spacer graphic
 
[Home][Bonanza Locations][Bonanza's Opening Scenes][Bonanza Forum][Bonanza Cast Bios][Bonanza Episode Guide][Links]
Navigation Bar
[Bonanza Calendar][Bonanza Lyrics][Horse Bios][Bonanza Gallery][Bonanza eCards]
 
Welcome to Bonanza: Scenery of the Ponderosa!
Cochise page divider
 
Episode Guide
spacer graphic
Adam, Little Joe, Ben and Hoss!
Season One...1959-1960
continued...

The Burning Map Presents:
The Cartwrights: Ben, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe!

Cochise page divider

 17.) The Outcast
         January 9, 1960
         Written by:
 Thomas Thompson
         Directed by:  Lewis Allen

         Because she is related to criminals, a young woman is ostracized by everyone but the the Cartwrights.  She unwisely seeks solace with an ex-con friend of Joe's, Clay Renton, and it's up to Ben to straighten everything out.  First episode to have a chapter title after the cast credits.

         Guest Stars: Clay Renton...Jack Lord,...Leta Malvet...Susan Oliver,...Harvey Buford...Edward Platt,...Mrs. Buford...Irene Tedrow,...Dr. Paul Martin...Roy Engel,...Spence...Robert Lieb,...Boyd...Joel Ashley,...Garth...Mark Allen.

         Trivia: Guest star Jack Lord went to star in "Hawaii Five-O", and Susan Oliver is best remembered as Vina, in the classic Star Trek pilot, "The Cage", later made into "The Menagerie".  Guest star Edward Platt, as Mr. Buford, would later be seen in season four's, "The Colonel", best remembered as the Chief, in the 60's spy-comedy series, "Get Smart".  Veteran actress Irene Tedrow makes her debut as the cunning Mrs. Buford, and would later be seen in season three's, "Blessed Are They", season ten's, "Different Pines, Same Wind", and in season eleven's, "Abner Willoughby's Return".  Her voice was very well-heard in many animated features, usually as a queen or a witch.

         Music Trivia: The first episode to feature the chapter title cue music that accompanies the watercolor title is heard, composed and conducted by David Rose and the studio sessionists, based on the Livingston-Evans theme cue he musically composed and scored for the beginning and ending credits.  This early music cue is heard through the end of the second season of the series.

         Filming dates: October 29 to November 5, 1959


 18.) A House Divided
         January 16, 1960
         Written by:
 Al C. Ward
         Directed by: Lewis Allen

         As the Civil War approaches, Adam and Joe clash over which side to support.  The situation is complicated by the arrival of Frederick Kyle, a Southern sympathizer.  He was an old friend of Joe's mother and viewers also discover that Joe's middle name is Francis.

         Guest Stars: Frederick Kyle...Cameron Mitchell,...Regis...Stacy Harris,...Gorman...John Anderson,...Lily Van Cleet-Kyle...Marianne Stewart,...Henessy...Howard Wendell,...Tom...Dan Riss,...Northern Miner...Mickey Simpson,...Southern Miner...John Locke,...Sheriff...Kenneth MacDonald,...Mine Owner...Stafford Repp,...Luke...Barry Cahill,...Bob Miles...(stunts; uncredited for Stacy Harris).

         Trivia: Cameron Mitchell makes his only appearance on the series as Frederick Kyle.  Mitchell was a veteran character actor and even starred in Dortort's "The High Chaparral" as Buck Cannon from 1967-1971.  Character actors Stacy Harris and John Anderson make their first of many appearances on the series, in this episode Stacy Harris plays Regis and Anderson plays Gorman.  German-born actress Marianne Stewart plays Lily Van Cleet-Kyle, the wife of Frederick Kyle.  She's the daughter of Reinhold Schunzel, a well-accomplished German actor, born in Hamburg.

         Trivia: Kyle's wife, Lily meets her demise while on the stage, going out of town.  Regis and Gorman made a pothole in the road, which overturns it, as it goes over the mountain and she is killed as the stage tumbles down the slopes.  Of course, in real life, the stage was empty with no one in it, as it went down the mountain at Janss Conejo Ranch while filming this scene for the story.

         Stunt Trivia: In the storage room fight, Bob Miles doubles Regis (Stacy Harris) in the long shots, while Gorman (John Anderson) does all his shots, along with Kyle (Cameron Mitchell), who does his shots without a stuntman in a very memorable fight.

         Trivia: Newly photographed July 1959 stock footage filmed at Mount Rose Summit is seen, overlooking northeast Lake Tahoe, edited in with soundstage shots, that center around Adam and Joe in the story.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Janss Conejo Ranch, Southern California and July 1959 stock footage of the lake from the Mount Rose Summit, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: November 16-25, 1959


 19.) The Gunmen
         January 23, 1960
         Written by:
 Carey Wilbur
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         In the first all-out comic episode of the series, Hoss and Joe travel to Kiowa Flats, Texas, where they are mistaken for the notorious Slade Brothers, also played by Blocker and Landon.

         Guest Stars: B. Bannerman Brown...Henry Hull,...Jubal...George Mitchell,...Alonzo McFadden...Douglas Spencer,...Twirly Boggs...King Donovan,...McFadden Boy...Dennis Holmes,...Lorna Doone Mayboy...Ellen Corby,...Amanda McFadden...Ann Graves,...Clara Lou Kinsey...Jenny Maxwell,...Sonny...Billy McLean,...Anse Hadfield...Jonathan Gilmore,...Lisabelle Jones...Jody Fair,...Quisy McFadden...Dorothy Neumann,...Susan Hadfield...Dorothy Crehan,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; extra as cowboy in saloon & double for Michael Landon),...Bill Clark...(uncredited; extra as bartender & double for Dan Blocker).

