The Iconic Cartwright Family

The popular show Bonanza, everyone's favorite Western TV Show, is centered on the Cartwright family, and its story has a seat in around 1860s Virginia City, Nevada. The show is iconic and synonymous with American popular culture. The show's theme song is said to be one of the most popular theme songs of the 20th century.

The theme song even translated into a hit song. The famous western show is full of lesser-known anecdotes that you'll come to know as you read on; reading about it will refresh all your memories of this ever-popular show.

Secret Behind The Name

The name of the show certainly seems interesting. Apart from offering a bonanza of entertainment for the average viewer, did it have any underlying secret to its name? Well, this was a name often bandied about when miners hit upon a large deposit of ore. It takes inspiration from real life as people rushed to the 1859 Comstock Lode discovery, where people went to the Virginia Range in Nevada when silver was discovered.

As timber is to loggers, it is a bonanza when miners discover a mine! Almost as if you find out a bonanza at the mines.

Comstock Lode Discovery - The Seat of Bonanza

The show also owes its name to the mining town where the show is shot. Although it is the fictional ranch on which the Cartwrights live, Ponderosa Ranch's location is next to the Comstock Lode discovery.

There is not one bit six bonanzas out there. There are tons of silver discovered in that place, as much as 70,000 tons. Even gold was found in that place in 1850. It was the place where all miners wanted to be. And why not? Several priceless metals are in that place, enough to lure a town of miners.

Producer Rejects Dan Blocker As Lead Role for M*A*S*H*

One of Robert Altman's first choices for the lead actor for his choice of the show M*A*S*H*. The actor Dan Blocker has been an integral part of Bonanza's show from the start. Unfortunately, it did not work for Blocker and Altman, as the producers did not agree to him starring in the show Bonanza.

The film was a great success, but audiences still wondered how the show would turn out with Blocker playing the lead. Perhaps the film would have gained mileage out of Blocker's popularity!

Men Outnumbers Women in The Wild West

The creators of Bonanza debated whether to include women in the show? They decided to keep the inclusion of women to a minimum. Although there were many women in the front and in the lives of the Cartwright men (Ben was said to marry more than once), they had a significant impact.

The show was faithful to the times as there were more men in the wild west than men. It was much later that women joined the men trying to dig opportunities in the west, the ones they didn't find in the east.

No Women in The Cast

One of the most surprising things about the show was the family unit had no female members in the front. Interestingly, all the twelve cast members in the show (Featuring 431 episodes) were men.

Today with changes in societal norms, things have changed significantly. Shows during those times smacked of misogyny, and wives or women were shown as scheming and controlling individuals. Of course, they are no longer shown in a similar light in modern shows, which is a blessing. It would also seem weird to see a show with no female protagonists on the show.

A Few Women in The Cast

A few women did make their presence felt on the show. Ben had three sons on the show; of course, it would not have been possible without the presence of a woman on the show. Although, all three sons (from three different mothers) met with less-than-favorable ends.

Since each of Ben's sons had different mothers, all of his three sons looked different from each other. This was undoubtedly one of the most exciting aspects of the show.

The Bad Luck Saga

Women in the show had to endure a process called the Cartwright Curse, where they die an untimely death, and fans call it the Cartwright Curse. The boys have similar bad luck with women, as the loved or interest either die of disease, are killed, or the women flee with another man in tow.

The show primarily focuses on the ranch and the relationships between the brothers. It was a usual case of those times, and you would be able to spot a similar phenomenon on the other shows as well.

King Arthur and His Knights

The show is based on King Arthur and his knights sitting around the round table. If you have been a big fan of the show, you may notice how the Bonanza story is based on similar lines as King Arthur's. The head or father of the family is Ben Cartwright; King Arthur himself, and his sons such as Adam, Hoss, and Little John, are the 'knights.'

The Cartwright family also has a Ponderosa Ranch, much like Camelot. The show was known for portraying moral dilemmas, with the Cartwright family seeking justice like King Arthur and his knights.

Short-Lived Theme Park

The show became insanely popular, so much so that it became a short-lived theme park. A couple is known as Bill, and Joyce Anderson owned a ranch, and visitors kept asking them the way to the Ponderosa Ranch. In 1965, the producers of the show hatched a plan with the NBC executives to make a replica of the Bonanza set on the ranch.

Soon enough, the theme park was opened to the public. Even though the show was filmed there for a short while, they had to ditch the plan and shift to the former place they were shooting because of the high transportation costs.

