The Golden Years
Introducing Laura Dayton, Peggy,
And Will Cartwright

135.) She Walks In Beauty
         September 22, 1963
         Written by: William Stuart
         Directed by: Don McDougall

         Hoss wants to marry mysterious Regan Miller, a woman with less than a pristine past.  When he thinks Adam is trying to steal her away, he loses control and beats Adam up.

         Guest Stars: Regan Miller...Gena Rowlands,...Emilia...Jeanne Cooper,...Store Owner...Phil Chambers,...Charlie...Robert Adler,...Buggy Driver...Craig Duncan,...Bill Clark...(uncredited; party guest),...Betty Endicott...(uncredited; townswoman with dark hair),...Martha Manor...(uncredited; townswoman with blonde hair).

         Trivia: Guest star Gena Rowlands, a fine movie actress, as Regan.  Rowlands was amazed with Dan, saying, "his sensitivity, the enormous natural talent, and the ease with which it flowed".  Guest star Jeanne Cooper previously was in "The Good Samaritan", with Don Collier as Wade.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: June 1962 stock footage at Gooseneck Meadow, Truckee, California and June 1962 stock footage at Mount Rose Summit, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Film date: May 22-29, 1963

136.) A Passion For Justice
         September 29, 1963
         Written by: Peter Packer
         Directed by: Murray Golden

         Charles Dickens visits Virginia City and is appalled to discover his work being reprinted without his permission by the local paper.

         Guest Stars: Charles Dickens...Jonathan Harris,...Dan Stoker...Victor Maddern,...Sam Walker...Frank Albertson,...Roy Coffee...Ray Teal,...Rogers...Charles Irving,...Judge...Sydney Smith,...Townsman...E. J. Andre,...Tim...Don Washbrook,...Townswoman...Alice Frost,...Prosecutor...James Stone,...Townsman...Clegg Hoyt,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; extra as townsman),...Bill Clark...(uncredited; extra as townsman),...Brunette Saloon Girl...Betty Endicott...(uncredited; extra),...Blonde Saloon Girl...Martha Manor...(uncredited; extra).

         Trivia: Guest star Jonathan Harris, best remembered as Dr. Smith on "Lost In Space", and the voice of Lucifer, in "Battlestar Galactica".  In an interview shortly before his death, Jonathan Harris looked back to his 'Bonanza' show he guested in:

         "One of my absolute favorite parts was Charles Dickens in the 'Bonanza' episode 'A Passion for Justice'," Harris said. "But I must tell you," he continued, "the 'Cartwrights' were very naughty. I gave a most important speech about artistic integrity and the protection of one's creative property, very serious, and those naughty boys were all sitting in front of me, off camera, making the most absurd faces and noises, doing their best to make me laugh. But, old pro that I am, I would not give them the satisfaction." He continued, "Pernell, I thought, was very foolish. And I told him so. 'Take their money, Pernell! Take it and build your own theater.' " Harris concluded, "You know, the one true artist of the bunch was Dan Blocker. I enjoyed working with him very much."

         Film date: May 31 to June 7, 1963

137.) Rain From Heaven
         October 6, 1963
         Written by: Robert Vincent Wright
         Directed by: Lewis Allen

         A destitute rainmaker and his family arrive in drought-stricken Virginia City.  While Ben tries to help him make rain, Hoss tends to the man's seriously ill little girl.

         Guest Stars: Tulsa Weems...John Anderson,...Jube Weems...Mickey Sholdar,...Mrs. Weems...Claudia Byrar,...Roy Coffee...Ray Teal,...Mary Beth Weems...Eileen Chesis,...Clem Foster...Bing Russell,...Abe...Phil Chambers,...Fred...Herb Lytton,...Mrs. Crane...Mary Newton,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; townsman),...Cosmo Sardo...(uncredited; bartender).

