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

  1.) A Rose For Lotta
         September 12, 1959
         Written by: David Dortort
         Directed by: Edward Ludwig

         In the pilot episode, the mine owners of Virginia City use chanteuse Lotta Crabtree and a hired killer in an attempt to extort Ponderosa timber from the Cartwrights.  Alpheus Troy, the executive mining tycoon suggests Lotta to lure one of the Cartwright boys into Virginia City, to be held for ransom in exchange for the Ponderosa timber rights, and Little Joe is Lotta's pick.

         Guest Stars: Lotta Crabtree...Yvonne De Carlo,...Alpheus Troy...George Macready,...Aaron Hooper...Barry Kelley,...George Garvey...Willis Bouchey,...Langford Pool...Christopher Dark,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Hop Ling...Sammee Tong,...Coach Driver...Ned Glass,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; stunt double for Michael Landon).

         Trivia: Fenton Coe's secretary, Joan Sherman served as scriptgirl, and cited DeCarlo's behavior as arrogant and standoffish while filming took place.

         Trivia: Bobby Miles makes his debut, doubling as Little Joe, as Hoss throws him across the living room, Miles' back hitting the top of the chair, and then hits the floor, then a cut-a-way to Hoss throwing Adam against the wall, into the grandfather clock, and then back to a close-up of Michael on the floor.

         Trivia: The first rendition of the Bonanza theme by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans that was used in the next fourteen episodes had a different closing theme, and was rescored with a second rendition closing theme, starting with episode 15, "The Last Hunt".  You can hear the difference as the last, few remaining credits roll by towards the end of the song.

         Trivia: No episode titles were used, until starting with episode 17, "The Outcast".

         Trivia: The high cost of the pilot was due to reshooting and redubbing, since there was great dissatisfaction from NBC executives.  The theme song was originally sung by Lorne, Dan, and Mike, at the end of the fourth act, and was so terrible, it was cut out.  You can find it along with the Livingston and Evans classic on my Bonanza Lyrics page.

         Trivia: The ending credits in white, scrolling upwards from the bottom of the screen upwards, would be seen in the next nine episodes, and starting with the following episode "The Truckee Strip", the famous and brilliant watercolor portraits would be seen accompanying the ending credits.  This season's "The Outcast" is the first episode to use the watercolor chapter title after the first commercial intermission.  By the second season in 1960, they would be used for the beginning credit chapter title, then by the third year in 1961, the new beginning credits with chapter title, producer, writers, and director.  The watercolor portraits were prepared by a journeyman artist at NBC.

         Music Trivia: The musical score for "A Rose For Lotta", was scored in Germany, while a guitar accompaniment was recorded in the States and added to the score.  This practice was commonly used in this period, to save production costs, and with the $190,000 dollar production costs of this pilot episode, it's no surprise!

         Stunt Trivia: Bob Miles doubles as Little Joe when he jumps out the second story window, the first of many dangerous stunts he would do for Michael over the years.

         Trivia: Victor Sen Yung makes the first of his 100 appearances on the series as Hop Sing, the Cartwright cook and houseboy managing the household at the Ponderosa.

         Opening Credits filmed at: Janss Conejo Ranch, Southern California and the close-up portraits of Ben, Adam, Hoss and Joe were taken from the Chavez Ravine shots and edited in, followed by Yvonne De Carlo's filmed close-up, fade out.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Janss Conejo Ranch, Chavez Ravine, Southern California, with July 1959 stock footage at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: April 6-14, 1959

         Final Cost: $190,630.50

  2.) Death On Sun Mountain
         September 19, 1959
         Written by: Gene L. Coon, David Dortort
         Directed by: Paul Landres
         Original Story Title: "The Sun Mountain Herd"

         Greedy opportunist Mark Burdette and his accomplice Early Thorne stir up trouble between the Paiute tribe and the citizens of Virginia City.  Ben discovers Burdette and Thorne are selling antelope beef to the miners and finds the price too high.  He offers the miners beef at a more reasonable price.  Burdette and Thorne retaliate by framing the Paiute's for attacks, by dressing as them and killing ranchers.  Based on a factual accounting.  Lorne Greene's first voice-over narration, and no landing constructed yet for the Ponderosa stairway.

