Category:Bonanza – Season 1

Season 1 (Episode 23)

Air Date: 20 February 1960

Writer: Donald S. Sanford

Director: Lewis Allen

Synopsis
Dave Walker, a ranch hand at the Ponderosa is arrested by a U.S. Marshal Dowd, who shows signs of hatred towards the man. Determined to take Walker to Los Angeles, so that he can stand trial for murder, the Marshal commandeers a stage coach. To make sure that Walker makes it alive to Los Angeles, Adam and Hoss decide to accompany them.

Guest Stars
Claude Akins (Marshal Emmett Dowd), Fintan Meyler (Andrea Strasser), Wesley Lau (Dave Walker), John Wengraf (Dr. Anton Strasser), Will Wright (Micah Bailey), Ron Hayes (Hurd Cutler), Bud Osborne (Charlie), Tom Greenway (Deputy Dan)

Notable Guest Stars

Claude Akins

Fintan Meyler

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Adam

Season 1 (Episode 22)

Air Date: 13 February 1960

Writer: Robert E. Thompson

Director: Felix Feist

Synopsis
A sheepherder, on his way to California, makes up his mind to travel across the Ponderosa, with his large flock of sheep. Ben is determined to use force to get the sheepherder off his land, but Adam is convinced that there is a much more peaceful solution to the problem.

Guest Stars
Everett Sloane (Jeb Drummond), Ray Daley (Billy Drummond), Ken Lynch (Collier), Jerry Oddo (Wheeler), Glenn Holtzman (Sam), Tom Reese (Burton Drummond)

Notable Guest Stars

Everett Sloane

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwrights: Ben and Adam
• This episode mentions that the Ponderosa consists of 55,000 acres

Season 1 (Episode 21)

Air Date: 6 February 1960

Teleplay: David Dortort and Leonard Heideman

Story: Morris Lee Green

Director: Christian Nyby

Synopsis
A Spanish heiress arrives to claim land that belongs to her family under The Spanish Land Grant, which includes a small part of the Ponderosa. The Cartwrights decide to fight the claim in court.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing)

Guest Stars
Patricia Medina (Isabella Marie De La Cuesta/Rosita Morales), Sebastian Cabot (Don Antonio Luga), Paul Picerni (Sanchez), Celia Lovsky (Donna Theresa Esperanza), Ned Wever (Judge Blaton), Michael Ragan (High Card Smith), Salvador Baguez (Proprietor), John Merrick (Andy Logan), Claudia Bryar (Mary Logan), Stuart Randall (Sheriff Roy Coffee), Genaro Gomez (Spanish Dancer)

Notable Guest Stars

Sebastian Cabot

Celia Lovsky

Patricia Medina

Michael Ragan

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Adam

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