         Guest Stars: Guest star John Anderson, as rainmaker Tulsa Weems, previously seen in season one's, "A House Divided", and later seen in season ten's, "The Fence", as Sam Masters/Thomas Andrews.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Lake Los Angeles, Antelope Valley with June 1961 stock footage of Ben riding Buck at Solitude Canyon, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Film date: May 14-21, 1963

138.) Twilight Town
         October 13, 1963
         Written by: Cy Chermak
         Directed by: John Florea

         Joe is bushwhacked in the desert and awakens to find himself in Martinville, a town that may or may not be populated by ghosts.  An errie, surrealistic and well-produced episode.

         Guest Stars: Louise Corman...Davey Davison,...Katie O' Brien...Doris Dowling,...Mr. Corman...Stacy Harris,...Masterson...Walter Coy,...Bushwhacker~Felix Matthews...Michael Mikler,...Station Master...Andy Albin,...Clem...Don Dillaway,...Townsman...Joseph Breen,...Bill Clark...(uncredited; townsman and stunts; uncredited as gang member),...Bob Miles...(stunts; uncredited as gang member),...Betty Endicott...(uncredited; birthday party guest and Martinville store employee with dark hair),...Martha Manor...(uncredited; Martinville store employee with blonde hair).

         Trivia: Davey Davison portrays Louise Corman in this episode, and would later return in nine's "False Witness" as Valerie Townsend.  Stacy Harris portrays Louise's father, Mr. Corman and Walter Coy as Mr. Masterson.  The beautiful, dark-haired Doris Dowling portrays Katie O' Brien, the widow of the late Sheriff, who has cursed the town of Martinville.  Michael Mikler plays a dual-role as the desperado who bushwhacks Joe and is later seen as the ghost of outlaw Felix Matthews on Joe's paint horse.  He is later seen on the series as Thad in twelve's "The Desperado".

         Trivia: Stock footage from Paramount's film library is seen of a few town exteriors and the Iverson Ranch for economical storytelling purposes in segments of this episode.  The town of Martinville was on a side section of the Western Street at Paramount Studios and made to look like a ghost town, cut in with the location shots at Lovejoy Buttes for "Twilight Town".

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Lovejoy Buttes, Antelope Valley, California.

         Film date: June 26 to July 3, 1963

139.) The Toy Soldier
         October 20, 1963
         Written by: Warren Douglas
         Directed by: Tay Garnett

         Adam encounters drunken artist James Callan, branded a "squaw man" because he is married to an Indian, and whose talent is going to waste in the town of Sheep Head.  Directed by Tay Garnett ("The Postman Always Rings Twice").

         Guest Stars: James Callan...Philip Abbott,...McDermott...Morgan Woodward,...Scotty...Trevor Bardette,...Esther Callan...Donna Martell,...Roley...Quinn Redeker,...Johnny...Michael Keep.

         Trivia: Guest star Morgan Woodward also appeared in two classic Star Trek episodes, "Dagger Of The Mind" and "The Omega Glory".

         Trivia: This episode contains a hilarious scene in the front yard, as Hoss gets soaked in the horse trough and then forces Adam to get in before the opening credits roll.  Interesting note with the Indian's horses in some scenes, that Paint horse #3, which Bob Miles would do horseback doubling for Michael the season before, is being ridden by another stuntman in the Indian costume.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Albertson Ranch, Southern California.

         Film date: June 18-25, 1963

140.) A Question Of Strength
         October 27, 1963
         Written by: Frank Cleaver
         Directed by: Don McDougall

         Hoss and a pair of nuns, the younger one having a difficult time training for the order, are robbed and stranded at a way station.

         Guest Stars: Mother Veronica...Ilka Windish,...Sister Mary Kathleen...Judy Carne,...Stager...John Kellogg,...Toby...Raymond Guth,...Wilson...James Jeter,...Sam...I. Stanford Jolley,...Clint Sharp...(uncredited; stagecoach double for Raymond Guth and as Clint),...Bob Miles...(uncredited; horseback double for John Kellogg),...Bill Clark...(uncredited; stagecoach double and stunts for Dan Blocker).