         Trivia: The great Henry Hull makes the first of two appearances on the series.  He plays the Sheriff, B. Bannerman Brown in this episode.  He plays Charlie Trent in the following season's "The Mission".  Stalwart actors George Mitchell and Ellen Corby also make their first appearances on the series.  Mitchell plays Jubal in this episode.  He appears as other characters in three's "Land Grab" and ten's "Little Girl Lost".

         Ellen Corby plays Lorna Doone Mayboy in this episode.  She appears later in four's "The Hayburner" as Mrs. Milford.  Stuntmen Bob Miles and Bill Clark do their share of extra bit parts in this show.  Bob plays a cowboy in the saloon and Bill plays the bartender.  In other scenes, Bob doubles Michael Landon, as Joe Cartwright and Shorty Slade, and Bill doubles Dan Blocker as Hoss Cartwright and Big Jack.

         Filming dates:  November 30 to December 7, 1959


 20.) The Fear Merchants
         January 30, 1960
         Written by:
 Fred Unger, Thomas Thompson
         Directed by: Lewis Allen

         The Cartwrights encounter racial bigotry in Virginia City and end up protecting a Chinese boy from mob violence.  Victor Sen Yung, in his largest role to date, speaks normally in the presence of his fellow countrymen, but reverts to broken English when with the Cartwrights.

         Guest Stars: Andrew Fulmer...Gene Evans,...Amanda Ridley...Helen Westcott,...Mr. Ridley...Frank Ferguson,...Jesse Tibbs...Christopher Dark,...Jimmy Chang...Guy Lee,...Billy Wheeler...Ray Stricklyn,...Lee Chang...Philip Ahn,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Sally Ridley...Patricia Michon,...Cyrus Hammond...Arthur Space,...Sheriff Halstead...Gregg Barton,...Judge...Alexander Campbell,...Chinese Elder...Peter Chong,...Townsman...Bob Miles...(uncredited; extra),...Townsman...Bill Clark...(uncredited; extra).

         Trivia: Gene Evans makes the first of three appearances on the series, playing attorney Andrew Fulmer in this episode.  He appears later in the series as Rockwell in five's "Journey Remembered" and as Montana Perkins in twelve's "The Trouble with Trouble".  Helen Westcott makes the first of two appearances, in this episode playing Amanda Ridley.  She's later seen in four's "The Colonel" as Emily Colfax.  Support actor Frank Ferguson plays Mr. Ridley in this episode and later appears as the Sheriff in three's "The Long Night", then as Jigger in five's "Ponderosa Matador", and in six's "Lothario Larkin" as Abner.

         Christopher Dark makes his second appearance on the series, playing gunman Jesse Tibbs.  His first appearance was in the pilot episode as Langford Pool and is later seen in nine's "Showdown at Tahoe" as Testy. Asian actor Guy Lee makes his first of two appearances on the series.  He plays Jimmy Chang in this episode, and is later seen in seven's "The Meredith Smith" as Ah Lee.  Support actor Ray Stricklyn plays Billy Wheeler, seen on the series in support roles occasionally as a young and unruly cowpoke.

         Korean-American actor Philip Ahn makes the first of three appearances on the series.  He plays Lee Chang in this episode and later appears in three's "Day of the Dragon" as Dr. Kam Lee and then in five's "A Pink Cloud Comes from Old Cathay" as Wai Sang.  Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing, with some of his largest screentime to date on the series, more of which would be in this season's "San Francisco".  The very pretty Patricia Michon plays Sally Ridley, who is sadly killed by her own father in this episode.  She returns for a second appearance as Betty Mae in two's "The Secret".

         Support actor Arthur Space plays Cyrus Hammond, the mercantile owner, with Sheriff Halstead played by support actor Gregg Barton.  The judge at the inquest is played by Alexander Campbell, with Asian actor Peter Chong making his second appearance, in this episode as the Chinese elder alongside Philip Ahn.  His first appearance was earlier this season in "The Truckee Strip" as Lo Chow.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: July 1959 stock footage of all four Cartwrights riding through Tahoe Meadows at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: December 8-15, 1959


 21.) The Spanish Grant
         February 6, 1960
         Written by:
 David Dortort, Leonard Heideman
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         The Cartwrights' ownership of the Ponderosa is thrown into question by an alleged Spanish noblewoman, Rosita Morales.

         Guest Stars: Isabella Marie Inez de la Cuesta~Rosita Morales...Patricia Medina,...Don Antonio Luga...Sebastian Cabot,...Sanchez...Paul Picerni,...Donna Theresa Epananza...Celia Lovsky,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Judge Blaton...Ned Wever,...High Card Smith...Michael Ragan,...Proprietor...Salvador Baguez,...Andy Logan...John Frederick,...Mary Logan...Claudia Bryar,...Sheriff Hawkins...Stuart Randall,...Dancer...Genaro Gomez,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; stunt double for Paul Picerni).

