping 14 pounds at birth, so he was the largest baby born at that time in Bowie County, Texas. He was 105 pounds when he started first grade, too!
The Massive Baby
Barely Surviving to Thriving
Bonanza struggled during the first season, airing every Saturday night and picking up dismal ratings. In fact, it was almost canceled. However, it was the first show broadcast in color, and NBC wanted to keep it running. When it got bumped to Sunday nights, ratings soared!
Barely Surviving To Thriving
David Canary as Candy Canaday
David Canary became Candy Canaday on Bonanza to fill the gap when Pernell Roberts chose to leave the show. He was a top candidate for Mr. Spock on Star Trek, but he decided on a Western. He died in 2015 from natural causes.
David Canary As Candy Canaday
The Ponderosa Ranch in Real Life
Bonanza fans couldn’t stop themselves from visiting Incline Village, Nevada, which was the location for the fictional town. However, there was nothing there, leaving them disappointed. Joyce and Bill Anderson decided to build a theme park based on the series.
The Ponderosa Ranch In Real Life
Stock Footage to Lower Costs
Because the characters didn’t change clothes, stock footage was often used. Production crews cut the budget by thousands of dollars for each episode. This was a simple and effective trick and saved tons of money.
Stock Footage To Lower Costs
Still Expensive
While production crews saved money by using stock photos and never changing the character’s clothes, the network spent about $100,000 to $150,000 on each episode. Therefore, it was the most expensive series to produce at the time, though it out-performed many others.
Still Expensive
Zorro as Adam Cartwright
Guy Williams was initially offered the Adam Cartwright role, but he refused and played Zorro instead. Though he didn’t take on a main character, he appeared in five episodes of Bonanza as a cousin. It had been created to replace Pernell Roberts if and when he walked off.
Zorro As Adam Cartwright
Hoss’s Real Name
You’ve probably heard him called Hoss in almost every episode, but that wasn’t his actual name in the show. His full name was Eric Haas Cartwright. The characters just used his nickname, which was a play on the middle name.
Hoss’s Real Name
The Cartwright Curse
If a woman fell in love with a Cartwright, they ended up leaving town or dead. It was a joke among the fans and actors that there truly was a Cartwright Curse. Overall, the man was meant to raise kids alone as a strong father figure.
The Cartwright Curse
Fake Hair
Many Bonanza actors ended up wearing toupees during the show’s production. These include Greene, Roberts, and Blocker. Luckily for all the ladies out there, Landon’s hair was real.
Fake Hair
Equal Screen Time
The four men in the household share similar screen time. Production teams didn’t want to overshadow anyone. Therefore, each script was scrutinized to ensure that every show had four stars, leaving a well-balanced series that everyone fell in love with.
Equal Screen Time
Title Slang
The term “Bonanza” was a slang term that miners used to describe large ore and mineral deposits. It also meant hitting the jackpot. In the Comstock Lode episode, the Cartwrights found a real-life bonanza on the ranch!
Title Slang
Selling Color TVs
Bonanza was one of the first television shows to get filmed in color. RCA and NBC decided to keep it on the air as ratings suffered because RCA wanted to sell color television sets. When it became more popular, it didn’t rely so heavily on selling television sets.
Selling Color TVs
Michael Landon’s Obsession
Michael Landon had a role on the popular TV show, but he was devoted to each frame. He appeared in almost every episode, being left out of only 14. It was here that Landon started his directing and writing career, even taking over some of the episodes of Bonanza.
Michael Landon’s Obsession
Hard to Work with Landon
Landon was actually hard to work with during the last few seasons. There were rumors floating around that he worked hard to keep major characters off the show. He often delayed production shoots to make the series his own vision.
Hard To Work With Landon
No Dan on MASH
Dan Blocker was a top choice to play the lead role in M*A*S*H – The Movie. However, the producers didn’t think he was a good fit. The movie was successful, but it could have been interesting to see Dan blocker as a character!
No Dan On MASH
Blocker Makes History
Dan Blocker actually died in 1972 before the final season was filmed. “Forever” was where Hoss fell in love and got married, but Landon rewrote it so that Little Joe fell in love. Still, that was the first time in television history where a character’s death was acknowledged on the air.
Blocker Makes History
Guest Stars Earn More
During the first season, the production team didn’t know if people might like the show. Therefore, famous stars were brought in as guests and earned more than the actual actors. However, the second season stopped that when the Bonanza characters became stars in their own right.
Guest Stars Earn More
Lyrics for the Theme Song
Though most viewers only heard the instrumental part, the theme song had lyrics. Ray Evans and Jay Livingston wrote it, and there is footage out there with the lead actors singing. Though they never aired, you can find them if you try hard enough.
Lyrics For The Theme Song
One of the First
You may not realize that Bonanza was the first U.S. Western show to be 100 percent in color. That’s also why it was so expensive to make. If it hadn’t been for this decision, the show would likely have been canceled before it could become so popular!
One Of The First
Its Incredible Run
Gunsmoke (20 seasons) was the only Western television series to run longer than Bonanza (14 seasons). Syndication of each show continues in many parts of the world even today.
Its Incredible Run
Cartwrights Not Hostile
During the first few episodes, the Cartwrights appeared hostile to visitors on the land. However, Lorne soon realized that the family was crucial for the community. Many people had to visit the homestead for business, so they changed their approach.
Cartwrights Not Hostile
Chevy Connection
Much of Bonanza’s income came from the partnership with Chevrolet. This car company sponsored almost every episode, keeping it in production. The stars were even featured in Chevy commercials as part of the deal.
Chevy Connection
Deep Connection to Star Trek
Most of the major actors from Star Trek in 1966 were featured on Bonanza at some point during the run. Majel Barrett, DeForest Kelley, Leonard Nimoy, and James Doohan were just a few of them.
Deep Connection To Star Trek
Landon’s Writing Wasn’t Enough
Landon wanted to write for this show, but David Dortort didn’t allow that. Finally, though, Landon submitted a script Dortort liked. From then on, he became a regular writer and occasionally produced episodes before writing for Little House on the Prairie.
Landon’s Writing Wasn’t Enough
First Issue-Oriented Western
Bonanza was actually the first dramatic Western on television that didn’t focus solely on hunting and killing the bad guys. Instead, it talked about social justice, prejudice, and racism problems that were very real at the time.
First Issue Oriented Western
Rotating Credits Every Week
If you watch the opening sequences for many episodes, you soon see that the actors’ names were put in different orders. That way, no one had the top billing each time. The four main actors were equal stars, so this was carefully monitored.
Rotating Credits Every Week
Theatrical Release
You may not realize that Bonanza had a theatrical release in Mexico. Overall, the two “Ride the Wind” episodes were offered a full release. However, the episodes were renamed as “Jintes del Viento.
Theatrical Release
