Bonanza – The Trail Gang

Season 2 (Episode 11)

Air Date: 26 November 1960

Writer: Carey Wilber

Director: John Rich

Synopsis
Ben and Hoss are herding cattle back to Nevada when they stop off near the town of Waycross. They are told by the local sheriff, John Logan that there is a deadline that trail gangs aren’t supposed to cross in town. Brazis, the head of the trail gang has other ideas and a young man Sam Jackson has revenge on his mind. Ben and Hoss realise that keeping watch on their trail gang is going to be a lot harder than herding cattle.

Guest Stars
Edgar Buchanan (Hallelujah Hicks), Dick Davalos (Sam Jackson/Johnny Logan), Robert Wilke (Brazis), Linda Lawson (Melinda Bowers), James Westerfield (Sheriff John Logan), Richard Devon (Bruber), Harry Antrim (Judge Armbruster)


Notable Guest Stars

Edgar BuchananEdgar Buchanan
Linda LawsonLinda Lawson
Robert J. WilkeRobert J. Wilke

Production Notes

  • Michael Landon and Pernell Roberts do not appear in this episode

Episode Notes

  • Featured Cartwrights: Ben and Hoss
  • Saloon: The Idle Hour
  • Town: Waycross

 

← The Last Viking The Savage →

Bonanza – The Last Viking

Season 2 (Episode 10)

Air Date: 12 November 1960

Writer: Anthony Lawrence

Director: Johnny Florea

Synopsis
Hoss’ Uncle Gunnar arrives at the Ponderosa on a visit, bringing more than just memories with him.

Guest Stars
Neville Brand (Gunnar Borgstrom), Sonya Wilde (Carrie McClane), Al Ruscio (Vaca), Louis Mercier (Duzzaq), Ric Marlow (Morgan), Herbert Lytton (Abe McClane)


Notable Guest Stars

Neville BrandNeville Brand

Episode Notes

  • Featured Cartwright: Hoss
  • In this episode we find out that the Cartwrights make their own soap
  • Gunnar mentions it has been about 20 years since his sister’s (Hoss’ mother) funeral and the last time he saw Ben. Hoss also mentions he was a little fellow when his mother died and he doesn’t remember much about her. With this in mind, Hoss would be somewhere in his early to mid-20s and Joe would be no more than 19 years old at the time of this episode.

 

← Breed of Violence The Trail Gang →

Bonanza – Breed of Violence

Season 2 (Episode 9)

Air Date: 5 November 1960

Writer: David Lang

Director: Johnny Florea

Synopsis
Dolly Kincaid, the daughter of the Sheriff in Mormon Flats, decides to run away with no-good Vance Dagan, unaware that he and his friends have just robbed the bank in Mormon Flats. Joe and Hoss become involved when they are taken captive by the robbers.

Guest Stars
John Ericson (Vance Dagan), Myrna Fahey (Dolly Kincaid), Val Avery (Sheriff Kincaid), Hal Baylor (Clegg), Norm Alden (Robie), Paul Lukather (Poke), Stuart Randall (Deputy Sheriff), Charles Wagenheim (Trager)


Notable Guest Stars

John EricsonJohn Ericson

Episode Notes

  • Featured Cartwright: Joe
  • Vance Dagan worked as a ranch hand on the Ponderosa
  • Town: Mormon Flats
  • Business: Callahan’s General Store

 

← The Abduction The Last Viking →

Bonanza – The Abduction

Season 2 (Episode 8)

Air Date: 29 October 1960

Writer: Herman Groves

Director: Charles F. Haas

Synopsis
While visiting a travelling carnival in Virginia City, Hoss and Joe find themselves involved in a kidnapping and a murder.