         Trivia: Veteran character actor John Kellogg makes the first of five appearances on the series, in this episode as the lead bandit Stager.  James Jeter also makes his first of six appearances on the series, in this episode as Wilson, who winds up betraying and shooting Stager, who falls in the care of Hoss, Mother Veronica and Sister Mary Kathleen at the way station.  Actress Judy Carne of the United Kingdom makes her only appearance on the series as Sister Mary Kathleen and Ilka Windish makes her only appearance as Mother Veronica.  Of course, Beauty appears in a brief cameo as the black horse, with his handsome black face, shiny black coat of fur, and rear white leg markings above the hooves.

         Stunt Horse Trivia: Beauty makes his eighth appearance, this time as the black horse in the corral who Stager (actor John Kellogg) mounts up on and tries to escape on Stage 16.  Bob Miles doubles actor John Kellogg on Beauty with no problem, as the horse rears on his back legs and dumps him off, and Bill Clark, doubling Hoss, does his stunts, stopping Beauty, with Sister Mary Kathleen (Judy Carne), getting fatally injured from the horse in the story.  No one on the set was injured or hurt.

         Filming Trivia: Rear-projecting the camera car footage of Janss Conejo Ranch on Stage 16 works very effectively in the scenes with Hoss, Sister Mary Kathleen, and Mother Veronica inside the mock-up and atop the coach, when the bandits are pursuing them in act one.  The live-action chase sequences at the ranch were completed by stuntmen, including Bob Miles doubling John Kellogg on the horse, Bill Clark for Dan Blocker and Clint Sharp for Raymond Guth, both on the stagecoach.

         Stock Footage Trivia: The same stock footage from Paramount's film library of the stagecoach overturning and crashing at Vasquez Rocks is reused, first seen in the previous season's "Five Into The Wind".  Also, reused stagecoach stock footage is in the form of 1959 stock footage from Iverson Ranch and September 1962 stock footage at Lovejoy Buttes at Antelope Valley.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Albertson Ranch, Southern California and September 1962 stock footage at Lovejoy Buttes, 1959 stock footage at Iverson Ranch, and stock footage at Vasquez Rocks, Southern California.

         Film date: June 10-17, 1963

141.) Calamity Over The Comstock
         November 3, 1963
         Written by: Warren Douglas
         Directed by: Charles Rondeau

         Joe runs into the legendary Calamity Jane (Jane Canary) and eventually her jealous beau, who is none other than Doc Holliday.

         Guest Stars: Calamity Jane...Stefanie Powers,...Doc Holliday...Christopher Dark,...Babette...Fifi D' Orsay,...Bartender...Bern Hoffman,...Walt...Russ Bender,...Miner...Big John Hamilton,...Bill Clark (uncredited; cowboy in bar),...Bob Miles (uncredited; stunts and horseback double for Michael Landon and as Indian with knife),... Betty Endicott (uncredited; girl with dark hair sitting with Ben and his sons, and as girl dancing).

         Trivia: Stefanie Powers, as Calamity Jane, best remembered as Jennifer Hart, in the ABC series, "Hart To Hart".  David Canary claims to be the descendent of the real Jane Canary.

         Stunt Trivia: Bob Miles doubles Joe when he is first seen riding the stunt Paint horse down the hill, with the rest of the stuntmen dressed as Indians chasing after him on their horses.  He runs under the wagon.  He then doubles Joe doing a leap and fall and lands on another stuntman playing an Indian.  Then, in a separately filmed shot, Michael is fighting Bob playing the Indian, who gets his own knife and is killed.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Albertson Ranch, Southern California.

         Film date: July 15-22, 1963

142.) Journey Remembered
         November 10, 1963
         Written by: Anthony Lawrence
         Directed by: Irving J. Moore

         In this sequel to "Inger, My Love", Ben recalls his journey West and the birth of Hoss.  Perhaps the best of the series' four flashback episodes.  Lorne Greene's infrequent voice-overs are heard throughout this episode.

