โบนันซ่าเป็นละครโทรทัศน์ทางตะวันตกของอเมริกาที่พัฒนาและผลิตโดยเดวิด ดอร์ทอร์ทและออกอากาศในสหรัฐอเมริกาเป็นเวลา 14 ฤดูกาลทางเครือข่ายเอ็นบีซี วิ่งทั้งหมดของซีรีส์เอพ 431 ชั่วโมงนานถูกผลิตในสี [1]รอบปฐมทัศน์เป็นวันที่ 12 กันยายน 1959 และออกอากาศตอนสุดท้ายในวันที่ 16 มกราคม 1973 [2]ในฤดูกาลเริ่มต้นของมันโบนันซ่าออกอากาศในช่วงเย็นวันเสาร์และวางไว้ที่บ้านเลขที่ 45 ในการจัดอันดับของนีลเส็น ในฤดูกาลที่สอง ซีรีส์เลื่อนขึ้นเป็นหมายเลข 17 [3] โบนันซ่าถูกย้ายไปเป็นวันอาทิตย์เวลา 21:00 น. ตามเวลาตะวันออกเมื่อเริ่มต้นฤดูกาลที่สาม ในช่วงเวลานั้น เรตติ้งทะยานขึ้นและซีรีส์ก็เป็นอันดับสองรองจากWagon Trainซึ่งเป็นรายการยอดนิยมที่สุดในโทรทัศน์ช่วงไพรม์ไทม์ของอเมริกา [3]มันยังคงอยู่ในสิบอันดับแรกของการจัดอันดับจนถึงฤดูกาลที่สิบสองและติดอันดับหนึ่งในฤดูกาลที่หก เจ็ด และแปด [3] โบนันซ่ายังประสบความสำเร็จทั่วโลกด้วยการออกอากาศในเกือบ 50 ประเทศ รวมทั้งแคนาดา บราซิล ยูโกสลาเวีย สหราชอาณาจักร ฝรั่งเศส อิตาลี สวิตเซอร์แลนด์ ซาอุดีอาระเบีย ไทย ออสเตรเลีย และญี่ปุ่น [4]
โบนันซ่าตั้งอยู่รอบๆฟาร์มปศุสัตว์พอนเดโรซาใกล้กับเวอร์จิเนียซิตี้ รัฐเนวาดาและบันทึกเรื่องราวการผจญภัยประจำสัปดาห์ของครอบครัวคาร์ทไรท์ ซึ่งประกอบด้วยเบ็น คาร์ทไรท์ ( ลอร์น กรีน ) และลูกชายสามคนของเขา (แต่ละคนมีภรรยาคนละคน) อดัม ( เพอร์เนล โรเบิร์ตส์ ) เอริค" ฮอสส์" ( แดน บล็อคเกอร์ ) และโจเซฟ ( ไมเคิล แลนดอน ) นักแสดงรุ่นเก๋าVictor Sen Yungรับบทพ่อครัว Hop Sing ในปีพ.ศ. 2507 เพอร์เนล โรเบิร์ตส์เริ่มแสดงความปรารถนาที่จะออกจากซีรีส์นี้ ดังนั้นจึงแนะนำให้ผู้ที่จะเข้ามาแทนที่แบร์รี โคในฐานะเคลย์น้องชายต่างมารดาที่เอาแต่ใจของโจน้อย และกาย วิลเลียมส์ในฐานะหลานชายของเบ็นวิล คาร์ทไรท์ อย่างไรก็ตาม โรเบิร์ตส์ได้รับการเกลี้ยกล่อมให้ทำตามสัญญา และยังคงอยู่จนถึงฤดูกาลที่หก ตัวละครของ Clay และ Will ถูกยกเลิก ในฤดูกาลที่เก้าเดวิดคานารีถูกเพิ่มเข้ามาหล่อเป็นมือไร่ / หัวหน้าขนม Canady หลังจากสี่ปีกับซีรีส์ Canary ก็จากไปเนื่องจากข้อพิพาทเรื่องสัญญา ในฤดูกาลที่สิบสองมิทช์ โวเกลร่วมแสดงเป็นเจมี่ ฮันเตอร์เด็กกำพร้าวัยรุ่นที่เบน คาร์ทไรท์รับอุปการะเลี้ยงดู [5] [6]หลังจากการเสียชีวิตของ Dan Blocker ในเดือนพฤษภาคม 1972 หลังจากจบฤดูกาลที่สิบสาม Greene, Landon และ Vogel ได้ดำเนินซีรีส์ต่อไปจนถึงฤดูกาลที่สิบสี่ โดย Canary กลับมาเป็น Candy (ตามรายงานโดย Landon) และTim Mathesonได้รับการแนะนำให้รู้จักในฐานะอดีต -นักโทษและเจ้าของฟาร์มปศุสัตว์คนใหม่ กริฟ คิง [5] [6]โปรแกรมถูกย้ายไปในคืนวันอังคารที่คะแนนไม่ดีในอันดับ 52 และถูกยกเลิกในเวลาต่อมา [5] [6] โบนันซ่ามี อย่างไร ยังคงได้รับความนิยมในองค์กร ตั้งแต่ปี 2507-2510 "โบนันซ่า" กลายเป็นรายการที่มีผู้ชมมากที่สุดในสหรัฐอเมริกา
สิบเอ็ดซีซันแรกได้รับการเผยแพร่ในรูปแบบดีวีดีในภูมิภาค 1
ภาพรวมซีรีส์
ภาพรวมของฤดูกาลโบนันซ่าฤดูกาลตอนออกอากาศตอนแรกอันดับเรตติ้งผูกกับออกอากาศครั้งแรกออกอากาศล่าสุด13212 กันยายน 250230 เมษายน 1960ไม่มีไม่มีไม่มี23410 กันยายน 19603 มิถุนายน 25041724.8ไม่มี33424 กันยายน 250420 พฤษภาคม 2505230.0ไม่มี43423 กันยายน 250526 พฤษภาคม 2506429.8เดอะ ลูซี่ โชว์53422 กันยายน 250624 พฤษภาคม 2507236.9ไม่มี63420 กันยายน 250723 พ.ค. 2508136.3ไม่มี73312 กันยายน 250815 พ.ค. 2509131.8ไม่มี83411 กันยายน 250914 พ.ค. 2510129.1ไม่มี93417 กันยายน 251028 กรกฎาคม 2511425.5เรื่องครอบครัวGunsmoke 103015 กันยายน 251111 พ.ค. 2512326.6ไม่มี112814 กันยายน 251219 เมษายน 1970324.8ไม่มี122813 กันยายน 197011 เมษายน 2514923.9ไม่มี132619 กันยายน พ.ศ. 25142 เมษายน 25152021.9ไม่มี141612 กันยายน 251516 มกราคม 251650 [7]17.0 [8]ไม่มี
ตอน
ซีซัน 1 (1959–60)
โบนันซ่าซีซั่น 1 ตอนเลขที่ โดยรวมเลขที่ใน ฤดูกาลหัวข้อกำกับโดยเขียนโดยวันที่ออกอากาศเดิม11"ดอกกุหลาบสำหรับล็อตต้า"เอ็ดเวิร์ด ลุดวิกเดวิด ดอร์ทอร์ท12 กันยายน 2502ผู้ประกอบการเหมืองแร่ Alpheus Troy ใช้นักแสดงหญิงชื่อLotta Crabtree ( Yvonne De Carlo ) ในแผนการที่จะจับตัว Joe Cartwright เป็นตัวประกันเพื่อแลกกับไม้ซุง จอร์จ แมคเครดี้ เป็นดารารับเชิญ22"ความตายบนภูเขาอาทิตย์"Paul LandresGene L. Coonและ David Dortort19 กันยายน 2502นักฉวยโอกาสคู่หนึ่งฆ่าละมั่งในพื้นที่อินเดียและขายให้คนงานเหมืองเงินในเมืองเวอร์จิเนียเพื่อผลกำไรมหาศาล แบร์รี่ ซัลลิแวนและคาร์ล สเวนสันดารารับเชิญ33“ผู้มาใหม่”Christian NybyThomas Thompson26 กันยายน 2502Cartwrights ค้นพบศัตรูเก่าที่สังหารศัตรูที่ Ponderosa ฮอสตกหลุมรักคู่หมั้นของนักสำรวจที่ทุจริตซึ่งสงสัยว่าพวกเกวียนกำลังซ่อนทองคำ John LarchและInger Stevensดารารับเชิญ44"สงคราม Paiute"Paul Landresยีน แอล. คูน3 ตุลาคม 2502พ่อค้าที่ชั่วร้ายเริ่มทำสงครามระหว่างชนเผ่ากับทหารอาสาสมัครในท้องที่ เมื่อเขาใส่ร้ายอดัมฐานทำร้ายผู้หญิง Paiute สองคน แอนโธนี่ คารูโซ , วอลเตอร์ คอยและแจ็ค วอร์เดนเป็นดารารับเชิญ55“เข้ามา มาร์ค ทเวน”Paul Landresแฮโรลด์ ชูเมท10 ตุลาคม 2502Cartwrights ช่วยนักข่าวของ Virginia City Samuel Clemens/ Mark Twain ( Howard Duff ) ในการสืบสวนของเขากับผู้พิพากษาที่ทุจริต ( John Litel )66“เรื่องจูเลีย บูเล็ต”Christian NybyAl C. Ward17 ตุลาคม 2502โดยไม่สนใจคำเตือนของพ่อและพี่น้องของเขา โจตกหลุมรักผู้หญิงที่แก่กว่ามาก เจ้าของร้านรถเก๋งของเมือง มาดามชื่อจูเลีย บูเล็ตต์ ( เจน เกรียร์ )77"เทพนิยายของแอนนี่โอทูล"โจเซฟ เคนThomas Thompson24 ตุลาคม 2502Annie O'Toole ( Ida Lupino ) มาถึงเวอร์จิเนียพร้อมกับ Da คนเก่าของเธอ และตั้งโรงอาหารในเหมืองเงินโดยได้รับความช่วยเหลือจาก Adam อลัน เฮล จูเนียร์ดารารับเชิญ88"เรื่องราวของฟิลิป ดีเดไชเมอร์"โจเซฟ เคนThomas Thompson31 ตุลาคม 2502Pied Piper Philip Deidesheimer ( John Beal ) ด้วยความช่วยเหลือของ Adam และ Hoss พยายามสร้างวิธีการในการกอบกู้เหมืองเงินในเวอร์จิเนียซิตี้จากถ้ำ99“คุณเฮนรี่ คอมสต็อค”จอห์น บราห์มเดวิด ดอร์ทอร์ท7 พฤศจิกายน 2502เมื่อพวกเขาถูกคุกคามโดยชายคนหนึ่งที่หลอกลวงขายส่วนหนึ่งของ Ponderosa พวก Cartwrights จำวันที่พวกเขาได้พบกับHenry Comstock ( Jack Carson ) ผู้อ้างสิทธิ์ซึ่งการค้นพบ Comstock Lode ได้วางรากฐานสำหรับเวอร์จิเนียซิตี้1010“อาดาผู้ยิ่งใหญ่”Christian NybyDonald S. Sanford14 พฤศจิกายน 2502เด็กชายเกวียนสงสัยว่านักแสดงสาวอาดาห์ เมนกิน ( รูธ โรมัน ) มีแรงจูงใจแอบแฝงในการแต่งงานกับพ่อของพวกเขา John C. Regan คนรักเก่าของ Adah ( Don Megowan ) มาตามหาความรุ่งโรจน์ในอดีตของเขา1111“เดอะทรักกีสตริป”Christian Nybyเฮอร์แมน โกรฟส์21 พฤศจิกายน 2502บารอนสีเงินวางแผนส่งเสริมการต่อสู้ระหว่างเบ็นกับเพื่อนบ้านเพียงเพื่อเอาไม้ซุง โจ คาร์ทไรท์ตกหลุมรักเอมี่ บิชอป ( เอเดรียนน์ เฮย์ส ) และคู่รักทั้งสองพยายามที่จะหยุดความบาดหมางระหว่างครอบครัวคาร์ทไรท์และบิชอป เจมส์ โคเบิร์นดารารับเชิญ1212"กองทหารแขวน"Christian NybyCarey Wilber28 พฤศจิกายน 2502อดัมและโจพยายามหยุดกองทหารที่พยายามจับตัวฆาตกรแวนนี่ จอห์นสัน ไม่ให้กลายเป็นม็อบประชาทัณฑ์ อาเธอร์ ฮันนิคัตต์, ออนสโลว์ สตีเวนส์และอดัม วิลเลียมส์เป็นดารารับเชิญ1313"อาฆาต"โจเซฟ เคนโรเบิร์ต อี. ทอมป์สัน5 ธันวาคม 2502เบ็นได้รับบาดเจ็บสาหัสเมื่อเขาและฮอสส์ขอความช่วยเหลือในการต่อสู้กับพี่น้องมอร์แกนผู้พยาบาท แต่ต้องเผชิญกับความขี้ขลาดเมื่อเพื่อนทุกคนที่พวกเขาคิดว่าเขามีอยู่ในเมืองตัดสินใจซ่อนตัว Whitney Blake , Harry Carey Jr. , John Milford , Mort MillsและSteve Rowlandดารารับเชิญ1414“พี่สาว”Christian NybyCarey Wilber12 ธันวาคม 2502อดัมถูกกล่าวหาอย่างผิด ๆ ว่าฆ่าสาวฮอลล์เต้นรำ ( เฟย์ สเปน ) หลังจากที่เธอถูกยิงที่แขนของเขา และฆาตกรตัวจริงที่เขายิงหนีไป Buddy EbsenและJean Willesดารารับเชิญ1515"การล่าครั้งสุดท้าย"Christian NybyDonald S. Sanford19 ธันวาคม 2502โจและฮอสปกป้องหญิงตั้งครรภ์ชาวอินเดียที่พยายามจะปล้นค่ายล่าสัตว์จากพายุหิมะ รวมทั้งกลุ่มโชโชนที่ได้รับคำสั่งให้ตามหาเธอ Raymond BaileyและChana Edenดารารับเชิญ1616"เอล โตโร กรานเด"Christian Nybyจอห์น ทัคเกอร์ แบทเทิล2 มกราคม 1960โจและฮอสส์เดินทางไปทางใต้เพื่อซื้อวัวกระทิงตัวหนึ่งให้พอนเดโรซา แต่พวกเขาพบว่าวัวตัวผู้นั้นถูกเด็กชายตัวเล็ก ๆ ปลุกเร้าให้กระปรี้กระเปร่า Alma BeltranและRicardo Cortezเป็นดารารับเชิญ1717“ผู้ถูกขับไล่”Lewis AllenThomas Thompson9 มกราคม 1960ผู้หญิงที่ถูกขับไล่ชื่อ Leta Malvet ได้รับความช่วยเหลือจาก Cartwrights หลังจากที่พ่อและพี่ชายของเธอถูกแขวนคอในข้อหาฆาตกรรม เคลย์ เรนตัน คู่รักของเลตามาถึงเมืองแล้ว แจ็ค ลอร์ดและซูซาน โอลิเวอร์ดารารับเชิญ1818"บ้านแตก"Lewis AllenAl C. Ward16 มกราคม 1960เฟรเดอริก ไคล์ โซเซียลเซอร์สหพันธ์ วางแผนฉีกเวอร์จิเนียซิตี้และคาร์ทไรท์ เบ็นพยายามเปิดโปงแผนงานของเขาหลังจากที่เขาผูกมิตรกับลิตเติ้ลโจ จอห์นเดอร์สัน , สเตซี่แฮร์ริสและคาเมรอนมิทเชลล์ดารารับเชิญ1919"มือปืน"Christian NybyCarey Wilber23 มกราคม 1960ฮอสและโจเข้าไปพัวพันกับความบาดหมางในครอบครัวในเมืองเล็กๆ แห่งหนึ่งของเท็กซัส เมื่อพวกเขาเข้าใจผิดว่าเป็นฆาตกรรับจ้างกระหายเลือด Ellen Corby , Henry HullและGeorge Mitchellดารารับเชิญ2020"The Fear Merchants"Lewis AllenStory by : Frank Unger Teleplay by : Frank Unger and Thomas ThompsonJanuary 30, 1960 The Chinese citizens of Virginia City are targeted by a manipulative mayoral candidate's campaign to "hate outsiders". Philip Ahn and Helen Westcott guest star.2121"The Spanish Grant"Christian NybyStory by : Morris Lee Green Teleplay by : Leonard Heideman and David DortortFebruary 6, 1960 A pair of swindlers team with a dance-hall girl (Patricia Medina) to get their hands on Nevada land, including the Ponderosa. The Cartwrights try to stop them by disproving the validity of a Spanish land grant. Sebastian Cabot and Paul Picerni guest star.2222"Blood on the Land"Felix FeistRobert E. ThompsonFebruary 13, 1960 Jeb Drummond (Everett Sloane) is a greedy sheepherder determined to fatten his animals on the Ponderosa grasslands: he takes Adam hostage to force Ben to sign over part of the Ponderosa.2323"Desert Justice"Lewis AllenDonald S. SanfordFebruary 20, 1960 Adam and Hoss try to help a ranch hand (Wesley Lau) who's being taken to California for trial by a brutal U.S. marshal (Claude Akins), but things are not as they first seem.2424"The Stranger"Christian NybyStory by : Oliver Crawford Teleplay by : Leonard HeidemanFebruary 27, 1960 The vengeful police inspector LeDuque (Lloyd Nolan) from New Orleans jeopardizes Ben's bid for the governorship over a twenty year murder.2525"Escape to Ponderosa"Christian NybyStory by : Bill Barrett and Malcolm Stuart Boylan Teleplay by : Robert E. ThompsonMarch 5, 1960 Ben starts to have second thoughts about helping a brutal stockade commander track down three prisoners on the lam when he realizes what they had to deal with. Joe Maross, Gloria Talbott, and Grant Williams guest star.2626"The Avenger"Christian NybyClair HuffakerMarch 19, 1960 A mysterious stranger called Lassiter (Vic Morrow) helps Hoss and Joe to save Ben and Adam before they're hanged like his father. The drifter is searching for the men who committeed a lynching in Kansas years ago. Ian Wolfe guest stars.2727"The Last Trophy"Lewis AllenBill S. BallingerMarch 26, 1960 A British couple visits the Cartwrights - and the woman (Hazel Court) thinks her own husband is a coward. Everything changes when the couple is kidnapped for ransom along with Adam Cartwright. Edward Ashley and Bert Freed guest star.2828"San Francisco"Arthur LubinThomas ThompsonApril 2, 1960 The Cartwrights finish a cattle drive in San Francisco with Hop Sing. Ben is shanghaied at the Barbary Coast while searching for a pair of ranch hands. Kathleen Crowley, Richard Deacon, James Hong, and David White.2929"Bitter Water"George BlairHarold Jack BloomApril 9, 1960 The Cartwrights are worried their water will be polluted when their neighbor Andy (Rhys Williams)'s son, Todd (Don Dubbins), threatens to sell his land to a miner.3030"Feet of Clay"Arthur LubinJohn Furia Jr.April 16, 1960 Hoss attempts to comfort a boy (David Ladd) whose mother has just died and whose father is in jail, but not for long.3131"Dark Star"Lewis AllenAnthony LawrenceApril 23, 1960 Joe romances a Gypsy named Tirza (Susan Harrison) who thinks she's a witch. Her people also believe she's bewitched and she's banished from the community.3232"Death at Dawn"Charles HaasLaurence E. MascottApril 30, 1960 A criminal gang that has taken over Virginia City in the form of a protection racket kidnaps Ben. Paul Carr, Robert Middleton, and Morgan Woodward guest star.
