Bonanza (TV Series 1959–1973) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error The adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their ranch while helping the surrounding community. Creator: Little Joe falls in love with Alice Harper played by a young Bonnie Bedelia who he meets while rescuing her gambler brother John from a poker game gone bad. The two eventually marry and are expecting... 8.6 Hoss scares a bear that has treed a green-clad little man, subsequently finds a buried strongbox filled with bags of gold dust and, when both the treasure and its owner disappear, unsuccessfully ... 8.5 Clint Watson and his two sons are hired by Ben Cartwright to deliver nitroglycerin to Virginia City. The journey entails hardship, recrimination and tragedy.

8.5 a list of 42 titles created 24 Aug 2011 a list of 26 titles created 26 Apr 2012 a list of 46 titles created 11 Jun 2012 a list of 47 titles created 07 Aug 2012 a list of 31 titles created 1 month ago Search for " Bonanza " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 9 wins & 14 nominations. See more awards » Videos Marshal Matt Dillon keeps the peace in the rough and tumble Dodge City. Stars: James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake The Wild West adventures of the residents and staff of Barkley Ranch in California's San Joaquin Valley. Stars: Richard Long, Peter Breck, Lee Majors Gil Favor is trail boss of a continuous cattle drive; he is assisted by Rowdy Yates. The crew runs into characters and adventures along the way.

Stars: Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, Steve Raines Stories of the journeys of a wagon train as it leaves post-Civil War Missouri on its way to California through the plains, deserts and Rocky Mountains. The first treks were led by gruff, ... See full summary » Stars: Frank McGrath, Terry Wilson, Robert Horton Bret and Bart Maverick (and in later seasons, their English cousin, Beau) are well dressed gamblers who migrate from town to town always looking for a good game. Poker (5 card draw) is ... See full summary » Stars: Jack Kelly, James Garner, Roger Moore Frontier hero Daniel Boone conducts surveys and expeditions around Boonesborough, running into both friendly and hostile Indians, just before and during the Revolutionary War. Stars: Fess Parker, Patricia Blair, Darby Hinton A Civil War veteran with a sawed-off rifle as a holstered weapon makes a living as a bounty hunter in the Wild West of the 1870s. Stars: Steve McQueen, Wright King, Olan Soule After the Civil War, nomadic adventurer Cheyenne Bodie roamed the west looking for fights, women and bad guys to beat up.

His job changed from episode to episode. Stars: Clint Walker, Clyde Howdy, Chuck Hicks The cases of maverick undercover New York City detective Tony Baretta. Stars: Robert Blake, Tom Ewell, Michael D. Roberts Dressed-up dandy (derby and cane), gambler and lawman roams the West charming women and defending the unjustly accused. His primary weapon was his wit (and cane) rather than his gun. Stars: Gene Barry, Allison Hayes, Allen Jaffe The Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming Territory of the 1890s is owned in sequence by Judge Garth, the Grainger brothers, and Col. MacKenzie. It is the setting for a variety of stories, many more ... See full summary » Stars: Doug McClure, James Drury, Lee J. Cobb The adventures of a gentlemanly gunfighter for hire. Stars: Richard Boone, Kam Tong, Hal Needham Edit Storyline The Cartwright's one-thousand square mile Ponderosa Ranch is located near Virginia City, Nevada, site of the Comstock Silver Lode, during and after the Civil War.

Each of the sons was born to a different wife of Ben's; none of the mothers is still alive. Adventures are typical western ones, with lots of personal relationships/problems thrown in as well. Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu> 12 September 1959 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Did You Know? Trivia Saturday=night ratings were dismal and the show was soon targeted for cancellation. Given one last chance, it was moved to Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. The new time slot caused the series to soar, and it eventually reached #1 by the mid-'60s. See more » Goofs The story of Bonanza starts in 1859 Nevada but the clothing worn by the cast is invariably 20th century . For example belt loops did not appear on men's trousers and jeans until many decades later. See more » Quotes [Hoss reluctantly agrees to serve as a temporary deputy sheriff] Deputy Sheriff : I'll swear you in. Do you?

See more » Crazy Credits In the opening sequence, when the actors ride on their horses towards the camera and are introduced, the order in which they are introduced is never consistent - this was most likely done to prevent a single actor from becoming the "main" star of the show. See more » Connections Learn from one of the best TV Westerns! 1 March 2005 | by mbuchwal (United States) – See all my reviews Feature film makers have many lessons to learn from this classic western serial. Although each episode was made on a small budget when compared to the Hollywood "A" features of today, all of the production values of great classic movies of the golden age -- painterly composition and design, emotionally effective acting, lyrical music, suspenseful storytelling, beautiful timing, strong dramatic dialogue, elegantly choreographed action, powerful themes, colorful period costumes, folksy comic relief -- all of these values were at a consistently high level from show to show, with never an awkward effect or a misfit scene. Each of the featured characters was drawn in a unique and stylish way, suggesting the storybook characterization that distinguishes the best of the Hollywood golden age.