Guest Stars
Gerald Mohr (Phil Reed), Barbara Lawrence (Della Thompson), Jackie Russell (Jennifer Beale), Theodore Marcuse (Roudin), Jerry Oddo (Gerner), Bob Hopkins (Carnival Announcer), Laurie Mitchell (Harriet), Stafford Repp (Sheriff Brady), Robert Maffei (Bull Wyatt), Mary Orozco (Daisy)


Notable Guest Stars

Barbara LawrenceBarbara Lawrence

Episode Notes

  • Featured Cartwrights: Joe and Hoss
  • Sign: Seven Great Shows ~ World Famous Tent Acts ~ The Greatest Show in the West ~ Playing Nightly
  • Attractions: The Fattest Girl Alive; El Fogie – The Sword Swallower; Roudin the Mystic; The Great Wooley; Hercules – The Strong Man; Beautiful Girls – Little Egypt

 

← Day of Reckoning Breed of Violence →

Bonanza – Day of Reckoning

Season 2 (Episode 7)

Air Date: 22 October 1960

Teleplay: Leonard Heideman and R. Hamer Norris

Story: Leonard Heideman

Director: Richard Bartlett

Synopsis
Ben gives an Indian couple some land on the Ponderosa to start a farm with after they save his life. The Indian man reluctantly accepts the gift and they proceed to make a new life for themselves. However, a racist neighbour and the Indian man’s brother have ideas of their own, which could affect the lives of the couple.

Guest Stars
Ricardo Montalban (Matsou), Madlyn Rhue (Hatoya), Anthony Caruso (Largosa), Karl Swenson (Ike Taggart), Roy Engel (Doctor), Gail Bonney (Martha Taggart)


Notable Guest Stars

Anthony CarusoAnthony Caruso
Ricardo MontalbanRicardo Montalban
Madlyn RhueMadlyn Rhue
Karl SwensonKarl Swenson

Episode Notes

  • Featured Cartwright: Ben
  • Indians: The Bannocks and the Shoshoni

 

← Denver McKee The Abduction →

Bonanza – Denver McKee

Season 2 (Episode 6)

Air Date: 15 October 1960

Writers: Fred Freiberger and Steve McNeil

Director: Jacques Tourneur

Synopsis
The Cartwrights investigate a series of killings and robberies at nearby mines. They enlist the help of neighbor Denver McKee, an ex-lawman and Indian scout. Denver’s daughter Connie, who has recently returned from the East, soon finds herself being courted by Joe. However, an unexpected turn of events has dire consequences for Denver and his daughter.

Guest Stars
Franchot Tone (Denver McKee), Natalie Trundy (Connie McKee), Ken Mayer (Miles Briscoe), Stephen Courtleigh (Harley), Bob Barker (Mort), William Fawcett (Pete Redfern), Jim Galante (Corey)


Notable Guest Stars

Franchot ToneFranchot Tone

Episode Notes

  • Featured Cartwright: Joe

 

← The Hopefuls Day of Reckoning →

Bonanza – The Hopefuls

Season 2 (Episode 5)

Air Date: 8 October 1960

Writer: E. Jack Neuman

Director: James Neilson

Synopsis
While in Virginia City Adam encounters a Quaker wagon train and falls in love with Regina, one of the group’s women. After preventing a gun battle between two gamblers, Adam and one of the gamblers decide to accompany the wagon train as it travels west. Adam plans to go with the wagon train as it travels to Slatersville but things don’t go as plan and Adam is faced with a course of action that goes against Regina’s morals.

Guest Stars
Larry Gates (Rev. Jacob Darien), Patricia Donahue (Regina Darien), Dennis Patrick (Sam Board), Charles Maxwell (Shenandoah), Jason Johnson (Matthew), Paul Genge (Mr. Blair), Dick Reeves (Townsman #1), Clegg Hoyt (Townsman #2), Hank Patterson (Blacksmith), Clarence Straight (Older Man), Tom Newman (Card Player)


Notable Guest Stars

Patricia DonahuePatricia Donahue

Episode Notes

  • Featured Cartwright: Adam
  • Location: Cattlemen’s Exchange

 

← The Mill Denver McKee →

Bonanza – The Mill

Season 2 (Episode 4)

Air Date: 1 October 1960

Writer: Halsted Welles

Director: John Rich

Synopsis
An old friend of Ben’s, Joyce Edwards arrives unexpectedly at the Ponderosa followed by her hired ranch hand, Ezekiel. Her husband, Tom, was paralysed in a hunting accident a few years earlier and she tells Ben that she is worried about him losing all his money playing cards with Ezekiel. Ben and his sons decide to build a flour mill to help the Edwards’ make some money. However, Ezekiel has his own plans for the Edwards and uses his influence over Tom to cause trouble resulting in tragedy for the Edwards and Ben.

