New York, November 25, 2015 -- Like so many, I was shocked and stunned by the very sad news about David Canary revealed yesterday. Alzheimer's disease is a terrible scourge!

     David and I were last in touch in 2010 when we lost David Dortort. (It was a nice, but sad, conversation.) David had been ill for some time. An early clue perhaps was the fact that David's wife Maureen replied to decline David's invitation to the 2009 BONANZA convention at Tahoe. (Prior to that, David always replied directly.) We tried to get him to attend BONANZA gatherings (starting with the 40th anniversary in 1999), and he would've come but for scheduling conflicts, mostly due to "All My Children." I recall one year he had accepted and was all set to go, but his father (who was over 90 at the time) took a tumble and he wrote he had to stay to care for him.

     No one, to my knowledge, ever said a negative thing about him. (And I've spoken to many, many people who knew and worked with him.) He was a wonderful, kind, considerate and decent person. From the moment I first met him (backstage, after a performance of "The Cherry Orchard" in New York City, accompanied by Jill and George Wells), David was charming and captivating.

     David was one of the very nicest people I ever knew. He was always gracious and friendly whenever I would see him at a personal appearance or play in the New York/Connecticut area. He gave me his private phone number in his dressing room at ABC and urged me to call him anytime I needed anything. Indeed, he was always willing to do anything I asked re. merchandising and licensing. (I was usually able to get relatives of his fellow "Cartwrights" to do things as well, but it was never as easy as with David. David Dortort and I chuckled about that.)

     After the tragic loss of Dan blocker in the spring of 1972, producers David Dortort and Richard Collins met with Lorne Greene and Michael Landon. Their first decision was to invite David Canary to return to the show. (David had left just prior to the beginning of the 1970–71 season, because of miscommunications and a salary dispute.) Michael Landon called David personally to ask him to return. When a family loses one of its members, it's natural to close rank and pull surviving members together. David was without doubt, an integral member of the BONANZA family.

     Years later, after the tragic loss of Michael Landon in 1991, David, in the midst of a full "All My Children" taping schedule, unhesitatingly accommodated Kent McCray's request to contribute to his memorial tribute, "Michael Landon: Memories With Laughter & Love." Kent and Haskell "Buzzy" Boggs took a small crew to Wilton, CT, and filmed David on a Saturday in his backyard.

In 2000, David donned his "Candy" costume (which still fit) and again worked with a crew in his backyard, filming anecdote-filled segments for PAX-TV's inaugural BONANZA Extravaganza.

     As too often happens, I discovered after the fact several years ago that David had been interviewed for the Television Academy's oral history project. The interviewer's skills were mediocre and it was painfully obvious that she was something of a gushing soap opera fan and cared little for David's career besides "All My Children." David took her shortcomings in stride; he was his usual good-natured self, but it was a missed opportunity to discuss his career in greater depth, especially of course, his BONANZA years.

     We are losing too many old friends and heroes from our youth. At least we have the memories, and in David's case, hours of wonderful performances preserved on film (or tape) forever.

     I urge David Canary's many admirers to follow his family's advice and donate in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org -- “David Canary Memorial Fund."

-- ANDY KLYDE

     ANDY KLYDE: Impt. Info. re. BONANZA Season 2 vol 1

     I'd like to thank all of you who have supported my efforts to get the second season of BONANZA (loaded with great extras) out on DVD in North America. I know it's been a bit of a wait, but I hope you'll agree it was worth waiting for.

     There's more good news: Vol. 2 will be out come Springtime if vol. 1 sales are good. I know that comparison may not seem fair to some of you because cheap copies of many second season shows are available from bootleggers (albeit in sub-par quality and without original music), but we have to do the best we can with the cards we've been dealt. And if season two does well, season three -- "brought to you by Chevrolet" -- won't be far behind.

     So now I'd like your help. Since unfortunately there's no budget to promote the show properly, I'd like YOU to help me boost BONANZA The Official Second Season vol. 1. -- not just by buying (although that would be a great help), but by leaving positive posts on AMAZON, Facebook, the fan tribute sites, writing e-mails to stores, going to stores, talking to store managers and requesting that the store stock the set (if it doesn't already), that sort of thing.

     If you're interested, e-mail me and I'll give you more details about how you can help.

Happy holidays and Best BONANZA wishes,

ANDY

email: AJKLYDE@yahoo.com

     With great regret I report the passing of Bill Wistrom, MPSE, in Los Angeles on March 10, 2010. Bill was Post Production Supervisor on BONANZA from its inception to cancellation, and oversaw postproduction for THE HIGH CHAPARRAL as well. He began his career in the Sound Department at Paramount Studios in 1953 while he was still a university student and retired after Paramount canceled “Star Trek: Enterprise” in 2005. Bill worked on all the post-original “Star Trek” series, and he commented that Rick Berman, Executive Producer of all the Trek series that followed the original, reminded him of David Dortort. Wistrom earned 15 Emmy Award nominations and won six. In 2008, the MPSE (Motion Picture Sound Editors) honored Wistrom with its Career Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments over the course of his six-decade career. (See the account towards the bottom of the page at this link for more details):

http://www.mpse.org/goldenreels/2008awards/2008nominees.html

     Additionally it saddens me to report that Vince Gutierrez, a multiple Emmy Award winning sound editor, passed away in Indio, CA on March 6, 2010. He worked in the sound departments for BONANZA and THE HIGH CHAPARRAL, and was among the BONANZA alumni recruited for Michael Landon’s post-BONANZA projects, serving as Supervising Sound editor for “Little House on the Prairie,” “The Loneliest Runner,” “Highway to Heaven” and “Us.” He also wrote numerous episodes of Michael’s series. (See this link for more details):

http://www.emmys.org/news/2010/sound-editor-and-longtime-television-academy-leader-vince-gutierrez-passes

