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).
Recurring characters
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.
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- 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.
- Sheriff Coffee was occasionally the focus of a plot as in the episode “No Less a Man” (broadcast March 15, 1964).
- Jamie Hunter was introduced in “A Matter of Faith” (season 12, episode 2).
- This thematic depth was ahead of its time and inspired later series like The Wire and The Good Fight, proving that entertainment could also inspire change.
- In the episode “First Born” (1962), viewers learn of Little Joe’s older, maternal half-brother Clay Stafford.
- In 1968, Blocker began wearing a toupee on the series, as he was approaching age 40 and his hair loss was becoming more evident.
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Top 7 Ways Bonanza Revolutionized Television
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.
Sheriff Roy Coffee
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 Bonanza City stations in the South refused to air 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).
Victor Sen Yung – Hop Sing
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.
- Griff, in prison for nearly killing his abusive stepfather, was paroled into Ben’s custody and given a job as a ranch hand.
- During season five Adam falls for a widow with a young daughter, while making Will Cartwright a central figure.
- The opening scene for the first season was shot at Lake Hemet, a reservoir in the San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County, California, and later moved to Lake Tahoe.
- Early in the show’s history, Ben recalls each of his late wives in flashback episodes.
- He returned two seasons later after co-star Dan Blocker’s death, reportedly having been approached by Landon.
- However, the unexpected death of Blocker in 1972 left a bigger hole, and Bonanza ended one season later.
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Season 4 (1962–
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- The Hop Sing character is depicted not only as a cook but also a family counselor and herbal healer.
- Bonanza “the official first season” was released in Scandinavia during 2010.
- 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.
- He joined the ranks of his fellow co-stars Roberts and Greene, both of whom had begun the series with hairpieces.
- In 1968, a slightly revamped horn and percussion-heavy arrangement of the original score introduced the series, which was used until 1970.
- According to David Dortort, sponsor General Motors was anxious about the episode.
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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.