Every one of the episodes stands well as a feature length movie in its own right and would look as good on the big screen as on TV. There's plenty of feeling, no padding or softness, and no mindless experimentation with technique or vulgarity such as has ruined so many westerns made since 1970. It's difficult to understand why an approach which succeeded for so long was abandoned in the 1970's by both television and feature film makers. Many producers turned instead in the direction indicated by spaghetti westerns. Compared to classic westerns like "Bonanza," spaghetti westerns were much less lyrical and took more of a gutter eye view of the old west, stripping it of its romantic appeal and substituting what to a misguided new generation seemed a dirtier and therefore more authentic realism. In retrospect, Hollywood gave up way too much for the little that it got in return. The success of a vast body of works similar in appeal to "Bonanza" (including many of the other action adventure TV serials made from the '40s to the '60s) is proof that there is a widespread taste that is radically different from the one which has predominated in Hollywood since the '70s.

Let's hope that one day we'll see the return of Bonanza's classic values to the screen. 43 of 51 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes Bonanza (Series) - TV Tropes Criminal Doppelgï¿½nger : All four of the Cartwrights have one. Joe actually has two! Shorty Slade from "The Gunmen", and Angus Borden from "Alias Joe Cartwright". Ben's "criminal twin" was a con artist named Bradley Meredith, whose schemes to gain control of the Ponderosa (usually through gambling) come when Ben is out of the area on business. The two episodes featuring Meredith aired as season finales in 1971 and 1972 (with another planned for 1973, had the series continued), and Ben always arrives back home in time to gather enough ammunition to run Bradley out. Cultured Badass : The Cartwrights. For all their salt-of-the-earthiness and willingness to get their hands dirty, the Cartwrights have fashionable town-clothes, a large, lavishly but tastefully decorated home and modern, expensive weapons.

Ben Cartwright is also partial to fine French wines, Château Lafite in particular. Dark Is Not Evil : Adam's main outfit is completely black, occasionally with a splash of color, and he's probably the broodiest of the bunch. Yet he's still loyal to his family and won't hesitate to help anyone in need. Deadpan Snarker : Adam is typically the one to take on this role. Death Glare : Ben Cartwright is quite skilled in death glares; a particularly outstanding one can be seen in the final scene of "The Gift". Defeat Means Friendship : Hoss and Arnie become fast friends in The Ape after fighting to a draw. Due to a misunderstanding, neither one of them knew what they were actually fighting over. Distinguished Gentleman's Pipe : Ben is occasionally seen with one, as befits both a patriarch and a former sailor. Distressed Dude : All the Cartwrights have found themselves held hostage at some point. Little Joe is certainly the worst offender. Downer Ending : It's not uncommon in dramatic episodes for a good character to die within the last minute of the episode's runtime.

Early Installment Weirdness : The Cartwrights in the early episodes often confronted strangers in the Ponderosa in a hostile fashion with guns drawn. Lorne Greene convinced the producers that since the Cartwrights are such major landowners and a major business interest in the region, they logically would be more hospitable to visitors for economic, social and political purposes. Funny Foreigner : The Chinese Laborer Hop Sing — though nowadays , not so much . The Gambling Addict : Helen Layton, who'd driven her husband to drink himself to death over her gambling debts, and latched onto Hoss as her new sugar daddy . When she was exposed, she left town with another man. In the 1972-1973 season premiere "Forever," Little Joe's tragic bride Alice Harper has a brother, John, who is a hopeless gambling addict on the run from a ruthless gambler named Sloan. Sloan and his henchmen kill both John and Alice when they break into the home of Joe and Alice Cartwright (when Joe wasn't home) in an attempt to collect the debt. Gorgeous Period Dress : Frequently, and often turns out to be the same dress . Green Aesop : Quite frequently.

The Cartwrights took their stewardship of their land seriously, refusing to allow activities that were not sustainable (such as over-logging) and it was shown in multiple episodes that whenever they did cut down a tree, they planted a new one to replace it. Hangover Sensitivy : Little Joe in "The First Born" after he and Clay get drunk off pulque. Henpecked Husband : Enos Milford in "The Hayburner". High-Heelï¿½Face Turn : Lotta Crabtree, a young actress from the first episode. Though she wasn't really evil to begin with, she was originally hired by a gang of crooks into seducing Little Joe so they can take the Cartwright property for themselves. However her feelings for him were genuine. This causes her to feel guilt and remorse for her role in the plot, and is even willing to go against her employers in order to help Joe escape. She is later seen at the end attending a dance with him and enjoying herself. Historical In-Joke : A few. The Cartwrights were directly involved with the invention of the honeycomb timbering for silver mines and the water pumping windmill, for example.