         Guest Stars: Mark Burdette...Barry Sullivan,...Carl Harris...Karl Swenson,....Early Thorne...Leo Gordon,...Glory...Bek Nelson,...Winnemucca...Harry Bartell,...Tukwa...Ron Soble,...Stella Harris...Jeanne Bates,...Michael Harris...Robin Warga,...Harold Harris...Jay Hector,...Miner...Zon Murray,...Bill Clark...(uncredited; stunt double for Dan Blocker and uncredited; extra as townsman).

         Trivia: Guest star Barry Sullivan's fine acting is most memorable, and he would later appear as Dayton Fuller, in season nine's "Judgement At Olympus".  Guest star Leo Gordon, playing Thorne, Burdette's accomplice, would later appear in season four's "The Deadly Ones" as Forsythe, and in season nine's "Blood Tie" as bounty hunter Fargo Taylor.  Ron Soble, playing Tukwa the young Pauite Indian, would later return as a villain in "Elegy For A Hangman", in season four.  Soble played Marshall Wyatt Earp in the classic Star Trek episode,"Spectre Of The Gun".

         Trivia: The beloved character actor, Karl Swenson, as a famine-sticken prospector, in this episode, would later appear in season two's, "Day Of Reckoning", season seven's, "A Natural Wizard" and in season nine's, "Showdown At Tahoe".  He is best remembered as Lars Hanson, the founder of Walnut Grove, in Michael Landon's, "Little House On The Prairie".  Veteran radio and motion picture actor, Harry Bartell plays Chief Winnemucca in this episode.  Other actors who played the Chief were also Anthony Caruso in this season's "The Paiute War", Bruce Gordon in "The Henry Comstock Story", Richard Hale in "Ride The Wind", and Iron Eyes Cody in "Terror At 2:00".

         Opening Credits Filmed at: Janss Conejo Ranch, Southern California and close-ups of the cast on the soundstage at Paramount Studios, Hollywood.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Iverson Ranch and July 1959 stock footage at Spooner Meadow, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: July 7-14, 1959

  3.) The Newcomers
         September 26, 1959
         Written by: Thomas Thompson
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         Ben orders a crew of hydraulic miners off the Ponderosa and assigns Hoss the task of making certain they leave.  Hoss falls in love with the lone woman, Emily, sister of one of the men, not realizing she is terminally ill.

         Guest Stars: Emily Pennington...Inger Stevens,...Blake McCall...John Larch,...John Pennington...Robert Knapp,...Krug...Charles Maxwell,...Jose Moreno...George J. Lewis,...Justin Flannery...Byron Foulger,...Wyoming...Diane Grey,...Doc Riley...Jon Lormer,...1st Miner...Martin Mason,...Merrill...Troy Melton.

         Trivia: The late Inger Stevens plays Emily Pennington to perfection in this episode.  Character actor John Larch plays the evil and greedy Blake McCall.  Flanking him is Troy Melton as Merrill and serial star Charles Maxwell as Krug. He played Virgil Earp in the "Star Trek" episode, "Spectre of the Gun" Ben's neighbor, Jose Moreno is played by George J. Lewis. He is best remembered as Don Alejandro de la Vega in Disney's "Zorro" ( 1957-59 ).

         Opening Credits Filmed at: Janss Conejo Ranch.  Close-ups of the Cartwrights from Chavez Ravine are reused for the second time in the series' history.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Big Bear Lake, Southern California and July 1959 stock footage at Mount Rose Summit, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: July 15-22, 1959

  4.) The Paiute War
         October 3, 1959
         Written by: Gene L. Coon
         Directed by: Paul Landres

         Trader Mike Wilson attempts to escape punishment by the Paiute Indians after mistreating two of their women, by placing the blame on Adam.  A fierce war between the Paiutes and the California militia follows, and the Paiutes seize Adam as hostage.  Very impressive battle scenes in the this first mini-epic of the series.  This episode did all it could to stage the real thing; 50 Indians were used and 50 cavalry actors and extras were used, and the production involved three days of shooting on location.  This episode encompassed both the biggest cast and most costly stunts.  This episode is based on the factual accounting that occured in May and June of 1860.

