Category:Bonanza – Season 5

Season 5 (Episode 23)

Air Date: 8 March 1964

Writer: Lois Hire

Director: Don McDougall

Synopsis
It’s the first day of spring and the Cartwrights prepare for the worst. Hoss’ annual bout of spring fever causes a lot of problems for them and Sheriff Coffee. After accidently injuring Sheriff Coffee’s hand, Hoss decides to make amends by going to collect a prisoner but gets the towns mixed up. Hoss ends up in a quiet town and soon finds himself accused of robbing the town bank. With the help of Miss Looney, an old prospector, Hoss sets about proving his innocence.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Ray Teal (Sheriff Roy Coffee)

Guest Stars
Glenda Farrell (Miss Looney), Stanley Adams (Sheriff Tate), Lloyd Corrigan (Jesse Simmons), Jay Lanin (Ward), Raymond Guth (Stagecoach Driver – Al), Olan Soule (Herman, The Telegrapher), Maudie Prickett (Middle-aged Woman in Bank)

Notable Guest Stars

Glenda Farrell

Production Notes

• This episode was the highest rated episode with an average audience rating of 41.6, with an audience of 21,340,000 and a share of 62

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Hoss
• Miss Looney’s real name is Loulabelle Watkins

Season 5 (Episode 22)

Air Date: 1 March 1964

Writer: Frank Cleaver

Director: Tay Garnett

Synopsis

Recurring Actors/Characters
Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing)

Guest Stars
Anjanette Comer (Joan Wingate), Jack Bighead (Chief Wabuska), Wynn Pearce (John Turner), Ray Hemphill (Party Guest #1), Gene Tyburn (Tom), Bill Yeo (Party Guest #2)

Notable Guest Stars

Anjanette Comer

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Ben

Season 5 (Episode 21)

Air Date: 23 February 1964

Writer: Robert Sabaroff

Director: Don McDougall

Synopsis

Guest Stars
Slim Pickens (Big Jim Leyton), Robert Middleton (Grizzly Martingale), Laurie Mitchell (Julie Martingale), Byron Foulger (Parson), Billy M. Greene (Storekeeper), Mike Ragan (Townsman), Ray Hemphill (Townsman), Bruce McFarlane (Harry), Bill Clark (Wesley)

Notable Guest Stars

Slim Pickens

Production Notes

• Pernell Roberts does not appear in this episode
• This is the second appearance of Slim Pickens as Big Jim Leyton

Episode Notes

• Saloon: The Gold Nugget

Season 5 (Episode 20)

Air Date: 16 February 1964

Writer: Tom Seller

Director: Tay Garnett

Synopsis
While out hunting for a mountain lion, Joe accidentally shots Tessa Caldwell causing her to go blind. Because of his guilt, Joe ends up proposing to the girl. However, other circumstances arise that cause Tessa to make a rash decision – one that both her and Joe may regret in the future.

Guest Stars
Marlyn Mason (Tessa Caldwell), Denver Pyle (Marcus Caldwell), Steve Harris (Lon Caldwell), John Matthews (Minister), Gail Bonney (Mrs. Partridge)

Notable Guest Stars

Marlyn Mason

Denver Pyle

Production Notes

• The ratings information for this episode – rating: 41.4; audience: 21,240,000; share: 60
• In one scene, Denver Pyle mentions that his character is 53 years old. In fact Pyle, himself was only about 44 at the time of this episode.

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Joe

Season 5 (Episode 19)

Air Date: 9 February 1964

Writer: William L. Stuart

Director: Joseph Sargent

Synopsis
Laura Dayton hires Ward Bannister as a ranch hand. He gives a wolf cub to her daughter Peggy to keep as a pet much to Adam’s dismay. This causes a rift between Adam and Laura. Meanwhile an old friend of Bannister’s, James Canfield arrives in Virginia with an offer that Laura finds too good to refuse.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Kathie Browne (Laura Dayton), Katie Sweet (Peggy Dayton)

Guest Stars
Peter Breck (Ward Bannister), Lee Henry (James Canfield), Roy Barcroft (Dave Wilkins), Lincoln Demyan (Lane), Lew Brown (Liege), Robert Broyles (Tom), Norman Leavitt (Telegrapher – Al), Charles Seel (Banker – Weems)

Notable Guest Stars

Peter Breck

Production Notes

• Michael Landon and Dan Blocker do not appear in this episode
• The ratings information for this episode – rating: 41.0; audience: 21,030,000; share: 58
• The second of four episodes featuring Laura Dayton and her daughter Peggy

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Adam
• This episode takes place over at least a couple of months
• The Cartwrights have a broker in San Francisco
• Frank Devers is a lawyer
• VC Business: Virginia City Hotel

Season 5 (Episode 18)

Air Date: 2 February 1964

Writer: William Bruckner

Director: Don McDougall

Synopsis

Recurring Actors/Characters
Ray Teal (Sheriff Roy Coffee)

Guest Stars
John Dehner (Jean Lafitte), Jean Willes (Molly Travers), Sheldon Allman (Walter Betts), Harry Swoger (Amos Whittaker), Bern Hoffman (Bartender), Joan Connors (Sally)