In an early episode, gold prospectors were complaining about the blue clay that was gumming up their equipment — it was never revealed in-story that it was silver ore. Real life historical figures from the West - like Mark Twain, Albert Michelson, and Emperor Norton - would make guest appearances. Chronology their presence in the show is reasonably accurate historically. Twain's first appearance coincides with the time he was working as a newspaperman in Virginia City, Nevada. Michelson is shown as a young Jewish schoolboy from Germany in the same town, subject to antisemitism, which he was in real life. Michelson gets an extra coda showing what he did in real life. Hollywood Healing : Considering the number of times Little Joe was shot/stabbed/trampled by horses/otherwise injured over the course of the series, it's amazing his body was still functional. And let's not even talk about how none of those injuries so much as even left a scar. Mountain Man : Jim Leyton. Never Going Back to Prison : Hoss once took in a prison escapee who was obsessed with never going back. Never Learned to Read : Child, in the episode "Child," was illiterate.

Sadly, this means he went a long time not knowing what his name was (and going by "Child" because that's what everyone called him) until Hoss read the inscription in his Bible. Non-Idle Rich : The Cartwrights are the wealthiest people in Virginia City, but they're frequently seen doing menial labor around the ranch. Not-So-Fake Prop Weapon : In one episode Hoss get framed for murder when the blank rounds from a prop gun get switched for real bullets and the blanks turn up in his saddle bag. During a friendly fencing match, the button covering the point comes off and Joe is very nearly stabbed. Only Known by Their Nickname : Candy's given name is never revealed. Additionally, Hoss is very seldom referred to as "Eric". Outlaw : Plenty make appearances throughout the series. Overprotective Dad : An occasional one who often causes more pain for their children than they protect them from. Not Ben Cartwright, though he is a Papa Wolf who'll do any for his sons. Papa Wolf : Ben Cartwright, especially toward Little Joe. The Patriarch : Ben Cartwright. Pony Express Rider : Little Joe becomes one in "Ride the Wind".

Poorly Disguised Pilot : "Sam Hill" starring Claude Akins, a blacksmith who reunites with his long lost father. It was intended to jumpstart a spinoff series but it never materialized. Also "The Avenger," though not as overt as "Sam Hill" was. Posse : All the main characters have been in one at some point. Real Life Writes the Plot : Dan Blocker's death in the last season. Really Gets Around : Little Joe is either seen or mentioned to be involved with upwards of fifty women over the course of the show, and his reputation as a reckless ladies man gets him into trouble quite a bit in the earlier seasons. Rearrange the Song : The driving, rock-oriented version of the theme song heard in later seasons. Recycled Soundtrack : Unusually for the time, averted - every episode had an original score (mostly by David Rose, although his scores tended to avoid the theme song by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans). Combined with it being filmed in color from first show to last (a rarity for a series which began in 1959), it must have cost NBC a fortune. Safe to say they've made their money back now, however.

Bonanza was actually the first television series both filmed and broadcast and color. Earlier shows had been filmed in color but broadcast in black and white (i.e. The Adventures of Superman ]] or broadcast live in color but recorded on black and white film (one episode of The Burnsand Allen Show ). Little Joe just can't seem to keep his feet off the table. Hoss often can't remember which word he's looking for, and will look to Joe for help. Once happens while the two characters are debating; Little Joe provides Hoss with the word he's looking for, then they jump right back into the debate. A lot of people seem to think "Candy" is a funny name. He doesn't seem to mind. In the episode "The Flapjack Contest" poor Little Joe just cannot stop breaking windows. Scare Chord : Frequently used when a character pulls out a gun. Serial Romeo : All the Cartwrights have a tendency to consider the girl of the week to be the love of their life. Bonanza Bonanza It’s hard to think of this show without that well-known Bonanza theme song immediately playing in your mind, and remembering the whole Cartwright clan riding across the Ponderosa.

But I have to admit that, as a young teenager, I had something of a crush on Little Joe! Who could resist his character with that handsome smile and beautiful pinto horse? Little Joe and his paint horse were definitely the flashiest combo of the Cartwright clan! To help put you back in a "Bonanza" mood, click on the center button in the video box below to hear that great theme and see some good pictures of the whole clan! Background of the Show The Bonanza tv show was set in the time during and after the Civil War, and was all about the Cartwright family which included the father, Ben, and his 3 sons Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe. Did you ever wonder why those 3 brothers didn't look anything alike? That's right! Each one had a different mother and none of those women had survived! Wow; Ben had his share of bad luck in that department! Not wanting to mess up a successful formula, the show stayed consistent with that theme - any love interest that developed for a Cartwright man didn't last any longer than a cold drink on a hot day!

Here's a little bit about the Bonanza cast - Ben (played by Lorne Greene) was the owner of the very large (1,000 square miles) and very prosperous Ponderosa Ranch, which was situated around Lake Tahoe in Nevada. Adam (played be Pernell Roberts) was the oldest son. He was an architect and built that great ranch house where the Cartwrights lived. Adam was handsome and always dressed in black - quiet, serious, the strong, silent type! Next was Eric (played by Dan Blocker), but we all knew him as Hoss, who obviously got that nickname because of his size. He was a big guy who looked even bigger in his trademark 10-gallon hat. Hoss was gentle, sometimes naive, and not the brightest member of the clan! And then there was Little Joe (my personal favorite - played by Michael Landon) who was the youngest. He was hot-headed and, with his good looks and flashy smile, quite the ladies man! DID YOU KNOW? Bonanza came close to being cancelled at the end of its first year! But the fact that it was considered a "novelty" because it was shown in color made all the difference!