Season 2 (1960–61)
Bonanza, season 2 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date331"Showdown"Lewis AllenDean RiesnerSeptember 10, 1960 The youngest member (Ben Cooper) of a gang that has just robbed Virginia City's bank takes a job with the Cartwrights so the sheriff doesn't find his accomplices.342"The Mission"James NeilsonRobert E. ThompsonSeptember 17, 1960 Hoss befriends Charlie Trent (Henry Hull), the town drunk who was once a top scout in the Army before he led his troops into a massacre. Hoss helps him regain his self-esteem. John Dehner guest stars.353"Badge Without Honor"Arthur LubinJohn TwistSeptember 24, 1960 The Cartwrights grow suspicious of U.S. Deputy Marshall Gerald Eskith (Dan Duryea), assigned to escort a reluctant witness, who is also a close friend of theirs, to a racketeering trial in San Francisco.364"The Mill"John RichHalsted WellesOctober 1, 1960 The Cartwrights offer to build a mill for their paraplegic neighbor Tom Edwards (Harry Townes) and his wife Joyce (Dianne Foster), who is a longtime friend of Ben. Tom's hired hand, Ezekiel (Claude Akins), is suspicious of Ben.375"The Hopefuls"James NeilsonE. Jack NeumanOctober 8, 1960 A Quaker woman convinces Adam to take her wagon train on a perilous journey west. He doesn't know that the woman's father has eyes on the gold that they are carrying to the promised land. Larry Gates, Patricia Donahue and Dennis Patrick guest star.386"Denver McKee"Jacques TourneurFred Freiberger and Steve McNeilOctober 15, 1960 Retired U.S. Deputy Marshall Denver McKee (Franchot Tone) is willing to do anything to make his daughter (Natalie Trundy) happy. Bob Barker guest stars.397"Day of Reckoning"Richard H. BartlettStory by : Leonard Heideman Teleplay by : Leonard Heideman and R. Harner NorrisOctober 22, 1960 A bigoted and racist farmer (Karl Swenson) takes action when Ben gives an Indian a piece of land as a reward for saving his life. Ricardo Montalban and Madlyn Rhue guest star.408"The Abduction"Charles HaasHerman GrovesOctober 29, 1960 Joe's carnival date Jennifer Beale (Jackie Russell) is abducted in a deadly ransom plot orchestrated to extort money from his rich father Joshua. The plan unravels when Hercules (Robert Maffei) finds out who killed the woman he loved, Delia (Barbara Lawrence). Gerald Mohr and Stafford Repp guest star.419"Breed of Violence"Johnny FloreaDavid LangNovember 5, 1960 Dolly Kincaid (Myrna Fahey) defies her lawman father (Val Avery) and runs off with a handsome stranger (John Ericson) who is actually a bank robber.4210"The Last Viking"Johnny FloreaAnthony LawrenceNovember 12, 1960 Hoss's uncle Gunnar (Neville Brand) turns out to be the leader of a vicious band of outlaws called the Commancheros that kidnaps Little Joe and his girlfriend.4311"The Trail Gang"John RichCarey WilberNovember 26, 1960 Outlaw Johnny Logan (Richard Davalos) plots his revenge against his sheriff-father (James Westerfield) for sending him to prison years ago. To succeed, he disguises as Sam Jackson, a young drifter hired by Ben, who isn't aware of Johnny's real identity. Edgar Buchanan guest stars.4412"The Savage"James NeilsonJoseph Stone and Paul KingDecember 3, 1960 Adam falls for a girl (Anna-Lisa) believed by Indians to be the white buffalo woman. The tribe wants to harm her and is looking for her.4513"Silent Thunder"Robert AltmanJohn Furia Jr.December 10, 1960 A deaf girl (Stella Stevens) is treated badly by her father and Joe decides to help her by teaching her sign language. The girl misunderstands Joe's actions as gestures of love.4614"The Ape"James P. YarbroughGene L. CoonDecember 17, 1960 Hoss tries to help a mentally-challenged man with immense physical strength to control his temper. His efforts are undermined by a saloon girl. Karen Sharpe and Leonard Nimoy guest star.4715"The Blood Line"Lewis AllenWilliam Raynor and Myles WilderDecember 31, 1960 Todd Grayson (David Macklin) seeks revenge on Ben for the death of his father Luke. Jan Sterling and Lee Van Cleef guest star.4816"The Courtship"James P. YarbroughRichard MorganJanuary 7, 1961 Hoss falls in love and proposes to a beautiful woman (Julie Adams) Adam knows is a compulsive gambler and only interested in Hoss' money.4917"The Spitfire"William D. FarallaWard HawkinsJanuary 14, 1961 A family seeks revenge against Joe for shooting the treacherous patriarch in self-defense after the man tried to set fire to the Ponderosa. Jack Elam and Katherine Warren guest star.5018"The Bride"Alvin GanzerRichard NewmanJanuary 21, 1961 A beautiful young woman (Suzanne Lloyd) claims to be Ben's wife and a sheriff (John McIntire) falsely charges him with murder - all in a complex scheme to take over the Ponderosa. Adam West guest stars.5119"Bank Run"Robert AltmanN.B. Stone Jr.January 28, 1961 Joe and Hoss rob the bank in an attempt to stop the owner from foreclosing on a depositor, but they end up being pursued by the law. Dan Tobin and Ian Wolfe guest star.5220"The Fugitive"Lewis AllenRichard H. LandauFebruary 4, 1961 Adam investigates a friend's death in Mexico, only to be faced with hostile townspeople and the dead man's wife. Ziva Rodann, James Best, Frank Silvera and Arthur Batanides guest star.5321"Vengeance"Dick ModerMarion ParsonnetFebruary 11, 1961 Hoss is shot by the vengeful brother (Adam Williams) of the man he accidentally killed, Willie the town drunk (Keith Richards). Beverly Tyler guest stars.5422"Tax Collector"William WitneyArnold BelgardFebruary 18, 1961 The citizens of Virginia City unite to rebel against the new tax collector Jock Henry (Eddie Firestone), who uses peculiar methods to figure out how much people owe.5523"The Rescue"William D. FarallaSteve McNeilFebruary 25, 1961 Ben must rescue his sons from cattle rustlers. Leif Erickson and Richard Coogan guest star.5624"The Dark Gate"Robert GordonWard HawkinsMarch 4, 1961 Rancher Ross Marquette (James Coburn) is behaving strangely and he accuses his friend Adam of having an affair with his wife.5725"The Duke"Robert AltmanStory by : Theodore & Mathilde Ferro Teleplay by : William R. CoxMarch 11, 1961 A British boxer called the Duke (Maxwell Reed) with a weakness for the ladies faces Hoss in a prizefight. JD (Jason Evers), the Cartwrights' meek friend, is pulverized by the Duke who also assaults Marge (Randy Stuart), a saloon girl who adores JD. The Duke's manager (J. Pat O'Malley), who is his brother, comes to her rescue.5826"Cutthroat Junction"Dick ModerNat TanchuckMarch 18, 1961 Jed Trask (Robert Lansing) joins the outlaws he was supposed to stop when he is abruptly fired during his mission. He is helped by some people of the Virginia City council.5927"The Gift"William WitneyDenne Bart Petitclerc and Thomas ThompsonApril 1, 1961 Joe and a friend (Martin Landau) trek across the desert with a valuable Arab stallion to get a birthday present for Joe's father, unaware that they're being stalked by horse thieves.6028"The Rival"Robert AltmanAnthony LawrenceApril 15, 1961 Hoss has a crisis of conscience when he sees Jim Applegate (Charles Aidman), a rival for his sweetheart Cameo (Peggy Ann Garner)'s affections, leaving the scene of a lynching.6129"The Infernal Machine"William WitneyWard HawkinsApril 22, 1961 A con man persuades the citizens of Virginia City to invest in a horseless carriage. A promoter sells shares into the invention, but all of a sudden he skips town. Eddie Ryder, June Kenney, Nora Hayden and George Kennedy guest star.6230"The Thunderhead Swindle"Dick ModerGene L. CoonApril 29, 1961 There's a sharp rise in unemployment and Ben tries to disprove reports of a silver strike which he believes is fraudulent. Parley Baer, Judson Pratt, Vito Scotti and Ross Elliott guest star.6331"The Secret"Robert AltmanJohn HawkinsMay 6, 1961 Joe is falsely accused of murdering a girl following a family friend's testimony. The Cartwrights race to prove his innocence. Crahan Denton guest stars.6432"The Dream Riders"Robert AltmanJames Van Wagoner and Jack McClainMay 20, 1961 A balloonist distracts the citizens of Virginia City while his associates make plans to rob the bank. Sidney Blackmer and Stuart Nisbet guest star.6533"Elizabeth, My Love"Lewis AllenAnthony LawrenceMay 27, 1961 Ben remembers his time with Elizabeth Stoddard (Geraldine Brooks), Adam's mother, while his son is seriously ill.6634"Sam Hill"Robert AltmanDavid DortortJune 3, 1961 The Cartwrights help blacksmith Sam Hill (Claude Akins) keep the land where his mother is buried after his drunk father signed it away to an old enemy.