Wild Wild West in Paramount Studios

A lesser-known fact about the show Bonanza is that it was originally filmed in the wild west, at least in the beginning. It was shot at Lake Hemet, and later it was shot at Lake Tahoe. The locales gave the show its authentic feel, but the challenges of shooting in the middle of nowhere soon caught up with the crew.

With the spectacular success of the show, the budget also increased, and it was shifted back to Paramount Studios and again to Warner Brothers Studios. What you saw on the show was primarily shot in a studio; kudos to the team for making it so authentic.

It Brought Up The Sale of Color Televisions

Bonanza was one of the first shows that were filmed in color. It aired on NBC, a company owned by the Radio Corporation of America, a notable electronics company that started from 1919 to 1986.

Most households had black and white television where the people would watch Bonanza. But since it was filmed in color, the sales of color television sets shot up significantly. Although the show wasn't as successful in its original time slot, the network shifted it to another slot and gave it another try. Soon enough, the shoe became a huge hit, and people started buying color televisions in considerable numbers to catch their favorite shows.

Introduction of a Chinese American Actor

Bonanza was a pathbreaking show for more reasons than one. The themes of the episodes were relevant and topical. Even things like domestic violence were discussed on the show, which were not discussed back then, the introduction of the Chinese-American actor. Victor Sen Yung was also like swimming against the trend. He played Cartwright's family's cook, Hop Sing.

That was the time many Asian characters were used to playing minority characters and were also shown in a bad light. In fact, in the era that the show was filmed, many Chinese people were living in the west during the 1860s, thus making the show as real as it gets.

Been There For The Cast

Pernell Elven Roberts played the role of the eldest Cartwright son, Adam Cartwright, from 1959-1965. Throughout his life, he had been an activist and coerced NBC to hire people from different backgrounds and colors to play minority characters. When Victor Sen Yung, the Chinese-American man playing the role of the cook Hop Sing on Bonanza, breathed his last, Roberts was quick to come to his family's aid and provide a glowing eulogy and cover the funeral costs.

There was more to Pernell than meets the eye as he participated in several activism programs, such as Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, to extend his unflinching support to the Civil Rights Movement. Many spoke about him glowingly at his death, such as Gregory Harrison, who said that Roberts had touched many with his selflessness.

Robert's Departure After Six Years

Pernell Roberts played the role of the brother regarded as the most educated in the family. Adam Cartright had a degree in architectural engineering. His songs became very popular, and many of them were featured in the show were featured on the show. Pernell also had a theatrical background and recorded a folk album before he starred in Bonanza.

He was, however, not very fond of the show he was a part of. He had shown his disapproval to the show makers as they failed to include an adequate representation of the minority community. He also expressed his displeasure at the character not enjoying a whole character arc as it should. He even called the show junk television, and soon enough, the producers showed him the door.

Dan Blocker Had An Accident on The Set

The character of Hoss played the role of an easily impressionable simpleton. He had a Swedish mother who died in the story, and Eric was called Hoss on the show. Dan Blocker, who played the character, had a pronounced authoritarian streak in him; well, at least several incidents of the show point towards this truth.

Dan broke his collarbone while filming and was thrown off the house. He didn't seek medical attention right then. Instead, he continued to shoot the episodes. Eventually, he took a break for six weeks. When he returned, his 'weighty issues' almost collapsed the horse under his weight. Fortunately, the horse was alright, but it caused a lot of laughter on the sets.

A Phenomenon Called Dan Blocker

While Hoss was predominantly on the show to provide comic relief on the front, the actor was very bright. Not only did he serve in the Korean War, but he also received the Purple Heart. He believed in completing his education (he had a master's degree) before he became an actor.

Not only did he come to the world of entertainment armed with a master's degree, but he also appeared on the Broadway show before serving in the military. After that, he became an English and drama teacher in New Mexico and finally found his calling in acting.

The Youngest of The Cartwright Brothers

Michael Landon is another actor whose career got a shot in the arm because of the show Bonanza. His character, Little Joe, was the youngest of the Cartwright brothers and the one who created the most trouble.

This episode Forever was hailed as one of the most popular episodes. Of course, his popularity was mainly because of his good looks. He was one of the few actors who were part of all 14 seasons of the show. He also later explored other aspects of his career, such as writing and directing, and even went to be the director of one of the shows on the series.

All about Michael Landon

Michael Landon was born Eugene Maurice Orowitz initially, but he changed his name because of the fear of an anti-semitism backlash. Born to an Irish-Catholic comedian, dancer, mother, and Jewish actor named Eli Maurice Orowitz, he naturally chose acting as his career. He was on the lookout to find a name for himself and finally decided on the name Landon.