RCA, the parent company of NBC, wanted to sell more color television sets so they used Bonanza as a marketing gimmick and moved it to a prime Sunday night timeslot believing it would attract more viewers there! Obviously they were right; Bonanza was in the Top 5 shows for 9 of its 14 years on TV. All About the Show Unlike the usual shoot'em-up, Bonanza was the first “dramatic” TV Western show. The episodes were much more about relationships between the cast members and the guest stars than they were about hunting down the bad guy. Each episode usually had a serious theme to it, something "issue-oriented", built around themes such as racism, prejudice and social injustice. This was a first for TV because the networks were afraid of letters they might receive. Another first for Bonanza - it was the first Western to be televised in color. Each show mixed the adventures of one or two of the Cartwrights, their ranching and mining business, and an assortment of characters who crossed their paths in some way. The 4 main actors were considered equal stars but, in case you didn't notice, the credits were rotated each week so that top billing was given equally.

A supporting cast of other characters also appeared in the Bonanza TV show. They included - Hop Sing (played by Victor Sen Yung) who was a Chinese immigrant and the Cartwright family cook; Sheriff Roy Coffee (played by Ray Teal); deputy Clem Foster (played by Bing Russell); "Candy" Canaday (played by David Canary) who was the Cartwright's ranch foreman; Ben's friend Dusty Rhodes (played by Lou Frizzel); Jamie Hunter (played by Mitch Vogel) played the orphaned son of a rainmaker and was adopted by Ben in a 1971 episode; and ranch hand Griff King (played by Tim Matheson) was a parolee in Ben's custody. DID YOU NOTICE THIS? From the third season on, all of the Cartwrights and nearly every other recurring character on the show wore the same clothing in almost every episode! Why? To cut down the cost of refiming. They could use the same footage over and over. Here's who wore what: Ben: Taupe shirt, brown leather vest, gray pants, creme colored hat and an occasional green scarf.

Adam: Black shirt, black pants, black hat (sounds a little like a "bad guy"!) and occasionally a yellow trail coat. Hoss: White shirt, brown suede vest, brown pants, and his trademark 10-gallon hat. Little Joe: Gray shirt, green corduroy jacket, tan pants, tan hat. And, from the tenth season on he also wore black leather gloves. Candy Canaday: Crimson shirt, black pants, black leather vest, black hat and a green scarf. The Cartwrights were America's favorite Western family for 14 years while the show ran from 1959 to 1973. But Dan Blocker (Hoss) died suddenly from a post-op bloodclot in 1972 and the show was moved from its Sunday night spot (crucial to success) to Tuesday night, opposite the new comedy "Maude". Many believe that Hoss was an essential character because he balanced out the all male cast, and that his loss had much to do with the show's cancellation. What Happened to the Actors? DAN BLOCKER died suddenly in 1972 from a post-op bloodclot following gallbladder surgery in Los Angeles.

He was 43 years old. Here's a little personal info about Dan Blocker: He was born in DeKalb, TX and was a big guy right from the start.... weighing 14 pounds at birth! He spent most of his boyhood years in O'Donnell, TX and that town has a bust of Dan on display in the O'Donnell Heritage Museum. He was married (wife's name Dolphia) and they had twin daughters (Danna and Debra) and 2 sons (David and Dirk). LORNE GREENE died in 1987 of complications from prostate cancer in Santa Monica, California. He was 72 years old. Here's some other info about Lorne Greene: He was born in Ottawa, Canada and his real name was Lyon Green. His deep, rich voice got him into broadcasting and, during the early years of World War II, he was known as "the voice of doom" because his reporting of the international conflict was so somber and dramatic.

In addition to "Bonanza", Lorne was in several movies and TV series, such as "Griff", "Code Red, "Battlestar Gallactica", and he had a number 1 hit record in 1964 which was a spoken (not sung) ballad called "Ringo". MICHAEL LANDON had 2 very successful series after Bonanza - "Little House on the Prairie" and "Highway to Heaven". He had filmed the pilot for another series when he was diagnosed with pancretic cancer and died in 1991. He was 54 years old. PERNELL ROBERTS starred in the successful series "Trapper John, M.D." after Bonanza. His last appearance was in an episode of "Diagnosis Murder" in 2001. Pernell died from pancreatic cancer on Jan. 24, 2010. Here are some more details about Pernell Roberts: He was born May 18, 1928 in Waycross, GA and showed his talents from a young age. During high school he played the horn, sang, and acted in school plays.