         Guest Stars: Trader Mike Wilson....Jack Warden,...Chief Winnemucca....Anthony Caruso,...Young Wolf...Michael Forest,...Captain Kelley...Walter Coy,...Ring Nose...George Keymas,...Colonel...I. Stanford Jolley,...Bill Stewart...Douglas Kennedy,...Major Ormsby...Howard Petrie,...Major Hungerford...Peter Coe,...Vern...Mike Ragan,...Phil...Gregg Martell.

         Trivia: Jack Warden, as trader Mike Wilson, whose career began in 1957, with "12 Angry Men", and "Edge Of The City", later in "Run Silent, Run Deep", "Donovan's Reef", "Shampoo", "All The President's Men", "Heaven Can Wait", and more feature films.  He starred in his own TV-series, "N.Y.P.D.", in 1967 and in "The Bad News Bears"-1979-80.  He was recently in 2000's, "The Replacements".  He was a former boxer and stage actor and served in the 101st Airborne in WW II.

         Trivia: Character actor Anthony Caruso plays Chief Winnemucca in this episode.  He also played Bela Oxmyx in the "Star Trek" episode, "A Piece of the Action".  Michael Forest plays Young Wolf, the son of the Chief.  He is later seen in six's "A Good Night's Rest" and nine's "Sense of Duty".  He is best remembered for playing Apollo, in the "Star Trek" episode, "Who Mourns For Adonais?"

         Character actor Douglas Kennedy makes his first appearance in this episode as Bill Stewart.  He later is seen in seven's "A Natural Wizard", eight's "The Oath", and nine's "Second Chance" and "The Bottle Fighter".  Captain Kelley is played by character actor Walter Coy.  He is later seen in two's "The Thunderhead Swindle" and five's "Twilight Town".  Character actor Mike Ragan plays Vern in this episode.

         Broadcasting Trivia: This episode was reran on December 26, 1959, while the first run episodes were still being aired on Saturday's at 7:30 PM.

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

         Filming dates: August 3-12, 1959

         Final Cost: $139,000.

  5.) Enter Mark Twain
         October 10, 1959
         Written by: Harold Shumate
         Directed by: Paul Landres

         Samuel Clemens arrives in Virginia City to write for the Territorial Enterprise at the same time a crooked politician tries to lay claim on the Ponderosa.

         Guest Stars: Sam Clemens...Howard Duff,...Judge Jeremy Clarence Billington...John Litel,...Minaie...Dorothy Green,...Rosemary Lawson...Ann Whitfield,...Blurry Jones...Percy Helton,...Bill Raleigh...Patrick McVey,...Lash's Foreman...Lane Bradford,...Marshal...Robert Carson,...Daniel Lash...Edmund Ryan,...Dr. Efriem Lovejoy...Arthur Lovejoy,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Bill Clark (uncredited; townsman).

         Trivia: Veteran character actor Howard Duff, a landmark guest star as Sam Clemens and fine actor.  Incidentally, Ida Lupino was his wife and was the guest star in "The Saga Of Annie O' Toole", also in the first season.  Serial star Lane Bradford in his first appearance, one of over a dozen on Bonanza, unforgettable.

         Trivia: Guest star Percy Helton makes the first of many appearances, in this episode, as the prospector who claims he has seen "The Wild Man", and cons Sam Clemens into pouring him drinks, and Clemens walks away with another story to publish in the Territorial Enterprise.  The pint-sized Helton also appeared in season four's, "The Hayburner", season five's, "The Legacy", and in season eight's, "The Unseen Wound".

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Janss Conejo Ranch, Southern California, with July 1959 stock footage at Sand Harbor and Tahoe Meadows, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: August 20-27, 1959

  6.) The Julia Bulette Story
         October 17, 1959
         Written by: Al C. Ward
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         Little Joe is infatuated wih saloon owner Julia Bulette, whom he imagines is like his late mother.  First episode to reveal backround details concerning Marie Cartwright, and inspired by the true story of a Virginia City madam.  Also, the first episode to showcase Michael Landon.  The familiar music is "Aura Lee", a popular Civil War era folk ballad whose tune is better known to modern listeners as "Love Me Tender".  Roy Engel makes his first appearance as the town doctor.