         Guest Stars: Inger Cartwright...Inga Swenson,...Lucas Rockwell...Gene Evans,...Simon...Kevin Hagen,...Rachel...Dee Carrol,...Payne...John Frederick,...Mrs. Payne...Kathleen O' Malley,...Little Adam...Johnny Stephens,...Wilkes...Ken Lynch,...Way Station Owner...William Fawcett,...Indian...Jack Bighead,...Bill Clark...(uncredited; stunt double for Lorne Greene, extra as wagon train member, horseback stunts as Indian),...Boyd "Red" Morgan...(uncredited; stunt double for Gene Evans),...Betty Endicott (uncredited; wagon train lady with dark hair),...Martha Manor (uncredited; wagon train lady with blonde hair).

         Trivia: Guest star Inga Swenson makes her second and final appearance, as Ben's wife, Inger.  Ken Lynch is seen again, this time as Wilkes, the drunken wagon driver, also appeared in the classic Star Trek episode: "Devil In The Dark".  Johnny Stephens plays a young Adam in this episode.

         Trivia: In the long shots of the fight, Ben versus Rockwell, Bill Clark doubles Lorne Greene and Boyd "Red" Morgan doubles Gene Evans.  The actors only do their necessary close-ups for the fight.

         Photography Trivia: This is the last time we see the visually stunning photographic process used in four previous episodes, applied in this last installment involving Ben and his wives, and also used in season one's, "The Henry Comstock Story".  Farciot Edouart was the genius who applied these magical moments, and work is prominently seen in "Whispering Smith", "For Whom The Bell Tolls", "Samson And Delilah", "Dark City", "Shane", "Pony Express", "The Naked Jungle", "The Ten Commandments", "Three Violent People", and "The Buccaneer".  He was the premier special effects/visual artist, who worked on over 204 motion pictures, mainly at Paramount Studios.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Albertson Ranch, Southern California and Utah stock footage from Paramount's film library.

         Film date: July 23-30, 1963

143.) The Quality Of Mercy
         November 17, 1963
         Written by: Peter Packer
         Directed by: Joseph H. Lewis

         Little Joe's friend, Seth Pruitt, kills his fiancee's father to put him out of his misery after a mine cave-in breaks his back.  When Seth asks Little Joe to keep it a secret and just say he died in the cave-in, Little Joe struggles with himself on the issue of mercy killing.  When he asks Ben and Adam, purely hypothetically, if they think mercy killing is the right thing to do, they both answer with an adamant no.

         Little Joe also starts wondering if it was a mercy killing at all, or if Seth purposely rigged the mine to cave in.  Seth had a lot to gain by killing his future father-in-law; they each owned a 50 percent share of the mine.  But he must be certain first.  An accusation of murder would devastate Seth's fiancee, Sara, Little Joe's childhood sweetheart and lifelong friend.

         Guest Stars: Seth Pruitt...Richard Rust,...Sara Pruitt...Nancy Rennick,...Mrs. Gibbons...Kitty Kelly,...Minister...Ed Prentiss,...Bob Miles...(credited as card player and stunts; uncredited for Richard Rust),...Bill Clark...(credited as John Dagliesh and stunts; uncredited as Sara's father in mine accident).

         Trivia: Bob Miles doubles actor Richard Rust in various shots of the fight with Joe at the mine, with Michael able to do him complete fight himself.  Richard and Michael first worked together in "The Legend of Tom Dooley".

         Stunt Horse Trivia: Beauty makes his ninth appearance, this time as the black horse who has a wounded leg that Hoss is helping to heal.  In one scene, Dan Blocker even calls him by his name "Beaut" in the front yard.

         Location Trivia: Establishing shots of Joe open up the episode's teaser as he's riding Cochise along the shore of Gooseneck Reservoir and Gooseneck Meadow in Truckee. Then, a close-up shot of Joe is seen at Albertson Ranch, which completes the trio of riding shots. In act four there is another stock shot at Gooseneck Meadow of stuntman Bob Miles horseback doubling Joe on Paint horse #3 in "The Quality of Mercy."