His involvement with music continued while he was in the Marine Corps, playing tuba and horn in the Marine Corps Band. His first professional appearance on stage was at the Olney Theatre in Maryland, in 1949, in "The Man Who Came to Dinner". Over the next 10 years he appeared in lots and lots of productions, including the American Shakespeare Festival, playing both leading and supporting roles. Pernell Roberts made his television debut in 1956 in an episode of Kraft Television Theater ("Shadow of Suspicion"). From then until he was cast in Bonanza in 1959, he had guest roles in many TV shows such as Gunsmoke, Sugarfoot, Have Gun - Will Travel, Route 66, Lawman, Bronco, 77 Sunset Strip, GE Theater, The Detectives, and Cheyenne. He continued doing theatre productions during this time and also co-starred with James Coburn in "Ride Lonesome". He felt a bit type cast by Westerns but some say those were his finest roles.

He had some reservations about the concept of Bonanza when he was offered the part of Adam Cartwright in 1959, mainly that 3 grown men were portrayed as adolescents needing their father's permission or approval for everything they did. But he accepted the role when he was promised that all 4 characters would be clearly defined with carefully prepared scripts. This never happened, according to Pernell, who considered himself to be a more "serious" actor. While he appreciated the success and popularity of the show, he said that he just didn't enjoy doing it. He fulfilled his 6-year contract and then left the show. Later episodes explained Adam's absence by saying that he was running the family ranching business on the East Coast, or that he was traveling in Europe, or that he was at sea. The last episode that Pernell Roberts appeared in was "To Own the World" which aired on April 18, 1965. The story line was kept open in case he wanted to come back, but he never did. Show Producer David Dortort later said that he didn't appreciate Pernell enough and regretted letting him leave the show.

After Bonanza he returned to his favorite medium, theatre, and played regional and circuit theaters as well as Broadway where he had the opportunity to use his accomplished singing and acting talents. He wasn't thru with television, though, as he continued to guest star in a variety of regular shows. In 1979 he returned to television in the starring role of Trapper John, MD until its final airing in 1986. He received an Emmy nomination for this role in 1981. Pernell Roberts hobbies were reading literature, cooking, swimming, running, and playing tennis. He was married 4 times. At the time of his death he was married to Eleanor Criswell, and he had only 1 child (with his first wife, Vera Mowry). His son Christopher Roberts was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1989 at the age of 37. What do you remember most about Bonanza? Please share your special memories of the Bonanza show and its great cast of characters. Bonanza Memories Bonanza Trails | Dedicated to the legacy of the Bonanza TV Series Log In / Register BONANZA Trails is currently an unofficial fan site dedicated to the BONANZA TV series.

Our purpose is to promote interest in this TV show. We are in no way officially affiliated with BONANZA, Bonanza Ventures, Inc., or NBC Universal Inc.. This is a site made by fans for discussion between fans. This is a non-profit website and all materials on this site are for entertainment purposes only. To the best of our knowledge, all images used are in the public domain or are covered under fair use. If you feel this is incorrect, please contact us, and we will glady discuss licensing. The names and likenesses of the characters appearing in the "BONANZA" and "THE PONDEROSA" photoplays, and any images and pictures from such photoplays, are collectively the copyrighted and trademark-protected property of Bonanza Ventures, Inc. and NBC Universal Inc. (as successor-in-interest to the National Broadcasting Company, Inc.), and are made available only for private, non-commercial use. Please take notice that any use of this material for any commercial use, or any unauthorized display, distribution, transmission or other use of this material, is expressly prohibited and constitutes a violation of the rights of Bonanza Ventures, Inc., and NBC Universal Inc.

All images from "BONANZA" are Copyright © 1959-2015 Bonanza Ventures, Inc. All rights reserved. BONANZA ©, THE PONDEROSA ©, and all related indicia are trademarks of Bonanza Ventures, Inc. We are in the process of requesting permission to use these copyrighted properties. Bonanza Ventures, Inc. is the official worldwide rights holder to the television programs created by David Dortort: "BONANZA" (and its prequel, "THE PONDEROSA"), and "THE HIGH CHAPARRAL." Any person or entity interested in doing anything related to these series and/or its characters must obtain permission first, and may do so by contacting Bonanza Ventures, Inc. through its attorney: Andrew J. Klyde The First Time a TV Show Addressed the Death of a Character | Mental Floss The First Time a TV Show Addressed the Death of a Character Image credit: Like us on Facebook Tonight, the popular TV series Two and a Half Men will deal with the death of the show's lead character, Charlie Harper, played by Charlie Sheen (as if you didn't know).

The notorious but irrepressible Sheen made headlines a few months ago by not only jumping ship on the show, but by also making a few "ill-advised" remarks about the show, and especially about the show's creator, Chuck Lorre. It's a safe bet that Two and a Half Men will garner big ratings from those curious about Charlie's "passing" and how it will be handled. The death of a show's character has become fairly commonplace nowadays, but it wasn't always that way. Let's take a look at the first time a TV show dealt with the actual death of not only a character, but a beloved friend. The Death of Dan Blocker After 13 seasons of playing Hoss Cartwright, the easy-going, "gentle giant" brother on Bonanza, actor Dan Blocker died unexpectedly, shortly before filming was to begin for the final season (1972-1973). Only 43 at the time of his death, Blocker died on May 13, 1972, of a pulmonary embolism (a post-op blood clot to the lungs) following a "routine" gall bladder surgery. Blocker was universally loved by cast and crew alike.