Season 3 (1961–62)
Bonanza, season 3 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date671"The Smiler"Thomas CarrLewis ReedSeptember 24, 1961 The brother (Herschel Bernardi) of the drunk Hoss accidentally killed in self-defense secretly plots his revenge.682"Springtime"Christian NybyJohn Furia Jr.October 1, 1961 Joe accidentally hurts old businessman Jedediah Milbank (John Carradine) while he and his brothers are enjoying the spring.693"The Honor of Cochise"Don McDougallElliott ArnoldOctober 8, 1961 Indian war chief Cochise (Jeff Morrow) and his warriors pursue an Army captain (DeForest Kelley) responsible for poisoning Indian women and children. Adam is seriously wounded after he's hit by an Apache bullet.704"The Lonely House"William WitneyFrank ChaseOctober 15, 1961 A lonely widow tends to a wounded bank robber whose gang takes her and Joe hostage. Paul Richards and Faith Domergue guest star.715"The Burma Rarity"William WitneyN.B. Stone Jr.October 21, 1961 Con men try to sell a worthless gem to a former showgirl, but she's too smart for them. People in town would like Ben to get married with widow Hawkins (Beatrice Kay).726"Broken Ballad"Robert ButlerJohn T. KellyOctober 29, 1961 Former gunfighter Ed Payson (Robert Culp) returns to Virginia City and tries to put his past behind him. Adam decides to help him.737"The Many Faces of Gideon Flinch"Robert AltmanRobert Vincent WrightNovember 5, 1961 Joe is mistaken for con man Gideon Flinch (Ian Wolfe), who along with his niece Jennifer (Sue Ane Langdon), has spent all the money of an investment made by Bullet Head Burke (Harry Swoger).748"The Friendship"Don McDougallFrank ChaseNovember 12, 1961 Joe tries to help former chain-gang prisoner Danny Kid (Dean Jones), locked up since he was only thirteen, to adjust to his freedom.759"The Countess"Robert SparrWilliam R. Cox and William D. PowellNovember 19, 1961 A countess (Margaret Hayes) returns to Virginia City to resume her romance with Ben, the man she spurned twenty years before in New Orleans.7610"The Horse Breaker"Don McDougallFrank ChaseNovember 26, 1961 Ben tries to help bronco-buster Johnny Lightly (Ben Cooper) who's feeling depressed over losing the use of his legs.7711"Day of the Dragon"Don McDougallJohn T. DuganDecember 3, 1961 Joe wins Su Ling (Lisa Lu), a Chinese slave girl, in a poker game, but she refuses to allow him to free her. Meanwhile, her groom-to-be General Tsung (Richard Loo) is looking for her.7812"The Frenchman"Christian NybyNorman LessingDecember 10, 1961 The Cartwrights deal with a Frenchman who claims to be the reincarnation of medieval and outlaw poet François Villon (Andre Philippe).7913"The Tin Badge"Lewis AllenDon IngallsDecember 17, 1961 Two citizens of a nearby small town appoint Joe their sheriff as part of their plot to commit a murder. After he takes the job, Joe becomes suspicious. Vic Morrow, Karen Steele and John Litel guest star.8014"Gabrielle"Thomas CarrAnthony LawrenceDecember 24, 1961 The Cartwrights help blind girl Gabrielle Wickman (Diane Mountford) find her reclusive grandfather, who spent 21 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit.8115"Land Grab"David Orrick McDearmonWard HawkinsDecember 31, 1961 A range war is on the horizon when settlers use deeds to claim ownership of the Ponderosa sold by an unscrupulous friend of Ben's (John McGiver) that the Cartwrights are currently hosting.8216"The Tall Stranger"Don McDougallWard HawkinsJanuary 7, 1962 Hoss courts Margie Owens (Kathie Browne), a wealthy woman who's equally captivated by a fortune hunter's extravagant promises.8317"The Lady from Baltimore"John PeyserElliott ArnoldJanuary 14, 1962 Status-seeking mother Deborah Banning (Mercedes McCambridge) is disappointed in her husband's financial failures and forces her daughter to marry Joe.8418"The Ride"Don McDougallWard HawkinsJanuary 21, 1962 Adam sets out to prove one of his business partners Bill Enders (Jan Merlin) is guilty of robbery and murder, but his family and the sheriff are not convinced by his testimony.8519"The Storm"Lewis AllenDenne PetitclercJanuary 28, 1962 Laura White (Brooke Hayward) displays her affections for Joe when she and her father, sea Captain Matthew White (Frank Overton), visit the Ponderosa.8620"The Auld Sod"William WitneyCharles LangFebruary 4, 1962 Ranch hand Danny Lynch (James Dunn) convinces the Cartwrights to go along with his charade of their ranch being his ranch for his visiting Irish mother, who thinks her son owns the Ponderosa.8721"Gift of Water"Jesse HibbsBorden ChaseFebruary 11, 1962 Tensions rise during a drought and the Cartwrights dig a well in order to bring water to drought-ridden farmers. Royal Dano, Majel Barrett and James Doohan guest star.8822"The Jackknife"William WitneyFrank ChaseFebruary 18, 1962 Adam tries to save the marriage of a couple whose son he befriends. Adam doesn't know that the father, rancher Matt Grant (John Archer), is the member of a gang of rustlers.8923"The Guilty"Lewis AllenClifford IrvingFebruary 25, 1962 Retired sheriff Lem Partridge (Lyle Bettger) blames his friend Ben for his son Jimmy's (Jack Easton Jr) death when the boy is shot and killed by vengeful gunman Jack Groat (Charles Maxwell).9024"The Wooing of Abigail Jones"Christian NybyNorman LessingMarch 4, 1962 The Cartwrights boys help shy ranch hand Hank Meyers (Vaughn Monroe) court schoolteacher Abigail Jones (Eileen Ryan).9125"The Lawmaker"Christian NybyStory by : John A. Johns Teleplay by : Dick NelsonMarch 11, 1962 The acting sheriff, rancher Asa Moran (Arthur Franz), of Virginia City abuses his authority while Roy Coffee is out due to injury.9226"Look to the Stars"Don McDougallRobert M. Fresco and Paul RinkMarch 18, 1962 Ben discovers that young genius Albert Michelson (Douglas Lambert) was expelled from school because of a bigoted schoolmaster (William Schallert).9327"The Gamble"William WitneyStory by : Michael Landon Teleplay by : Frank Cleaver and Michael LandonApril 1, 1962 Joe hurries to rescue his father and brothers from being executed on a false murder charge. Charles McGraw and Ben Johnson guest star.9428"The Crucible"Paul NickellJohn T. DuganApril 8, 1962
Adam ends up stranded in the desert where he is forced to depend on insane miner Peter Kane (Lee Marvin), who forces the Cartwright into slavery to drive Adam to murder.
Note: This episode was one of Pernell Roberts' personal favorites, as it gave him the best opportunity to showcase his acting abilities.9529"Inger, My Love"Lewis AllenStory by : Anthony Lawrence Teleplay by : Frank Cleaver and David DortortApril 15, 1962 Ben remembers his courtship with his second wife and Hoss's mother, Inger (Inga Swenson).9630"Blessed Are They"Don McDougallStory by : Borden Chase Teleplay by : Borden Chase and Frank CleaverApril 22, 1962 Ben must settle a bitter feud between the Mahan and Clarke families that threatens to divide the citizens of Virginia City. Robert Brown, Ford Rainey and Irene Tedrow.9731"The Dowry"Christian NybyRobert Vincent WrightApril 29, 1962
The Cartwrights take in wounded man Alexander Dubois (Steven Geray), his daughter Michele (Luciana Paluzzi) and her fiancé Don Ricardo Fernandez (Lee Bergere). Michele might have been robbed of her dowry.
Note: while filming this episode on location, Pernell Roberts’ horse, Sport, slipped and fell while going downhill on a muddy path. After Sport fell, Blocker's horse, Chub, who was following closely, stumbled over him. Roberts and Blocker jumped off their mounts as they had been trained to do, but both actors were injured. Roberts sprained his neck, while Blocker broke his collarbone and shoulder and would miss one episode then wear a sling for the remainder of the season.9832"The Long Night"William WitneyGeorge Stackalee and E. M. ParsonsMay 6, 1962 Adam is mistaken for an escaped convict and finds himself caught between the real convict (James Coburn) and a lynch mob. Adam needs to prove his real identity.9933"The Mountain Girl"Don McDougallJohn FuriaMay 13, 1962 Joe is given the task of changing a mountain girl (Nina Shipman) into a refined young lady, as wished by the late girl's grandfather Seth Coombs (Will Wright).10034"The Miracle Maker"Don McDougallStory by : Lewis Reed Teleplay by : Frank Cleaver and Preston WoodMay 20, 1962 A so-called faith healer (Ed Nelson) offers to help Susan (Patricia Breslin) with her guilt over her father dying in a wagon crash.
Season 4 (1962–63)
Bonanza, season 4 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date1011"The First Born"Don McDougallJudy and George W. GeorgeSeptember 23, 1962 Joe must decide what to do when he learns that new ranch hand Clay Stafford (Barry Coe) is his mother's first-born son.1022"The Quest"Christian NybyJohn Furia[A] and Thomas ThompsonSeptember 30, 1962 In order to prove himself a man, Joe sets out to win a big timber contract for the Ponderosa. Grant Richards, Frank Gerstle and Dan Riss guest star.1033"The Artist"Don McDougallFrank ChaseOctober 7, 1962 Ben tries to help Matthew Raine (Dan O'Herlihy), an artist who's lost his sight. He's also supported by his friend Ann (Virginia Grey).1044"A Hot Day for a Hanging"William F. ClaxtonPreston Wood and Elliott ArnoldOctober 14, 1962 A sheriff (Denver Pyle) hopes to save his town from going bankrupt by framing Hoss for bank robbery and murder while he's making a payment delivery.1055"The Deserter"William WitneyNorman LessingOctober 21, 1962 The Cartwrights face a dilemma when their neighbor Bill Winters (Robert Sampson) is wanted for deserting the Army ten years ago.1066"The Way Station"Lewis AllenFrank CleaverOctober 28, 1962 A desperate fugitive (Robert Vaughn) holds Adam and others captive at a remote way station.1077"The War Comes to Washoe"Don McDougallAlvin SapinsleyNovember 4, 1962 Statehood convention delegates debate over which side Nevada will take in the Civil War. Little Joe's romance with the daughter of a Confederate sympathizer brings tensions between him and Adam. Harry Townes, Joyce Taylor, Barry Kelley and Alan Caillou guest star.1088"Knight Errant"William F. ClaxtonJoseph HoffmanNovember 18, 1962 Hoss inadvertently starts a romantic triangle when he meets his friend's mail-order bride, who falls in love with him. Judi Meredith and John Doucette guest star.1099"The Beginning"Christian NybyPreston WoodNovember 25, 1962 Joe tries to help Billy Horn (Carl Reindel), who was captured by Indians as a boy, adjust to life at the Ponderosa. A threat emerges when Milton Tanner (Ken Lynch) claims one-third of the Ponderosa and Billy wants to confront him the Indian way.11010"The Deadly Ones"William WitneyStory by : N. B. Stone Jr. Teleplay by : Denne PetitclercDecember 2, 1962 Mexican patriots loyal to Benito Juárez come to the Ponderosa in order to rob a gold wagon needed for the Mexican revolution and smuggled by Emperor Maximilian. Will Kuluva, Leo Gordon, Lee Farr and Jena Engstrom guest star.11111"Gallagher's Sons"Christian NybyDick NelsonDecember 9, 1962 Hoss helps out Will (Eileen Chesis) and Charlie (Larrian Gillespie), two orphaned girls who have been raised as boys. He doesn't know a posse is trailing them a bag of stolen money carried by one of the girls.11212"The Decision"William F. ClaxtonStory by : Norman Jacob Teleplay by : Frank ChaseDecember 16, 1962 A doctor (DeForest Kelley) convicted of murder is the only one who can perform surgery on Hoss, whose life hangs in the balance.11313"The Good Samaritan"Don McDougallRobert BloomfieldDecember 23, 1962 Hoss tries to play matchmaker for a ranch hand (Don Collier) and a widow (Jeanne Cooper). His friend seems determined to sabotage the possible affair.11414"The Jury"Christian NybyRobert Vincent WrightDecember 30, 1962 Hoss is the only one on a jury who believes a ne'er-do-well is innocent of murder. Since he doesn't agree with the other judges, he's accused of bribery. Jack Betts, Don Haggerty, James Bell and Bobs Watson guest star.11515"The Colonel"Lewis AllenPreston WoodJanuary 6, 1963 An old Army buddy of Ben's jeopardizes the Cartwrights and a Ponderosa land deal with his lies. John Larkin, Helen Westcott and Edward Platt guest star.11616"Song in the Dark"Don McDougallJudy and George W. GeorgeJanuary 13, 1963 Mysterious singer Danny Morgan (Gregory Walcott) has been charged with murder and Adam sets out to clear him.11717"Elegy for a Hangman"Hollingsworth MorseStory by : E. M. Parsons Teleplay by : E. M. Parsons and Shirl HendryxJanuary 20, 1963 A man (Keir Dullea) forces the reopening of a murder case, believing his father was wrongfully executed. Adam helps him.11818"Half a Rogue"Don McDougallArnold BelgardJanuary 27, 1963 Hoss takes in ornery hillbilly Big Jim Leyton (Slim Pickens), who has been framed for murder.11919"The Last Haircut"William F. ClaxtonCharles LangFebruary 3, 1963 Joe pursues a cold-blooded killer who used a tricky legal maneuver to escape justice. Perry Lopez and Chubby Johnson guest star.12020"Marie, My Love"Lewis AllenStory by : Anne Howard Bailey and Anthony Lawrence Teleplay by : Anthony LawrenceFebruary 10, 1963 Ben remembers his courtship in New Orleans of Joe's mother and third wife, Marie (Felicia Farr).12121"The Hayburner"William F. ClaxtonAlex SharpFebruary 17, 1963
Hoss loses his Kentucky racehorse in a poker game and he wants it back. The Cartwright brothers try to come out ahead in the Virginia City Sweepstakes.
Note: This was Pernell Robert's favourite comedy episode. William Demarest and Ellen Corby guest star.12222"The Actress"Christian NybyNorman LessingFebruary 24, 1963 An actress (Patricia Crowley) is torn between her love for little Joe and her desire for show business.12323"A Stranger Passed This Way"Lewis AllenWilliam L. StuartMarch 3, 1963 Hoss develops amnesia following a bushwhacking and is taken in by a Dutch couple mourning their son's death. They plan to take him to Michigan with them. Signe Hasso, Robert Emhardt and Addison Richards guest star.12424"The Way of Aaron"Murray GoldenRaphael David BlauMarch 10, 1963 Adam falls for a Jewish woman (Aneta Corsaut) after helping her and her father.12525"A Woman Lost"Don McDougallFrank ChaseMarch 17, 1963 Ben and an ex-prizefighter try to cure a woman (Ruta Lee) of her alcoholism.12626"Any Friend of Walter's"John FloreaLois HireMarch 24, 1963 Hoss befriends an old prospector (Arthur Hunnicutt) and his communicative dog as he helps them fend off gold thieves.12727"Mirror of a Man"Lewis AllenA. I. BezzeridesMarch 31, 1963 A reformed convict is forced to switch identities with his evil twin, who is wanted for murdering a rancher and stealing a horse. Ron Hayes and Ford Rainey guest star.12828"My Brother's Keeper"Murray GoldenSeeleg LesterApril 7, 1963 Adam rejects the violent way of life in the West after shooting Joe by accident. Ken Lynch guest stars.12929"Five into the Wind"William F. ClaxtonMeyer DolinskyApril 21, 1963 Joe and five people are stranded after a stagecoach wreck. Joe is accused of murder when a man is found killed by Joe's knife. Kathleen Crowley and Betsy Jones-Moreland guest star.13030"The Saga of Whizzer McGee"Don McDougallRobert L. WelchApril 28, 1963 Hoss befriends Whizzer McGee (George Brenlin), a little man with big ideas.13131"Thunder Man"Lewis AllenLewis ReedMay 5, 1963 Joe's girlfriend Ann Wilson (Toby Michaels) and her uncle Fred (Harvey Stephens) are going to Joe's birthday party, but the girl is molested and killed by explosives expert William Poole (Simon Oakland) who then works to keep his guilt secret by getting a job on the Ponderosa and staying with widowed neighbor Mrs. Gibson (Evelyn Scott).13232"Rich Man, Poor Man"John FloreaStory by : Arnold Belgard and Robert Fresco Teleplay by : Richard P. McDonagh, Barbara and Milton MerlinMay 12, 1963 Bumbling man Claude Miller (John Fiedler) loses his job and then tries to buy respect with his new-found wealth.13333"The Boss"Arthur H. NadelLeo Gordon and Paul Leslie PeilMay 19, 1963 The Cartwrights attempt to start a rally against the tyrannical owner (Carroll O'Connor) of a freight-line. The local strongman is also a former friend of Ben.13434"Little Man... Ten Feet Tall"Lewis AllenStory by : Eric Norden and Frank Arno Teleplay by : Eric NordenMay 26, 1963 An Italian immigrant loses respect for his father (Ross Martin) when he meets Hoss.