         Trivia: This episode's storyline is loosely based on the real-life story of Anastasia, who was one of the daughters of Czar Nicholas, who was slain along with the entire family, in the Russian Revolution in 1917.  Another young woman assumed her identity and pretended to be Anastasia for decades until her death.  Only in recent years, after the old woman died, it was proven she was not Anastasia, by DNA testing the skeletal remains of the Czar's family and the imposter.

         In "The Spanish Grant", a young bargirl, Rosita Morales is pretending to be a Spanish noblewoman named Isabella Marie Inez de la Cuesta and at the end of the story, it's revealed she is really Rosita Morales, but on the other hand, is she really Rosita Morales?  This little twist at the end is simply entertaining everytime it's viewed, with the viewer able to determine the young woman's real identity at the end of act four.

         Trivia: Patricia Medina makes her only appearance on the series as Isabella Marie Inez de la Cuesta, who is really Rosita Morales.  Sebastian Cabot also makes his only appearance as Don Antonio Luga, along with Paul Picerni as Sanchez.  All three actors worked on various episodes of "Zorro" with Guy Williams from 1957-59.  Cabot is best remembered in the 60's TV-series "Family Affair".  Paul Picerni was born in Long Island, New York in 1922.  He originally wanted to become an attorney, but the school principal said he was a "born actor". Picerni stayed with it, before and after World War II.

         He landed a role in the 60's TV-series, "The Untouchables", as second lead under Robert Stack.  His brother is actor/stuntman Charles Picerni, who he called in for "The Untouchables" to serve as his stand-in and stuntman.  Paul is the father of 8 and grandfather of 10.  He's the father of stuntman Paul V. Picerni and grandfather of stuntman Rick Picerni.  The Picerni family is famous for being in the business, and many family members joined the bandwagon and are still active in the stunt business today.

         Character actor Michael Ragan makes his second appearance, this time as High Card Smith.  He was previously in season one's "The Paiute War" as Vern, and appeared over the seasons through 1967 as different characters.  European-born actress Celia Lovsky makes her only appearance as Donna Theresa Epananza, in a beautifully exotic, graceful and sensitive performance.  She would specialize in these roles and even appeared in the Star Trek episode "Amok Time" as Vulcan ruler T' Pau, who Leonard Nimoy spoke highly of, when working on this episode in 1967.

         She was born on February 21, 1897, in Vienna, Austria.  She later married actor Peter Lorre and her passing of natural causes, was on October 12, 1979, in Los Angeles, California.  Character actor Stuart Randall plays Sheriff Hawkins, a support role he played for years, seen in the series through its twelfth year into 1971, as a Sheriff, but never with the same name.  Support actor John Frederick plays Andy Logan, and is credited as John Merrick in this episode.  His first appearance is in this season's "The Truckee Strip" as the Concho ranch hand who is injured by Pete Jessup's men.

         Stunt Trivia: In the barn fight that pitts Adam against Sanchez, it's Bob Miles who doubles Paul Picerni in the long shots, with Picerni doing his close-ups that he can handle.  Pernell Roberts does his complete fight, without the help of a stuntman.  In one scene, Pernell kicks Bob Miles over him, into the horse stall and the trained horse lets out a whinny, bolting up and down on his legs.  The next shot is of a dead Sanchez (played by Paul Picerni) being drug out by Adam and the stableman.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Janss Conejo Ranch, Southern California.

         Filming dates: December 16-24, 1959


 22.) Blood On The Land
         February 13, 1960
         Written by:
 Robert E. Thompson
         Directed by: Felix Feist

         A shiftless sheepherder, Jeb Drummond, encroaches his herd of sheep on the Ponderosa and refuses to budge.  He resists all of Ben's attempts to throw him off his land and finally resorts to taking Adam prisoner in exchange for ownership of the ranch.

         Guest Stars: Jeb Drummond...Everett Sloane,...Billy...Ray Daley,...Collier...Ken Lynch,...Wheeler...Jerry Oddo,...Sam...Glen Holtzman,...Burton...Tom Reese,...Bob Miles...(horseback double; uncredited for Ken Lynch).

         Trivia: Guest star Everett Sloane, in his first appearance, would later appear in "Right Is The Fourth R".  Ken Lynch, in his first of many appearances, later seen in, "My Brothers's Keeper", "The Beginning", "Journey Remembered", "The Lonely Runner", "Joe Cartwright, Detective", "Commitment At Angelus", "Company Of Forgotten Men", and in, "The Younger Brother's Younger Brother".

         Trivia: In the scene where Jeb Drummond's fellow sheepman is pulled off his horse, by Hoss, Bob Miles takes the actual fall off the horse, doubling for actor Ken Lynch.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Bell Location Ranch, Southern California and July 1959 stock footage of Tahoe Meadows at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: December 28, 1959 to January 5, 1960


 23.) Desert Justice
         February 20, 1960
         Written by:
 Donald S. Sanford
         Directed by: Lewis Allen

         When a tough U.S. Marshal from California arrests a Ponderosa hand, Dave Walker, for murder, Adam and Hoss go along to make sure their employee reaches Los Angeles alive.  In one scene, Adam is dressed in black for the first time.  In another, Hoss, upon seeing Southern California for the first time, remarks, "It sure ain't never gonna amount to much".  Later, Adam makes an amusing reference to the chow Joe says he was forced to eat in "The Last Hunt".

         Guest Stars: Marshal Emmett Dowd...Claude Akins,...David Walker...Wesley Lau,...Andrea Strasser...Fintan Meyer,...Dr. Andrew Strasser...John Wengraf,...Hurd Cutler...Ron Hayes,...Charlie...Bud Osborne,...Michael Bailey...Will Wright,...Deputy Dan...Tom Greenway.