Landon didn't have an easy childhood. His mother committing suicide before him created an indelible scar on his mind. It also inspired him to make a film, The Loneliest Runner, based on all his childhood trauma.

Another Famous Show

After Bonanza ended, Michael Landon became part of another uber-popular show set in the 19th century. He played the role of Charles Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, and he eventually even ran the show. He donned countless haat of a writer, producer, and director, of the hit television series he played for nine years, all the while playing the chief protagonist of Charles Ingalls.

After Little House on the Prairie, Landon went on to direct, produce, and wrote for the television series Highway to Heaven and became part of the show. He was also known as the hottest star on television.

What The Bonanza Cast Wore

The show was sweeping all popularity charts, and with the staggering success came high production costs; yes, the producers went all in to make the show one of the most popular shows ever. However, while their production costs soared, the producers had to cut costs in other aspects of production like the costumes. They also saved as much as possible by using stock footage, and the production team could save thousands of dollars per episode!

Also, the cast had to wear the same clothes after the completion of the fourth season. Money saved is money earned, and it helped them when they had to spend extra money on stunt doubles.

Cutdown on an Expensive Wardrobe

Although the cast looked swell with their plaid shirts, ragged pants, and wide-brimmed cowboy hats, it was simple and saved good money. Ben Cartwright was always seen wearing a sandy shirt, leather vest, and short grey trousers, and a cream-colored hat.

Hoss appeared casually comfortable in a white shirt, brown vest, and pants, along with a ten-gallon hat. Little Joe also shone, wearing a beige shirt, green jacket, and tan pants, topping it off with a hat. On the other hand, Adam wore a black shirt, pants, and a hat and threw a cream coat into the mixture.

Bonanza Merchandise

Bonanza was able to reach the zenith of success, and soon enough, the market was flooded with Bonanza merchandise. Season collections are still available to purchase on DVD, but the merchandising fever caught on, with clothing, albums, lunch boxes, and plates available for the Bonanza fans.

There were also fourteen novels and magazines based on the show. The magazine had interviews of the entire cast and other background information about the show. It indeed turned out to be a collector's item. Fans still can't get enough of the Bonanza memorabilia.

Toupees Galore

One of the other exciting things to note about the show was the amount of fake hair the cast used on the show. Lorne Green, Ben Cartwright (the father) on the show, was middle-aged right at the show's beginning and wore a wig. Pernell Roberts made good use of the wig to hide his receding hairline.

The Blocker, who was 40, had to use a hairpiece to look young and fit on the show. Only Michael Landon did not have to use a wig as he had a thick mane.

Greatest Breakout Hits

Bonanza's initial performance had the producers breaking into a sweat as it didn't turn out to be as great a success as it was touted. But slowly and indeed, it caught people's attention and soon became one of the most popular shows in the 1960s. By 1970 it was regarded as one of the top five television shows for nine consecutive seasons. The show's ranking fell a bit in 1971, but there is no doubt that it is one of the most popular shows ever to hit television.

The show owes its success to the teamwork, namely, the writers, producers, and actors. People still remember the bonanza theme song and the name of the characters, the episodes, and every minute detail.

An Inspiring Father's Role

In the 1960s and the early 1970s, the father's role was often looked down upon as they were said to be dim-witted and useless. But the producer of Bonanza, David Dortort, chose not to get caught in the conventional trap.

The character of Ben Cartwright came out to be a character whom people could look up to. The show continued to change to make further additions to his character trait, The show's duration also changed from half an hour to establish the characters better, impacting the audience.

A Thriving Restaurant Chain

There is no doubt about the fact that the restaurant chain, Ponderosa/Bonanza was inspired by the uber-popular television series and was the brainchild of the cast member Dan Blocker. It was a brain wave of his to link his show, Bonanza, to his upcoming restaurant business; there is no doubt about the fact that fans of the show would visit the restaurant.

Blocker was also the founder of the first Bonanza Steakhouse in Kokomo, Indiana, in 1965. Since then, the chain of restaurants has spread its wings in many other places, such as Alaska. Today, the steakhouses are under the ownership of the Metromedia Restaurant Group.

All on The Same Pedestal

The show's producers ensured that all the four protagonists of the show enjoyed equal screen time. This way, not only were the actors happy, but the fans were happy too.

Each show was structured so that all the main guys had equal opportunities to shine. The set enjoyed a relaxed atmosphere as the actors did not feel insecure, acting-wise, and they could put their best foot forward. It was a clever ploy of the producers that worked.