Season 5 (1963–64)
Bonanza, season 5 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date1351"She Walks in Beauty"Don McDougallWilliam L. StuartSeptember 22, 1963 Hoss takes a liking to a woman (Gena Rowlands) whose good looks have only led to unhappiness and a questionable choice of professions. Hoss asks her to be his wife and believes she can change even after she tries to seduce his brother Adam.1362"A Passion for Justice"Murray GoldenPeter PackerSeptember 29, 1963 Charles Dickens (Jonathan Harris) founds himself embroiled in controversy and antagonizes the citizens of Virginia City with his arrogance.1373"Rain from Heaven"Lewis AllenRobert Vincent WrightOctober 6, 1963 A rainmaker (John Anderson) offers his services to Virginia City during a drought. He brings with him his very sick daughter.1384"Twilight Town"John FloreaCy ChermakOctober 13, 1963 Bushwhacked, Joe wanders into a seemingly deserted town and collapses. He awakens and Louise (Davey Davison) tends to his wound, telling him he is in Martinville. Louise's father (Stacy Harris) and others enlist Joe's help to combat a terrorizing outlaw gang, but the town's sheriff's widow (Dorris Dowling) warns Joe to leave while he can. At the conclusion of a mighty battle, Joe's family finds him alone in a deserted town with no signs of life. Did Joe rally the town's citizens, or did he have a supernatural encounter?1395"The Toy Soldier"Tay GarnettWarren DouglasOctober 20, 1963 Adam helps an alcoholic artist (Philip Abbott) deal with bigots opposed to his marriage to a Paiute woman.1406"A Question of Strength"Don McDougallFrank CleaverOctober 27, 1963 Hoss journeys through the wilderness with two nuns after bandits wreck their stagecoach. Judy Carne and John Kellogg guest star.1417"Calamity Over the Comstock"Charles R. RondeauWarren DouglasNovember 3, 1963 Little Joe befriends and brings home to the Ponderosa Calamity Jane (Stefanie Powers), only to face the wrath of her boyfriend (Christopher Dark).1428"Journey Remembered"Irving J. MooreAnthony LawrenceNovember 10, 1963 Ben remembers his journey west with his second wife, Hoss's mother, Inger (Inga Swenson), after seeing Hoss in the barn waiting for a mare to be born.1439"The Quality of Mercy"Joseph H. LewisPeter PackerNovember 17, 1963
Joe struggles with his conscience after witnessing a mercy-killing committed by his friend Seth Pruitt (Richard Rust).
Note: This was one of Michael Landon's favourite episodes.14410"The Waiting Game"Richard SarafianEd AdamsonDecember 8, 1963 Adam becomes attracted to Laura (Kathie Browne), a widow who's unwilling to tell her daughter Peggy (Katie Sweet) the bad news about her father, Frank Dayton (Wayde Preston), being dead.14511"The Legacy"Bernard McEveetyAnthony WilsonDecember 15, 1963 Believing their father to be dead after he goes missing during a hunt, the Cartwright boys set out to find the men who did it. Robert H. Harris, Phillip Pine and James Best guest star.14612"Hoss and the Leprechauns"John FloreaRobert BarronDecember 22, 1963 Hoss brings home a strongbox filled with gold, claiming it belongs to leprechauns. A newly arrived Irish professor confirms the mythical creatures' presence and the whole town goes searching for them. Sean McClory, Robert Sorrells and Clegg Hoyt guest star.14713"The Prime of Life"Christian NybyPeter PackerDecember 29, 1963 Ben competes with an old rival to win the railroad's lumber contract, but he soon questions his fitness to run the Ponderosa after an accident wounds him and kills a ranch hand. Jay C. Flippen guest stars.14814"The Lila Conrad Story"Tay GarnettStory by : George Waggner Teleplay by : Preston WoodJanuary 5, 1964 The Cartwrights protect dance-hall girl Lila Conrad (Patricia Blair) from the friends of the man she killed in self-defense and from self-righteous Judge David Knowlton (Andrew Duggan) intent on saving her soul.14915"Ponderosa Matador"Don McDougallAlex SharpJanuary 12, 1964 The Cartwright boys compete for the attention of a visiting señorita (Marianna Hill): Adam relies on his charm and guitar, Hoss and Little Joe opt for a bull fight.15016"My Son, My Son"William F. ClaxtonDenne PetitclercJanuary 19, 1964 Ben's marriage to widow Katherine Saunders (Teresa Wright) is jeopardized by the widow's son being accused of murder.15117"Alias Joe Cartwright"Lewis AllenRobert Vincent WrightJanuary 26, 1964 Joe is mistaken for an Army deserter who looks similar to him and has only a stubborn career army sergeant (Keenan Wynn) to help him avoid being executed.15218"The Gentleman from New Orleans"Don McDougallWilliam BrucknerFebruary 2, 1964 Hoss befriends a flamboyant, sword-brandishing newcomer from New Orleans (John Dehner) who claims to be Jean LaFitte.15319"The Cheating Game"Joseph SargentWilliam L. StuartFebruary 9, 1964 Laura Dayton (Kathie Browne) is told by a handsome grifter that she'll receive a large sum from her deceased husband's insurance, but it's actually part of a ruse to cheat her out of her money.15420"Bullet for a Bride"Tay GarnettTom SellerFebruary 16, 1964 Taken by feelings of guilt, Joe proposes to Tessa Caldwell (Marlyn Mason) he blinded by accident on a hunting trip.15521"King of the Mountain"Don McDougallRobert SabaroffFebruary 23, 1964 Hoss tries to stop Big Jim Leyton (Slim Pickens) and his fiancée's father from killing each other.15622"Love Me Not"Tay GarnettFrank CleaverMarch 1, 1964 A girl (Anjanette Comer) who's been held captive by the Paiutes for many years falls in love with Ben when he takes her to the Ponderosa.15723"The Pure Truth"Don McDougallLois HireMarch 8, 1964
As acting deputy, Hoss is sent to bring in a prisoner, but he ends up in the wrong town and accused of robbing the bank. Glenda Farrell, Stanley Adams and Lloyd Corrigan guest star.
Note: This was the highest-rated episode of the series (source: Nielsen Media Research and quoted in numerous books).15824"No Less a Man"Don McDougallJerry AdelmanMarch 15, 1964 The citizens of Virginia City believe Sheriff Roy Coffee (Ray Teal) is too old to stop a raid from the Wagner gang and they demand his resignation.15925"Return to Honor"Don McDougallJack TurleyMarch 22, 1964 Ben hears his nephew Will (Guy Williams) has been murdered in Pine City, only to learn Will is alive and on the lam from counterfeiters whose engraving plates he swiped (First episode of Will Cartwright).16026"The Saga of Muley Jones"John FloreaStory by : Alex Sharp and Robert V. Barron Teleplay by : Robert V. BarronMarch 29, 1964 Muley Jones (Bruce Yarnell), a distant cousin of the Cartwrights with a voice that can shatter glass, visits the Ponderosa. Meanwhile, the sheriff is looking for two moonshiners: Eskey (Jesse White) and Yuri (Strother Martin).16127"The Roper"John FloreaPeter PackerApril 5, 1964 Will (Guy Williams) is taken hostage by outlaws who robbed Ben and killed an Army soldier. He tries to save Ben and his sons.16228"A Pink Cloud Comes from Old Cathay"Don McDougallLewis ClayApril 12, 1964 Hoss receives a Chinese mail-order bride (Marlo Thomas) by mistake. Her militant ideas ignite a workers' rebellion and threaten the completion of a Virginia City railroad project.16329"The Companeros"William F. ClaxtonKen PettusApril 19, 1964 Will Cartwright (Guy Williams) is asked by his old friend Mateo Ybarra (Frank Silvera) to return to Mexico with him to defend President Juarez.16430"Enter Thomas Bowers"Murray GoldenJessica Benson and Murray GoldenApril 26, 1964 Black opera singer Thomas Bowers (William Marshall) comes to Virginia City for a concert, but is suspected of being a runaway slave; some people want him arrested or worse. [9]16531"The Dark Past"Murray GoldenWilliam BrucknerMay 3, 1964 Bounty hunter Dev (Dennis Hopper) appears to be haunted by a mysterious incident from his past.16632"The Pressure Game"Tay GarnettDon TaitMay 10, 1964 Adam is pressured by Laura Dayton (Kathie Browne)'s aunt Lillian (Joan Blondell) into proposing, but he's unwilling to marry her.16733"Triangle"Tay GarnettFrank CleaverMay 17, 1964 As Adam secretly builds a home for his bride-to-be Laura (Kathie Browne), a love triangle ensues when Will (Guy Williams) falls for Laura Dayton.16834"Walter and the Outlaws"Ralph E. BlackLois HireMay 24, 1964 Old prospector Obie (Arthur Hunnicutt) asks Hoss to help him rescue his dog from gold thieves.
Season 6 (1964–65)
Bonanza, season 6 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date1691"Invention of a Gunfighter"John FloreaDaniel B. UllmanSeptember 20, 1964 Joe teaches to his friend Johnny Chapman (Guy Stockwell) how to use a six-shooter, only for the man to embark on a career as a ruthless bounty hunter.1702"The Hostage"Don McDougallDon MullallySeptember 27, 1964 Ben is taken hostage by a band of outlaws demanding a ransom of $100,000. The Cartwrights formulate a plan to rescue their father. Harold J. Stone and Jacqueline Scott guest star.1713"The Wild One"William WitneyJo PaganoOctober 4, 1964 Hoss is looking for a wild stallion for breeding and he chooses a gruff mountaineer (Aldo Ray), who is later confronted by the wife (Kathryn Hays) he left long ago.1724"Thanks for Everything, Friend"Christian NybyJerry AdelmanOctober 11, 1964 Tom Wilson (Rory Calhoun), who's an expert in cards and women, saves Adam from drowning. This event begins a friendship that Adam will later regret.1735"Logan's Treasure"Don McDougallStory by : Robert Sabaroff Teleplay by : Ken PettusOctober 18, 1964 Sam Logan (Dan Duryea) gets out of prison and tries to avoid those who are certain he's hidden a cache of stolen gold somewhere. Ben believes him and invites him to stay at the Ponderosa.1746"The Scapegoat"Christian NybyRod PetersonOctober 25, 1964 Hoss befriends suicidal man Waldo Watson (George Kennedy), who turns out to be a scapegoat for three men who intend to do him harm.1757"A Dime's Worth of Glory"William F. ClaxtonRichard Shapiro and Esther MayeshNovember 1, 1964 Ben and Adam capture a known outlaw that tried to hold up the stage they were passengers on. After this episode, Ben turns down a dime novelist's offer to make the Cartwrights famous, so the novelist gives it to aging Sheriff Laramore (Bruce Cabot).1768"Square Deal Sam"Murray GoldenJessica Benson and Murray GoldenNovember 8, 1964 The Cartwrights fall for the schemes of con artist Samuel T. Washburn, nicknamed Square Deal Sam (Ernest Truex).1779"Between Heaven and Earth"William WitneyEd AdamsonNovember 15, 1964 Joe and his friend Mitch Devlin (Richard Jaeckel) are chasing a sheep-killing puma and Joe has to climb a steep slope, but something goes wrong.17810"Old Sheba"John FloreaAlex SharpNovember 22, 1964 Hoss injured traveling circus wrestler Bearcat Samspon (Henry Kulky). When the owner of the traveling circus squanders Hoss's winnings in a wrestling match, Joe and Hoss receive an elephant as payment.17911"A Man to Admire"John FloreaMort R. LewisDecember 6, 1964 Hoss is accused of murdering a scheming businessman, and then has to rely on his new friend, an alcoholic lawyer (James Gregory), to clear him.18012"The Underdog"William F. ClaxtonDon MullallyDecember 13, 1964 Joe tries to help half Native American Harry Starr (Charles Bronson), who is accused of being a chronic horse thief.18113"A Knight to Remember"Vincent McEveetyRobert V. BarronDecember 20, 1964 A knight in shining armor who calls himself King Arthur (Henry Jones) scares away bandits trying to rob a stagecoach carrying Adam.18214"The Saga of Squaw Charlie"William WitneyWarren DouglasDecember 27, 1964 Old Indian Squaw Charlie (Anthony Caruso) befriends a little girl in spite of the townspeople ridiculing him. After she goes missing, the whole town wants his blood.18315"The Flapjack Contest"William F. ClaxtonStory by : Tom Davison Teleplay by : Frank CleaverJanuary 3, 1965 Hoss has to stay on a strict diet before a flapjack-eating contest: he has to win against champion Big Ed Simpson (Mel Berger).18416"The Far, Far Better Thing"Bernard McEveetyMort R. LewisJanuary 10, 1965 Joe competes with ranch hand Tuck (Warren Vanders) for the affections of Lucy Melviney (Brenda Scott), an Eastern girl with a thirst for adventure.18517"Woman of Fire"William F. ClaxtonSuzanne ClauserJanuary 17, 1965 Shakespeare-inspired Adam takes care of a temperamental señorita (Joan Hackett) while her father finds her a husband.18618"The Ballerina"Don McDougallFrank ChaseJanuary 24, 1965 An aspirant ballerina (Barrie Chase) falls for her teacher and faces resistance from her father, who is a traveling violinist.18719"The Flannel-Mouth Gun"Don McDougallLeo Gordon and Paul Leslie PeilJanuary 31, 1965 Desperate ranchers hire a gunman to take care of rustlers; tragedy follows and Sherman Clegg (Earl Holliman) is accused of murder.18820"The Ponderosa Birdman"Herbert L. StrockBlair Robertson and Hazel SwansonFebruary 7, 1965 An eccentric inventor (Ed Wynn) plans to take flight with his meticulously crafted wings. Hoss tries to help him and his overly-protective granddaughter.18921"The Search"William F. ClaxtonFrank CleaverFebruary 14, 1965 Adam searches for his troublesome lookalike Tom Burns. His search lands him in the Placerville jail. Lola Albright and Elaine Devry guest star.19022"The Deadliest Game"Gerd OswaldJo PaganoFebruary 21, 1965 Aging circus aerialist Guido Borelli (Cesar Romero) grows jealous of his partner Petina (Ilze Taurins)'s attraction to Joe, but he's quick to comfort her after a fistfight with her boyfriend Carlo (Fabrizio Mioni) lands Joe in prison.19123"Once a Doctor"Tay GarnettMartha WilkersonFebruary 28, 1965 A vengeful Englishman comes after Doctor P.A. Mundy (Michael Rennie), nicknamed Professor Poppy, that he blames for the death of his wife.19224"Right Is the Fourth R"Virgil VogelJerry AdelmanMarch 7, 1965 Adam tries to teach a course in frontier history and learns some unsettling facts about the territory's founders. Everett Sloane, Mariette Hartley and Barry Kelley guest star.19325"Hound Dog"Ralph E. BlackAlex SharpMarch 21, 1965 Cousin Muley Jones (Bruce Yarnell) returns along with hound dogs, but Tracy Ledbetter (Sue Ane Langdon) claims he stole them from her.19426"The Trap"William WitneyKen PettusMarch 28, 1965 Married man Burk (Steve Cochran) sets a trap to keep Joe away from his wife (Joan Freeman), but when his plan backfires and he ends up dead, his twin brother decides to finish the job.19527"Dead and Gone"Robert TottenPaul SchneiderApril 4, 1965 Adam tries to help wandering troubadour Howard Mead (Hoyt Axton) overcome his habit of stealing after he tried to rob Johann Brunner (Steve Ihnat) and his sister Hilda (Susanne Cramer).19628"A Good Night's Rest"William F. ClaxtonStory by : Jeffrey Fleece Teleplay by : Frank CleaverApril 11, 1965 After dealing with Hoss' snoring, Adam's guitar playing and Little Joe's courting shenanigans, Ben checks into a hotel to try to get a good night's sleep. Eddie Firestone and Jean Willes guest star.19729"To Own the World"Virgil VogelEd AdamsonApril 18, 1965
Wealthy tycoon Charles Augustus Hackett (Telly Savalas) is out to get the Ponderosa.
