TransporterBeam
Lieutenant Commander
What was Bonanza about ? I know Lorne Greene was in it. It must be on the internet. I know he was a farmer.
Was Bonanza a Good show ?
- Thread starter TransporterBeam
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It was a simple Western. Ben was a cattle rancher in Nevada. He had 3 sons from 3 different wives: Adam (the smart one), Hoss (the strong one) and Little Joe (the impulsive one).
Edited to add: He also adopted one later in the series: Jamie Hunter Cartwright.
Pretty standard '60s fare, really. As the actors left (or passed away) they were replaced by new characters. But I think it was only really watchable when Adam was on. When I was little, I thought he was pretty darn cool.
I just looked it up---I can't believe this show ran for 14 years!
Edited to add: He also adopted one later in the series: Jamie Hunter Cartwright.
Pretty standard '60s fare, really. As the actors left (or passed away) they were replaced by new characters. But I think it was only really watchable when Adam was on. When I was little, I thought he was pretty darn cool.
I just looked it up---I can't believe this show ran for 14 years!
Agreed, I don't like post-Adam "Bonanza" much. Unfortunately, even though he was basically a complex and interesting character, he never got the writers' attention the way Hoss and Joe did, and was often given somewhat dull, cautious roles in the stories. After the first couple of seasons, he was often absent, off "taking care of business" in San Francisco or back east. And he was constantly getting shot (bullets or arrows), his shoulders and upper arms should have been unusuable after a few seasons of non-life-threatening wounds!
It is one of the first TV shows I remember, but I think it was probably reruns, I was only three when the first-run shows ended.
--Justin
It was, at times, somewhat sillier than say, Gunsmoke, and occasionally the Cartwrights would meet someone a little too famous to be in Virginia City, but it was almost always entertaining. And a number a BIG stars guest starred on the show early in their careers. (DeForest Kelley guest-starred in two episodes, and I believe Leonard Nimoy might have been in one.)
I would, if you're just getting into it, start with the earlier episodes that included Adam (Pernell Roberts), or the first few seasons after he was gone.
And stay away from the TV-movie sequels. They were quite disappointing and featured no one from the original series. Well, maybe one minor character who was left in charge of the Ponderosa (the 1000-acre ranch at Lake Tahoe that the Cartwrights owned). And they won't mean as much if you're not familiar with the original Bonanza.
--Ted
I would, if you're just getting into it, start with the earlier episodes that included Adam (Pernell Roberts), or the first few seasons after he was gone.
And stay away from the TV-movie sequels. They were quite disappointing and featured no one from the original series. Well, maybe one minor character who was left in charge of the Ponderosa (the 1000-acre ranch at Lake Tahoe that the Cartwrights owned). And they won't mean as much if you're not familiar with the original Bonanza.
--Ted
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It's been years from I've seen it but I liked it as a kid. As someone said, it ran for 14 years and seems to have been something of a US tv institution.
I always think of it and The High Chapperal as being very similar, almost rival shows, contemporaries with a similar premise. You know, in the same vein as ER v Chicago Hope, Homicide v Law & Order, Babylon 5 v DS9, etc. Not sure which of them came first, but Bonanza has the more famous cast and more memorable theme tune!
I always think of it and The High Chapperal as being very similar, almost rival shows, contemporaries with a similar premise. You know, in the same vein as ER v Chicago Hope, Homicide v Law & Order, Babylon 5 v DS9, etc. Not sure which of them came first, but Bonanza has the more famous cast and more memorable theme tune!
When the story called for it Ben was more then just a rancher. He had interest in mining, timber, liberal politics etc. Eventhough it ran 14 years sometimes the timeframe seemed wrong. Ben could be pushing Nevada to join the Union cause yet all the weapons were post war repeaters. Then the next week, atleast iin syndication a vet from that far off war would show up.
Yes, they seemed compelled to include a couple of "comedy" episodes every year, usually centered on Hoss or Joe. These are generally pretty bad, IMO.
Yes, Nimoy was in one called "The Ape." He plays a dandy gambler type who stirs up the town to lynch a local "developmentally challenged" brute who accidentally killed Nimoy's girlfriend.
Kelley as a obsessive, borderline-deranged army officer in "The Honor of Cochise" was a really great performance. He explains his hatred of Indians with a racist rant that is generally cut from rerun episodes nowadays.
"Bonanza" is also notable among Trek fans for the pre-"Space Seed" pairing of Ricardo Mantalban and Madlyn Rhue.
The show was not too historically accurate. In one of the early episodes the Civil War is just starting but they always have 1870s Colts and Winchesters. Edit: I see Star Wolf has already mentioned this!
--Justin
I think it is certainly one of the most enduring western shows from the 60's. I personally like the show. As others have commented, it is fairly common 60's fare...but it works for alot of people. The main characters are all quite likeable, the good guys (in other words, the Cartwrights) always win, and at least a couple of the actors (Loren Greene and Michael Landon) maintained popularity for many years after making that show.
Or The Big Valley which held up better in syndication since it had bigger name actors
First run fan here.