         Trivia: Guest star Claude Akins, as Marshal Dowd, who later appeared in "The Mill", "Sam Hill", and in "The Deserter".  Wesley Lau as David would later appear in "Her Brother's Keeper".  Ron Hayes as Dave's partner would later appear in "Mirror Of A Man", "The Rescue", "The Bridegroom", "Night Of Reckoning" and in "Emily".  He married Betty Endicott in 1965, who was Pernell Robert's stand-in since the second season and his short-term riding double. Her rear-end would "wobble" in the saddle and she didn't quite look right, so that was discontinued after a time. Ron Hayes died on October 1, 2004 in Malibu from internal injuries that resulted from a fall. He was 75.

         Trivia: Stock shots of Death Valley are rear projected to the sides and in the rear of the stagecoach on the Paramount soundstage.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Iverson Ranch, Southern California.

         Filming dates: January 6-14, 1960


 24.) The Stranger
         February 27, 1960
         Written by:
 Leonard Heideman, Oliver Crawford
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         Nevada Territory is awaiting statehood, and Ben considers running for governor until he learns he is wanted for murder in New Orleans.  Inspector Charles Leduque arrives and says Ben is wanted for commiting the murder 20 years earlier, and after Joe kills his bodyguard in self-defense, Inspector Leduque makes it appear the other way around.  Ben has no choice but go with Leduque, to clear his name in a very suspense-filled episode.  Once again, there are several references to Joe's mother, and viewers are shown Marie's grave near the shore of Lake Tahoe.

         Guest Stars: Charles Leduque...Lloyd Nolan,...Tom Cole...Hal Baylor,...Dennis...Arthur Shields,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Sheriff Brady...Robert Foulk,...Alfred Gibbons...Donald Foster,...Dixie...Joan Staley,...Alice...Elizabeth York,...Louise Gibbons...Jomarie Pettit,...Jake...Charles Tannen,...Way Station Owner...Hank Worden,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; stunt double for Michael Landon & stunt as Indian, extra as party guest & hotel guest),...Bill Clark...(uncredited; extra as deputy).

         Trivia: Lloyd Nolan makes his only appearance on the series, playing Inspector Charles Leduque.  Hal Baylor makes the first of 10 appearances on the series, playing Leduque's bodyguard, Tom Cole in this episode.  He appears later in two's "Breed of Violence" as Clegg, in three's "The Ride" as Arch, in four's "The Saga of Whizzer McGee" as Big Red, in six's "A Man to Admire" as Ev Durfee, in seven's "Shining in Spain" as the drummer, in eight's "Old Charlie" as Jack Barker, in nine's "Six Black Horses" as Tierney and in "The Stronghold" as Kelty, and as Shad Willis in twelve's "An Earthquake Called Callahan".

         Arthur Shields plays Dennis, the owner of the Territorial Enterpise in this episode.  Donald Foster plays Alfred Gibbons in this episode, later as Mr. Begley in two's "The Dark Gate", and Victor Sen Yung slips in another appearance as Hop Sing.  Robert Foulk plays Sheriff Brady, making his first of 13 appearances on the series.  He appears in three's "The Smiler", "The Many Faces of Gideon Flinch", "Blessed Are They" and "The Gamble" as Deputy Clem, in four's "Any Friend of Walter's" as the Sheriff.  In six's "The Spotlight", he plays a townsman, and as Seth in seven's "Big Shadow on the Land" and "A Dollar's Worth of Trouble".  He plays the Sheriff in eight's "Ballad of the Ponderosa" and "A Real Nice, Friendly Little Town", and Peterson in "Clarissa".  His last appearance is in nine's "The Burning Sky" as Deputy Pete.

         Joan Staley plays Dixie the saloon girl, with Elizabeth York playing Ben's date Alice.  Jomarie Pettit plays Louise Gibbons, the daughter of Alfred and is Adam's date in this episode.  Charles Tannen plays the hotel clerk Jake, and Hank Worden as the way station owner.  He would later appear in two's "The Bride" as the miner who is killed by Frank.

         Stunt Trivia: Bob Miles doubles Joe in the newspaper office when Tom Cole (actor Hal Baylor) sends him reeling across the office, slamming him into the other side of the room, with Leduque swearing, "We'll smash Ben Cartwright, just like we smashed the story of his life".  Bob also plays an Indian who Leduque shoots off the cliff later in the story, and Bob also plays two extra parts, one as a party guest and as a hotel guest checking in at the desk with his female companion.  Bill Clark plays the Deputy alongside Sheriff Brady in this episode.

         Photography Trivia: In the scenes with Ben and Joe at Marie's grave, the actors do their filmed shots on Stage 16, and a large piece of black felt is placed to the rear of them.  The Sand Harbor stock footage is optically printed onto the filmed soundstage shots, called a matte shot.

         Location Scenes Filmed at:  Bronson Canyon, Southern California and July 1959 stock footage at Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The inclusion of stock footage from Kanab, Utah was culled from Paramount's film library and edited in act four of the final cut.

         Filming dates: January 14-21, 1960


 25.) Escape To Ponderosa
         March 5, 1960
         Written by:
 Robert E. Thompson, Bill Barrett
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         After Adam is bushwhacked by three army deserters, Ben tracks them down, and tackles the brutal Captain Bolton who is pursuing them.