Note: This episode features the final appearance of Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright.19830"Lothario Larkin"William WitneyWarren DouglasApril 25, 1965 Infamous womanizer Lothario Larkin (Noah Beery, Jr.) returns to Virginia City, to the displeasure of the fathers and the sheriff.19931"The Return"Virgil VogelStory by : Frank Chase & Ken Pettus Teleplay by : Ken PettusMay 2, 1965 Ex-convict Trace Cordell (Tony Young) returns to town, but no one is glad to see him, especially Paul Dorn (John Conte), the banker he crippled in a bank robbery.20032"Jonah"William F. ClaxtonPreston WoodMay 9, 1965 Ranch hand George Whitman (Andrew Prine) is offered a job on the Ponderosa when he saves Hoss's life, but rumors state that he's a jinx.20133"The Spotlight"Gerd OswaldRichard CarrMay 16, 1965 Ben tries to talk retired opera star Angela Bergstrom (Viveca Lindfors) into resuming her career on the stage.20234"Patchwork Man"Ralph E. BlackDon Tait and William KoenigMay 23, 1965 Hoss hires recluse Albert 'Patch' Saunders (Grant Williams) to work on the Ponderosa. After learning about Patch's past, Hoss decides to help him.
Season 7 (1965–66)
Bonanza, season 7 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date2031"The Debt"William F. ClaxtonWilliam BlinnSeptember 12, 1965 Wiley Kane (Tommy Sands) and his sister Annie (Brooke Bundy) come to the Ponderosa to work off a debt from when their father Sam (Ford Rainey) swindled Ben.2042"The Dilemma"William F. ClaxtonJohn Hawkins and Ward HawkinsSeptember 19, 1965 Ben is appointed as a temporary circuit judge, but he faces a dilemma when a man he helped to parole is suspected of robbing the bank. Tom Tully guest stars.2053"The Brass Box"William F. ClaxtonPaul SchneiderSeptember 26, 1965 Old teller of tall tales Don Jose Ortega (Ramon Novarro) claims to have a brass box of land grants that gives him ownership over most of the area around Virginia City, including the Ponderosa.2064"The Other Son"William F. ClaxtonThomas ThompsonOctober 3, 1965 Ben hires mule skinner Clint Watson (Ed Begley) and his sons to take nitroglycerin to California.2075"The Lonely Runner"William WitneyThomas ThompsonOctober 10, 1965 A judge awards horse breeder Jim Acton (Gilbert Roland)'s beloved prize mare to rancher Sam Whipple (Ken Lynch).2086"Devil on Her Shoulder"Virgil W. VogelSuzanne ClauserOctober 17, 1965 The Cartwrights try to help a woman who is the member of a religious group: she is being accused of being possessed and being a witch. Ina Balin, John Doucette and Victoria Vetri guest star.2097"Found Child"Ralph E. BlackFrank CleaverOctober 24, 1965 Hoss protects and becomes attached to a little girl called Lisa (Eileen Baral), whose parents were killed in a stagecoach robbery.2108"The Meredith Smith"John FloreaLois HireOctober 31, 1965 Ben must figure which person, all claiming to be Meredith Smith, is the true heir to the estate of Jake Smith, a friend of his who asked him to make sure his estate would be given to a relative. Robert Colbert, Anne Helm, Strother Martin guest star.2119"Mighty is the Word"William F. ClaxtonStory by : Robert Goodwin Teleplay by : Thomas ThompsonNovember 7, 1965 One of the Ponderosa's ranch hands plots revenge against the gunfighter-turned-preacher who killed his brother. Glenn Corbett, Michael Witney and Sue Randall guest star.21210"The Strange One"Gerd OswaldStory by : Stephen Lord Teleplay by : Jo Pagano and Stephen LordNovember 14, 1965 A woman suspected of being a witch takes refuge on the Ponderosa where she amazes the Cartwrights with her ability to see the future. While recuperating, she predicts a future misfortune for Little Joe. Louise Sorel, Robert McQueeney and Jean Engstrom guest star.21311"The Reluctant Rebel"R. G. SpringsteenWally GeorgeNovember 21, 1965 Young rebel Billy Penn (Tim Considine) has second thoughts about life as an outlaw when the Cartwrights catch him stealing cattle.21412"Five Sundowns to Sunup"Gerd OswaldWilliam L. StuartDecember 5, 1965 A family of outlaws, guided by the mother, Elizabeth Lassiter (Marie Windsor), embarks on a kidnapping spree in order to prevent one of their own from being executed.21513"A Natural Wizard"Robert TottenStory by : Suzanne Clauser Teleplay by : William BlinnDecember 12, 1965 Skeeter Dexter (Eddie Hodges) is a boy who loves animals and he helps Hoss take care of a pregnant cow. Skeeter had a brutal stepfather and he is now being blamed by his mother for his father abandonment.21614"All Ye His Saints"William F. ClaxtonWilliam BlinnDecember 19, 1965 Little Michael Thorpe (Clint Howard) sets out to find God in the hope that he can heal his gravely wounded father.21715"A Dublin Lad"William F. ClaxtonMort ThawJanuary 2, 1966 Joe serves on a jury intent on convicting Terrence O'Toole (Liam Sullivan) of murder.21816"To Kill a Buffalo"William F. ClaxtonMichael FisherJanuary 9, 1966 A badly injured Indian, affected by prejudice, reacts violently to Hoss's helping hand. Hoss tries to teach him to overcome his hostility to the white man. Steve Gravers guest stars.21917"Ride the Wind: Part 1"William WitneyPaul SchneiderJanuary 16, 1966 Ben is not pleased with Joe's decision to join the Pony Express. Victor Jory, Rod Cameron and DeForest Kelley guest star.22018"Ride the Wind: Part 2"William WitneyPaul SchneiderJanuary 23, 1966 In spite of increasing Indian attacks, Curtis Wade (Rod Cameron) is determined to keep the Pony Express going.22119"Destiny's Child"Gerd OswaldRobert V. BarronJanuary 30, 1966 Ben tries to find jobs for a pair of strangers who helped him pull his wagon out of the mud. Robert V. Barron, Dick Peabody and Walter Burke guest star.22220"Peace Officer"William WitneyDon MullallyFebruary 6, 1966 Ruthless lawman Wes Dunn (Eric Fleming) is hired to halt the violence in Virginia City while Sheriff Coffee is out of town.22321"The Code"William F. ClaxtonSidney EllisFebruary 13, 1966 Joe must decide whether to obey the code of the west and answer a gunfighter's challenge. George Montgomery, Jan Shepard and Robert Ellenstein guest star.22422"Three Brides for Hoss"Ralph E. BlackJo PaganoFebruary 20, 1966 And ordinary day becomes everything but ordinary when Hoss receives three mail-order brides. Stuart Erwin, Majel Barrett and Mitzi Hoag guest star.22523"The Emperor Norton"William F. ClaxtonStory by : Gerry Prince Young and Robert Sabaroff Teleplay by : Robert SabaroffFebruary 27, 1966 Joshua A. Norton (Sam Jaffe), a friend of Ben's who fancies himself an emperor, is about to be committed to an insane asylum.22624"Her Brother's Keeper"Virgil W. VogelStory by : Lee Pickett Teleplay by : Mort ThawMarch 6, 1966 Claire Armory (Nancy Gates) falls in love with Ben, but her invalid brother Carl (Wesley Lau) complicates her courtship with him.22725"The Trouble with Jamie"R. G. SpringsteenHelen B. HicksMarch 20, 1966 Ben's cousin Matthew (Ross Elliott) from the East brings his wife Elizabeth (Tracy Olsen) and his spoiled son Jamie (Michael Burns) for a visit to the Ponderosa.22826"Shining in Spain"Maurice GeraghtyElliott GilbertMarch 27, 1966 Joe falls for Wendy Daniels (Judi Rolin), a beautiful girl who's anticipating the arrival of her father Taylor (Gene Lyons).22927"The Genius"R. G. SpringsteenDon MullallyApril 3, 1966 Hoss tries to help poet William Warlock Evans (Lonny Chapman) beat his alcoholism by hiring him as a ranch hand for the Ponderosa.23028"The Unwritten Commandment"Gerd OswaldStory by : Dan Ullman Teleplay by : Jo Pagano and William BlinnApril 10, 1966 Young singer Andy Walker (Wayne Newton) wants to develop his talents against his stern father's wishes.23129"Big Shadows on the Land"William F. ClaxtonWilliam F. Leicester and Richard H. BartlettApril 17, 1966 The Cartwrights deal with an immigrant winemaker family setting up business on Ponderosa land. Jack Kruschen and Brioni Farrell guest star.23230"The Fighters"R. G. SpringsteenRobert GoodwinApril 24, 1966 Hoss badly injures an over-the-hill boxer in a fight and refuses all other offers to box professionally. Michael Conrad, Phillip Pine and Mari Aldon guest star.23331"Home from the Sea"Jean YarbroughGeorge F. Slavin and Stanley AdamsMay 1, 1966 An old shipmate of Adam's plans to steal a shipment of gold from the Cartwrights. Ivor Barry and Wayne Heffley guest star.23432"The Last Mission"R. G. SpringsteenStory by : S. S. Schweitzer Teleplay by : William Douglas Lansford and S. S. SchweitzerMay 8, 1966 Ben accompanies old Army buddy Colonel Keith Jarrell (R. G. Armstrong) on a mission to make peace with the Paiutes, but Hoss becomes suspicious about the Colonel's real intentions.23533"A Dollar's Worth of Trouble"Donald R. DavesRobert GoodwinMay 15, 1966 Hoss has his palm read and is told that two people a blonde and a gunman -- will affect his life. Sally Kellerman, Mabel Albertson and Hampton Fancher guest star.
Season 8 (1966–67)
Bonanza, season 8 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date2361"Something Hurt, Something Wild"Lewis AllenJerry Alderman and William DriskillSeptember 11, 1966 Laurie Ferguson (Lynn Loring) accuses Joe of assaulting her, setting off a feud between her family and the Cartwrights.2372"Horse of a Different Hue"William WitneyWilliam R. CoxSeptember 18, 1966 Ben has no idea that the outcome of a horse race he arranged has been fixed by an old friend of his, Colonel Robert Fairchild (Charles Ruggles).2383"A Time to Step Down"Paul HenreidFrank ChaseSeptember 25, 1966 Aging wrangler Dan Tolliver (Ed Begley) turns against the Cartwrights after his longtime friend Ben suggests that he should retire.2394"The Pursued: Episode 1"William WitneyStory by : Thomas Thompson and Marc Michaels Teleplay by : Thomas ThompsonOctober 2, 1966 The Cartwrights try to help a Mormon rancher overcome persecution against his beliefs. Eric Fleming, Dina Merrill, Lois Nettleton and Vincent Beck guest star.2405"The Pursued: Episode 2"William WitneyStory by : Thomas Thompson and Marc Michaels Teleplay by : Thomas ThompsonOctober 9, 1966 Bigots force Mormon rancher Heber Clawson (Eric Fleming) to flee with his two wives, one of whom needs medical attention.2416"To Bloom for Thee"Sutton RoleyJune RandolphOctober 16, 1966 Hoss proposes marriage to Carol Attley (Geraldine Brooks), a woman with a hidden past which includes having killed her abusive first husband and fleeing from the associated murder charge.2427"Credit for a Kill"William F. ClaxtonFrederick Louis FoxOctober 23, 1966 Joe lets his friend Morgan Tanner (Dean Harens) take credit for killing a horse thief, but when the outlaw's brothers come after him to get their revenge he has to make a difficult decision to save his friend's life.2438"Four Sisters from Boston"Alan Crosland Jr.John M. ChesterOctober 30, 1966 Ben tries to stop a con artist from stealing an inheritance from four Boston sisters that are trying to prevent the auctioning of a property left to them by their uncle. Vera Miles guest stars.2449"Old Charlie"William F. ClaxtonBob and Wanda DuncanNovember 6, 1966 Teller of tales Old Charlie Conners (John McIntire) brags about killing an outlaw, so the dead man's brothers seek their revenge.24510"Ballad of the Ponderosa"William F. ClaxtonStory by : Rik Vollaerts Teleplay by : Rik Vollaerts and Michael LandonNovember 13, 1966 A balladeer blames Ben for his father's hanging. Randy Boone, Ann Doran, Roger Davis and John Archer guest star.24611"The Oath"Gerd OswaldMartha WilkersonNovember 20, 1966 Before his execution for murder, convicted man Big Charlie Monahan (Douglas Kennedy) has his son take an oath to kill the Cartwrights for revenge.24712"A Real Nice, Friendly Little Town"Herman HoffmanHerman HoffmanNovember 27, 1966 Hoss confronts a woman and her gun-toting sons after Joe is hit by ricocheting bullet, but the mother is more interested in protecting her kids than seeing justice done. Louise Latham, Mark Slade and Vaughn Taylor guest star.24813"The Bridegroom"William F. ClaxtonWalter BlackDecember 4, 1966 Joe romances Maggie Dowling (Joanne Linville) so widower Jared Wilson (Ron Hayes) will be jealous enough to ask for her hand in marriage.24914"Tommy"William WitneyStory by : Mary Terri Taylor and Thomas Thompson Teleplay by : Mort Thaw and Mary Terri TaylorDecember 18, 1966 The Cartwrights protect deaf-mute Tommy Miller (Teddy Quinn) and his mother from his stepfather, a vicious outlaw determined to take back his wife.25015"A Christmas Story"Gerd OswaldThomas ThompsonDecember 25, 1966 Singer Andy Walker (Wayne Newton) returns to Virginia City for Christmas with his scheming uncle, who plans to make a profit on the orphans' benefit.25116"Ponderosa Explosion"William F. ClaxtonAlex SharpJanuary 1, 1967 Joe and Hoss literally get more than they bargained for when a pair of con men lead them to invest in a pair of rabbits that subsequently multiply. Dub Taylor, Chubby Johnson, Chick Chandler and Phil Chambers guest star.25217"Justice"Lewis AllenRichard WendleyJanuary 8, 1967 Joe seeks revenge on the bank clerk who killed his fiancée. Beau Bridges, Lurene Tuttle and Shirley Bonne guest star.25318"A Bride for Buford"William F. ClaxtonRobert V. BarronJanuary 15, 1967 Hoss is certain that a saloon girl is only interested in a miner for his wealth. Lola Albright, Jack Elam, Paul Brinegar and Richard Devon guest star.25419"Black Friday"William F. ClaxtonHerbert Kastle and John HawkinsJanuary 22, 1967 Joe tries to save his friend Steven Friday (John Saxon) from dying in a gunfight to avenge one of his victims and planned for Friday the 13th.25520"The Unseen Wound"Gerd OswaldFrank ChaseJanuary 29, 1967 Ben tries to help his friend Sheriff Paul Rowan (Leslie Nielsen) after his wife Katherine (Nancy Malone) shows concerns about his health: the Sheriff has been driven to the breaking point by years of violence.25621"Journey to Terror"Lewis AllenJoel MurcottFebruary 5, 1967 After being suspected of being a member of Wade Hollister (John Ericson)'s gang, outlaws imprison Little Joe, Tom (Jason Evers) and Ellie Blackwell (Elizabeth Rogers) at the Blackwell farm.25722"Amigo"William F. ClaxtonStory by : Jack Turley Teleplay by : John Hawkins and Jack TurleyFebruary 12, 1967 Ben helps a wounded comanchero who is being pursued by a lynch mob, a band of terrorists and an angry Little Joe who has just lost a friend. Henry Darrow and Gregory Walcott guest star.25823"A Woman in the House"Gerd OswaldJoel MurcottFebruary 19, 1967 Ben protects a girl from her alcoholic husband, but she's unable to tell gratitude from love. Diane Baker and Paul Richards guest star.25924"Judgement at Red Creek"William F. ClaxtonRobert SabaroffFebruary 26, 1967 Joe comes to suspect that a pair of murder suspects is lying because the leader of a posse does not intend to bring them alive. John Ireland, Martin West and Harry Carey Jr. guest star.26025"Joe Cartwright, Detective"William F. ClaxtonStory by : Oliver Crawford Teleplay by : Michael LandonMarch 5, 1967 Joe gets hooked on detective novels and tries to use Scotland Yard techniques to prevent a bank robbery. Mort Mills, Ken Lynch and Ed Prentiss guest star.26126"Dark Enough to See the Stars"Donald R. DavesKelly ColvinMarch 12, 1967 A young ranch hand who is running from the law falls in love with a girl. Richard Evans and Richard Eastham guest star.26227"The Deed and the Dilemma"William F. ClaxtonWilliam F. LeicesterMarch 26, 1967 Ben tries to help an immigrant family, but a racist neighbor complicates things. Jack Kruschen and Brioni Farrell guest star.26328"The Prince"William F. ClaxtonStory by : Melvin Levy Teleplay by : John HawkinsApril 2, 1967 The Cartwrights welcome Count Alexis (Warren Stevens) and Countess Elena (Claire Griswold), who are being targeted by thieves.26429"A Man Without Land"Donald R. DavesSteve McNeilApril 9, 1967 To get Matt Jeffers (Royal Dano)'s land, a foreman murders his son and frames Little Joe.26530"Napoleon's Children"Christian NybyJudith and Robert Guy BarrowsApril 16, 1967 Ted Arseneaux (Robert Biheller) believes that he is Napoleon and leads an army of young men in terrorizing Virginia City.26631"The Wormwood Cup"William F. ClaxtonStory by : Joy Dexter Teleplay by : Joy Dexter and Michael LandonApril 23, 1967 A woman blames Joe for killing her brother and offers a thousand dollars to the man who will kill him in a fair fight. Little Joe tries to convince her that she's wrong, but it might be too late. Frank Overton, Judi Meredith and Clay Tanner guest star.26732"Clarissa"Lewis AllenChester KrumholzApril 30, 1967 The Cartwrights' Eastern cousin Clarissa Cartwright (Nina Foch) brings trouble when she visits to the Ponderosa.26833"Maestro Hoss"William F. ClaxtonU.S. AndersonMay 7, 1967 Phony fortune-teller Madame Marova (Zsa Zsa Gabor) causes earaches when she convinces Hoss he's a master violinist.26934"The Greedy Ones"Donald R. DavesJames AmesburyMay 14, 1967 Greedy gold hunters threaten to destroy the Ponderosa after a prospector claims to have found a sample there. Robert Middleton, George Chandler and William Bakewell guest star.
