Bonanza – Season 1

Season 1 (Episode 20)

Air Date: 30 January 1960

Teleplay: Frank Unger and Thomas Thompson

Story: Frank Unger

Director: Lewis Allen

Synopsis
While on a visit to Virginia City, the Cartwrights find themselves protecting a young Chinese man, Jimmy Chang who has been accused of murder. Would-be mayoral candidate Andy Fulmer uses the situation to further his own cause.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing)

Guest Stars
Gene Evans (Andrew Fulmer), Helen Westcott (Amanda Ridley), Frank Ferguson (J. R. Ridley), Christopher Dark (Jesse Tibbs), Guy Lee (Jimmy Chang), Ray Stricklyn (Billy Wheeler), Philip Ahn (Mr. Chang), Pat Michon (Sally Ridley), Arthur Space (Cyrus Hammond), Gregg Barton (Sheriff Halstead), Alexander Campbell (Judge), Peter Chong (Chinese Elder)

Notable Guest Stars

Philip Ahn

Christopher Dark

Gene Evans

Frank Ferguson

Helen Westcott

Episode Notes

• Business: Hammond’s Dry Goods Store (Owner: Cyrus Hammond)

Season 1 (Episode 19)

Air Date: 23 January 1960

Writer: Carey Wilber

Director: Christian Nyby

Synopsis
While traveling through a small Texas town, Little Joe and Hoss are mistaken for the gun slinging Slade Brothers who have been hired by Alonzo McFadden to kill Hans Hatfield.

Guest Stars
Henry Hull (Sheriff B. Bannerman Brown), George Mitchell (Jubal Hadfield), Douglas Spencer (Alonzo McFadden), King Donovan (Twerly Boggs), Dennis Holmes (McFadden boy), Ellen Corby (Lorna Doone Mayberry), Ann Graves (Amanda McFadden), Jenny Maxwell (Clara Lou Kinsey), Billy McLean (Kiowa Flats Bartender), Jonathan Gilmore (Anse Hatfield), Jody Fair (Lisabelle Jones), Dorothy Neumann (Ouisey McFadden), Dorothy Crehan (Susan Hadfield)

Notable Guest Stars

Ellen Corby

Henry Hull

Production Notes

• Lorne Greene and Pernell Roberts do not appear in this episode
• This is the first of the public domain episodes. There are 31 episodes altogether. The last one on the list is the season 2 episode The Spitfire
• Dan Blocker and Michael Landon also play the roles of Big Jack Slade and his brother Shorty Jim Slade

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwrights: Hoss and Joe

Season 1 (Episode 18)

Air Date: 16 January 1960

Writer: Al C. Ward

Director: Lewis Allen

Synopsis
Frederick Kyle is on a mission to Virginia City. Ben soon finds that is family is being torn apart between Joe’s apparent loyalty to Kyle and his cause and Adam’s loyalties to the North.

Guest Stars
Cameron Mitchell (Frederick Kyle), Stacy Harris (Regis), John Anderson (Gorman), Marianne Stewart (Lily), Howard Wendell (Mr. Hennessey), Dan Riss (Tom Madigan), Mickey Simpson (Northern Miner), John Locke (Southern Miner), Kenneth MacDonald (Sheriff), J. Stafford Repp (Mine Owner), Barry Cahill (Luke)

Notable Guest Stars

John Anderson

Cameron Mitchell

Season 1 (Episode 17)

Air Date: 9 January 1960

Writer: Thomas Thompson  Director: Lewis Allen

Synopsis
A young woman, Leta Malvet must deal with the prejudice of Virginia City citizens after her father and brother are hanged. The Cartwrights try to help her while they are dealing with several payroll robberies.