         Guest Stars: Julia Bulette...Jane Greer,...Jean Millain...Alexander Scourby,...Doc Martin...Roy Engel,...Finch...Kay Kuter,...Tom...Robert B. Williams,...George Romley...Robert J. Stevenson,...Sheriff Olins...Ken Dibbs,...Gladys...Mary Munday,...Pete...Rush Williams,...Piano Player...Harry Seymour,...Bob Miles (stunts; uncredited for Michael Landon).

         Trivia: The late Jane Greer, who was a leading lady of the 40's "noir" films, plays Julie Bulette to perfection.  Alexander Scourby, as the villain, Jean Millain, best remembered with his voice-overs in the World War II documentary, "Victory At Sea", "Cousteau's Undersea World", and for National Geographic on television.  Bobby Miles' second appearance, doubling as Little Joe, in the two fights with actor Alexander Scourby (Jean Millain), in the long shots.  Julia Bulette did offer her saloon to help the sick during an epidemic and was murdered by Jean Millain in 1867, where this episode takes place in 1859.

         Doctor Trivia: Roy Engel makes his debut as Doctor Paul Martin and would be seen playing the Doc infrequently over the first five seasons and than was replaced by Grandon Rhodes in 1964.  Engel would also play a few other doctors whose last names were not Martin in the series' run.

         Michael Landon Trivia: The script required Landon to play a highly charged death scene with actress Jane Greer that would have been a severe test for any actor.  But Landon seemed to be taking the prospect lightly, cracking wise to the point where producer David Dortort began to worry.  However, as director Chris Nyby swung into the scene, a miraculous transformation occurred.  Suddenly Landon was all business, every emotion surfaced and attuned; genuine tears began rolling down his cheeks.

         His audience - which included his producer, co-stars Dan Blocker and Lorne Greene and a member of the press - was too shaken to speak.  Dortort later commented: "Mike didn’t play that scene; he lived it." When the scene finished, Landon quickly disappeared behind the water cooler to make, as it were, some badly needed repairs on his emotions.  Moments later he reappeared and, smiling roguishly, made a reference to the recently demised lady’s love-life, so irreverent, so hilarious (and so unprintable) that they are still talking about it around Paramount studios.

         Filming dates: August 11-19, 1959

  7.) The Saga Of Annie O' Toole
         October 24, 1959
         Written by: Thomas Thompson
         Directed by: Joseph Kane

         Adam defends the mining claim of Annie O' Toole in a court presided over by Judge Ben Cartwright.  Annie comes to the Washoe Diggings with a claim to a mine filed by her beau, Swede Lundberg.  Swede has two claims and sold one to an acquaintance of theirs named Gregory Spain, creating confusion, that only Judge Ben Cartwright can make a ruling on.

         Guest Stars: Annie O' Toole...Ida Lupino,...Swede Lunberg...Alan Hale, Jr.,...Kevin "Himself" O' Toole...John Patrick,...Gregory Spain...Henry Lascoe,...Clayton...Richard Reeves,...Simpson...Ollie O' Toole,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung.

         Trivia: Ida Lupino, daughter of an English Music Hall comedian, became a Hollywood glamor gal as a teenager and played opposite Humphrey Bogart in "High Sierra".  She was married to actor Howard Duff, who was in "Enter Mark Twain", and also one of the first woman directors in Hollywood.

         Trivia: Alan Hale Jr., son of the great character actor, Alan Hale Sr. (whose movie sidekick was Errol Flynn).  He dropped the Jr. from his name, after his father passed away and was literally born into the movies.  Hale did his first movie as a baby and continued to act until his death.  Hale made a smooth transition in the movies and starred in several classics like, "Up Periscope", "The Lady Takes A Flyer", "The West Point Story", as well as many Westerns.

         Hale did a lot of guest star appearances, as on Bonanza, before getting his role as the Skipper on the cult-comedy, "Gilligan's Island".  He loved playing the Skipper and always wore his Skipper hat, wherever he went!  Some of them he gave away to charity raisers, that were used on the show.  After the show went off the air, Hale continued to act, and teamed up with Bob Denver (Gilligan), in a TV-comedy, "The Good Guys".  Hale also owned a travel agency and a restaurant in his later years.

         Trivia: Last time close-ups of the boys from the Chavez Ravine shooting, first used in "A Rose For Lotta", and "The Newcomers", is seen in the series' history.