         Guest Stars: Neda...Gloria Talbott,...Captain James Bolton...Chris Alcaide,...Colonel Metcalfe...Dayton Lummis,...Corporal...Sherwood Price,...Jimmy Sutton...Joe Maross,...Paul Tyler,...Grant Williams,...Mertz...James Parnell.

         Trivia: Guest star Grant Williams, in his first appearance, would later be seen in "Patchwork Man" and serial star Gloria Talbott, in this episode as well.  Veteran actor Joe Maross, seen in many TV series and movies, played a judge in Highway To Heaven's, "The Monster".  Guest star Chris Alcaide as Captain Bolton, making his first appearance, would later appear in season four's, "The Boss", and in season eight's, "The Deed and the Dilemma".  Character actor Sherwood Price makes his debut, as one of Captain Bolton's soldiers, he would later appear in season two's, "Silent Thunder", "The Secret", season five's, "My Son, My Son", and in season eight's, "A Time To Step Down".

         Trivia: During the final day of shooting the concluding scene had actor Grant Williams and his friends ambushing Pernell when Captain Bolton shows up.  Finally, the soldiers reunite with Pernell against the Captain.  Pernell and Grant were standing together when Pernell fired his gun, loaded with blanks of course.  Grant heard the blast and automatically going for his throat, felt a sharp and burning sensation.  Part of the shell casing had ejected into the left side of his throat with little bleeding.  Pernell was shocked at the accident and that didn't affect their relationship as they were friends.  Two years later, Grant had surgery with the risk that the left side of his face would collapse from the injury and made a successful recovery and resumed his acting career.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Iverson Ranch, Southern California.

         Filming dates: January 22-29, 1960


 26.) The Avenger
         March 19, 1960
         Written by:
 Clair Huffaker
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         A restaurant owner whom Ben and Adam have confronted over stolen Ponderosa beef ends up dead one night.  His daughter, Sally Byrnes runs the cafe and in her resentment, wrongfully accuses Ben and Adam of murdering her father and they are sentenced to hang.  A rancher by the name of Hawkins is also jealous of the Cartwrights and has hired his men to stop the town from helping Ben and Adam, ensuring they hang.  Hoss and Joe are willing to stop them, but Ben insists they stay within the limits of the law.

         Hope arrives in the form of a mysterious stranger named Lassiter.  He's searching for the man who wrongly accused and hung his father in Lassiter, Kansas.  He forms an alliance with Hoss and Joe to stop Hawkins and his men from wrongly hanging Ben and Adam.  At the climax, it's revealed that Hawkins is the man that Lassiter is looking for, to avenge his father's wrongful death.  This episode was a pilot for a series, starring Vic Morrow that never sold at the network.

         Guest Stars: Lassiter...Vic Morrow,...Sally Byrnes...Jean Allison,...Hawkins...Richard Devon,...Fred...James Anderson,...Bert...Harry Swoger,...Ed Baxter...Ian Wolfe,...Thornton...Nestor Paiva,...Sheriff Hansen...Robert Griffin,...Jimmy...Eugene Martin,...Hoag...Bill Catching,...Barney Arden...Robert Brubaker,...Giles...Bern Bassey...(uncredited; bit part),...Zeke Jackson...Dan White...(uncredited; bit part),...Deputy Bill...Bill Clark...(uncredited; extra).

         Trivia: Vic Morrow makes his first of two appearances on the series.  He plays Lassiter in this episode.  He calls himself Lassiter because it's the town in Kansas where Hawkins organized a lynch party and wrongly hung his father, which he reflects in the storyline.  Morrow later appears in three's "The Tin Badge" as Brock.  Sadly in 1982, Vic Morrow was killed at Indian Dunes park while filming a segment for "The Twilight Zone" film.  While filming a night scene, the helicopter's engine failed and instantly killed him and two Asian children, a terrible tragedy.  His daughter is actress Jennifer Jason Leigh, who changed her last name from Morrow to Jason Leigh, something her father was not happy about.

         The beautiful Jean Allison appears as Sally Byrnes and Richard Devon makes the first of a handful of appearances on the series.  He plays Hawkins in this episode.  James Anderson plays Fred, the leader of the gunmen who Hawkins hires to make sure Ben and Adam hang.  He later appears in four's "Little Man-Ten Feet Tall" as Al.  Harry Swoger makes the first of a handful of appearances on the series, in this episode as Bert.

         Ian Wolfe plays Ed Baxter, the owner of the Territorial Enterprise.  He later appears in two's "Bank Run" as the corrupt Mr. Harrison, than as Gideon in "The Many Faces of Gideon Flinch" and as Amos in six's "The Spotlight".  Nestor Paiva plays Thornton, the hangman and is later seen in five's "Ponderosa Matador" as Senor Tenino.  The Sheriff is played by character actor Robert Griffin and Jimmy is played by Eugene Martin.  He later appears as J. W. in eight's "Napoleon's Children".

         Actor and stuntman Bill Catching plays Hoag and Robert Brubaker makes his first of many appearances on the series.  He plays Barney Arden in this episode.  Stuntman Bill Clark plays Deputy Bill, along with Bern Bassey as the hangman's assistant, Giles.  And character actor Dan White makes his first of a small round of appearances on the series.  He plays stableman Zeke Jackson in this episode.