Guest Stars
Jack Lord (Clay Renton), Susan Oliver (Leta Malvet), Edward Platt (Harvey Buford), Irene Tedrow (Mrs. Buford), Robert Lieb (), Roy Engel (Doctor), Joel Ashley (), Mark Allen (Garth)

Notable Guest Stars

Roy Engel

Jack Lord

Susan Oliver

Edward Platt

Irene Tedrow

Production Notes

• First episode to feature the episode title card

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Ben
• Saloon: Empire
• Business: Harvey Buford General Merchandise
• Location: Virginia City Jail
• Event: Virginia City Annual Charity Bazaar

Season 1 (Episode 16)

Air Date: 2 January 1960

Writer: John Tucker Battle

Director: Christian Nyby

Synopsis
Joe and Hoss are sent to California to buy a prize bull. After fighting off bandits, they arrive at their destination only to find out that they are getting more than just a bull.

Guest Stars
Ricardo Cortez (Don Xavier), Barbara Luna (Cayetena Lasaro), Armand Alzamora (Eduardo), Alan Roberts (Epifanio Lopez), Jose Gonzales-Gonzales (Valiente), Penny Santon (Esmerelda Lopez), Alma Beltran (Maria Theresa), Tina Menard (Floriana), Ralph Moody (Indian Chief), Rod Red Wing (Indian Brave), Don Kelly (Second Bandit), Duane Cress (Bandit)

Notable Guest Stars

Barbara Luna

Penny Santon

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwrights: Hoss and Joe
• Business: Virginia City Bank

Season 1 (Episode 15)

Air Date: 19 December 1959

Writer: Donald S. Sanford

Director: Christian Nyby

Synopsis
While Hoss and Joe are on hunting trip they find an injured Indian girl, who is heavily pregnant. Having no choice but to stay with her until she has the baby, Joe and Hoss begin to question why she isn’t with her tribe. It is not until the baby is born that they realise there is more to the situation then they first thought.

Recurring Actors (Characters)
Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing)

Guest Stars
Chana Eden (Shoshoni Girl), Raymond Bailey (Sumner Kyle), Steve Terrell (Jason Kyle), Carlyle Mitchell (Doctor)

Notable Guest Stars

Raymond Bailey

Chana Eden

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwrights: Hoss and Joe

Season 1 (Episode 14)

Air Date: 12 December 1959

Writer: Carey Wilber

Director: Christian Nyby

Synopsis
Adam has been courting saloon girl, Sue-Ellen Terry for several weeks. He is unsure of how he feels about her but has no plans to break it off, despite what other people and his father are saying about the girl and his relationship with her. However, when Sue-Ellen is shot and killed, Adam suddenly finds himself in jail on charges of murder.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing)

Guest Stars
Buddy Ebsen (Sheriff Jesse Sanders), Fay Spain (Sue Ellen Terry), Jean Willes (Amelia Terry), Malcolm Atterbury (Ol’ Dixie), John Stephenson (John Henry), Charles Meredith (Referee at duel), Clarke Alexander (Man at Bar)

Notable Guest Stars

Buddy Ebsen

Fay Spain

Jean Willes

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Adam
• Saloon: The Empire
• Business: Silver King Mining Company (Owner: John Henry)

Season 1 (Episode 13)

Air Date: 5 December 1959

Writer: Robert E. Thompson

Director: Joseph Kane

Synopsis
Ben is injured after he kills a man during a bank robbery. The man’s brothers decide to seek revenge and head back to Virginia City. Hoss tries to enlist the help of the town but finds the only person who will help him is a drunk ex-lawyer.

Guest Stars
Whitney Blake (Ann Stewart), Simon Scott (Tom Pryor), Mort Mills (Carl Morgan), Grant Richards (Stanford), Bartlett Robinson (Ralph Carter), William Quinn (Doc Travis), Harry Carey Jr. (Outlaw), John Milford (Stanford), Maurice Manson (Mr. Martin), Steve Rowland (Billy Morgan), William Pullen (Sheriff Tolliver), James Gavin (Townsman), Baynes Barron (Skinner), Kay Stewart (Mrs. Martin)

Notable Guest Stars

Whitney Blake

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwrights: Ben and Hoss
• Business: Bussey’s Hardware

Season 1 (Episode 12)

Air Date: 28 November 1959

Writer: Carey Wilber

Director: Christian Nyby

Synopsis
After Annie Johnson is murdered, her husband, Flint organises a posse to go after the wanted men. Sensing a lynch mob mentality, Adam and Joe decide to join the posse. Not liking the way Flint is running things, Adam and Joe part ways with the posse and decide to go after the killers themselves.