         Location Note: The stately Bower's Mansion is seen at the end of this episode, which was depicted as Annie's mansion in the story's end.  David Dortort and team went to the mansion in July of 1959 and filmed it in Washoe Valley, Nevada for this episode of 'Bonanza'.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Bronson Canyon, Southern California and July 1959 stock footage at Tahoe Meadows, Lake Tahoe, Nevada and Bower's Mansion, Washoe Valley, Nevada.

         Filming dates: July 22-31, 1959

  8.) The Philip Deideshiemer Story
         October 31, 1959
         Written by: Thomas Thompson
         Directed by: Joseph Kane

         Adam and Hoss assist a German engineer in developing the concept of "square set timbering" in the mines.  Based on fact, and the first episode not to include all four Cartwrights.  Hoss refers to the character, Emily, with whom he was in love with in, "The Newcomers".

         Guest Stars: Philip Deideshiemer...John Beal,...Helene Holloway...Mala Powers,...Andrew Holloway...R. G. Armstrong,...Gil Fenton...Charles Cooper,...Tregalis...Paul Birch,...Casey...Robert Osterloh,...Mine Owner...William Fawcett,...Doctor...Alan Reynolds,...Pat...Howard Negley,...Mary...Mae Marsh.

         Trivia: Guest star R. G. Armstrong makes his first appearance on Bonanza, later seen in, "The Horse Breaker" and "The Last Mission".

         Trivia: Opening Scenes of all four Cartwrights were taken from the summer of 1959 shootings at Lake Hemet, starting with "The Truckee Strip", episode 11, instead of the usual scenes at the Janss Conejo Ranch.

         Trivia: Based on the factual accounting of the Ophir Mine in Nevada.

         Filming dates: September 8-15, 1959

  9.) The Henry Comstock Story
         November 7, 1959
         Written by: David Dortort
         Directed by: John Brahm

         In a flashback, the legendary prospector arrives on the Ponderosa and participates in the founding of Virginia City.  Coincidentally, guest star Jack Carson played a teller at the Comstock Bank and Trust in the 1942 film, "Gentleman Jim".  This early classic was the second episode filmed.

         Guest Stars: Henry Comstock...Jack Carson,...Ol' Virginny...Richard Cutting,...Heck Turner...Jack Mather,...Winnemucca...Bruce Gordon,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Pat O' Riley...Terrence deMarney,...Pat McLaughlin...John Dierkes,...Pike...Charles Wagenheim,...Princess Sarah...Joanna Sage,...Lean Knife...Abel Fernandez,...Bob Miles...(uncredited; horseback double for Michael Landon),...Bill Clark...(uncredited; horseback double for Lorne Greene & uncredited; extra as cowboy at dance).

         Trivia: Chief Winnemucca, played by actor Bruce Gordon, later seen in season six's, "Patchwork Man", as the scheming strip-miner, Mr. Bronson.  Jack Carson, one of those men who embellishes every film he was ever in, even though he never became a big star.  Usually seen as the hero's sidekick or a rival.  He played, "smart guys who were actually dumber than the suckers they tried to take in", a perfect description of Henry Comstock.  Carson appeared in many films: "Destiny Rides Again", "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington", "The Strawberry Blonde" (perhaps his best performance, as the guy who wins the girl from the dentist, played by Jimmy Cagney), "Gentleman Jim", "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Mildred Pierce", and others.

         Photography Trivia: Farciot Edouart, one of Paramount's best, used the visual process of making the flashbacks, which are characterized by a certain scene becoming out-of-focus, blurring and waving, then dissolving into the next scene, and the application is completely reversed always with the ending scene, as in this episode.  His excellent work is also seen in, "Elizabeth, My Love", "Inger, My Love", "Marie, My Love", and "Journey Remembered".  His special effects and visual process photography was certainly the best in Hollywood, visible in over 204 films, including: "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".

         Broadcasting Trivia: This episode was reran on November 19, 1960.

         Photography Trivia: In the filmed shots of the Cartwrights conversing with the miner, the soundstage shots of Cartwrights are filmed on Stage 16, with Slide Mountain at Tahoe Meadows, is optically printed together, which is called a composite shot, an optical film trick.