         Filming dates: February 1-8, 1960


 27.) The Last Trophy
         March 26, 1960
         Written by:
 Bill S. Ballinger
         Directed by: Lewis Allen

         Adam takes Ben's friends, Lord Marion Dunsworth and Lady Beatrice, on a hunting expedition, and they are captured by a gang of crude thieves and murderers.  During one early scene, after listening to Ben reminisce, Hoss says, "Always like to hear Pa get wound up.  He don't do it often."

         Guest Stars: Lady Beatrice Dunsford...Hazel Court,...Lord Marion Dunsworth...Edward Ashley,...Simon Belcher...Bert Freed,...Whitey...Ken Mayer,...Touma...Naomi Stevens,...Cavanaugh...Don Hix...Cavanaugh's Grandson...Jimmy Carter.

         Trivia: Guest star Bert Freed, in his first appearance, would later be seen in "The Late Ben Cartwright" as Broom, a corrupt politician.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Iverson Ranch, Southern California.

         Filming dates: February 9-16, 1960


 28.) San Francisco
         April 2, 1960
         Written by:
 Thomas Thompson
         Directed by: Arthur Lubin

         In this comic episode, the first to take place far from the ranch, Ben, Hoss, and Joe deliver a herd to San Francisco.  Although he warns his sons to be careful in the big city ("This is not the Ponderosa!"), Ben is the one who is shanghaied and must be rescued.  One of the last productions to use Paramount's huge water tank, which had to be excavated from under a parking lot in 1984 for the fourth "Star Trek" film.  While immersed in the tank, Lorne Greene's hairpiece floated to the top, and he would not come up until he found it.

         Guest Stars: Kathleen~Quick Buck Katie...Kathleen Crowley,...Alexander Pendelton~Shanghai Pete...David White,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Cut Rate Joe...Murvyn Vye,...Captain Shark...Richard Deacon,...Johnny...Robert Nichols,...Hamp...O. Z. Whitehead,...Sergeant...Stephen Roberts,...Cousin # 3...James Hong,...Bartender...Herb Vigran,...Big Henchman...Michael Ross,...Little Henchman...Donnelly Rhodes,...Busthead Brannigan...Tor Johnson,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; stunt double for Michael Landon),...Bill Clark...(uncredited; stunt double for Lorne Greene and Dan Blocker).

         Trivia: Kathleen Crowley makes the first of three appearances on the series, in this episode as Kathleen, also called Quick Buck Katie. David White plays the mild-mannered saloon owner Alexander Pendleton, also called Shanghai Pete.  He was a veteran character actor and best remembered on "Bewitched".  Murvyn Vye plays Cut Rate Joe and Richard Deacon as Captain Shark.  James Hong plays Hop Sing's Cousin Number 3 in this episode, with Robert Nichols as Johnny and O. Z. Whitehead as Hamp.

         Tor Johnson plays the giant wrestler Busthead Brannigan that Hoss beats in the match.  Character actor Michael Ross play the big henchman in the bar with Donnelly Rhodes as the little henchmen, seen throughout this episode, dunking Ben and Hoss in the water.  Herb Vigran plays the bartender in this episode, and Stephen Roberts as the Sergeant at the police station.  Victor Sen Yung, as Hop Sing has even more screentime than in "The Fear Merchants".

         Stunt Trivia: Bob Miles doubles Joe in the long shots on the boat, with Bill Clark doubling Ben in act four.  Michael and Lorne just do their filmed close-ups.  In the scenes where Ben and Hoss are dumped down the floor chute in the saloon, Bill Clark doubles them both and falls below the floor onto a mattress.  Then the filmed cuts of Lorne and Dan falling in the B-tank are edited in with the saloon cuts.

         Michael Landon Trivia: Michael told a story on the Johnny Carson show about Lorne never wanting to be seen without his toupee: "When Lorne would go into the make-up department, he’d have a hat on and the door to the make up department looked like an apartment door in New York city, there are eight locks, right.  Then he’d come out and he’d be there.  One day, he had to jump off a ship in the B tank at Paramount.  Well, when he jumped in, we used to call it, the gray rat, it stuck on the top of the water.  Lorne went under.  So the assistant director, I mean, he’d go, ‘turn it off, boys,’ and walk away from it.  He wants to pretend no one notices.  Well, Dan and I can’t wait to see Dad without it so we’re leanin’ over the thing, waitin’ for Lorne to come up.  He doesn’t come up.  He doesn’t come up, bubbles come up.  And now it looks like the ad for deliverance.  You remember the hand that comes up, like this, searching.  And he finds it, shroop, under it goes.  I mean, he held his breath for three minutes.  He came up and he had it on top like a beret."

         Filming dates: February 9-16, 1960


 29.) Bitter Water
         April 9, 1960
         Written by:
 Harold Jack Bloom
         Directed by: George Blair
         Original Story Title: "Cattle Plague"

        Len Keith, a miner, wants to purchase some land adjacent to the Ponderosa from rancher Andy McKaren.  Andy's son, Tod, is anxious to sell.  Keith has offered him a partnership,and more importantly, he is in love with Keith's daughter.  When Ben warns Andy that a mine on the property would foul up Ponderosa water, Andy agrees not to sell the land.  Len Keith, determined to get that land, plants tick infested cattle in a Ponderosa herd to turn Andy against the Cartwrights.