Guest Stars
Arthur Hunnicutt (Paiute Scroggs), Adam Williams (Blackie Marx), Onslow Stevens (Flint Johnson), Alan Reed Jr (Deputy Sheriff Jeb Clanton), Ron Haggerty (Billy Johnson), Robert E. Griffin (Deputy Jeb Clinton), John Harmon (Sheister), Roy Hemphill (Buck Timmons), Robert Kline (Kirk), Dick Rich (Shoeffer), George Sawaya (Posse member), Evelyn Scott (Vannie Johnson), Barbara Pepper (Lil McSween)

Notable Guest Stars

Arthur Hunnicutt

Onslow Stevens

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwrights: Adam and Joe

Season 1 (Episode 11)

Air Date: 21 November 1959

Writer: Herman Groves

Director: Christian Nyby

Synopsis
Little Joe falls for Amy, the daughter of Luther Bishop. The Bishops and the Cartwrights have been involved in a feud over a piece of land called the Truckee Strip. Even though a court has ruled that the Cartwrights legally own the land, a silver baron, and the foreman of the Bishop ranch plan to start the feud up again in order to get the timber off the land. As the feud escalates, Joe and Amy become closer but unforeseen circumstances will result in a tragedy that will affect both families.

Guest Stars
Adrienne Hayes (Amy Bishop), Carl Benton Reid (Luther Bishop), James Coburn (Pete Jessup), Charles Horvath (Willard Trump), S. John Launer (Jason Carter), John Merrick (Man), Jim Hayward (Man), Peter Chong (Lo Chow)

Notable Guest Stars

Peter Chong

James Coburn

Adrienne Hayes

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Joe

Season 1 (Episode 10)

Air Date: 14 November 1959

Writer: Donald S. Sanford

Director: Christian Nyby

Synopsis
The arrival of the famous actress Adah Isaacs Menken in Virginia City causes various reactions. Adam, Hoss, and Joe believe that their father intends to marry the actress and set about trying to stop it. Ben wants to protect Adah from her ex-boyfriend, John C. Regan. Regan is not pleased with the attention she is receiving from the Cartwrights and Adah finds herself in a situation that has only one possible outcome.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing)

Guest Stars
Ruth Roman (Adah Isaacs Menken), Don Megowan (John C. Regan), Hal Smith (Watkyns), Bill Mims (Sledge), Fay Roope (Castellan), Nancy Root (Actress portraying Olinska)

Notable Guest Stars

Ruth Roman

Production Notes

• Original Episode Title: The Naked Lady

Episode Notes

• Play: Mazeppa
• Location: Piper Opera House

Season 1 (Episode 9)

Air Date: 7 November 1959

Writer: David Dortort

Director: John Brahm

Synopsis
The Cartwrights run into an old miner who has supposedly brought the Ponderosa. After inspecting the land deed, they realise that the miner has been conned by Henry T.P. Comstock. The Cartwrights then proceed to tell the old miner the story of Comstock and Virginia City.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing)

Guest Stars
Jack Carson (Henry T. P. Comstock), Richard Cutting (Old Virginny), Jack Mather (Heck Turner), Bruce Gordon (Chief Winnemucca), Terrence de Marney (Pat O’Riley), John Dierkes (Pat McLaughlin), Charles Wagenheim (Pike), Joanna Sages (Princess Sarah), Abel Fernandez (Lean Knife)

Notable Guest Stars

Jack Carson

Production Notes

• This episode is also known as Mr. Henry T. P. Comstock
• The dances were staged by Miriam Nelson