         Dances Staged by: Miriam Nelson.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Angeles National Forest and Bronson Canyon, Southern California, with July 1959 stock footage at Mount Rose Summit and Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: June 29 to July 6, 1959

 10.) The Magnificent Adah
         November 14, 1959
         Written by: Donald S. Sanford
         Directed by: Christian Nyby
         Original Story Title: "The Naked Lady"

         Virginia City is visited by actress Adah Issacs Menken, who happens to be an old acquaintance of Ben's.  Joe is badly beaten by Adah's jealous suitor, John C. Regan, who is bested in a fight with an enraged Hoss.

         Guest Stars: Adah Issacs Menken...Ruth Roman,...John C. Reagan...Don Megowan,...Durwood Watkyns...Hal Smith,...Sledge...William Mims,...Hotel Manager...Mauritz Hugo,...Castellan...Fay Roope,...Actress Portraying Olinska...Nancy Root,...Miner...Roy Jenson,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung.

         Trivia: Guest star and stuntman/actor, Roy Jenson makes his debut in the episode, as the miner who challenges Adah's jealous suitor in the saloon, John C. Regan, played by heavyweight actor Don Megowan.  Jenson appeared in episodes down the stretch such as, "The Prime Of Life", "The Brass Box", "Five Sundowns To Sunup", "The Wish", and "Forever".

         Trivia: Fenton Coe's secretary, Joan Sherman Markowitz was good friends with Ruth Roman, a fine actress and lady.

         Ruth Roman Trivia: Ruth Roman as Adah Issacs Menken, sort of a poor man's Ava Gardner or Elizabeth Taylor, although certainly a better actress.  Her best performance was probably in Hitchcock's "Stranger On A Train".  She was also famous for a real, near-death tragedy when the Swedish oceanliner, the "Stockholm" collided with the Italian oceanliner, the "Andrea Doria" on July 25, 1956.  She and her son became separated during abandoning of ship and they were reunited upon reaching New York.  In her later years, she played Loretta, the owner of the Cabot Cove Hair Salon in television's "Murder, She Wrote".  Ruth passed away in 2000 and will always be remembered as a sweet and caring woman.

         Trivia: In the original draft of this story, the name of Don Megowan's character was Heenan and was later changed to John C. Regan.

         Trivia: Fay Roope plays Castellan in this episode.  Mr. Roope appeared in a few "Gunsmoke" episodes as Botkin, the banker, as well as a few episodes of "Perry Mason" as a judge.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: June-July 1959 stock footage at Mount Rose Summit, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: August 28 to September 4, 1959

 11.) The Truckee Strip
         November 21, 1959
         Written by: Herman Groves
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         Western version of Romeo and Juliet as the Cartwrights feud with the Bishops and Joe falls in love with Amy, the daughter of Luther Bishop, who has forbid Joe to come anywhere near Amy or on his property.  Bishop's depraved foreman, Jessup, complicates matters with Amy and Joe even worse.  In one emotionally charged scene, Joe actually pulls a gun on Ben, and in another slips and calls Hoss "Horse".

         Guest Stars: Pete Jessup...James Coburn,...Amy Bishop...Adrienne Hayes,...Luther Bishop...Carl Benton Reid,... Jason Carter...S. John Launer,...Lo Chow...Peter Chong,...Willard Trump...Charles Horvath,...Concho Hand # 1...John Frederick,...Man...Jim Hayward,...Bob Miles...(stunts; uncredited for Michael Landon),...Troy Melton...(stunts; uncredited for James Coburn).

         Trivia: Guest star James Coburn's success Bonanza reassured, since he returned in two more, "The Dark Gate" and "The Long Night", and finally became a good-guy in the hit movie, "Our Man Flint", in 1966.  Just prior to Bonanza, Coburn worked with Pernell Roberts in 1959's "Ride Lonesome".

         Trivia: In the barn fight, stuntmen Bobby Miles is doubling for Michael Landon as Little Joe, and stuntman Troy Melton is doubling for actor James Coburn, in the long shots of the fight, as well as in the scenes where Jessup (played by Coburn) is using the chain, the whip, the wooden plank, the pitchfork, and at the end, Troy takes the metal bar from Bob, killing his character.  One of the most professional choreographed fights ever seen on Bonanza.

         Trivia: Character actor John Frederick is credited as John Merrick in this episode.