-- ANDY KLYDE

     At the invitation of Chuck Greene (son of Lorne Greene) and the Incline Village & Crystal Bay Historical Society, BONANZA authority Andy Klyde will be giving a lecture about the classic series and its beloved cast in honor of BONANZA's 50th anniversary at the Washoe County Public Library in Incline Village, Nevada, at 4:00 PM on Thursday, September 10, 2009. An archivist and historian, Klyde is also an attorney for Bonanza Ventures, and Executive Producer of the forthcoming DVD release -- BONANZA: The Official First Season. Following the lecture, conventioneers will have ample time to return to the Horizon Casino Resort in Stateline to attend the first BONANZA episode screenings of the evening at 7:00 PM.

     Also as part of the 50th anniversary celebration, on Sunday, September 20, 2009, the Autry National Center of the American West will present BONANZA Day. The Autry National Center is located in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Telephone 323.667.2000, http://www.autrynationalcenter.org. BONANZA Day hours are from 11AM to 5PM. Admission to museum members is free, and non-member museum admission includes all the activities and festivities of BONANZA Day as well as all other museum attractions.

     David Dortort, Wendy and Fred Dortort (his children), Kent and Susan McCray, and Andy Klyde will be on hand. Highlights of the day will include showings of episodes of BONANZA and THE HIGH CHAPARRAL, presentations by Autry staff members, viewing and discussion of select materials from the Dortort Archive, a panel discussion with principals from the show's production, opportunities to briefly meet personally with David Dortort, and a reception with light refreshment. The museum store will feature the newly-released BONANZA DVD set and other items of memorabilia.

     Bonanza Ventures announces plans to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of BONANZA with the introduction of “Little Joe’s Horse Cochise” by Breyer Animal Creations

     New York, NY March 16th - September 2009 marks the 50th Anniversary of the legendary western television series, BONANZA. To recognize this occasion, Bonanza Ventures Attorney Andrew J. Klyde has announced the release of “Little Joe’s Horse Cochise” in conjunction with Breyer Animal Creations.

     Breyer Animal Creations has been making fine model horses since 1950. “I wanted the best quality for official BONANZA products,” said Klyde. “The people at Breyer wanted to offer a very recognizable, distinguished horse first, and I thought that Cochise certainly fit the bill.”

     Making sure that the final product was accurate was very important to Klyde. “I sent Breyer many photos and a couple of screen captures (made by fans), including some of the horse without a saddle, to give the artist the best possible views of the original Cochise,” he said. “I had an opportunity to view the model after it was painted but before it was finalized and give my comments. I think the artist did a great job.”

     Many fans have already inquired as to if and when the other Cartwright horses (and possibly their riders) would be released. “If the sales numbers for Cochise are good, look for his stablemates!” said Klyde. “Breyer is willing to develop more products, so support Cochise!”

     Interested buyers can find “Little Joe’s Horse Cochise” for purchase at the official Breyer website, www.breyerhorses.com. Tractor Supply Company, the largest retail farm and ranch chain in the United States, will also be carrying “Little Joe’s Horse Cochise” soon. Buyers can visit their website, www.tractorsupply.com for further information.

     January 15, 2009, Andy Klyde writes: Very sad news about BONANZA alumni Ricardo Montalban. We never met but I've only heard good things about him from people who knew or worked with him.

     His Nosotros Foundation, and his numerous magnificent performances on screen and the stage, make for a most rich legacy which will surely ensure his immortality.

     My late friend writer-producer Tommy Thompson remembered, during production of "Day of Reckoning," that every time just before the director would call "Action," Montalban would suddenly scream "YEEACH, AAACH, YEEEAAACH"! He was clearing his throat. "He was a very nice man," Tommy told me.

     Interesting news, people -- "The O'Reilly Factor" on the Fox News Channel has a segment entitled "TV Icons" from time to time, and tomorrow night's show (Friday, April 18, 2008, 8 pm Eastern, repeat at 11 pm Eastern) will feature "BONANZA." Yours truly will be a part of the segment (and it's non-political). Hope you get a chance to watch. The host is a big BONANZA fan.

Best BONANZA wishes, ANDY KLYDE

     These photos have a rather distinctive history; taken by renowned NBC photographer Elmer Holloway (at least the individual portraits) in early 1961, they were available to subscribing members of the "Bonanza Booster Club," an NBC organization concocted to drum up interest in the series in the early days. When the ratings indicated that that was no longer necessary (by the end of the third season), the "club" disbanded. Individual photos I believe were sold for $.25, and the complete photo package cost $1.00 (!). "Boosters" received their group photo personalized by an anonymous NBC staffer (who worked with our beloved "Madam of the Ponderosa, Joan Sherman Markowitz, author of Booster Club newsletters using her "nom de plume," "Dan King, club president"). The guys signed a bunch of the group shots, and did indeed inscribe as well as autograph their portraits.

     Wendy Dortort Czarnecki had her rare 5-photo set on display at her father David Dortort's 90th Birthday Celebration at the University of Judaism in 2006. (But they weren't signed!)

Best "BONANZA" wishes, ANDY KLYDE