

At the beginning of the series, he was 44. Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright : Lorne Greene played the widowed father of three, Ben Cartwright. The cast wasn’t particularly famous before the show, but they stole the hearts of their many viewers during the program.
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They made sure the episode was aired again during a rerun season, but some TV stations blatantly refused to air it. The producers reckon that the show’s sponsors were worried about the reactions the episode would get. However, he got arrested as a fugitive slave. In this same episode, Bowers, an African American freedman, came to perform. He was angry at the decision, which was prejudiced. At the beginning of the episode, Adam discussed the Supreme Court Dred Scott vs. The second time the show addressed racism was in season 5, episode 30 (“Enter Thomas Bowers”). Ben confronted the teacher, and he promised to work on himself. The bigot who wasn’t particularly aware of his bias expelled a bright Jewish student Albert Michelson for his experiments. In this episode, Ben Cartwright confronted a school teacher who prejudiced against minority students. In season 3, episode 26 (look to the Stars), aired on the 18th of March 1962, bigotry and Anti-Semitism were the focus. They didn’t just talk about it they came from a perspective that many people respected-a humane approach.
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The series offered what most people wanted in a Western without conforming entirely to the general Western theme.īonanza took a bold step when people were averse to conversations about racism, especially on television. It covered different social issues, stirring up difficult conversations. Social Issues Bonanza Coveredīonanza wasn’t like any other regular Western it was more flexible. The show’s storyline moved from the Cartwright’s differences to how they ran their mining business, managed their ranch, and dealt with outsiders who threatened to disrupt their peace.

Every time the Cartwrights wanted to meet the town’s sheriff, Roy Coffee, or his deputy, they would go to Virginia City. The closest town to the Ponderosa, which is at the shore of Lake Tahoe, was Virginia City. Ponderosa is the name of pine in the West and most likely where the ranch’s name originated. In the song “saga of the ponderosa” by Lorne Greene, he mentions that the Ponderosa is about half a million acres. The family lived on a ranch called the Ponderosa in Nevada. Throughout the series, you would see how different the brothers were from each other. The last son, Joseph or little Joe Cartwright, was hot-headed and rash. The second son, Eric Warren “Hoss” Cartwright, was oafish, lovable, and warm. He was an architect and built the family’s ranch. They had contrasting personalities and the first few seasons were about them trying to get around their differences.Īdam Cartwright, the first son, was responsible and serious. His sons couldn’t have been more dissimilar. They had each given Ben Cartwright a son before their death. The series focused on the daily adventures of the Cartwrights, consisting of their father, Ben Cartwright, and his three sons Adam, Eric “Hoss,” and Joseph “Little Joe.” Ben Cartwright, who had lost his three wives at different times, ran his family and business.īonanza had flashback episodes dedicated to each wife. This post contains more information on the American western Bonanza. For such a massive and widely viewed show, fans expected a grand ending but the unexpected death of Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright) before the filming of the final season destabilized the show. In addition, the show didn’t end the way many people expected it to go. What happened in the last episode of Bonanza is not what many fans have imagined. For example, he previously went on a shooting spree, wildly shooting around until he dropped dead. Bill-is a man who has been mentally affected by war and captivity. What Happened in the Last Episode of Bonanza?īonanza ‘s final episode, “The Hunter,” aired on the 16th of January 1973. Conclusion to What Happened in the Last Episode of Bonanza.What Happened in the Last Episode of Bonanza?.