Extra Payment for Guest Appearances

For the show's first season, the producers tried various hacks to bring their performance under the spotlight. One of the hacks that worked was introducing new characters to the storyline. These characters were all played by A-grade actors. These characters had guest appearances on the show.

Some of these A-list actors were paid a heftier remuneration than the permanent actors of the show. By season two, however, the main actors became famous and enjoyed considerable clout. The guest appearances started waning as the main characters had enough power to attract the audience.

Unexpected Death

With the passing away of Dan Blocker, the show did get impacted. He breathed his last when he was just 43 while canning his shot from a condition called pulmonary embolism after gallbladder surgery. His death was pretty sudden, and the writers had to think on their feet to ensure the show went on.

There was a significant lull of sorrow among the show's fans who loved Dan Blocker dearly. They wrote a script when the character Hoss would die in an accident. It was one of the most emotional moments on television when the death of the actor was also mentioned on the show with great tenderness and feeling.

The Theme Music Had Lyrics To It

Even many die-hard fans of Bonanza do not know that the theme music of the show, composed by the legendary Ray Evans and Jay Livingston, had lyrics to it. The instrumental theme music was used for the series, and fans didn't get to hear Ray Evans' vocals. The hit song was orchestrated by David Rose and musically arranged by Billy May.

If you search on the internet today, you might be able to find old footage of Ray Evans and Jay Livingston singing the song together. Some country-western singers, such as Michael Landon, Lorne Green, and Dan Blocker, sang the original lyrics for the series, but the with-lyrics version never went live.

The Series Almost Got Cancelled

Bonanza, like many great series, initially couldn't do well. This is because it was aired every Saturday at 7.30 PM Eastern time, opposite the CBS show Perry Mason. The initial ratings were decent, but the executives thought about canceling the show citing its high cost.

A show which was about to be canceled ran for 14 straight seasons! NBC, however, wanted to give it another chance, as this was one of the earliest series to be broadcast in color. They rescheduled the show to Sunday nights, and the rescheduling worked. During the mid-1960s, it became the highest-rated TV show.

It Got A Theatrical Release…in Mexico

While people in the USA and Canada only got to see the series on television, a few handpicked episodes of the show were released theatrically in Mexico. Two parts of the Ride the Wind episode were combined (and renamed Jinetes del Viento for the Mexican audience), and the special episode was released theatrically in Mexico.

However, why the producers never wanted to continue the show in Mexico is still unknown. It was a grand success in Mexico, but NBC never again released any other show episode, nor even in any other country.

Michael Landon Experienced Stardom

Michael Landon, a relatively less famous actor back then, having only guest-appeared on several western shows, was offered the role of 'Little Joe', which was the most significant break in his career. Aside from acting, Landon also dabbled in writing scripts and directing the episodes of Bonanza.

By the time the show ended its run, Landon was catapulted into stardom. He then appeared in another popular TV series, Highway to Heaven. There was no looking back for him after the success of Highway to Heaven. Landon would become a household name and a Hollywood A-lister in the days to come.

A Launch Pad for New Talents

Not only Landon but many unfamiliar names were cast in the show. The producers were doubtful about the show's success and did not want to hire Hollywood A-listers. Instead, they decided to rope in relatively less famous actors, with Landon being one of them.

The actors soon carved their niche and became immensely popular among first-generation TV watchers. Landon made the most of it, but other cast members also had long and successful careers. When they joined the show, they were not familiar with names. But when the show ended, every TV watcher in the USA knew their names.

Chevrolet Kept The Show Rolling

When NBC moved the show to Sundays at 9.00 PM Eastern time, they got a new sponsor – Chevrolet. The automobile company replaced The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, and the latest slot helped Bonanza to skyrocket in terms of TV ratings. It became the number one television show in 1946, and Chevrolet was the sponsor for most of the show's episodes.

The cast also appeared in commercials and sales films sent to Chevrolet dealers as a part of the agreement between NBC and the car manufacturing company. Most notably, in a promo film, Lorne Greene appeared as his character in the series, Ben Cartwright.

The Rehabilitation Of Star Trek Actors

Star Trek was another cult series that aired on NBC for three consecutive seasons. All the actors from the sci-fi show were cast in Bonanza later on. William Shatner, George Takei, and Leonard Nimoy were among the most notable actors who found their way into different episodes of the western TV series,

Star Trek was released for the big screen in the 1980s, and the original cast of the TV show was brought together for the Star Trek movies. It's now regarded as a cult classic and more relevant than ever.