         Watercolor Credits Trivia: This is the first episode in the series to feature the famous watercolor credits with the accompanying end theme song written by Livingston and Evans, performed by David Rose and his orchestra.  They would be seen all the way through the end of season twelve on the series through April 1971.  They were prepared by a journeyman artist at NBC.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Lake Hemet, San Jacinto National Forest, Southern California with July 1959 stock shot at Mount Rose Summit, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming date: September 16-23, 1959

 12.) The Hanging Posse
         November 28, 1959
         Written by: Carey Wilbur
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         Adam and Joe reluctantly join a group of vengeful townsmen, who are out to lynch the three men who supposedly killed Vannie Johnson.  The posse is run by Paiute Scroggs and Flint Johnson, the dead woman's husband.  When Adam and Joe clash with them, they both separate and try to reach the three men before the posse does.  This episode's storyline is a variation of the 1943 film "The Ox-Bow Incident".

         Guest Stars: Paiute Scroggs...Arthur Hunnicutt,..Blackie Marx...Adam Williams,...Flint Johnson...Onslow Stevens,...Deputy Jeb Clanton...Alan Reed, Jr.,...Billy Johnson...Ron Hagerthy,...Charlie "Blue" Buford...Robert E. Griffin,...Schuster...John Harmon,...Buck Timmons...Roy Hemphill,...Kirk...Robert Kline,...Shoehoffer...Dick Rich,...Posseman...George Sawaya,...Vannie Johnson...Evelyn Scott,...Lil McSween...Barbara Pepper.

         Trivia: Arthur Hunnicutt is superb as Paiute Scroggs, and his grizzled face is seen in three other classic Bonanza episodes, "Any Friend Of Walter's", "Walter and the Outlaws", and "Dead Wrong".  Guest star Adam Williams, as the no-good Blackie, would go on to be seen in season two's, "Vengeance", in season seven's, "The Brass Box", and in season eight's, "The Prince".

         Trivia: Guest star John Harmon makes his first appearance as the thirst-ridden outlaw, Schuster, who has a "condition" as he calls it.  The familiar face and voice of John Harmon was very recognizable, in season two's, "Cutthroat Junction", in season four's, "A Hot Day For A Hanging", and as the barber in "The Last Haircut", and eleven's, "The Horse Traders".  He also appeared in two classic Star Trek episodes: "The City On The Edge Of Forever", and in "A Piece Of The Action".

         End Credits Trivia: Ron Hagerthy plays Billy Johnson in this episode.  Sometimes credited as Ron Haggerthy.  NBC made a mistake and spelled his last name Haggerty.  There is no such actor who existed then or now.  NBC also made a typographical error with Adam Williams who plays Blackie Marx.  They credit him as Andy Williams, when no such actor exists.  No doubt someone at NBC casting mistook him for singer Andy Williams.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Cedar Lake, Grandview Point, Baldwin Lake vicinity, Big Bear Lake, California and July 1959 stock footage at Mount Rose Summit, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: September 24 to October 1, 1959

 13.) Vendetta
         December 5, 1959
         Written by: Robert E. Thompson
         Directed by: Joseph Kane

         In a variation of "High Noon", Ben and Hoss must face a gang of outlaws practically all alone when most of Virginia City's citizens go into hiding.  The most action-filled episode since "The Paiute War".

         Guest Stars: Anne Samuels...Whitney Blake,...Tom Pryor...Simon Scott,...Carl Morgan...Mort Mills,...Ned Morgan...Grant Richards,...Ralph Carter...Bartlett Robinson,...Doc Travis...Bill Quinn,...Zack Morgan...Harry Carey, Jr.,...Stanford...John Milford,...Billy Morgan...Steve Rowland,...Sheriff Sam Toller...William Pullen,...Townsman...James Gavin,...Skinner...Baynes Barron,...Mrs. Martin...Kay Stewart,...Bartender...Cosmo Sardo...(extra; uncredited),...Martin...Maurice Manson...(uncredited; bit part).

         Trivia: Guest star Mort Mills, in his first of many appearances, as the gang leader, with his fine acting and unforgettable voice to this day.  Mills appeared in many more, including, "The Miracle Maker", "Day Of The Dragon", "Song In The Dark", and "Joe Cartwright, Detective".  Character actor John Milford would also appear in "Half-A-Rogue", season ten's "A World Full Of Cannibals" and in "Riot", later in Bonanza's run, another familiar face and voice.  Guest star Harry Carey, Jr., makes his debut on Bonanza as one of the outlaws.