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Albertson Ranch, Southern California and June 1962 stock footage of Joe riding Cochise at Gooseneck Reservoir and Gooseneck Meadow, Truckee, California.

         Film date: July 31 to August 7, 1963

144.) The Waiting Game
         December 8, 1963
         Written by: Ed Adamson
         Directed by: Richard Sarafian

         Adam becomes involved with the recently widowed Laura Dayton and her little girl, Peggy.  Frank Dayton is played by Wayde Preston, who starred in his own series, "Colt 45".

         Guest Stars: Laura Dayton...Kathie Browne,...Peggy Dayton...Katie Sweet,...Rita...Jackie Loughery,...Frank Dayton...Wayde Preston,...Clinton...Bill Quinn,...Driver...Craig Duncan,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; horseback double for Wayde Preston),...Betty Endicott...(uncredited; party guest with dark hair seated by front door),...Martha Manor...(uncredited; party guest with blonde hair).

         Trivia: Due to Pernell Roberts' desire to leave the series, this was the first of a proposed 8 or 10 episodes in which he would eventually be written out of the series, but very tentative at the time.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Golden Oak Ranch, Southern California and June 1961 stock footage of Adam riding Sport through the wooded clearing at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Film date: July 5-12, 1963

145.) The Legacy
         December 15, 1963
         Written by: Arthur Wilson
         Directed by: Bernard E. McEveety

         Convinced Ben is dead, the Cartwright boys split to seek vengeance in one of the most outstanding episodes of the series.

         Guest Stars: Jacob Dormann...Robert H. Harris,...Page...James Best,...Billy Chapin...Sandy Kevin,...Gannon...Phillip Pine,...Roy Coffee...Ray Teal,...Jeanne Baird...Jeannie,...Pete...Percy Helton,...Danny Page...Rory Stevens,...Colonel Abel Chapin...Dayton Lummis,...Townsman...James Doohan,...Big Cowboy...Will J. White,...Bartender...John Mitchum,...Bob Miles...(stunts; uncredited for Sandy Kevin and uncredited as Chapin ranch hand),...Bill Clark...(uncredited; bartender),...Ed Jauregui...(uncredited; horseback double for Lorne Greene).

         Trivia: Guest star James Best, making his second appearance, as Page, was previously in season two's, "The Fugitive", and in season nine's, "The Price Of Salt", as Vern, a friend of Ben's.  He is best remembered in the TV series, "The Dukes of Hazzard".  Percy Helton makes another appearance on the series, this time as Pete, the owner of the way station.

         Trivia: Guest star Phillip Pine also appeared in the classic Star Trek episode, "The Savage Curtain", as the notorious Colonel Green, and in the Little House episode, "Whatever Happened To The Class Of '56?"  Guest star James Doohan, as one of the Colonel's men, in this episode, best remembered as "Scotty" on Star Trek.

         Stunt Trivia: Bob Miles doubles actor Sandy Kevin (Billy Chapin) in the long shots and some over-the-shoulder shots with Michael doing his complete fight himself on Stage 16.  Sandy Kevin manages to start the fight off and do some good close-ups with Michael in bit parts with Bob Miles doing the above bit parts for him in the costume.  Bob Miles also plays a bit part as the Chapin ranch hand who warns Billy not to harm Joe.

         Filmed on location at: Albertson Ranch in Southern California.

         Film date: August 22-30, 1963

146.) Hoss and the Leprechauns
         December 22, 1963
         Written by: Robert Barron
         Directed by: John Florea

         In what is arguably the best comedy of the series, Hoss swears he has seen green elves running around the Ponderosa and a smooth-talking Irishman complicates matters even worse.  Nels Nelson and Harry Monty played Munchkins in the classic "The Wizard Of Oz".

