Bonanza season 3

Last updated
Bonanza season 3
Bonanza main cast 1959.JPG
Cast of Bonanza in 1959
Starring
No. of episodes34
Release
Original network NBC
Original releaseSeptember 24, 1961 (1961-09-24) –
May 20, 1962 (1962-05-20)
Season chronology
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Bonanza season 2
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Bonanza season 4
List of episodes

The third season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 24, 1961, with the final episode airing May 20, 1962. [1] The series was developed and produced by David Dortort, and season three starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 34 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. [2] At the start of the third season, the show was moved to Sundays at 9:00 p.m. In that time slot, the ratings soared and the series become second only to Wagon Train as the most popular program on American prime time television. [3]

Contents

Synopsis

Bonanza is set around the Ponderosa Ranch near Virginia City, Nevada and chronicles the weekly adventures of the Cartwright family, consisting of Ben Cartwright and his three sons (each by a different wife), Adam, Eric ("Hoss"), and Joseph ("Little Joe"). A regular character is their ranch cook, Hop Sing.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Recurring

Guest stars

Production

Writing

Season three's writing introduced changes into Lorne Greene's character, Ben Cartwright, after Greene threatened to leave the show. [4] Originally written as a Bible-quoting codger who vowed to shoot anyone who came on his land, Ben Cartwright was a tyrant of a father. [5] Greene wanted a more relatable character with a sense of humor and a healthy relationship with his sons. [4] Dortort revised the character to be a warmer father, and focused more on family and personal justice. [5] The changes contributed to the show's success as the new season moved into the #2 spot in ratings. [3] [4]

This season marked the beginning of script writing for Michael Landon. His initial treatment was a handwritten script of about 30 pages. Frank Chase helped him complete the script, which ultimately became the April 2, 1962 episode, "The Gamble". [6]

Filming

While filming episode 31, "The Dowry", on location, Pernell Roberts's horse, Sport, slipped and fell while going downhill on a muddy path. After Sport fell, Blocker's horse, Chub, who was following closely, stumbled over him. Roberts and Blocker jumped off their mounts as they had been trained to do, but both actors were injured. Roberts sprained his neck, while Blocker broke his collarbone and shoulder and would miss one episode then wear a sling for the remainder of the season.[ citation needed ]

Location shoots for the season included Incline Village for episode 9, "The Countess", [7] and Iverson's Movie Ranch for episode 27, "The Gamble". [8]