Season 9 (1967–68)
Bonanza, season 9 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date2701"Second Chance"Leon BensonStory by : Paul Schneider Teleplay by : John Hawkins and Paul SchneiderSeptember 17, 1967 Ben joins an Army patrol to try and save Hoss and Joe from Indians. When Joe is wounded, they meet a dying doctor who is willing to help them. James Gregory guest stars.2712"Sense of Duty"William WitneyStory by : Gil Lasky and Abe Polsky Teleplay by : John HawkinsSeptember 24, 1967 Ben leads a militia troop unit that takes Paiute Indian Wabuska (Michael Forest), a man who is seen as a God by the Indians, to prison. (The first episode to feature David Canary as Candy Canady).2723"The Conquistadores"Leon BensonWalter BlackOctober 1, 1967 Joe is kidnapped by a band of Mexicans miners searching for gold and held for ransom, but thieves are out to take the gold for themselves. John Saxon, John Kellogg and Carlos Rivera guest star.2734"Judgement at Olympus"John RichWalter BlackOctober 8, 1967 Candy is framed for the murder of A.Z. Wheelock (Arch Johnson)'s son in the town of Olympus, so Joe and Hoss try to clear him.2745"Night Of Reckoning"Leon BensonWalter BlackOctober 15, 1967 A band of outlaws, previously involved in wounding Donnie Buckler (Ron Hayes), take Joe, Hoss, and Candy hostage as they search the Ponderosa for holdup money taken by one of their own.2756"False Witness"Michael MooreEric NordenOctober 22, 1967 Billy Slater (Michael Blodgett) and Doug Slater (Bill Fletcher)'s gang stalk Joe, Hoss, Candy and a woman since they witnessed one of their crimes.2767"The Gentle Ones"Harry HarrisFrank ChaseOctober 29, 1967 An animal-loving cowboy (Robert Walker Jr.) must stand up to his brutish older brother in order to prove to a widow that he's not a coward.2778"Desperate Passage"Leon BensonJohn HawkinsNovember 5, 1967 The Cartwrights encounter two survivors of an Indian raid -- a suspected murderer and a woman who knows he's innocent.2789"The Sure Thing"William WitneyStory by : Robert Vincent Wright Teleplay by : Robert Vincent Wright and Sidney EllisNovember 12, 1967 A woman's dream of riding her stallion in a big-stakes race is jeopardized when her father associates himself with a gambler.27910"Showdown At Tahoe"Gerald MayerThomas ThompsonNovember 19, 1967 Candy sets a trap for a band of outlaws bent on robbing Ben's timber operation.28011"Six Black Horses"Donald R. DavesStory by : William Jerome Teleplay by : William Jerome and Michael LandonNovember 26, 1967 An Irishman uses luck to outwit greedy businessmen.28112"Check Rein"Leon BensonStory by : Robert I. Holt Teleplay by : Olney Sherwood and Robert I. HoltDecember 3, 1967 The Cartwrights get involved in a man's fight to save his inheritance and himself from his greedy uncle.28213"Justice Deferred"Gerald MayerJack MillerDecember 17, 1967 Hoss realizes that his testimony has led to the hanging of an innocent man, so he sets out to convict the real killer.28314"The Gold Detector"Donald R. DavesWard HawkinsDecember 24, 1967 After buying a gold detector, Hoss tries to prove its worth and protect it from thieves. Guest starring Wally Cox.28415"The Trackers"Marc DanielsStory by : Frederick Louis Fox Teleplay by : Reuben BercovitchJanuary 7, 1968 Ben, Candy and Hoss try to protect a recently-released prisoner suspected of robbery and murder.28516"A Girl Named George"Leon BensonWilliam H. WrightJanuary 14, 1968 The Cartwrights investigate a mystery involving an altered photograph.28617"The Thirteenth Man"Leon BensonWalter BlackJanuary 21, 1968 The Cartwrights clash with a range detective (Albert Salmi) who pressures his suspects into drawing first so he can kill them.28718"The Burning Sky"John RichStory by : Carol Saraceno Teleplay by : William H. WrightJanuary 28, 1968 A ranch hand (Michael Murphy) causes trouble when he arrives with his Indian bride (Dawn Wells).28819"The Price of Salt"Leon BensonB. W. SandefurFebruary 4, 1968 A woman (Kim Hunter) who has a monopoly on the salt needed for cattle sets off the buyers when she raises the price. James Best guest stars.28920"Blood Tie"Seymour RobbieArthur Dales[B]February 18, 1968 One of three men tricks the Cartwrights into hiring him so he and his cohorts can rob them.29021"The Crime of Johnny Mule"Leon BensonJoel MurcottFebruary 25, 1968 Johnny Mule (Noah Beery, Jr.), the man Hoss refused to convict for murder, breaks out of prison.29122"The Late Ben Cartwright"Leon BensonWalter BlackMarch 3, 1968 An assassin complicates Ben's fight to prevent a corrupt tycoon's lackey from being elected governor.29223"Star Crossed"William F. ClaxtonThomas ThompsonMarch 10, 1968 Candy falls for a girl (Tisha Sterling) being harassed by a former lawman-turned-blackmailer (William Windom).29324"Trouble Town"Leon BensonDavid LangMarch 17, 1968 The Cartwrights must find out why Candy is being held in River Bend on a minor charge without bail.29425"Commitment at Angelus"Leon BensonPeter GermanoApril 7, 1968 Joe gets involved in a miners' strike after the death of a friend leaves the miners without a leader.29526"A Dream to Dream"William F. ClaxtonMichael LandonApril 14, 1968 When a man's guilt over his son's death lead him to drinking, his wife and other children pay more attention to Hoss.29627"In Defense of Honor"Marc DanielsStory by : Richard Wendley and William Douglas Lansford Teleplay by : William Douglas LansfordApril 28, 1968 An outcast jeopardizes negotiations with the Indians when he decides to rejoin the tribe he rejected his whole life.29728"To Die in Darkness"Michael LandonMichael LandonMay 5, 1968 Ben and Candy are trapped in a mine shaft by a vengeful ex-prisoner (James Whitmore), who wrongly served time based on the testimony of the pair.29829"The Bottle Fighter"Leon BensonStory by : Colin MacKenzie and S. H. Barnett Teleplay by : John HawkinsMay 12, 1968 The only lawyer (Albert Dekker) who can defend Hoss in the case of a murdered cattle buyer is an alcoholic.29930"The Arrival of Eddie"Marc DanielsJohn M. Chester and Ward HawkinsMay 19, 1968 Hoss seeks forgiveness from Eddie MaKay (Jan-Michael Vincent) for killing his father.30031"The Stronghold"Leon BensonJohn Hawkins and William Riley BurnettMay 26, 1968 Joe and Candy are swindled out of a herd of cattle by the Farrell brothers (Paul Mantee, Michael Witney), so they follow the sparring brothers back to their Arizona hideout.30132"Pride of a Man"William F. ClaxtonWard Hawkins and Helen B. HicksJune 2, 1968 Joe takes a job as a substitute teacher and must deal with two incorrigible boys and their father, who doesn't think his boys need an education.30233"A Severe Case of Matrimony"Lewis AllenMichael FessierJuly 7, 1968 A band of Gypsies arrives on the Ponderosa and one of them wishes to marry a Cartwright.30334"Stage Door Johnnies"William F. ClaxtonAlex SharpJuly 28, 1968 Hoss and Joe allow their rivalry for the affections of an attractive singer (Kathleen Crowley) to get them into damage suits.
Season 10 (1968–69)
Bonanza, season 10 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date3041"Different Pines, Same Wind"Leon BensonSuzanne ClauserSeptember 15, 1968 Little Joe tries to convince an ailing recluse that she needs to file a legal claim to her remote property to prevent a timber tycoon from logging on her land.3052"Child"Leon BensonJack B. SowardsSeptember 22, 1968 Hoss, charged with robbery and murder, has to break out of jail in order to escape a lynch mob.3063"Salute to Yesterday"Leon BensonJohn HawkinsSeptember 29, 1968 Possession of an Army payroll brings danger to the Cartwrights, Candy and a small Army unit, with some of Candy's past coming to light in the process.3074"The Real People of Muddy Creek"Leon BensonAlf HarrisOctober 6, 1968 Ben is left alone with his prisoner (Joe Don Baker) to face a murderous and notorious gang after frightened citizens bail out.3085"The Passing of a King"Leon BensonB. W. SandefurOctober 13, 1968 Ben is cheated out of a valuable bull by the son (Jeremy Slate) of one of his old friends (Denver Pyle), a cattle baron who has been declared legally incompetent.3096"The Last Vote"Joseph PevneyRobert Vincent WrightOctober 20, 1968 Hoss and Little Joe act as campaign managers for opposing mayoral candidates (Tom Bosley and Wally Cox) who are devoted friends.3107"Catch as Catch Can"Robert L. FriendDavid LangOctober 27, 1968 The Cartwrights are accused of being deadbeats in an effort to discredit their good name.3118"Little Girl Lost"Don RichardsonMichael FessierNovember 3, 1968 The serenity of the Ponderosa is disrupted by a small relative of the Cartwrights, an unruly tomboy (Linda Sue Risk) who's the subject of a custody battle. Antoinette Bower guest stars.3129"The Survivors"Leon BensonJohn Hawkins, Colin MacKenzie, S. H. BarnettNovember 10, 1968 A young woman endures scorn when she returns to Virginia City with a child fathered by a Native American after four years of captivity by renegade Indians.31310"The Sound of Drums"Robert L. FriendWilliam F. LeicesterNovember 17, 1968 A stubborn landowner defies his family and neighbors by allowing Native Americans to live on his land.31411"Queen High"Leon BensonMichael FessierDecember 1, 1968 Little Joe and Candy win a damaged ore processing mill in a poker game and encounter opposition from their competitor.31512"Yonder Man"Leo PennMilton S. GelmanDecember 8, 1968 Ben's reunion with an old friend is marred when he learns that the man is wanted for stealing cattle and political crimes.31613"Mark of Guilt"Leon BensonWard Hawkins, Frank TelfordDecember 15, 1968 When a rancher that Little Joe fought with is found dead, he's arrested for murder.31714"A World Full of Cannibals"Gunnar HellströmPreston WoodDecember 22, 1968 Gunmen kidnap Little Joe and offer him in exchange for a grand jury witness.31815"Sweet Annie Laurie"Don RichardsonJackson Gillis, John Hawkins, Jess Carneol, Kay LenardJanuary 5, 1969 Hoss takes a frightened young wife (Joan Van Ark) to the Ponderosa to protect her from her estranged outlaw husband (James Olson).31916"My Friend, My Enemy"Leon BensonStanley Roberts, Jack B. SowardsJanuary 12, 1969 Candy has to rely on the testimony of a Native American horse thief to prove his innocence on a murder charge.32017"Mrs. Wharton and the Lesser Breeds"Leon BensonPreston WoodJanuary 19, 1969 A British widow (Mildred Natwick) involves Candy in her plan to recover valuables she lost in a holdup.32118"Erin"Don RichardsonSandy SummerhayesJanuary 26, 1969 Hoss announces his intention to marry a girl (Mary Fickett) who was raised by Native Americans.32219"Company of Forgotten Men"Leon BensonJess Carneol, Kay LenardFebruary 2, 1969 A group of retired Army veterans plan to rob a mint with the help of Candy. James Gregory guest stars.32320"The Clarion"Lewis AllenJohn Hawkins, Frank ChaseFebruary 9, 1969 Ben buys a newspaper from a widow and proceeds to launch an exposé of an unscrupulous town boss.32421"The Lady and the Mountain Lion"Joseph PevneyLarry MarkesFebruary 23, 1969 A magician (Richard Haydn) plots to involve the Cartwright boys with his identical twin daughters in a swindling plot.32522"Five Candles"Lewis AllenKen TreveyMarch 2, 1969 Ben and four companions are trapped in a collapsing courthouse and are forced to rely on an accused murderer for help.32623"The Wish"Michael LandonMichael LandonMarch 9, 1969 Hoss tries to help a freed slave (Ossie Davis) cope with bigots of a white community.32724"The Deserter"Leon BensonB. W. Sandefur, John DunkelMarch 16, 1969 Candy tries to help an army sergeant locate a hidden arms plant.32825"Emily"Leon BensonElliot Gilbert, Preston WoodMarch 23, 1969 Hoping to save her broken marriage, a woman accuses Little Joe of theft and trying to run off with her.32926"The Running Man"Leon BensonWard HawkinsMarch 30, 1969 Little Joe and Candy try to protect a murder witness. Will Geer guest stars.33027"The Unwanted"Herschel DaughertyThomas Thompson, Suzanne ClauserMarch 30, 1969 A marshal's daughter steals her father's money and runs off with an ex-convict.33128"Speak No Evil"Leon BensonNorman Katkov, B. W. SandefurApril 20, 1969 Ben and Hoss mediate a custody battle among relatives of a teenager who inherited a gold mine.33229"The Fence"Lewis AllenWard Hawkins, Milton S. GelmanApril 27, 1969 Ben and Hoss aid an ex-Confederate prison commandant who's being threatened by his former captives. Larry Linville guest stars.33330"A Ride in the Sun"Leon BensonJohn Hawkins, Peter GermanoMay 11, 1969 Bank robbers use the Cartwrights as dupes in a plot to loot the Virginia City bank.
