Bonanza TV Show

Ben Cartwright and his three sons - Hoss, Little Joe, Adam are unforgettable in "Bonanza" - the first TV western to be broadcast in color.

For fourteen years, "Bonanza" graced the TV screen, making it the second longest-running western TV show after "Gunsmoke." Lorne Greene starred in "Bonanza" as Ben Cartwright, a three-time widower who has three sons living with him. They help Cartwright run his mining and ranch empire - the Ponderosa Ranch which is over 1,000 square miles.

The eldest son Adam (Pernell Roberts) is the most serious and introspective. The middle son, Hoss (Dan Blocker) is the biggest, loudest and probably the most gentle in spirit. The youngest son, Little Joe (Michael Landon) is
the most impulsive and romantic.

Unlike other westerns which had lots of violence, "Bonanza" relied more on interesting and dramatic storylines that let viewers get to know the Cartwrights. Every week featured a new adventure involving one
or more of the Cartwright men and various people who cross their paths.

For most of the 1960s, "Bonanza" was one of the top shows on television. Its success led to it being broadcast in syndication for years, which is why it is one of the most well-known western televisions shows ever made.

• "Bonanza" is the second longest running western TV show in history. Airing for 14 years, Bonanza is second only to the western TV show "Gunsmoke" which aired on television for 20 years.

• Pernell Roberts, who plays Adam Cartwright, left "Bonanza" after the 1964-65 TV season. In the show, his character was written out as having gone to Australia to live. New people were added to the regular cast, such as Candy (David Canary) who was a ranch hand who became like a son to Ben Cartwright.

• Dan Blocker, who played Hoss, died unexpectedly in 1972 from a pulmonary embolism. This was just prior to the start of the 1972 - 1973 TV season. The ratings for "Bonanza" also went down that year, so the show
ended in 1972. "Bonanza" did continue on in syndication for many years afterward.

• "Bonanza" won the prestigious Bronze Wrangler Award in 1970 for Outstanding Western TV drama.

• "Bonanza" also won three Emmy Awards during its television run. They were: Outstanding Individual Achievement in Color (1965) , Outstanding Individual Achievements in Film Editing (1966) and Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition (1971)

• "Bonanza" has also won a TV Land Award for "Best in the West" in 2003.