         Guest Stars: Professor James Aloysius McCarthy...Sean McClory,...Roy Coffee...Ray Teal,...Charles...Robert Sorrells,...Dorsel...Clegg Hoyt,...Leprechauns...Timothy...Frank Delfino,...Harry Monte,...Felix Silla,...Nels Nelson,...Roger Arroya,...Cosmo Sardo...(uncredited; bartender),...Betty Endicott...(uncredited; townswoman with dark hair),...Martha Manor...(uncredited; townswoman with blonde hair),...Ed Jauregui...(uncredited; stunt double for Lorne Greene),...Henry Wills...(uncredited; stunt double for Pernell Roberts).

         Trivia: Guest star Sean McClory returns, this time as the itinerate Irishman, Professor McCarthy.  He was previously seen in season three's "The Tall Stranger" as Marc Connors.  Guest star Robert Sorrells, as one of the town locals, later seen in season six's, "A Knight To Remember", seven's, "The Meredith Smith", nine's, "The Bottle Fighter", and in eleven's, "Dead Wrong".  Pernell Roberts asked to play the role of Professor McCarthy for this episode, but his proposal was rejected.  Irish character actor Sean McClory was hired to play Professor McCarthy.

         Stunt Trivia: In the climax of act four, the Cartwrights versus the Leprechauns, has many chase scenes, all filmed separately for the final cut.  Ed Jauregui doubles Ben as he chases one of the leprechauns and trips over him, going into a fall and roll, then is kicked by him.  Lorne appears in a filmed close-up afterwards, and then cut to Adam chasing one of them.  Henry Wills doubles Adam when he corners the little fellow, who runs between his legs, and pushes him by the buttocks into the fake cliff, with the black hat falling off.  Pernell did his close-up, after his double did his scene for him, puts his hat back on and then cut to Joe chasing the little fellows.  Mike does his complete acrobatic fall, with no stunt doubling, and Dan Blocker as Hoss, manages to do all his fight scenes with the little fellows quite well.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Lake Sherwood, Southern California.

         Film date: October 24-31, 1963

147.) The Prime Of Life
         December 29, 1963
         Written by: Warren Douglas
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         Ben becomes irritable and reckless when the completion of an important timber contract is hindered by an old rival.

         Guest Stars: Barney Fuller...Jay C. Flippen,...Martha...Melora Conway,...Watts...Raymond Guth,...Gabe...Ralph Moody,...Jody...Butch Patrick,...Railroad Agent...Dan Riss,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Doctor Martin...Roy Engel,...Jesse Wade...Roy Jenson,...Bob Miles...(stunts; uncredited as Jake and Ponderosa logger),...Troy Melton...(stunts; uncredited as Tom),...Henry Wills...(stunts; uncredited for Pernell Roberts),...Bill Clark...(extra; uncredited as Ponderosa logger).

         Stunt Trivia: In the saloon fight with Fuller's men versus the Cartwright sons, all three actors, Michael, Dan and Pernell are doing their own fights, with no stuntman doubling them.  Fuller's men are played by the stuntmen, Bob Miles as Jake, Troy Melton as Tom, and actor Roy Jenson, a former football player, is able to do the fight against Pernell himself.  The stuntmen do the chores again later in act four, when taking on Adam who declares himself "Bull of the Woods", with Henry Wills doubling Pernell in the long shots of the fight, with the stuntmen running atop the log pile and getting knocked off.  Pernell Roberts does his own close-ups very well with ease.

         Trivia: Guest star Roy Jenson, as Barney Fuller's ramrod, Jesse, later seen in season seven's, "The Brass Box" and "Five Sundowns To Sunup", ten's, "The Wish", and in fourteen's, "Forever".  Jenson appeared in the classic Star Trek episode "The Omega Glory" as Cloud William.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: June 1961 stock footage at Solitude Canyon, Lake Tahoe, Nevada which is cut in with a September 1959 Lake Hemet stock shot, then back to Solitude Canyon, with some film stock from Paramount's library slipped in, for a montage of footage used to depict the trestle being built, including a recent stock shot at Albertson Ranch slipped in, depicting the Cartwright sons riding to town.  The final shot of the train trestle was culled from Paramount's film library.