Good show, how well it holds up in a workd that doesn't take kindly to "sound stage sets of the great outdoors" is a personal choice.
At the time, big ratings and audiences.
As has been mentioned, Pernel Roberts as Adam was the best and least used one on the show...and god could he sing!
I also loved Big Valley and nice to see it mentioned.
Good show, how well it holds up in a workd that doesn't take kindly to "sound stage sets of the great outdoors" is a personal choice.
At the time, big ratings and audiences.
As has been mentioned, Pernel Roberts as Adam was the best and least used one on the show...and god could he sing!
I also loved Big Valley and nice to see it mentioned.
Actually, when they sold "The Ponderosa" at Lake Tahoe a few years back, I knew I was getting older. They shot a lot of the show up at Tahoe and the sets later became a low-key Western park. Finally, the husband and wife who ran it got too old to keep it going and interest waned and they finally sold it to a developer.
As of a year ago, nothing had been done yet, but the weeds had grown in among all the buildings.
Yes, Bonanza was a very famous show in its day and was one of the first TV shows ever broadcast in color. It also inspired the Bonanza steak house chain.
And despite the weaker episodes, I usually watched it every week. The first episode after actor Dan Blocker "Hoss" died was especially emotional.
Ironically, the only original cast member who survives is Pernell Roberts who played Adam, and left the show after a few seasons. Apparently to this day he won't discuss Bonanza.
--Ted
As of a year ago, nothing had been done yet, but the weeds had grown in among all the buildings.
Yes, Bonanza was a very famous show in its day and was one of the first TV shows ever broadcast in color. It also inspired the Bonanza steak house chain.
And despite the weaker episodes, I usually watched it every week. The first episode after actor Dan Blocker "Hoss" died was especially emotional.
Ironically, the only original cast member who survives is Pernell Roberts who played Adam, and left the show after a few seasons. Apparently to this day he won't discuss Bonanza.
--Ted
Im a huge Bonanza fan.(had this avatar for a couple years) I actually liked the later episodes when Adam wasnt in them.(not that I didnt like Adam but the stories, to me anyways, got better)The set design and storiesmproved. They also changed filming location the last few years and you will notice that there are lots more trees and woodland areas in later episodes. I believe they moved to an area owned by Warners. Michael Landon and Lorne Greene stayed the entire run of the series. Dan Blocker (Hoss) sadly died before the 14th season. David Canary(candy) replaced adam for about 3 season and then returned for the last season to take Blockers place.
Bonanza also delved into the fantasy occasionally.
- an episode where Little Joe was fighting for a town full of people and at the end it was a ghost town.
-they met a person with esp
-they had a friend named Sam Hill (a character based on the saying "What in Same Hill) who seemed to have mysterious abilities when it came to talking to animals, sleeping and swinging a hammer. Have to see the episode to see what Im talking about.
They rotated types of episodes. One week it would be an Adventure episode, than a drama episode and then a comedy episode. The comedy episodes were lessened after Adam left which is one reason why I prefer the last 4 or 5 seasons.
I mean some of the comedy episodes could get really bad. They would use some sight gags that you would normally see in a three stooges short. One episode had Hoss running super fast down a street to get away from Joe. Another had some bumbling baddies turn red from eating spicy food. I mean literally red in the face.(they shined a red light on the actors faces.
)
Overall great show though.
Bonanza also delved into the fantasy occasionally.
- an episode where Little Joe was fighting for a town full of people and at the end it was a ghost town.
-they met a person with esp
-they had a friend named Sam Hill (a character based on the saying "What in Same Hill) who seemed to have mysterious abilities when it came to talking to animals, sleeping and swinging a hammer. Have to see the episode to see what Im talking about.
They rotated types of episodes. One week it would be an Adventure episode, than a drama episode and then a comedy episode. The comedy episodes were lessened after Adam left which is one reason why I prefer the last 4 or 5 seasons.
I mean some of the comedy episodes could get really bad. They would use some sight gags that you would normally see in a three stooges short. One episode had Hoss running super fast down a street to get away from Joe. Another had some bumbling baddies turn red from eating spicy food. I mean literally red in the face.(they shined a red light on the actors faces.
)Overall great show though.
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Good show, I liked F-Troop too. I grew up in a town about 20 miles away from Dan Blocker's home town. I haven't seen it, but there is a section devoted to him in the town's museum.
IIRC, Casey Biggs, the actor who played Damar in DS9, played the Lorne Green role in a recent(ish) attempt to relaunch Bonanza. I think it was called Ponderosa or something.
Daniel Hugh-Kelly from Hardcastle and McCormick played the younger Ben Cartwright in the short-lived prequel series Ponderosa.
--Ted
--Ted
Sure it was a good show. Nice stories and good acting.
Far better than say... Little House On The Prairie, imo.
Great theme music... and I loved the burning map opening credits.
Far better than say... Little House On The Prairie, imo.
Great theme music... and I loved the burning map opening credits.
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IIRC there was an attempt at a sequel set around the turn of the century. I think some character turned his wagon in for a car.