Guest Stars
Harry Townes (Tom Edwards), Dianne Foster (Joyce Edwards), Claude Akins (Ezekiel)


Notable Guest Stars

Dianne FosterDianne Foster

Episode Notes

  • Featured Cartwright: Ben

 

← Badge Without Honor The Hopefuls →

Bonanza – Badge Without Honor

Season 2 (Episode 3)

Air Date: 24 September 1960

Writer: John Twist

Director: Arthur Lubin

Synopsis
Gerald Eskith, a hired killer posing as a Deputy Marshal arrives looking for Jason Blaine, who is married to a friend of the Cartwrights. Eskith claims that Blaine is a witness in the trial of the Murdock gang and he wants to take Blaine back with him to Sacramento. Adam is suspicious of Eskith and is determined to help escort Blaine back. However, Gideon Cleminger has other plans for Eskith.

Guest Stars
Dan Duryea (U.S. Deputy Marshall Gerald Eskith), Fred Beir (Jason Blaine), Christine White (Mariette Blaine), Wendell Holmes (Judge Rand), Richard Warren (Gideon Cleminger), James Hong (Number One/Hop Sing’s cousin)


Notable Guest Stars

Dan DuryeaDan Duryea

Episode Notes

  • Featured Cartwright: Adam

 

← The Mission The Mill →

Bonanza – The Mission

Season 2 (Episode 2)

Air Date: 17 September 1960

Writer: Robert E. Thompson

Director: James Neilson

Synopsis
Set shortly before the start of the Civil War, an army troop is assigned to escort a wagon full of gold across the desert. The current army scout decides he doesn’t want the job and quits. The army then hire Charlie Trent, a town drunk in Virginia City, to do the job on the advice of Hoss. Charlie wants to prove that he can do the job and asks Hoss to help him. Hoss decides to go with the army troop. However, the troop’s former scout and his friends have other plans for the gold.

Guest Stars
Henry Hull (Charlie Trent), John Dehner (Capt. Pender), Peter Whitney (Lewt Cutter), Don Collier (Sergeant), Harry Carey Jr. (Corporal Burton), Lane Bradford (Monk), Dale Van Sickle (Morgan), Don Rhodes (Latigo), Michael Ragan (Kelly), Ray Hemphill (Johnson), Robert Adler (O’Hara)


Notable Guest Stars

Lane BradfordLane Bradford
Henry HullHenry Hull

Production Notes

  • Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon do not appear in this episode
  • The Freemont Expedition mentioned here was the third one and it happened in 1847

Episode Notes

  • Featured Cartwright: Hoss

 

← Showdown Badge Without Honor →

Bonanza – Showdown

Season 2 (Episode 1)

Air Date: 10 September 1960

Writer: Dean Riesner

Director: Lewis Allen

Synopsis
The Cartwrights hire Sam Kirby shortly after the Virginia City Bank is robbed. Kirby, who was involved in the robbery, plays the innocent fooling everybody except Joe, who is suspicious of the newcomer.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Ray Teal (Sheriff Roy Coffee)

Guest Stars
Ben Cooper (Sam Kirby), Jack Lambert (John Pardo), Jody Warner (Ellie McClure), John Maxwell (Tom McClure), Norman Leavitt (Rudy – Telegrapher), Red Morgan (Linc)

Production Notes

  • Ray Teal’s first appearance as Sheriff Roy Coffee

Episode Notes

  • The Virginia City Bank is owned by Tom McClure

 