Season 11 (1969–70)
Bonanza, season 11 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date3341"Another Windmill to Go"James B. ClarkStory by : Palmer Thompson Teleplay by : Palmer ThompsonSeptember 14, 1969 The wording of an old law may cause Ben to lose the Ponderosa to an odd man who crossed it in a horse-drawn rowboat.3352"The Witness"Don RichardsonJoel MurcottSeptember 21, 1969 A young woman named Jenny Winters claims to have witnessed a stagecoach robbery.3363"The Silence at Stillwater"Joseph LejtesPreston WoodSeptember 28, 1969 Candy is accused of a string of serious crimes, including murder, robbery and arson in Stillwater.3374"A Lawman's Lot is Not a Happy One"Don RichardsonVincent WrightOctober 5, 1969 When Sheriff Roy Coffee and Ben are subpoenaed to testify in a land sharking trial in San Francisco, Hoss is appointed the acting sheriff of Virginia City. Hoss soon finds plenty of trouble on his hands, namely dealing with reluctant bridegroom Hiram Peabody (Tom Bosley), who wants to get arrested so as to avoid an impending marriage to an undesirable woman (whom has been his pen pal and has never met in person). He also must deal with a smooth-talking salesman who plans to sell shares in a planned resort in Virginia City.3385"Anatomy of a Lynching"William WiardPreston WoodOctober 12, 1969 Will Griner is acquitted of a murder after two key witnesses disappeared before the trial. When a bloodthirsty lynch mob comes after him, thinking him to have silenced the witnesses, Griner goes to the Cartwrights for help.3396"To Stop a War"Leon BensonCarey WilberOctober 19, 1969 Joe's old friend, Dan Logan (Steve Forrest), is hired as a range detective to stop a cattle rustling outbreak. Richard Bull guest stars.3407"The Medal"Lewis AllenFrank ChaseOctober 26, 1969 Ben offers moral support to Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Matthew Rush (Dean Stockwell).3418"The Stalker"Robert L. FriendD. C. FontanaNovember 2, 1969 After Candy shoots and kills armed robber James Campbell in self defense, he learns that he left behind his widow, Lisa, and young son.3429"Meena"Herschel DaughertyJack B. SowardsNovember 16, 1969 Joe and Candy compete for the attention of pretty Miss Meena Calhoun (Ann Prentiss).34210"A Darker Shadow"Don RichardsonJohn Hawkins, Jonathon KnopfNovember 23, 1969 Joe's friend Wade Turner (Gregory Walcott), a storekeeper who is engaged and has been offered a promotion at work, tries to deal with a devastating brain tumor that leaves him with a paralyzing sensitivity to bright light and will soon render him blind.34311"Dead Wrong"Michael LandonMichael LandonDecember 7, 1969 Hoss and Candy stop at the Sunville saloon where they meet Salty Hubbard (Arthur Hunnicutt).34512"Old Friends"Leon BensonBarney SlaterDecember 14, 1969 Two men whom Ben once worked with during a gold claim arrive in Virginia City ... on opposite sides of the law.34613"Abner Willoughby's Return"Herschel DaughertyJack B. SowardsDecember 21, 1969 While returning home from a horse-buying trip, Joe is met by old seafaring friend Abner Willoughby (John Astin), who has returned to Nevada to find a stash of gold he hid 17 years earlier in Glory Hole.34714"It's a Small World"Michael LandonMichael LandonJanuary 1, 1970 Circus midget and new widower George Marshall (Michael Dunn) struggles to deal with the prejudice of Mr. Flynt, the town's banker, when he refuses to hire him despite Ben's recommendation.34815"Danger Road"William F. ClaxtonMilton S. GelmanJanuary 11, 1970 Ben needs to transport three large timber beams but the local freight company won't do it. When a new independent freight hauler is approached for the job, Ben recognizes "Gunny" Riley (Robert Lansing), a former soldier in the Mexican war, but on the opposite side.34916"The Big Jackpot"Herschel DaughertyJohn HawkinsJanuary 18, 1970 Candy quits his job at the Ponderosa after inheriting a fortune from an old Indian friend. He takes a job as vice president of a land promotion firm, unaware that the president is defrauding customers.35017"The Trouble with Amy"Leon BensonJack Miller, John HawkinsJanuary 25, 1970 Ben comes to the aid of Amy Wilder (Jo Van Fleet), an eccentric old woman and animal hoarder, when a scheming neighbor wants her declared incompetent so he can purchase her home and property.35118"The Lady and the Mark"Leon BensonPreston WoodFebruary 1, 1970 Former Ponderosa ranch hand Chris Keller (Christopher Connelly) seeks refuge at his old workplace after con artists stalk him for his $67,000 fortune. Ralph Waite guest stars.35219"Is There Any Man Here"Don RichardsonB. W. SandefurFebruary 8, 1970 The daughter of Ben's friend Harry Carlisle, Jennifer (Mariette Hartley), develops a huge crush for the Cartwright patriarch. Ben notes that Jennifer is the same age as oldest son Adam, but that doesn't matter. It soon does matter when Jennifer's ex-fiancé, a wealthy banker from San Francisco, shows up demanding to take her back ... or else it will be the end of the Ponderosa.35320"The Law and Billy Burgess"William F. ClaxtonStanley RobertsFebruary 15, 1970 A new school is opened in Virginia City, and one of the students is an angry teen-aged boy named Billy Burgess (David Cassidy). After a difficult day at school, Billy angrily wishes that his teacher would die. Sure enough, the teacher is found murdered and Billy is fingered as the suspect.35421"Long Way to Ogden"Lewis AllenJoel MurcottFebruary 22, 1970 A ruthless meat packer named Emit Whitney schemes to monopolize the local cattle industry by buying the rail line that is used to transport the cattle to market.35522"Return Engagement"Don RichardsonStanley RobertsMarch 1, 1970
Eleven years after her last stop in Virginia City caused trouble for a young Joe Cartwright, actress Lotta Crabtree (Sally Kellerman) returns for another engagement in the Nevada town. This time, it's Hoss who finds himself in the thick of a murder case.
Note: A new actress plays Miss Crabtree. The events of the show's pilot episode, "A Rose For Lotta", are disregarded.35623"The Gold Mine"Leon BensonPreston Wood, Robert BrucknerMarch 8, 1970 Joe helps a young Mexican boy who has suffered from years of abuse by two sadistic slave owners who now want the lad's gold claim and will do anything to get it.35724"Decision at Los Robles"Michael LandonMichael LandonMarch 22, 1970 While in Los Robles, Mexico, Ben is critically wounded by the town's cruel boss, John Walker. Ben manages to shoot and kill Walker, but now his son - the spitting image of his father - is hellbent on revenge.35825"Caution, Easter Bunny Crossing"Bruce BilsonLarry MarkesMarch 29, 1970 In the series' only Easter-themed episode, a Quaker woman convinces Hoss to pose as the Easter bunny for the orphanage. While wearing a rabbit costume, Hoss must try to foil the efforts of a bumbling gang that is plotting to loot the Wells Fargo coach.35926"The Horse Traders"Herschel DaughertyJack B. SowardsApril 5, 1970 Meena Calhoun has gotten engaged to bumbling outlaw Virgil Potts, who is now trying to make an honest living in the livery business. Virgil soon finds himself in a heated rivalry with Joe, Hoss, and new friend Dusty, who have opened up a stable of their own.36027"What are Pardners For?"William F. ClaxtonJack B. SowardsApril 12, 1970 A pair of Easterners have read tall tales about the Wild West and come to Virginia City to live out their dream - be bank robbers in the tradition of their heroes. Hoss somehow becomes involved with their adventures.36128"A Matter of Circumstance"William F. ClaxtonB. W. SandefurApril 19, 1970 Alone at the Ponderosa while everyone else is away on a cattle drive, Joe suffers a compound fracture in his left arm when kicked by a horse spooked by a severe thunderstorm. Joe fights to stay conscious and treat his wounds.
Season 12 (1970–71)
Bonanza, season 12 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date3621"The Night Virginia City Died"William WiardJohn HawkinsSeptember 13, 1970 A series of destructive fires has Virginia City residents on edge and anxious to catch the arsonist.3632"A Matter of Faith"William WiardJack B. Sowards, John HawkinsSeptember 20, 1970
An orphaned rainmaker named Jamie Hunter comes to Virginia City, hoping to help relieve the drought-stricken area. When Jamie's efforts aren't immediately successful, Ben helps the lad fend off the frustrated ranchers.
Note: First episode of Jamie Hunter and Dusty Rhodes (as a regular)3643"The Weary Willies"Leo PennRobert PiroshSeptember 27, 1970 The Cartwrights lend their support to The Weary Willies, a group of Civil War veterans who are struggling to re-enter society. Richard Thomas guest stars.3654"The Wagon"James NeilsonKen PettusOctober 4, 1970 Hoss is falsely accused of murder by a corrupt sheriff named Price Buchanan (Denver Pyle). While en route to prison, Hoss manages to escape the prison wagon with a woman named Madge Tucker (Salome Jens).3665"The Power of Life and Death"Leo PennJoel MurcottOctober 11, 1970 The Cartwrights are part of a posse that is after Davis, who shot and killed an Army colonel, when they are attacked by a rogue Indian tribe.3676"Gideon, the Good"Herschel DaughertyKen PettusOctober 18, 1970 Gideon Yates (Richard Kiley), a corrupt lawman whose wife (Terry Moore) had shot her soon-to-be ex-husband, tries to silence the murder's only witness - Little Joe Cartwright.3687"The Trouble with Trouble"Herschel DaughertyJack B. SowardsOctober 25, 1970 Hoss unwittingly volunteers to be named sheriff of an aptly named town named Trouble.3698"Thornton's Account"William F. ClaxtonPreston WoodNovember 1, 1970 After Ben is seriously injured in a horse-riding accident far from home, Joe seeks help from valley settlers who are terrified of a corrupt rancher and his foremen.3709"The Love Child"Michael LandonMichael LandonNovember 8, 1970 Old-school Zach Randolph (Will Geer) refuses to make amends with his gravely ill daughter, Etta (Carol Locatell), because her son had been born out of wedlock. Ben risks his family's friendship with the Randolphs to set the stubborn old man straight.37110"El Jefe"William F. ClaxtonKen PettusNovember 15, 1970 The Cartwrights come to the aid of Mexican farmers in the Prince River vicinity, after they were run off the land by a corrupt tycoon wanting to strip mine the area.37211"The Luck of Pepper Shannon"Nicholas WebsterJohn HawkinsNovember 22, 1970 A reformed outlaw named Pepper Shannon comes to the Ponderosa seeking a job. Ben agrees to hire him, but has to keep both Pepper and an impressionable Jamie away from each other.37312"The Impostors"Lewis AllenRobert Vincent WrightDecember 13, 1970 Joe and Hoss pose as stagecoach robbers in an effort to track down their stolen money. However, their plans are forced to change after the wife of one of the robbers shows up.37413"Honest John"Lewis AllenArthur HeinemannDecember 20, 1970 Honest John, a drifter, is looking for a nest and hopes to settle on the Ponderosa through his rapport with the newly adopted Jamie. But John's breakthrough with the boy must be weighed against the seamier side of his character.37514"For a Young Lady"Don RichardsonB. W. SandefurDecember 27, 1970 Jamie's new friend Carrie Sturgis, herself an orphan, is the subject of a heated custody battle between her scheming aunt and uncle. Joe takes it upon himself to see that the girl is protected.37615"A Single Pilgrim"William WiardArthur Weingarten, Suzanne ClauserJanuary 3, 1971 Hoss is seriously wounded while accompanying the Brennan clan, Virginia natives who are settling out West, across Nevada Territory.37716"The Gold-Plated Rifle"Joseph PevneyPreston WoodJanuary 10, 1971 In this adaptation of the Prodigal Son, Jamie - who is struggling to adjust to life on the Ponderosa and at his new school - damages Ben's valuable rifle. Refusing to take responsibility, he runs away.37817"Top Hand"William F. ClaxtonArthur Heinemann, John HawkinsJanuary 17, 1971 During a cattle drive, Ben finds himself involved in a power struggle between the trail boss the Cartwrights appointed (Ben Johnson) and a fellow rancher's foreman (Roger Davis), who schemes to take over the job.37918"A Deck of Aces"Lewis AllenStanley RobertsJanuary 31, 1971 Ben's dead-on lookalike, the scheming Bradley Meredith, causes serious problems when he poses as the Cartwright patriarch and sells area ranchers' land to the railroad.38019"The Desperado"Philip LeacockGeorge Lovell HayesFebruary 7, 1971 It's a case of reverse racism, as a white-hating black outlaw couple (Louis Gossett Jr., Marlene Clark) kidnap Hoss and scheme to kill him.38120"The Reluctant American"Philip LeacockStanley RobertsFebruary 14, 1971 Leslie and Gillian Harwood (Jill Haworth, Daniel Massey) come to Nevada from England to take over the operation of a failing ranch near the Ponderosa.38221"Shadow of a Hero"Leo PennJohn Hawkins, Mel GoldbergFebruary 21, 1971 Gen. Ira Cloninger (Dean Jagger), an old friend of the Cartwrights, is toasted at a ceremony as a hero and asked to run for governor.38322"The Silent Killer"Leo PennJohn HawkinsFebruary 28, 1971 When an influenza outbreak strikes the Ponderosa, the treatment methods and philosophy of two women from different generations clash.38423"Terror at 2:00"Michael LandonMichael LandonMarch 7, 1971 A white supremacist named Mr. Ganns plans to disrupt a peace-treaty signing between the people of Virginia City and the Paiutes by massacring the entire town, then pin the blame on the Indian tribe.38524"The Stillness Within"Michael LandonSuzanne ClauserMarch 14, 1971 Joe is blinded by an explosion and wallows in self-pity as he struggles to come to grips with his condition. Ben hires a teacher (Jo Van Fleet) from the Institute for the Blind to help Joe deal with his predicament.38625"A Time to Die"Philip LeacockDon IngallsMarch 21, 1971 Ben's friend, April Christopher (Vera Miles), is bitten by a rabid wolf during her visit. With no treatment available, the Cartwrights and April's family struggle to watch her condition deteriorate.38726"Winter Kill"William WiardStory by : Jack Rummler Teleplay by : John Hawkins and Robert PiroshMarch 28, 1971 During a harsh winter that kills off the stock of many ranchers, Ben offers to test a new breed's endurance by herding a cow from the stock on Sawtooth Mountain.38827"Kingdom of Fear"Joseph PevneyMichael LandonApril 4, 1971
A delusional mining tycoon has the Cartwrights and Candy arrested on false trespassing charges and sentences them to slave labor at a gold mine. Richard Mulligan guest stars.
