Joy - Blog

Why I Love Bonanza

In honor of Father's Day, I though it appropriate to do a featurette on one of my favorite shows... BONANZA!

If you don't even know what BONANZA is, please turn your tv to TVLand and press record. Bonanza was a show about a father and his 3 boys (all different moms) who were all Cowboys with hearts of gold taking care of their ranch, The Ponderosa. I resisted enjoying Bonanza for years thinking it was a boring show about Cowboys. Finally, one rainy afternoon, I gave in and watched a whole episode. And damned if it didn't make me cry! I couldn't believe the depth of character and comedy involved in this show. I was hooked. So, for all of you Bonanza-Resisters, here's a list of why I love Bonanza...

1) It's Romantic

The Cartwright boys were always tied up with some woman or other.

2- Its Emotional

Even though the film is outdated and the style is old, the acting and story still ring true.

3 - It's Socially Relevant

Bonanza may have been set shortly after the Civil War, but was constantly dealing with contemporary social issues like racism, social injustice, women's liberation, etc... I love watching the Cartwright boys stand up for what's right!

4- Adam Cartwright was definitely a "Leaner"

Pernell Roberts played debonaire Cartwright boy, Adam. It's one of my favorite things to watch Bonanza and count how many things he leans on... I mean he's leaning on his GUN in the pic below-- that's just plain irresponsible... :)

5- Its Funny

The chemistry between the four main actors is undeniable, but the fact that, in an era where scripted tv was often gimmick-y and stiff, the producers allowed Bonanza to be peppered with ad-libbing and the quirky humanity of the actors is amazing, and still rarely seen on television today!

6 - The Women are Fabulously Dressed

The cuts may be outdated, but the fabric and color combos are awesome!

BONANZA TRIVIA:

- From the third season on, all of the Cartwrights and nearly every other recurring character on the show wore the same clothing in almost every episode! Why? To cut down the cost of refiming. They could use the same footage over and over. Here's who wore what:Ben: Taupe shirt, brown leather vest, gray pants, creme colored hat and an occasional green scarf.
Adam: Black shirt, black pants, black hat (sounds a little like a "bad guy"!) and occasionally a yellow trail coat.
Hoss: White shirt, brown suede vest, brown pants, and his trademark 10-gallon hat.
Little Joe: Gray shirt, green corduroy jacket, tan pants, tan hat. And, from the tenth season on he also wore black leather gloves.
Candy Canaday: Crimson shirt, black pants, black leather vest, black hat and a green scarf.


So, Happy Fathers Day to all the Bonanza Boys out there who grew up into Dads and kept the cowboy spirit alive!

xo BJG