Episodes

Bonanza, season 3 episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
671"The Smiler" Thomas Carr Lewis ReedSeptember 24, 1961 (1961-09-24)
682"Springtime" Christian Nyby John Furia Jr. October 1, 1961 (1961-10-01)
693"The Honor of Cochise" Don McDougall Elliott Arnold October 8, 1961 (1961-10-08)
704"The Lonely House" William Witney Frank Chase October 15, 1961 (1961-10-15)
715"The Burma Rarity"William WitneyN.B. Stone Jr.October 21, 1961 (1961-10-21)
726"Broken Ballad" Robert Butler John T. KellyOctober 29, 1961 (1961-10-29)
737"The Many Faces of Gideon Flinch" Robert Altman Robert Vincent WrightNovember 5, 1961 (1961-11-05)
748"The Friendship"Don McDougallFrank ChaseNovember 12, 1961 (1961-11-12)
759"The Countess" Robert Sparr William R. Cox and William D. PowellNovember 19, 1961 (1961-11-19)
7610"The Horse Breaker"Don McDougallFrank ChaseNovember 26, 1961 (1961-11-26)
7711"Day of the Dragon"Don McDougall John T. Dugan December 3, 1961 (1961-12-03)
7812"The Frenchman"Christian Nyby Norman Lessing December 10, 1961 (1961-12-10)
7913"The Tin Badge" Lewis Allen Don Ingalls December 17, 1961 (1961-12-17)
8014"Gabrielle"Thomas CarrAnthony LawrenceDecember 24, 1961 (1961-12-24)
8115"Land Grab"David Orrick McDearmon Ward Hawkins December 31, 1961 (1961-12-31)
8216"The Tall Stranger"Don McDougallWard HawkinsJanuary 7, 1962 (1962-01-07)
8317"The Lady from Baltimore"John PeyserElliott ArnoldJanuary 14, 1962 (1962-01-14)
8418"The Ride"Don McDougallWard HawkinsJanuary 21, 1962 (1962-01-21)
8519"The Storm"Lewis Allen Denne Petitclerc January 28, 1962 (1962-01-28)
8620"The Auld Sod"William WitneyCharles LangFebruary 4, 1962 (1962-02-04)
8721"Gift of Water" Jesse Hibbs Borden Chase February 11, 1962 (1962-02-11)
8822"The Jackknife"William WitneyFrank ChaseFebruary 18, 1962 (1962-02-18)
8923"The Guilty"Lewis AllenClifford IrvingFebruary 25, 1962 (1962-02-25)
9024"The Wooing of Abigail Jones"Christian NybyNorman LessingMarch 4, 1962 (1962-03-04)
9125"The Lawmaker"Christian NybyStory by : John A. Johns
Teleplay by : Dick Nelson		March 11, 1962 (1962-03-11)
9226"Look to the Stars"Don McDougall Robert M. Fresco and Paul RinkMarch 18, 1962 (1962-03-18)
9327"The Gamble"William WitneyStory by : Michael Landon
Teleplay by : Frank Cleaver and Michael Landon 		April 1, 1962 (1962-04-01)
9428"The Crucible"Paul NickellJohn T. DuganApril 8, 1962 (1962-04-08)
9529"Inger, My Love"Lewis AllenStory by : Anthony Lawrence
Teleplay by : Frank Cleaver and David Dortort 		April 15, 1962 (1962-04-15)
9630"Blessed Are They"Don McDougallStory by : Borden Chase
Teleplay by : Borden Chase and Frank Cleaver		April 22, 1962 (1962-04-22)
9731"The Dowry"Christian NybyRobert Vincent WrightApril 29, 1962 (1962-04-29)
9832"The Long Night"William WitneyGeorge Stackalee and E. M. ParsonsMay 6, 1962 (1962-05-06)
9933"The Mountain Girl"Don McDougallJohn FuriaMay 13, 1962 (1962-05-13)
10034"The Miracle Maker"Don McDougallStory by : Lewis Reed
Teleplay by : Frank Cleaver and Preston Wood		May 20, 1962 (1962-05-20)

Release

The season aired on Sundays from 9:00 pm–10:00 pm on NBC. [9] This was a move from the season one and two timeslot of Saturdays from 7:30 pm–8:30 pm on NBC. [9]

Reception

In its new season three time slot, the ratings soared and the series become second only to Wagon Train as the most popular program on American prime time television. [3]

As the show became more popular, celebrities requested to do the show. A November 11, 1961 episode of Maverick , "Three Queens Full", parodied the show using Jim Backus as Joe Wheelwright, who, along with his sons Henry, Moose, and Small Paul, all lived on their ranch known as the Subrosa. [10]

Awards and nominations

AwardYear [lower-alpha 1] CategoryNominee(s) / WorkResultRef(s)
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards 1962 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Television Haskell Boggs and Walter CastleNominated [11]
  1. ↑ Indicates the year of ceremony.

Related Research Articles

<i>Bonanza</i> American western television series

Bonanza is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, Bonanza is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on U.S. network television, and one of the longest-running, live-action American series. The show continues to air in syndication. The show is set in the 1860s and centers on the wealthy Cartwright family, who live in the vicinity of Virginia City, Nevada, bordering Lake Tahoe. The series initially starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon and later featured Guy Williams, David Canary, Mitch Vogel and Tim Matheson. The show is known for presenting pressing moral dilemmas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorne Greene</span> Canadian actor (1915–1987)

Lorne Hyman Greene was a Canadian actor, musician, singer and radio personality. His notable television roles include Ben Cartwright on the Western Bonanza and Commander Adama in the original science-fiction television series Battlestar Galactica and Galactica 1980. He also worked on the Canadian television nature documentary series Lorne Greene's New Wilderness and in television commercials.

The Ponderosa Ranch was a theme park based on the television western Bonanza, which housed the land, timber and livestock-rich Cartwright family. The amusement park operated in Incline Village, Nevada, near Lake Tahoe, from 1968 until 2004. Portions of the last five seasons of the TV series and three television films were also filmed at that location.

The Ponderosa is a television series developed by Bonanza creator David Dortort for PAX TV that ran for the 2001–2002 television season.

Bonanza: The Next Generation is a 1988 American Western television film and a sequel to the 1959–1973 television series Bonanza starring John Ireland, Robert Fuller, Barbara Anderson, Michael Landon Jr., Brian A. Smith and John Amos.