         Trivia: Character actor Simon Scott makes his first appearance, as Pryor, the town drunk, later seen in season seven's "All Ye His Saints" and season nine's, "The Late Ben Cartwright", as Judge Farraday.  Hollywood dress extra and real-life bartender Cosmo Sardo makes his debut as the most frequently seen bartender on "Bonanza".  He would be seen in many episodes through the end of season eight in 1967.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Franklin Lake, Santa Monica Mountains, California.

         Filming dates: October 2-9, 1959

 14.) The Sisters
         December 12, 1959
         Written by: Carey Wilbur
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         In the space of one episode, Adam is challenged to a duel by rival John Henry, competing for the affections of Sue Ellen Terry, a woman well known by the men in Virginia City, against Ben's advice, accused of murder by the town drunk and jailed by Jesse, the crooked sheriff.

         Guest Stars: Sue Ellen Terry...Fay Spain,...Sheriff Jesse Sanders...Buddy Ebsen,...Amelia Terry...Jean Willes,...John Henry...John Stephenson,...Referee...Charles Meredith,...Man at Bar...Clarke Alexander,...Dixie...Malcolm Atterbury,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Deputies...Bob Miles...(extra; uncredited),...Bill Clark...(extra; uncredited).

         Trivia: Guest star Jean Willes (Jean Donahue) as Amelia was one of the best actresses in Hollywood, she was more complex than many of the younger actresses were, and had spice and humor.  Jean also appeared in "The Gentleman From New Orleans", "A Good Night's Rest", and in "Star-Crossed".  Her career started in the late 1940's and was suberb in "McHale's Navy" with Ernest Borgnine in the 1960's.  Guest star Buddy Ebsen, as Jesse, the crooked Sheriff, would later appear as Cactus, in season thirteen's, "The Saddle Stiff".  Bill Clark makes his debut on Bonanza, as one of Jesse's deputies.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Bronson Canyon, Southern California.

         Filming dates: October 12-20, 1959

 15.) The Last Hunt
         December 19, 1959
         Written by: Donald S. Sanford
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         Hoss and Joe come across a pregnant Indian woman while hunting bighorn sheep and must deliver her baby.  Despite touches of humor, including a scene in which Joe refers to a meal as "cattle fodder", the story does not have an altogether happy ending.

         Guest Stars: Shoshone Girl...Chana Eden,...Jason Kyle...Steven Terrell,...Doctor...Carlyle Mitchell,...Sumner Kyle...Raymond Bailey,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung.

         Theme Song Trivia: A rescored variation of the Livingston and Evans theme song performed by David Rose and his orchestra is heard accompanying the beginning and end credits in this episode.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Big Bear Lake, Cedar Lake and Grandview Point, Big Bear Lake, California.

         Filming dates: November 6-13, 1959

 16.) El Toro Grande
         January 2, 1960
         Written by: John Tucker Battle
         Directed by: Christian Nyby

         Ben sends Hoss and Joe to Monterey to purchase an expensive seed bull.  The first of Blocker and Landon's many comic misadventures, although the casual use of violence, as in the rapier fight, is oddly uncharacteristic for the series.  Hoss reveals his real name to be Eric for the first time.

         Guest Stars: Don Xavier Lorenzo...Ricardo Cortez,...Cayentana Lorenzo...Barbara Luna,...Eduardo El Montalban...Armand Alzamora,...Indian Chief...Rodd Red Wing,...Vincente Lopez...Jose Gonzales,...Esmerelda Lopez...Penny Santon,...Maria Teresa Lorenzo...Alma Beltran,...Floriana...Tina Menard,...First Man...Ralph Moody,...Second Man...Don Kelly,...Indian...Don Cress.

         Trivia: Guest star Barbara Luna also appeared in Zorro, as Teresa, the tamale vendor, and in the classic Star Trek episode, "Mirror, Mirror", as the Captain's Woman/Lt. Marlena Moreau.

         Location Scenes Filmed at: Franklin Lake, Santa Monica Mountains, Southern California and July 1959 stock footage at Sand Harbor and Mount Rose Summit, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

         Filming dates: October 21-28, 1959

Season One Episodes 17 - 32 continued...