According to Mitch Vogel, who played Jamie in the last few seasons of Bonanza, "Dan Blocker was easy to get to know—the kind of guy you could go and have a beer with." "After Dan's death," said Lorne Green (who starred as Ben Cartwright, father to Hoss), "I didn't see how the show could continue. I said to my wife, 'That's it. It's finished.'" After Blocker's unexpected death, it was decided that his character Hoss would be killed in an accident in an episode of the show. This was to be the first time in television history that a show had dealt with, or even mentioned, the death of one of its characters. "Just as we personally suffered a loss," explained Bonanza producer Richard Collins, "so the audience suffered one, too." The Episode The episode, titled "Forever," was originally written to include Blocker as Hoss and, in fact, to showcase his acting talent. The two-part episode was written by Michael Landon, who also starred as Hoss' brother "Little Joe" Cartwright. In it, Hoss was to fall deeply in love with Alice Harper (played by Bonnie Bedelia).

Instead, Landon took the starring role, and the episode sees him falling in love with, getting engaged to, and marrying Alice Harper. Unfortunately, Alice has a ne'er-do-well brother heavily in debt to a ruthless gambler named Sloan, who pays a visit to Alice. When she refuses to cooperate with Sloan and his men, one of Sloan's henchmen ruthlessly beats to death the new Mrs. Cartwright (who was pregnant at the time). To cover up their crime, Sloan's men burn down the cabin. The rest of the episode deals with Little Joe's loss and the family's grief, before Little Joe tracks down Sloan and his gang. The Lack of Hoss While "Forever" never directly dealt with the actual circumstances of Hoss' (or Blocker's) death, many scenes were obvious references. Said Landon about the episode: "We try to mention Hoss' death very simply, in passing... it might not please everybody.

I'm sure that some people would rather have a whole hour memorial to Dan, but we just couldn't do that." He added, "We tried to do what we thought he would have wanted us to do." Though intended to be slightly subtle, the oblique references to Hoss/Blocker were almost all too clear. In one scene, after taking her to see a location, Joe says to his bride, "My big brother and I used to call this 'the happy place,'" to which she replies, "You must have loved him very much." His realistically wistful reaction tells her the truth. In another scene, Ben Cartwright states, "I know what it's like to lose a son;" he's later seen looking longingly at a picture of Hoss. Another touching scene involves Joe kneeling at his deceased wife's grave, saying, "I love you." But by far the most emotional scene is when Ben and Joe visit the burnt remains of the cabin where Joe's wife and unborn son were killed. In the scene, Landon collapses into Greene's arms and the two are seen shaking and crying.

It was plainly obvious to the entire cast and crew that these were not fake or "crocodile" tears; the two stars were weeping for real, for their beloved friend and co-star. (After the director yelled "Cut!", many of the cast and crew joined the two stars in their open grief and wept.) Throughout that final season of the show, Ben Cartwright speaks of the loss of his beloved son Hoss, though exactly how Hoss died is never explained. It wasn't revealed until years later, in the syndicated follow-up series Bonanza: The Next Generation (1988), that Hoss drowned trying to save another man's life. Filming While Grieving The episode was actually cathartic for the show's stars, as well as the crew. As soon as shooting began, the cast and crew were reminiscing about "when Dan did this" and "the joke Dan played" and "remember when Dan..." According to Landon, who also directed the episode in addition to writing and starring in it, the first scene they had to film was the worst.

The scene took place in the Cartwright dining room; "dining room scenes" were always the dullest, deadest scenes of any Bonanza episode, usually just an excuse for exposition of the episode's plot. Lorne Greene and Landon kept recalling the many laughs they had shared with Blocker in the Cartwright dining room. (Somehow, because the dining room scenes were usually so serious, they had always shared the most laughs while filming them.) The Ratings Although "Forever" did garner huge ratings for the show, Bonanza was clearly on its last legs, despite its lingering popularity. A perennial top ten show, it had fallen out of the top ten for the first time during the previous season. The show had also been switched from its famous "Sunday night at 9 o'clock" time slot to Tuesdays at 8. Every TV show that gets cancelled has "reasons" to explain its demise; in Bonanza's case, there were the stories of how, in its new time slot, it was "put up against popular TV 'Movies of the Week,' including Ben-Hur and Cleopatra. But the fact of the matter is that no one really cared to watch the show any more after the passing of the beloved Hoss.

Somehow it just wasn't the same. The show fulfilled its dismal final season of 1972-1973, then went off into rerun and syndication heaven, the final resting place of even the greatest of TV shows. The final season of Bonanza, the "season without Hoss," is by far the least popular and least requested season in the show's rerun package. Hoss Cartwright (Character) - Quotes Hoss Cartwright (Character) from "Bonanza" (1959) The content of this page was created by users. It has not been screened or verified by IMDb staff. "Bonanza: The Courtship (#2.16)" (1961) Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : I reckon the Ponderosa holds about as much claim on us as we do to her. It's more like a partnership. Like we're all sort of beholdin' to one another. What I mean to say is that Pa won't let us cut down a tree unless there's another tree growin' to take its place, or take a cup of water outta the lake if it makes the lake go down too much.