         Film date: September 4-11, 1963

148.) The Lila Conrad Story
         January 5, 1964
         Written by: Preston Wood, George Waggner
         Directed by: Tay Garnett

         Joe and Adam protect a saloon girl, who has killed in self-defense, from an angry lynch mob.  The accompanying Judge, along with his wife, takes a liking to Lila, and before it is all over, he and Lila discover much more about themselves.

         Guest Stars: Judge David Knowlton...Andrew Duggan,...Lila Conrad...Patricia Blair,...Mary Knowlton...Cathy O' Donnell,...Dolph Rimbeau...Don Haggerty,...Sheriff Logan...Stuart Randall,...Gabe Rimbeau...Scott Peters,...Arnie Rimbeau...Don Kelly,...Bob...Don Wilbanks...Mr. Jarvis...Lindsay Workman,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; stunt double for Michael Landon).

         Stunt Trivia: Bob Miles doubles Joe on Stage 16, when a stuntman playing a posseman tells Joe to get off the wagon.  Bob jumps him off the horse and hits him down, and then a filmed cut of Michael as Joe, hitting actor Don Wilbanks to the ground in the fight.

         Stock Footage Trivia: The first shot of the town that opens this episode is stock footage of Corriganville Movie Ranch's town set, taken from Paramount's film library.

         Filmed on location at: Golden Oak Ranch in Southern California.

         Film date: September 12-19, 1963

149.) Ponderosa Matador
         January 12, 1964
         Written by: Alex Sharp
         Directed by: Don McDougall

         The Cartwright boys are infatuated with the daughter of a bull breeder, and with the help of one of the beasts, manage to tear apart most of Virginia City.

         Guest Stars: Dolores Tenino...Marianna Hill,...Senior Tenino...Nestor Paiva,...Jigger Therman...Frank Ferguson,...Mr. Troutman...Tol Avery,...Saloon Keeper...Mike Ragan,...Bob Miles...(stunts; uncredited for Michael Landon),...Bill Clark...(stunts; uncredited for Dan Blocker),...Henry Wills...(stunts; uncredited for Pernell Roberts),...Betty Endicott...(extra; uncredited as townswoman with dark hair),...Martha Manor...(extra; uncredited as townswoman with blonde hair).

         Trivia: Guest star Marianna Hill appeared in the classic Star Trek episode, "Dagger Of The Mind" as Dr. Helen Noel.  Guest star Frank Ferguson, seen this time, as Jigger Therman, owner of the bull, and Mike Ragan, seen this time as the unfortunate owner of his saloon, that the bull has destroyed, along with Virginia City, and the Nevada Territory!

         Trivia: Bob Miles doubles Joe, when Bill Clark as Hoss charges him and headbutts him over Ben's desk.  Michael and Dan only do their filmed close-ups in the living room.

         Stunt Trivia: Henry Wills dressed in Adam's costume, gets thrown out the saloon window back first, landing on his head, doubling for Pernell Roberts.  The cast was not allowed to do such dangerous stunts on the series.

         Trivia: When Hoss finally gets his hands on the bull from inside the saloon doors and onto the street, it's Bill Clark who is doubling him in the costume on the Western Street.

         Broadcasting Trivia: This episode was originally to have been aired on November 24, 1963.  The Kennedy assassination coverage pre-empted it, and it was aired six weeks later on January 12, 1964.

         Film date: August 15-22, 1963

150.) My Son, My Son
         January 19, 1964
         Written by: Denne Petticlerc
         Directed by: William Upton

         Ben's plans to marry Katherine Saunders are upset when her son Eden is accused of killing his former girlfriend.

