Only instrumental renditions, without Ray Evans’s lyrics, were used during the series’s long run. Did you know that Bonanza was one of the first television series to be shot in color? Shows like Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit or HBO’s Succession owe a huge debt of gratitude to “Bonanza” for establishing foundational storytelling principles that resonate with audiences. The Cartwrights are not just characters; they’ve left an indelible mark on our screens and our hearts. This was revolutionary at the time and led the way for shows like Game of Thrones and Lost.
According to David Dortort, sponsor General Motors was anxious about the episode. As producer, Dortort ensured that the episode re-aired during the summer rerun seasons, though two TV stations in the South refused to air Bonanza City it. In 1968, a slightly revamped horn and percussion-heavy arrangement of the original score introduced the series, which was used until 1970. Finally, a faster rendition of the original music returned for the 14th and final season, along with action shots of the cast (sans Dan Blocker, who had died by this point).
In the twelfth season, Mitch Vogel joined the cast as Jamie Hunter, a teenage orphan who is adopted by Ben Cartwright. Dortort was impressed by Canary’s talent, but the character vanished in September 1970, after Canary had a contract dispute. He returned two seasons later after co-star Dan Blocker’s death, reportedly having been approached by Landon.
Television movies
VE AG released the first seven seasons on DVD in Germany between 2008 and 2010. “The Lonely Man” presents the controversial interracial marriage between the Cartwrights’ longtime Chinese chef (Hop Sing) and a white woman (Missy). Though not familiar stars in 1959, the cast quickly became favorites of the first television generation. And if you’re interested in new releases, don’t miss the scoop on the sonic 3 release date. The show broke down barriers set by earlier series, proving that TV could be both entertaining and meaningful.
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The show is set in the 1860s and centers on the wealthy Cartwright family, who live in the vicinity of Virginia City, Nevada, bordering Lake Tahoe. The series initially starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon and later featured (at various times) Guy Williams, David Canary, Mitch Vogel and Tim Matheson. However, Roberts was persuaded to complete his contract, and remained through season six. In the ninth season, David Canary was added to the cast as ranch hand/foreman Candy Canady. After four years with the series, Canary left due to a contract dispute.
- Finally, a faster rendition of the original music returned for the 14th and final season, along with action shots of the cast (sans Dan Blocker, who had died by this point).
- All episodes have been digitally remastered from original 35 mm film elements to yield the best picture and sound quality possible with current technology.
- Bonanza is an NBC-produced television series that ran on the NBC network from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973.
- As producer, Dortort ensured that the episode re-aired during the summer rerun seasons, though two TV stations in the South refused to air it.
- Only instrumental renditions, without Ray Evans’s lyrics, were used during the series’s long run.
- For nearly 14 seasons and 431 episodes, “Bonanza” was more than just a cowboy show; it became a cultural juggernaut that changed the TV landscape forever.
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America’s Favorite TV Western
- Bonanza “the official first season” was released in Scandinavia during 2010.
- In 1968, a slightly revamped horn and percussion-heavy arrangement of the original score introduced the series, which was used until 1970.
- The Hop Sing character is depicted not only as a cook but also a family counselor and herbal healer.
- Before the pilot aired (on September 12, 1959), the song sequence, deemed too campy, was edited out of the scene and instead the Cartwrights headed back to the ranch whooping and howling.
- According to David Dortort, sponsor General Motors was anxious about the episode.
- He joined the ranks of his fellow co-stars Roberts and Greene, both of whom had begun the series with hairpieces.
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Sure, we loved our lone cowboy hero, but “Bonanza” gave us a family to root for. The interactions between Ben and his sons highlighted real-life family struggles and made every episode relatable. Jamie Hunter was introduced in “A Matter of Faith” (season 12, episode 2). Beginning in 1962, a foundation was being laid to include another “son” as Pernell Roberts was displeased with his character.
Season 12 (1970–
Starting in September 2009, CBS Home Entertainment (distributed by Paramount) has to date released the first eleven seasons on DVD in Region 1. All episodes have been digitally remastered from original 35 mm film elements to yield the best picture and sound quality possible with current technology. At the beginning of the episode, Adam is shown to be outraged at the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott v. Sandford decision (placing the time as 1857), which he discusses with his father.
S1.E8 ∙ The Philip Diedesheimer Story
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- “The Lonely Man” presents the controversial interracial marriage between the Cartwrights’ longtime Chinese chef (Hop Sing) and a white woman (Missy).
- Starting in September 2009, CBS Home Entertainment (distributed by Paramount) has to date released the first eleven seasons on DVD in Region 1.
- Despite the show’s success, Roberts departed the series after the 1964–65 season (202 episodes) and returned to stage productions.
- Creator David Dortort introduced a storyline that would keep the character of Adam in the mix, but with a lighter schedule.
- In the ninth season, David Canary was added to the cast as ranch hand/foreman Candy Canady.
- Vogel played the red-haired orphan of a roving rainmaker, whom Ben takes in and adopts later in a 1971 episode, called “A Home For Jamie”.
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Despite the show’s success, Roberts departed the series after the 1964–65 season (202 episodes) and returned to stage productions. The Bonanza theme song opens with a blazing Ponderosa map and saddlebound Cartwrights. The melodic intro, emulating galloping horses, is one of the most recognized television scores. Although there were two official sets of lyrics (some country-western singers, avoiding royalties, substituted the copyright renditions with their own words), the series simply used an instrumental theme. Three of the cast members bellowed out the original lyrics, unaccompanied, at the close of the pilot (Pernell Roberts, the sole professional singer of the quartet, abstained and untethered the horse reins).
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Ben and his sons then continued west, reaching Nevada, and through much hard work established the Ponderosa Ranch. Sheriff Coffee was occasionally the focus of a plot as in the episode “No Less a Man” (broadcast March 15, 1964). Teal was a bit-part player in western films for several years before landing a substantial role in Northwest Passage (1940) starring Spencer Tracy. However, the unexpected death of Blocker in 1972 left a bigger hole, and Bonanza ended one season later.
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S1.E32 ∙ Death at Dawn
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Early in the show’s history, Ben recalls each of his late wives in flashback episodes. Any time one of the Cartwrights seriously courted a woman, she died from a malady, was abruptly slain, or left with someone else. Fourteen-year-old Mitch Vogel was introduced as Jamie Hunter Cartwright in “A Matter of Faith” (season 12, episode 363). Vogel played the red-haired orphan of a roving rainmaker, whom Ben takes in and adopts later in a 1971 episode, called “A Home For Jamie”. Beginning in 1962, a foundation was being laid to include another “son”, as Pernell Roberts was displeased with his character.