Note: The three year delay in the broadcast of this episode meant that David Canary was billed as a "Special Guest Star" because at the time the episode aired he was not a regular on the series.
Note: Filmed in 1968, this episode was originally scheduled to air during the 1968-1969 season. The show was pulled due to its violent content.38928"An Earthquake Called Callahan"Herschel DaughertyPreston WoodApril 11, 1971 A traveling professional wrestler named Tom Callahan (Victor French) is the only person who can prove Dusty Rhodes's innocence when the Ponderosa foreman is falsely jailed. Sandy Duncan guest star.
Season 13 (1971–72)
Bonanza, season 13 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date3901"The Grand Swing"William F. ClaxtonJohn Hawkins, Ward HawkinsSeptember 19, 1971 Against Ben's orders, Jamie drives a supply wagon on a route he's not supposed to; he loses control and wrecks the wagon. Jamie escapes uninjured but one of the horses is so badly hurt it has to be shot.3912"Fallen Woman"Lewis AllenWard HawkinsSeptember 26, 1971 Jill Conway (Susan Tyrrell) is an alcoholic mother whose husband was sent to prison (for robbery) on Hoss's testimony. In a pent-up rage, Jill demands that Hoss look after her son.3923"Bushwhacked"William WiardPreston WoodOctober 3, 1971 Two ranchers find a seriously wounded Little Joe in the Nevada desert. As he struggles for life, Joe mumbles incoherently about his surrealistic nightmares about a teepee and a wagon wheel.3934"Rock-a-Bye, Hoss"Herschel DaughertyPreston Wood, Robert Vincent WrightOctober 10, 1971 A "beautiful baby" contest that Hoss is judging quickly turns into a circus, thanks to the fortune-hunting parents who are determined to win at all costs.3945"The Prisoners"William F. ClaxtonArthur HeinemannOctober 17, 1971 Little Joe helps an old-time sheriff escort cunning outlaw Hank Simmons to jail. The crafty Simmons kills the sheriff and injures Joe, but Joe turns out to always be one step ahead of Simmons.3956"Cassie"Herschel DaughertyTrue BoardmanOctober 24, 1971 The Cartwrights assist Jamie's friend, Cassie O'Casey (Lisa Gerritsen), and Cassie's mother (Diane Baker) in dealing with their father and husband, Kevin, who is running a race horse scam.3967"Don't Cry, My Son"Michael LandonMichael LandonOctober 31, 1971 Virginia City's new doctor, Mark Sloan (Richard Mulligan), is dealt a double-blow when his wife leaves him, blaming him for their baby being stillborn. In the heat of the moment, Sloan kidnaps the baby of another woman.3978"Face Of Fear"Chris ChristenberryKen PettusNovember 14, 1971 Jamie's girlfriend, Neta Thatcher, witnesses a drifter named Griff Bannon (Bradford Dillman) rob and kill a man at a roadside camp.3989"Blind Hunch"Lewis AllenJohn Hawkins, Robert PiroshNovember 21, 1971 Civil War veteran Will Hewitt (Rip Torn) returns to Virginia City, blinded and determined to solve the mystery behind the death of his brother.39910"The Iron Butterfly"Leo PennHarold SwantonNovember 28, 1971 Vengeful Sen. Carson (Peter Whitney) pins the blame on Hoss when his son is killed by his ex-girlfriend. The Cartwrights do all they can to stop Carson from destroying the Ponderosa.40011"The Rattlesnake Brigade"William WiardGordon T DawsonDecember 5, 1971 Jamie and three of his schoolmates - Lester, Judith and Roberto - are kidnapped after church by the nefarious Doyle gang, who escaped from a wagon carrying them to prison.40112"Easy Come, Easy Go"Joseph PevneyJack B. SowardsDecember 12, 1971 In the third and final episode featuring the Calhouns, Luke is bankrupted after a stock investment gone bad, so he and his daughter Meena move to the Ponderosa until he can get back on his feet.40213"A Home for Jamie"Leo PennJean HollowayDecember 19, 1971 Ben begins the process to adopt Jamie as his son, but the process is complicated when Jamie's maternal grandfather, Ferris Callahan (Will Geer), comes forward wanting custody.40314"Warbonnet"Arthur H. NadelArthur HeinemannDecember 26, 1971 Joe is caught in the middle of a bitter dispute between an aging Native American chief and the man who stole the Indian's warbonnet years ago as a saloon decoration.40415"The Lonely Man"William F. ClaxtonJohn HawkinsJanuary 2, 1972 In a rare episode with Hop Sing in the spotlight, the Cartwright's servant is panning for gold during a vacation when he falls in love with a white woman. The relationship blossoms into an engagement, but the marriage never takes place.40516"Second Sight"Lewis AllenArthur Weingarten, Suzanne ClauserJanuary 9, 1972 Hoss turns to a clairvoyant named Judith Coleman (Joan Hackett) to help in a search for Jamie, who has gotten lost in the high country. However, Judith is reluctant to help out, fearing that her psychic abilities will ruin her engagement to a minister.40617"The Saddle Stiff"William F. ClaxtonSamuel A. Peeples, John HawkinsJanuary 16, 1972 Cactus Murphy (Buddy Ebsen), an embittered ranch hand whom Ben fired, suggests that the Cartwright patriarch is getting a little old to "put in a real week's work." Ben's response: Take a job under the assumed name Ben Brown and show Murphy that he is still more than capable of sweating out the job of a rancher.40718"Frenzy"Lewis AllenPreston Wood, Karl TunbergJanuary 30, 1972 Ben's friendship with the Kosovos, a young immigrant family from Serbia, puts him in danger when family patriarch Nick suffers a psychotic snap, goes on a rampage and barricades them in their home.40819"Customs of the Country"Joseph PevneyJoseph BonaduceFebruary 6, 1972 In a satirical look at unusual, silly laws and customs, Joe and Hoss try to explain to their skeptical father why their delivery run to Agua Santos, Mexico took so long. An unimpressed Ben listens as his sons explain their story.40920"Shanklin"Leo PennWilliam KelleyFebruary 13, 1972 A band of rogue ex-Confederate soldiers comes to the Ponderosa to demand a $25,000 ransom. Hoss tries to disrupt the robbery and is critically wounded by the group's leader, Shanklin (Charles Cioffi).41021"Search in Limbo"Leo PennDon IngallsFebruary 20, 1972 The Cartwrights attempt to reconstruct a 24-hour period of Ben's life after he fears he may have been the unknown gunman who shot down Sid Langley (Lawrence Montaigne), a corrupt real estate broker who has become hated in Virginia City.41122"He Was Only Seven"Michael LandonMichael LandonMarch 5, 1972 Jamie's 7-year-old friend, Jonah Morgan, is badly wounded when he and Jamie walk into the Virginia City Bank during a robbery by the evil Springer gang. Roscoe Lee Browne guest stars.41223"The Younger Brothers' Younger Brother"Michael LandonMichael LandonMarch 12, 1972 It's a case of comic mistaken identity when Hoss - on a delivery run for the Ponderosa - is mistaken as a member of the bumbling Younger Brothers gang.41324"A Place to Hide"Herschel DaughertyWilliam D. Gordon, Ward HawkinsMarch 19, 1972 A friend of Ben's (Suzanne Pleshette) asks to stay with her daughter (Jodie Foster) at the Ponderosa for a time. Soon Ben discovers the woman is trying to plan a rendezvous with her husband who is a fugitive confederate soldier.41425"A Visit to Upright"William WiardJoseph BonaduceMarch 26, 1972 Ben's ability to close a lucrative cattle purchase with a picky livestock heiress (Loretta Swit) hinges on Hoss and Joe's ability to sell a dilapidated saloon they were duped into buying.41526"One Ace Too Many"Lewis AllenStanley RobertsApril 2, 1972
In his second attempt to cash in on Ben's good name, crooked lookalike Bradley Meredith learns that the Cartwrights are in Carson City and, posing as Ben, pretends that he is seriously ill and begins to liquidate the Ponderosa's assets.
Note: Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright)'s final television role. He passed away a month after this episode aired from complications following surgery. Note: Ray Teal's last appearance as Sheriff Roy Coffee.
Season 14 (1972–73)
Bonanza, season 14 episodesNo. overallNo. in seasonTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date4161"Forever: Episode 1"Michael LandonMichael LandonSeptember 12, 1972 Little Joe falls in love with Alice Harper (played by a young Bonnie Bedelia) who he meets while rescuing her gambler brother John (Andy Robinson) from a poker game gone bad.4172"Forever: Episode 2"Michael LandonMichael LandonSeptember 19, 1972 See Episode 14183"Heritage of Anger"Nicholas WebsterDon IngallsSeptember 26, 1972 Ben helps ex-convict John Dundee (Robert Lansing) re-adjust to society. However, Dundee's boorish attitude complicates matters.4194"The Initiation"Alf KjellinDouglas Day StewartOctober 3, 1972 Jamie joins an elite club. However, when a classmate dies from cardiac arrhythmia during the initiation, the club's president Ted Hoag (Ron Howard) is blamed.4205"Riot!"Lewis AllenRobert PiroshOctober 10, 1972
Ben becomes horrified while inspecting living conditions at the Nevada State Prison. So are the frustrated inmates, who take Ben hostage and make a series of demands to improve conditions.
Note: first episode of Griff King.4216"New Man"Leo PennJack B. SowardsOctober 17, 1972 In this sequel episode to "Riot," Ben helps parolee Griff King adjust to life outside of prison, giving him a job as a ranch hand.4227"Ambush at Rio Lobo"Nicholas ColasantoJoel MurcottOctober 24, 1972 Ben and a pregnant woman (Sian Barbara Allen) are held hostage by a gang of robbers, who are plotting a stagecoach robbery and are determined to prevent interference by anyone with the name Cartwright.4238"The 26th Grave"Nicholas ColasantoStanley RobertsOctober 31, 1972 Samuel Clemens (Ken Howard) makes his return to Virginia City, this time offering tall tales over an unsolved murder that was tied to a claim jumping.4249"Stallion"E. W. SwackhamerJack B. SowardsNovember 14, 1972 Joe is given a beautiful, black stallion for his birthday present, but winds up sacrificing it when he rides to the rescue of a young boy who was accidentally shot by his outlaw father.42510"The Hidden Enemy"Alf KjellinStanley RobertsNovember 28, 1972 Dr. James Wills (Mike Farrell) is Virginia City's new town doctor. He can bring many new procedures to Nevada Territory. However, Dr. Wills is addicted to morphine, which results in trouble ... and in the end, tragedy.42611"The Sound of Sadness"Michael LandonMichael LandonDecember 5, 1972 Griff's friend, widowed farmer Jonathan May (Jack Albertson), wants to adopt two young orphans, one of whom is unable to talk. When Jonathan is told he cannot adopt the boys, Griff decides to set the adoption agency folks straight on what a loving father is.42712"The Bucket Dog"William F. ClaxtonJohn HawkinsDecember 19, 1972 Jamie buys an Irish setter named April. However, April was a runt and - according to its rightful owner - should be put to sleep because it is a disgrace to the breed. When April competes in a field trial, the dog's owner soon learns that it's not the size of the dog that matters, but the size of the fight in the dog.42813"First Love"Leo PennRichard CollinsDecember 26, 1972 Jamie becomes friends with Kelly Edwards (Pamela Franklin), who is abused by her husband, Dan. The catch: the husband happens to be the new teacher at the Virginia City School.42914"The Witness"Lewis AllenStory by : Arthur Heinemann Teleplay by : Joel Murcott and Arthur HeinemannJanuary 2, 1973 A man posing as Candy robs one of Ben's elderly business associates; during the robbery, the woman suffers a fatal heart attack. Candy is quickly arrested and brought to trial.43015"The Marriage of Theodora Duffy"William F. ClaxtonWard HawkinsJanuary 9, 1973
Unknown to the Cartwrights, Griff is asked to be a government witness in helping to bring a gang of war criminals to justice and Griff is asked to pose as the husband of beautiful Theodora Duffy (Karen Carlson), whom the Cartwrights think Griff had abandoned years ago.
Note: This episode features the final appearances of Candy Canaday and Griff King and Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing.
Note: Last episode filmed, but broadcast second to last based on edict from NBC that a season finale episode could not be focused on character(s) that weren't Cartwrights.43116"The Hunter"Michael LandonMichael LandonJanuary 16, 1973 During a delivery run, Joe meets Cpl. Bill Tanner (Tom Skerritt), who turns out to be a war-deranged madman who enjoys stalking down his helpless victims before killing them. After stealing Joe's wagon and his supplies, the psychotic Tanner explains that Joe just became his latest "prey."
TV movies
Bonanza television moviesTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateBonanza: The Next GenerationWilliam F. ClaxtonPaul SavageMarch 3, 1988 This is the continuing saga of the Cartwrights, only none of the original Cartwrights are here anymore but their sons appear. Ben and Hoss have died, Little Joe is MIA; he joined up with Teddy Roosevelt and is currently missing and Adam has emigrated to Australia. Ben's brother, Aaron is now in charge of the Ponderosa, and Little Joe's wife, Annie also lives there. His son, Benjamin has come back from the East. Charlie Poke is a man who owes his life to Ben Cartwright. He is now the ranch foreman and is not exactly on good terms with Aaron. Aaron has allowed a mining company access to the Ponderosa, but the man in charge has other ideas. Hoss' son, Josh, whom no one has seen before, has come to the Ponderosa to kill Hoss because he thinks Hoss deserted him and his mother - not knowing that Hoss died before he could go back to bring Josh's mother to the Ponderosa.Bonanza: The ReturnJerry JamesonMichael Landon Jr.November 28, 1993 A man with a grudge against the late Little Joe seeks revenge on the Cartwrights and attempts to take over the Ponderosa, A.C. thinks about writing a letter to his father.Bonanza: Under AttackMark TinkerDenne Bart PetitclercJanuary 15, 1995 A reimagining of the next generation of Cartwrights, three cousins Benji, A.C., and Josh join together to fight off forces to save the Ponderosa. Under the guidance of old friend Bronc Evans, they learn the meaning of family.
ภาพยนตร์ทีวีและพรีเควลซีรีส์
In 1988, NBC revived Bonanza with the television film Bonanza: The Next Generation. Lorne Greene, who was to have reprised his role as Ben Cartwright, died before production began, and was replaced by John Ireland as Ben's brother, Aaron Cartwright. Michael Landon Jr. played the role of Little Joe's son, Benjamin Cartwright.[10] Landon Jr. again played Benjamin Cartwright in a second television film Bonanza: The Return. Dirk Blocker, the son of Dan Blocker, played a supporting role in this film which, in its original broadcast on November 28, 1993, was preceded by Back to Bonanza, a one-hour special devoted to the original series.[11] A third TV movie, Bonanza: Under Attack, aired January 15, 1995. Landon Jr. also starred in this film.[12]
In 2001–2002, a "prequel" series, Ponderosa, aired on the PAX-TV network. Set 10 years prior to the first season, it starred Daniel Hugh Kelly as Ben Cartwright, Matt Carmody as Adam, Drew Powell as Hoss, and Jared Daperis as Little Joe.[13]