Western TV Series - Bonanza
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The western TV series "Bonanza" was the first western series filmed in color and ran for 14 seasons, from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. "Bonanza" was the second longest running western televison series, behind "Gunsmoke" and included the following cast:
- Lorne Greene ... Ben Cartwright
- Michael Landon ... Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright
- Dan Blocker ... Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright
- Pernell Roberts ... Adam Cartwright
- Victor Sen Yung ... Hop Sing
- Ray Teal ... Sheriff Roy Coffee
- David Canary ... 'Candy' Canaday
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| In 1959, this western TV series aired on Saturday night and the ratings were dismal, so the show was scheduled for cancellation. In order to give the show one last chance, it was moved to Sunday night, which proved to be a successful move. By the mid-1960s the western series had soared to number one and by 1970 it became the first western series to end up in the Top Five for nine consecutive seasons. |
"Bonanza" was based on the adventures of the Cartwright family, which included "Ben"(Lorne Greene), the father and his three sons; "Adam"(Pernell Roberts), "Hoss"(Dan Blocker) and "Little
Joe"(Michael Landon). Of course, the show would have not been complete without the Cartwright family's Chinese cook, "Hop Sing"(Victor Sen Yung).
Each episode chronicled the plight of the Cartwrights in defending and caring for each other, their neighbors and their land. |
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The Cartwrights built their home on a thousand-square-mile ranch in Nevada, known as the "Ponderosa" with the nearest town being Virginia City.
You may not have noticed, but from the third season on, the Cartwrights always wore the same clothing in almost every episode. "Ben" in his taupe shirt, brown leather vest, and gray pants; "Adam" wore a black shirt, black pants and black hat; "Hoss" wore a white shirt, brown suede vest, brown pants and a very distinctive 10-gallon hat; and "Little Joe" always wore that green corduroy jacket, tan pants and tan hat. |
Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright in western series "Bonanza" |
The familiar "Bonanza" theme song is probably one of the best known pieces of made-for-television music and different variations of this theme song were used for twelve seasons of this western series. Actually theme songs for other familiar television series were introduced on "Bonanza" including, "Little House On The Prairie" and "The High Chaparral".
For 14 years, "Bonanza" was the favorite western series on American television and the show remains popular on many cable channels today. |
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"Hop Sing", the Cartwright's favorite cook on "Bonanza" , played by Victor Sen Yung.
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Michael Landon as "Little Joe" on "Bonanza" western TV series.
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Pernell Roberts as "Adam" on western series "Bonanza"
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Dan Blocker as "Hoss" in western series "Bonanza".
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