The Ponderosa's got a mighty lot to give. Like Pa says, we ain't to take one ounce out of her that she can't grow back. [first lines] Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Hoss, you know, I was just thinkin' about something. There's no reason why we both have to go see Josh Layton's widow. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Now listen, Little Joe. You're not about to saddle me with goin' to see some poor old widow woman all by myself. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Pa told you to keep an eye on me? What in the heck for? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : To keep you from gettin' chased all the way back to the Ponderosa by some hoppin' mad daddy with a shotgun in his hand... and from the look in your eye that's just about what's gonna happen. [last lines] Adam Cartwright : Pa, you think Joe and I enjoyed doin' it? There was no other way. Ben Cartwright : Oh, I know you meant well. Maybe there was no other way. Hoss is the only one that can decide that.

[Hoss comes down the steps of the ranch house] Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Well, you fellas gonna sit here and mope all day or you gonna go out and go to work with me? Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : I sure hope so. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Well, why else would they be shootin' at total innocent strangers if they didn't have us mixed up with somebody? Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Well, this is Texas after all. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : First of all, ma'am, there's just about to be a bunch of killin' out there in that street. Lorna Doone Mayberry : There's always killin' in that street. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Well, yes'm, and that seems to me to be a terrible waste. I mean, there not bein' enough men to go around for all you ladies as it is. Lorna Doone Mayberry : There ain't a woman livin' can keep men from fightin'. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Ma'am, I beg to differ with you.

You see, sometimes womenfolk can sorta get around menfolk in little ways and I figure maybe if you ladies tried real hard, you might be able to get around these. Lorna Doone Mayberry : You ain't as dumb as you look. What do you want me to do? [last lines] Big Jack Slade : Hey, how far is it to Kiowa Flats? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Just a couple of miles back down the road. [the Slade Brothers ride past the Cartwrights] Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Y-you don't suppose that...? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : I think so. Come on, let's get out of here. [moments later, gunfire is heard from the direction the Slade Brothers rode] Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : This whole dang town is teched. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Aw, c'mon. Whoever heard of a whole town being teched? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Feller told me one time they got a weed down here and they call it loco weed. When the horses and cows eat it they get wilder than all get out.

Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : So? People don't eat weeds. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Yeah, but they eat beef, don't they? One of them critters gets all filled up on that there loco weed, it would kinda salt down the meat, don't it? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : You sold our Pa? How much did you get for him? Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Oh Hoss, who cares how much she got for him? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Pa, how much did that little redheaded gal get for you? Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : [laughs] I wouldn't tell him, Pa. If she did get enough, we might want to sell you back. If she didn't get enough, you wouldn't want to admit it, would you? Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Can't I load it any faster? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : [to Charlie, seeing southern California for the first time and observes it is nothing but a barren desert] It sure ain't never gonna amount to much! [last lines] Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : What does she mean by that?

Micah Bailey : She means if you'd be any smarter, you'd still be the second dumbest man in creation, and you're looking at the first. Adam Cartwright : It's a toss up. Micah Bailey : Charlie, get them out of my station before anything else happens. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Well - I hope she gets what she wants. Mother Veronica : And I, Mr Cartwright, hope she gets what she's worthy of. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Anything will taste good if you're hungry enough. [last lines] Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Thank you, Ma'am. Mother Veronica : And now we must go on. [Ben, Hoss and Charlie are attending a funeral] Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : It's a doggone shame, ain't it, Charlie. Charlie : Yep, sure is. Doc said she had pneumonia. By the time he got there, wasn't much he could do 'cept call the sheriff. Ben Cartwright : Well, didn't anyone know she was sick? Charlie : [indicating young Billy] First they knew was him riding all the way in to fetch the doc by himself.

Ben Cartwright : Take your feet off the table! Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Do either of you know how we came to be so sweet tempered when we have a grouch for a Pa? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : I don't know. He used to be a mite more mellower when he was younger. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Pa, I've got these big hands and I can lift a hefer clear off the ground. I can lick any man I ever met. But I'd cut them both off if it made that little boy quit looking at me like he wanted to spit. Why don't God help me, Pa? Why don't He tell me what to say? Why do I have to be a... a big dumb Hoss? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : [after brawl] Pete's alright. He went through that wall head first. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : A man's gotta take care of his partners. "Bonanza: The Newcomers (#1.3)" (1959) Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : I reckon that's the way it is sometimes, you...

you look at a cactus and you see a rose cause, cause a rose is what you want to see. I don't reckon there's anything wrong when you see something good and pretty. Sometimes I even do that myself. I get sorta lonely-like and I look for good and pretty things. Emily Pennington : You keep away from him, you ugly brute! Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Ma'am, I can't help being ugly, can I? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : I just don't understand it. We're all from the same country here, and yet there's still all this talk about North and South. Where's the dividing line? Frederick Kyle : I would say the dividing line was in people's minds. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Pa, that newspaper you was reading the other day in the saloon about what Mr. Lincoln said about a house divided can't stand. I reckon he was talkin' about folks like us. Ben Cartwright : No, not us, Hoss. Not us! Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : [to Joe] C'mon Little Joe, she's not for you.

