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Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright |
Dan Blocker as Hoss |
Michael Landon as Little Joe |
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Pernell Roberts as Adam |
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Bonanza
Bonanza ran14 years as a first-run show on U.S. TV, and has been syndicated to virtually every country around the globe. Bonanza is more than a TV Western about a man and his three sons working as a family in the rough and violent era of the Old West. It has become a piece of the fabric of American culture. Ben Cartwright and his sons Adam, Hoss and Little Joe are familiar names to people who weren't even born when the show first aired and the show's distinctive opening theme is instantly recognized everywhere. Bonanza continues to be popular as it airs in syndicated re-runs both in the U.S. and in numerous other countries, spawning Internet fan clubs and creating new fans every time it is shown.
Ben Cartwright is the strong patriarch, a father who guides his three sons through both wise counsel land model behavior. His sons incude Adam, the intellectual and somewhat brooding oldest son, a man more likely to use brains rather than brawn; Hoss, the gentle giant, a man of incredible strength with a heart of gold; and Little Joe, the irrepressible youngest son, impulsive and a romantic at heart. Interestingly for TV of that era, each of Ben's sons had a different mother, having Ben Cartwright becoming a widower three times. Ponderosa ranch, an empire of cattle, timber and mining set in the mountains of Nevada, near Lake Tahoe. Bonanza was one of the first "landed" Westerns, that is, a Western where the characters had a permanent home to defend and use as a base. Most Westerns of that era had characters who traveled from town to town, using these travels as a way to create perilous circumstances. In Bonanza, the Cartwrights dealt with a wide variety of personalities and situations that, more often than not, came to their doorstep.
The first episode of Bonanza aired on September12,1959. The show was hardly an instant success. For its first two seasons, Bonanza struggled in the ratings, kept on the air mainly because it was filmed in color. Color TV was a new phenomena at that time, and RCA (NBC's parent company) wanted a show that would encourage viewers to purchase the new television sets. Early episodes included many shots of the beautiful LakeTahoe area as well as sets and costumes that featured rich, dark colors. Bonanza languished on Saturday night for two years before NBC chose to move it to a Sunday night time slot. On Sunday night, the show found an audience and became a hit. For 10 of its 14 year run, Bonanza was consistently in the top 10 of all rated TV shows, and from 1964 to 1967, it was the single most watched television program in America.
In many ways, Bonanza was ahead
of its time. The show dealt with then-controversial issues, such as racial
prejudice, wife abuse, psychological problems, drug and alcohol abuse, and
mercy killing. The writers also kept the viewers interested by offering contrasting
shows. One week, a episode would be a compelling drama and the next week,
the episode would have a comedic theme. While Bonanza offered a variety in
its episodes, the show did have some constants. Fans could count on each episode
having, if not a happy ending, at least a satisfying one. Good always triumphed
over evil. Characters could be counted on to eventually do the right thing,
no matter how painful or upsetting it might be for the Cartwrights. Ben reinforced
the family's values with quiet lectures and comforting words. Audiences knew
they could enjoy Bonanza without worrying about scenes of overt sex
or horrifying violence. The last new episode of Bonanza aired on January
16, 1973.
From Bonaza, the Website
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