         Guest Stars: Tod McKaren...Don Dubbins,...Virginia Keith...Merry Anders,..Len Keith...Robert Simon,...Andy McKaren...Rhys Williams,...Jim Tucker...Ken Becker,...Roy Wilkins...Frank Watkins,...Jamison...Clarke Alexander,...Cosmo...Forrest Taylor,...Lynn Noe...(extra; uncredited as saloon girl).

         Michael Landon Trivia: Michael met his wife to be Lynn on the set of Bonanza when she was an extra in this episode.  Lynn later said in an interview on the Mike Douglas show, "I worked extra, usually as a model or a dancer.  They put me on Bonanza and I wanted to go home until I saw green eyes here (Michael) and I changed my mind."  Lynn is the saloon girl with golden blonde hair who walks down the saloon aisle next to the bar, and just as Adam enters the saloon doors, she sits down at a table to the left of him.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Janss Conejo Ranch and newly filmed July 1959 stock footage at Tahoe Meadows, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: February 16-24, 1960


 30.) Feet Of Clay
         April 16, 1960
         Written by:
 John Furia, Jr.
         Directed by: Arthur Lubin

         Hoss takes Billy Allen, the young son of a convicted felon under his wing, then is forced to kill his father and Billy will not forgive him.  The most emotional Hoss story since "The Newcomers" and one of Blocker's best.

         Guest Stars: Billy Allen...David Ladd,...Vance Allen...Logan Field,...Pike...Robert Tetrick,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Sheriff...Tom Greenway,...Charlie...Guy Prescott,...Oroville...Philip Grayson,...Mr. Sherman...John Eldredge,...Sarah...Riza Royce,...Shotgun Driver...Bob Miles...(uncredited; stunt).

         Trivia: David Ladd makes his only appearance on the series as Billy Allen.  He is the son of the late Alan Ladd.  In 1974, he married Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor, who became Cheryl Ladd seen on TV.  They divorced in 1980 and they both remarried.  They bore one daughter named Jordan Ladd. David has been a successful producer in recent years in the motion picture business.  His mother is actress/agent Sue Carol.

         Character actor Logan Field plays Billy's father Vance Allen, with Robert Tetrick as his partner Pike.  The Sheriff is played by minor support actor Tom Greenway.  Mr. Sherman is played by support actor John Eldredge and Victor Sen Yung slips in another appearance as Hop Sing, with the first incarnation of his kitchen on Stage 17--but not adjoined to the dining room yet.  This set was separate from the ground floor living quarters.  His new kitchen adjoined to the dining room, would be seen later in the second season, since the first set arrangements didn't work out as part of the Ponderosa house exterior and was unfilmable on Stage 17, and the entire house exterior and yard was moved to Stage 16, after the first season concluded in March 1960.

         Trivia: This is the first episode where Ben instructs Joe to "take your feet off the table", a routine situation that would be enjoyed for the next decade on the series.

         Stunt Trivia: Bob Miles plays the shotgun driver who gets shot off the stage by Vance and Pike in the story.

         Location Scenes Filmed at:  Lake Hemet, California with 1959 stock footage at Iverson Ranch, Southern California.

         Filming dates: February 25 to March 3, 1960


 31.) Dark Star
         April 23, 1960
         Written by:
 Anthony Lawrence
         Directed by: Lewis Allen

         Joe falls in love with Tirza, an undeniably strange gypsy girl who says she is cursed and never does seem to "snap out of it".  The first episode of the series with a supernatural flavor, directed appropriately enough, by Lewis Allen, who made the classic ghost film "The Uninvited".

         Guest Stars: Tirza...Susan Harrison,...Zurka...Hugo Haas,...Bruja...Lili Valenty,...Spiro...Arthur Batanides,...Bruja's Helper...Argentina Brunetti,...Doctor...Grandon Rhodes,...Bob Miles...(stunts; uncredited for Arthur Batanides).

         Trivia: Born on August 26, 1938, in Leesburg, Florida, Susan Harrison (Tirza), is the mother of actress Darva Conger, who played the instant bride in "Who Wants To Marry A Multi-Millionaire", a Fox "reality-TV" program, in February 2000.  Susan has five children; four boys and one girl.  Her daughter Darva Conger married actor Rick Rockwell on, "Who Wants To Marry A Multi-Millionaire".  Darva, born in 1966, presently lives with her mother/former actress, Susan Harrison, in Thousand Oaks, Ca.

         Trivia: Guest star Arthur Batanides as the villain of a gypsy, Spiro, who Little Joe must save his life against, also remembered as Lt. D' Amato, in the classic Star Trek episode, "That Which Survives".  Bobby Miles, doubling as Little Joe, in the long shots of the whip fight, knife fight, and fist fight, with actor Arthur Batanides, who plays the evil gypsy.  Character actor Grandon Rhodes fills in for character actor Roy Engel playing Doc Martin in this episode.  Rhodes would not be seen as Doc Martin until later on in the fifth season replacing Roy Engel in five's "Bullet For A Bride".

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Albertson Ranch, Southern California and June/July 1959 stock footage at Solitude Canyon, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: March 4-14, 1960


 32.) Death At Dawn
         April 30, 1960
         Written by:
 Laurence Mascott
         Directed by: Charles F. Haas

         Virginia City is plagued by organized crime, Sam Bryant and his gang.  One of his men, Farmer Perkins, kills a storekeeper, and at his trial, the wife of the store owner is afraid to testify.  When Perkins is sentenced to hang, Bryant kidnaps Ben and wants to exchange Ben for Perkins, which leaves Adam with the most difficult decision of his life.  A stellar cast.