<i>Bonanza season 1</i> Season of television series

The first season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 12, 1959, with the final episode airing April 30, 1960. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort, and season one starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 32 episodes of the series's total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. It aired on Saturdays from 7:30 pm–8:30 pm on NBC and placed at number 45 in the Nielsen ratings.

<i>Bonanza season 2</i> Season of television series

The second season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 10, 1960, with the final episode airing June 3, 1961. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort, and season two starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 34 episodes of the series's total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. It aired on Saturdays from 7:30 pm–8:30 pm on NBC and placed at number 17 in the Nielsen ratings.

<i>Bonanza season 4</i> Season of television series

The fourth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 23, 1962, with the final episode airing May 26, 1963. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort, and season four starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 34 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. Season four was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. It ranked #4 in the Nielsen ratings, the highest rated Western for the 1962–1963 season.

<i>Bonanza season 5</i> Season of television series

The fifth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 22, 1963, with the final episode airing May 24, 1964. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort, and season five starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 34 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. Season five was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. It ranked #2 in the Nielsen ratings, the highest rated Western for the 1963-1964 season.

<i>Bonanza season 6</i> Season of television series

The sixth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 20, 1964, with the final episode airing May 23, 1965. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort, and season six starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 34 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. Season six was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. It moved up to capture the #1 spot in the Nielsen ratings for the 1964-1965 season, a position it would hold for three straight seasons.

<i>Bonanza season 7</i> Season of television series

The seventh season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 12, 1965, with the final episode airing May 15, 1966. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort. Season seven starred Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. It was the first season without Pernell Roberts. The season consisted of 33 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. Season seven was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. It ranked #1 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1965-1966 season, the second of three straight seasons in the top spot.

<i>Bonanza season 8</i> Season of television series

The eighth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 11, 1966, with the final episode airing May 14, 1967. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort. Season eight starred Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 34 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. Season eight was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. It was the third straight season the show held the #1 position in the Nielsen ratings.

<i>Bonanza season 9</i> Season of television series

The ninth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 17, 1967, with the final episode airing July 28, 1968. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort. Season nine starred Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 34 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. Season nine was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. After three straight seasons at number one, it slipped to #6 in the Nielsen ratings.

<i>Bonanza season 10</i> Season of television series

The tenth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 15, 1968, with the final episode airing May 11, 1969. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort. Season ten starred Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 30 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. Season ten was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. It was #2 in the Nielsen ratings, the highest rated Western for the season.

<i>Bonanza season 11</i> Season of television series

The eleventh season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 14, 1969, with the final episode airing April 19, 1970. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort. Season eleven starred Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 28 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. Season eleven was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. It was #3 in the Nielsen ratings, behind #2 Gunsmoke.

<i>Bonanza season 12</i> Season of television series

The twelfth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 13, 1970, with the final episode airing April 11, 1971. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort. Season twelve starred Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 28 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. Season twelve was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. It finished the season at #9 in the Nielsen ratings, behind #5 Gunsmoke.

<i>Bonanza season 13</i> Season of television series

The thirteenth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 19, 1971, with the final episode airing April 2, 1972. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort. Season thirteen starred Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. The season consisted of 26 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. Season thirteen was aired on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. It fell to #20 in the Nielsen ratings.

<i>Bonanza season 14</i> Season of television series

The fourteenth season of the American Western television series Bonanza premiered on NBC on September 12, 1972, with the final episode airing January 16, 1973. This was the final season for the series. The series was developed and produced by David Dortort. Season fourteen starred Lorne Greene and Michael Landon, the first season following the death of Dan Blocker. The season consisted of 16 episodes of a series total 431 hour-long episodes, the entirety of which was produced in color. Season fourteen moved to a new timeslot of Tuesdays from 8:00 pm–9:00 pm on NBC. The final season fell out of the top 30 in the Nielsen ratings.

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Shapiro 1997, pp. 77, 81.
  2. ↑ Shapiro 1997, pp. 5, 65–157.
  3. 1 2 3 "TV Ratings: 1961–1962". ClassicTVGuide.com. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 17.
  5. 1 2 Shapiro 1997, p. 8.
  6. ↑ Greenland 2015.
  7. ↑ Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 54.
  8. ↑ Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 61.
  9. 1 2 Brooks & Marsh 2007, p. 164.
  10. ↑ Leiby & Leiby 2015, p. 19.
  11. ↑ "Television Academy Emmy Awards & Nominations—Bonanza". emmys.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.

Bibliography

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