         Guest Stars: Katherine Saunders...Teresa Wright,....Eden...Dee Pollock,...Carl Miller...Sherwood Price,...Roy Coffee...Ray Teal,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Miller's Partner...Zon Murray,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; horseback double and stunts for Sherwood Price and horseback double and stunts for Dee Pollock),...Ed Jauregui...(uncredited; horseback double and stunts for Lorne Greene),...Bill Clark...(uncredited; Posseman).

         Trivia: Guest star Sherwood Price, as Carl Miller, in his third appearance, later seen in,"A Time To Step Down", and Dee Pollock, as Eden, later seen in season seven's, "Peace Officer".

         Trivia: Bob Miles doubling for actor Sherwood Price (Carl Miller), at Lake Sherwood, and then for Dee Pollock (Eden), at Bronson Canyon, as a wounded Ben fatally shoots him off his horse, only in the long shot.

         Stunt Horse Trivia: Beauty makes his tenth appearance on the series.  He plays the black horse Eden is riding at the climax of the episode.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Lake Sherwood and Bronson Canyon, Southern California with June 1962 stock footage at Gooseneck Meadow, Truckee, California and July 1959 stock footage at Sand Harbor and June 1961 stock footage at Mount Rose Summit, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Film date: September 20-27, 1963

151.) Alias Joe Cartwright
         January 26, 1964
         Written by: Robert Vincent Wright
         Directed by: Lewis Allen

         In this semicomic episode, Joe is mistaken for army deserter Angus Borden and is scheduled to be executed.  Michael Landon plays Angus Borden.

         Guest Stars: Sergeant O' Roarke...Keenan Wynn,...Captain Merced...Douglas Dick,...Private Peters...Joseph Turkel,..Billings...Hugh Sanders,...Dugan...Owen Bush....Soldier...Bill Yeo,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; Angus Borden, stunt & horseback double for Michael Landon),...Bill Clark...(uncredited; Soldier & horseback double for Dan Blocker),...Ed Jauregui...(uncredited; horseback double for Lorne Greene).

         Trivia: Bob Miles plays double-duty as Joe and Angus Borden in various scenes.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Vasquez Rocks, California and June 1963 stock footage of Joe at Lovejoy Buttes, Antelope Valley, California.

         Film date: September 30 to October 7, 1963

152.) The Gentleman From New Orleans
         February 2, 1964
         Written by: William Bruckner
         Directed by: Don McDougall

         The new stranger in town claims to be the famous pirate Jean Lafitte, and Hoss believes him.

         Guest Stars: Jean Lafitte...John Dehner,...Molly...Jean Willes,...Walter A. Betts....Sheldon Allman,...Amos Whittaker...Harry Swoger,...Bartender...Bern Hoffman,...Roy Coffee...Ray Teal,...Sally...Joan Conners,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; stunts for Sheldon Allman),...Bill Clark...(uncredited; stunts for Dan Blocker and extra; as cowboy),...Betty Endicott...(uncredited; extra as saloon girl with dark hair at table in saloon).

         Trivia: Lorne Greene appeared in the Paramount film,"The Buccaneer"-1958 as Mercier, with Charlton Heston as General Andrew Jackson and Yul Brynner as Jean Lafitte.  John Dehner makes his last appearance, this time as the French pirate, Jean Lafitte.  Guest star Harry Swoger, in his last appearance, this time as Amos Whittaker, and Jean Willes makes her second appearance as Molly.

         Stunt Trivia: In the climax, in the lawyer's office, John Dehner does his fancy footwork himself, while Bill Clark doubles Dan Blocker in a few long shots, with Bob Miles doubling Sheldon Allman, as they slam into the bookcase on the wall and tear up the office.  Dan Blocker and Sheldon Allman only do their necessary close-ups in the fight.

         Stunt Horse Trivia: Beauty makes his eleventh appearance on the series.  In this episode he is the black horse that is riding down the street in front of the saloon.

         Music Trivia: The love theme from "Marie, My Love" is heard when Jean La Fitte instructs the pianist to play a love song for he and Molly to dance to inside the saloon.

         Film date: October 8-15, 1963

Season Five Episodes 153 - 168 continued...