Notable Guest Stars

John Dehner

Production Notes

• Pernell Roberts does not appear in this episode
• The ratings information for this episode – rating: 40.5; audience: 20,780,000; share: 58

Episode Notes

• Walter A. Betts is an Attorney at Law
• Saloon: The Gold Lily
• Town: Morgan City

Season 5 (Episode 17)

Air Date: 26 January 1964

Writer: Robert Vincent Wright

Director: Lewis Allen

Synopsis

Guest Stars
Keenan Wynn (Sgt. O’Rourke), Douglas Dick (Capt. Merced), Joseph Turkel (Private Peters), Dave Willock (Hotel Clerk), Hugh Sanders (Billings), Owen Bush (Dugan), Bill Yeo (Soldier)

Notable Guest Stars

Dave Willock

Keenan Wynn

Production Notes

• Pernell Roberts does not appear in this episode
• Michael Landon also plays Angus Borden

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Joe
• Location: Fort Mead
• Town: Lode City

Season 5 (Episode 16)

Air Date: 19 January 1964

Writer: Denne Bart Petitclerc

Director: William F. Claxton

Synopsis

Recurring Actors/Characters
Ray Teal (Sheriff Roy Coffee), Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing)

Guest Stars
Teresa Wright (Katherine Saunders), Dee Pollock (Eden Saunders), Sherwood Price (Carl Miller), Zon Murray (White Shirted Posse Member)

Notable Guest Stars

Teresa Wright

Season 5 (Episode 15)

Air Date: 12 January 1964

Writer: Alex Sharp

Director: Don McDougall

Synopsis
Adam, Hoss, and Joe vie for the attention of Delores Tenino, the daughter of a Californian rancher who is visiting the Ponderosa.

Guest Stars
Marianna Hill (Dolores Tenino), Nestor Paiva (Senor Tenino), Tol Avery (Troutman), Frank Ferguson (Gigger Thurman), Mike Ragan (Saloon Owner)

Notable Guest Stars

Frank Ferguson

Marianna Hill

Production Notes

• This episode was originally due to air on 24 November, 1963 but was moved because of the ongoing coverage of John F. Kennedy’s assassination

Episode Notes

• Book: The Art of Bull-Fighting

Detailed synopsis and analysis

Season 5 (Episode 14)

Air Date: 5 January 1964

Teleplay: Preston Wood

Story: george waGGner

Director: Tay Garnett

Synopsis

Guest Stars
Andrew Duggan (Judge David Knowlton), Patricia Blair (Lila Conrad), Cathy O’Donnell (Sarah Knowlton), Don Haggerty (Dolph Rimbro), Stuart Randall (Sheriff Cogan), Scott Peters (Gabe Rimbro), Don O’Kelly (Arnie Rimbro), Don Wilbanks (Deputy Bob Hagen), Lindsay Workman (Mr. Jarvis)

Notable Guest Stars

Patricia Blair

Andrew Duggan

Cathy O’Donnell

Production Notes

• Lorne Greene and Dan Blocker do not appear in this episode

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwrights: Joe and Adam
• Towns: Silver Hills; Harleyville

Season 5 (Episode 13)

Air Date: 29 December 1963

Writer: Peter Packer

Director: Christian Nyby

Synopsis
After winning a contract to build a railroad trestle, Ben starts driving his men and himself hard to get the job completed on time. Things start to fall apart when they fall behind and equipment fails. Ignoring Hoss, Ben decides to use a faulty block to lift timber. The block fails, killing one of the workers, Gabe. Ben is injured while trying to rescue Gabe and begins to blame himself for the man’s death. The Cartwrights fall further behind as Ben continues to withdraw. Adam, Hoss, and Joe realise that it’s up to them to get the job done on time.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing)

Guest Stars
Jay C. Flippen (Barney Fuller), Melora Conway (Martha Fletcher), Raymond Guth (Otis Watts), Ralph Moody (Gabe), Butch Patrick (Jody Fletcher), Dan Riss (Railroad Agent), Roy Engel (Doctor), Roy Jenson (Jesse)

Notable Guest Stars

Roy Engel

Jay C. Flippen

Butch Patrick

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Ben
• Otis Watts owns a livery and haulage business
• Town: San Francisco
• Business: Central Pacific Railroad

Season 5 (Episode 12)

Air Date: 22 December 1963

Writer: Robert V. Barron

Director: John Florea

Synopsis

Recurring Actors/Characters
Ray Teal (Sheriff Roy Coffee)

Guest Stars
Sean McClory (Prof. James Aloysius McCarthy), Robert Sorrells (Charlie), Clegg Hoyt (Dorsel), Frank Delfino (Timothy), Harry Monte (Michael), Felix Silla (Sean), Nels Nelson (Bobby), Roger Arroya (Audie)

Notable Guest Stars

Sean McClory

Production Notes

• This episode was nominated for an American Cinema Editors (Eddie) award for the editing done by Marvin Coil

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Hoss