← Death at Dawn The Mission →

Bonanza – Crew – Season 2

Art Direction

  • Hal Pereira
  • Earl Hedrick

Assistant Director

  • John E. Burch: Showdown; The Mission; Badge Without Honor; Day of Reckoning; Breed of Violence; The Last Viking; Silent Thunder; The Blood Line; Bank Run; The Rescue; The Duke; Elizabeth, My Love
  • Jack Voglin: The Mill; The Hopefuls; Denver McKee; The Abduction; The Savage; The Ape; The Courtship; The Spitfire; The Fugitive
  • Dale Hutchinson: Vengeance; The Dark Gate; The Gift
  • Ralph E. Black: The Secret; The Dream Riders

Casting Supervisor: William Maybery

Color Consultant: Edward P. Ancona Jr.

Director of Photography

  • William Snyder: Showdown; The Mission; Badge Without Honor; Day of Reckoning; Breed of Violence; The Last Viking; Silent Thunder; The Blood Line; Bank Run; The Rescue; The Duke; Elizabeth, My Love
  • Haskell Boggs: The Mill; The Hopefuls; Denver McKee; The Abduction; The Savage; The Ape; The Courtship; The Spitfire; The Fugitive
  • Walter H. Castle: Vengeance; The Dark Gate; The Gift; The Secret; The Dream Riders

Editor

  • Marvin Coil: Showdown; The Mill; Day of Reckoning; The Savage; Silent Thunder; The Courtship; Bank Run; Vengeance; The Duke; The Dream Riders
  • Everett Douglas: The Mission; The Hopefuls; Breed of Violence; The Blood Line; The Spitfire; The Dark Gate; Elizabeth, My Love
  • Ellsworth Hoagland: Badge Without Honor; Denver McKee; The Abduction; The Last Viking; The Ape; The Fugitive; The Rescue; The Gift; The Secret

Hairstyle Supervision: Nellie Manley

Makeup Supervision: Wally Westmore

Music: David Rose

Process Photography

  • Farciot Edouart: The Last Viking; The Ape; The Courtship; Elizabeth, My Love

Set Decoration

  • Sam Comer
  • Grace Gregory

Sound Recording

  • Harry Lindgren: Showdown; The Mission; Badge Without Honor; The Mill; The Hopefuls; Denver McKee; Day of Reckoning; The Abduction; Breed of Violence; The Last Viking; The Savage; Silent Thunder; The Ape; The Blood Line; The Courtship; The Spitfire; The Fugitive; Vengeance; The Rescue; The Dark Gate; The Duke; The Gift
  • John Wilkinson: Showdown; The Mission; Badge Without Honor; The Mill; The Hopefuls; Denver McKee; Day of Reckoning; The Abduction; Breed of Violence; The Last Viking; The Savage; Silent Thunder; The Ape; The Blood Line; The Courtship; The Spitfire; The Fugitive; Vengeance; The Rescue; The Dark Gate; The Duke; The Gift
  • Lyle Figland: Bank Run; The Secret; The Dream Riders; Elizabeth, My Love
  • Joel Moss: Bank Run; The Secret; The Dream Riders; Elizabeth, My Love

Story Editor

  • Edward W. Walsh: Breed of Violence; The Last Viking; The Savage; Silent Thunder; The Ape; The Blood Line; The Courtship

Technical Advisor

  • Harry E. Cook: Silent Thunder
  • Dave Kashner: The Spitfire

Unit Production Manager: Andrew J. Durkus


Created by David Dortort

Producer: David Dortort

Production Executive: James W. Lane

Associate Producer: Thomas Thompson

Song: “Bonanza” by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans

Processed by Consolidated Film Industries

Filmed at Paramount Studios, Hollywood, California

Episodes Copyright: 1960 (1-16), 1961 (17-34)

TV Ratings (USA): 24.8 (No. 17) Estimated Audience: 11,705,600

NBC Television Network Presentation

 

← Season 1 Season 3 →