Stuff your eyes back in your head, they're about to pop out. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Hoss, I'd have myself a good time if you weren't here. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Yeah. Get yourself in a peck of trouble too. Burt : Ah, I always keep to my own affairs, but old Jeb, he's sorta been bit by the curiousity bug. He's wondering what brought you fellows to town. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Well, I reckon I can tell you two fellows. Burt : Yeah! Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : You see them two horses down there? They brought us. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : You know Hoss, the idea of sitting in that old office all day kinda makes my stomach flutter, you know? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Yeah. I know what makes your stomach flutter. I seen her too... Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : You eat beef steak, don't ya? Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Well yeah, but what's that got to do with anything? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : It just shows what cattle goes through for ya.

Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers. They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers. They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers. They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers. They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers. They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers. They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers. They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers.

They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers. They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers.They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers. They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers. They're going to be able to find us, though, if we're west of Kansas City. All they gotta do is follow their smellers. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : I reckon you're referring to my cookin'. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : I'm referring to that stink you're making. What is it? Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : You know what I think? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Couldn't be much - it takes brains to think. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Not a thing. I think we're wasting our time.

Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Well, we're young, brother. We've got plenty of time. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Yeah, maybe, but as slow as it went last night, I feel like I'm ninety years old already. "Bonanza: The Phillip Diedesheimer Story (#1.8)" (1959) Andrew Holloway : Gil dead? Well, I'll have to hire another superintendent. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Mr. Holloway, if that's the first thing you thought about, I feel real sorry for you. "Bonanza: The Outcast (#1.17)" (1960) Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Listen Adam, Little Joe had a real good idea. Here's what we're gonna do. He's gonna put on a beard, see. Then we're gonna get in the covered wagon and come out here like we're lookin' for land. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Yeah, see, then we put him in a real nice bonnet and a print dress. Adam Cartwright : Mm-hm. How did I ever get tangled up with you two?

Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : You know, that kid's got lots of grit. One of these days, he's gonna be able to whup that Frenchman. Adam Cartwright : Yeah... but this wasn't the day. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : ...Ran into Kincaid. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Oh? Was that... uh... on purpose or... accident? Adam Cartwright : Mmm... It was a little bit of both. You know, I really feel sorry for Dolly Kincaid. Adam Cartwright : Sorry? She never had any trouble... Uh... trying to find somebody to chase after her. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : No, I think it's the other way around. I think she never had any trouble finding somebody to chase. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Well, what are you worried about, little brother? You ain't never had any trouble outrunning her. "Bonanza: Escape to Ponderosa (#1.25)" (1960) Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : I knew you were good for something, brother. But I never figured it'd be making houses out of cards.

Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : I've only got three more cards left. I'm gonna make it this time for sure. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : On the hotcakes, Ma'am? Annie O'Toole : Do you question my cooking? The hotcakes, he says... 'Twas the air that choked him, just as he said it would. 'Annie,' he says to me. 'One whiff of that heathen air and I'll die!' He said it and he did it. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Well Hoss, are you gonna tell us or not? Who cut your lip for you? Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : I done told ya, I ran into a broom. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : Mm... I just wondered who threw it. Oh, and that uh... that little scratch you got there on your cheek. Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Cut myself shaving, and that's the truth. Ben Cartwright : Look, Hoss, if you did have a fight... Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright : Pa, it wasn't no fight...

But if you sak me, there's one member of this family looking for a fight right now. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright : I'm sorry. I'm just worrying about you, that's all. Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright - Bonanza Characters - ShareTV Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright Michael Landon (born Eugene Maurice Orowitz; October 31, 1936), in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. In ... Character Bio Michael Landon played the youngest, feistiest Cartwright son, whose mother (Felicia in the pilot, and later changed to Marie) was of French Creole descent. Landon began to develop his skills in writing and directing Bonanza episodes, starting with "The Gamble." Most of the episodes Landon wrote and directed were dramas, including the 1972 two hour, "Forever", which was recognized by TV guide as being one of television's best specials (November 1993). Landon's development, however, was a bit stormy according to David Dortort, who felt that the actor grew more difficult during the last five seasons the show ran. ("Bonanza" four DVD set biography notes, Bear Family Records).

Landon appeared in all but fourteen Bonanza episodes for its run, a total of 416 episodes. Episode Screenshots Bonanza American Character Action Figure Bonanza American Character Action Figure Here is my Latest Collection of Bonanza TV Series.. from 1966.. released by American Character.. Not For Sale at this time.. Looking for complete sets.. Date(s): July 5, 2012. Album by Kato Richard. 1 - 18 of 18 Total. 3260 Visits.

Question: Hoss, Little Joe and Ben are characters in which US tv series?
Answer: Bonanza