         Guest Stars: Sam Bryant...Robert Middleton,...Farmer Perkins...Gregory Walcott,...Sheriff Biggs...Morgan Woodward,...Beth Cameron...Nancy Deale,...McNeil...Paul Carr,...Judge Scribner...Wendell Holmes,...Dr. Tom Brahm...Hugh Sanders,...Norton...Peter Leeds,...Gunman #1...Ric Marlow,...Hangman...Anthony Jochim,...Mr. Cameron...Bill Edwards,...Kelly...Jess Kirkpatrick...(uncredited; bit part),...Gunman #2...Bill Clark...(uncredited; extra),...Bob Miles...Townsman...(uncredited; extra).

         Trivia: Veteran character actor Robert Middleton makes his first appearance on the series as Sam Bryant.  He later appears in five's "King of the Mountain" as Grizzly and in eight's "The Greedy Ones" as Shasta. Gregory Walcott makes his first of many appearances, in this episode he plays Farmer Perkins.  He later appears as Danny Morgan in four's "Song in the Dark", eight's "Amigo" as Captain John Fenner", ten's "My Friend, My Enemy" as Sheriff Crawford, eleven's "A Darker Shadow" as Wade Turner, twelve's "Thornton's Account" as Ed Thornton, and in fourteen's "Riot" as Cooper.

         Nancy Deale plays Beth Cameron, the wife of Mr. Cameron, who is killed by Farmer Perkins.  Nancy had met Lorne Greene in the late 1940's when she was living in Canada and in 1953, they separatley moved to Los Angeles.  Nancy and Lorne later married in 1961, with Lorne painfully divorcing his first wife, Rita Hands, who he was married to since 1938. Nancy and Lorne were married for 26 years, up to his passing in September 1987.  Character actor Paul Carr plays McNeil, the little and somewhat neurotic young gunman who winds up killing Sam Bryant at the conclusion of this episode.  He played Lt. Lee Kelso in the second Star Trek pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before" in 1966.  Michael Landon also hired him in the 1980's, for one 'Highway to Heaven' episode "Normal People" as Mr. Raney.

         Minor support player Hugh Sanders plays Dr. Brahm, along with Peter Leeds as Norton.  Leeds was a regular on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.  Ric Marlow plays one of Bryant's gunmen in a minor role who scoffs Adam when he tells the men in the saloon that anyone who commits murder will be hung, and earlier in the saloon, watching Hoss arm wrestle Farmer Perkins and they arrest him for trial.  Anthony Jochim plays the Hangman and Bill Edwards plays Mr. Cameron, who is killed by Farmer Perkins.  He's later seen as Mr. Hoffman in part two of seven's "Ride the Wind".  Stuntman Bill Clark does an extra role, playing another of Bryant's gunmen, and Bob Miles plays a townsman in the courtroom.  This was the last episode filmed and aired the first season.

         Michael Landon Trivia: In an interview, Michael talks about a scene from this episode.  "In one scene I was supposed to be stalking an outlaw.  He was hiding in this alley between two of the studio built western stores.  My part there was to run along the ‘boardwalk’ so that he could hear me coming, but instead of running straight around the corner into his bullets, I had to dive full length into the space between the two stores, twisting in the air as I did so, plus drawing my pistol, and shooting the guy before I hit the ground.  Brother! You oughta try it! I had to do the same scene over and over again until the director was satisfied and was I sore!"


         Filming dates: March 15-22, 1960

Cochise page divider

Production cost: $110,052 (excluding pilot)

Cochise page divider

film reel iconCrew Creditsfilm reel icon

Producer: David Dortort

Music by: David Rose

Song "Bonanza" by: Jay Livingston and Ray Evans

Story Consultants: Patricia Falken Smith, Leonard Heideman.

Director of Photography: Bert Glennon, A.S.C., (pilot episode), Lester Shorr, A.S.C.

Production Supervisor: James W. Lane

Color Consultant: Alex Quiroga

Art Direction: Hal Pereira, Earl Hedrick

Edited by: Everett Douglas, A.C.E.

Casting Supervisor: William Maybery

Unit Production Manager: Andrew J. Durkus

Assistant Director: Don Roberts

Set Decoration: Sam Comer, Grace Gregory

Sound Recording by: Harold Lewis, Winston Leverett

Makeup Supervisor: Wally Westmore

Hairstyle Supervisor: Nellie Manley

Costumer: Dario Piazza

Processed By:
Consolidated Film Industries

An NBC Production

Filmed at Paramount Studios
Hollywood, California

Cochise page divider

Back to Season One Episodes 1 - 16

 
Cochise page divider
 
Seasons   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14
Birth of Bonanza  Bonanza: Cartwright Evolution
Bonanza Chronology  Bonanza Costs  Bonanza Costumes
Bonanza Credo  Bonanza Music  Bonanza Ratings
Bonanza Royalties  Bonanza Statistics  Bonanza Studios
Quick Reference   Bonanza: The Lost Episodes Story
Bonanza: The TV-Movies
 
Cochise page divider
 
Home | Locations | Opening Scenes | Forum | Cast Bios | Episode Guide | Links
Calendar | Bonanza Lyrics | Horse Bios| Gallery | eCards
 
Photographs and content copyright ©2000-2011 RM & Bonanza: Scenery of the
Ponderosa, all rights reserved.  Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited.