The character of “Adam Cartwright” (portrayed by actor Pernell Roberts) was the most popular Cartwright on Bonanza (1959-1973). He was the eldest son of Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) and the brother of Little Joe (Michael Landon) and Hoss (Dan Blocker).
Adam was known for his strong moral compass and his strict adherence to the law, which often put him at odds with his father and brothers. He was also known for his intelligence, resourcefulness, and eloquent way of speaking.
His character was a fan favorite and he remains the most popular Cartwright on the iconic series.
Adam left the show in 1965 and returned for a brief guest starring role in 1972 for the episode “The Train” to say goodbye to his father.
Who made the most appearances in the TV series Bonanza?
Michael Landon was the actor who had the most appearances in the TV series Bonanza, which ran from 1959-1973. He played the character of ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright in the series, becoming one of the show’s main protagonists.
Landon was the only actor to appear in all 430 episodes of the show and was on screen for more than 1,600 hours of Bonanza. He also wrote and directed several episodes throughout the run of the show.
Landon was part of the entire run of the series, from it’s debut in 1959 to its final episode in 1973, exceeding even his costar, Lorne Greene (Pa Cartwright) by two episodes. His commitment and dedication to the show was even more impressive when you consider that he wrote and directed some episodes of Bonanza in the same years in which he was also acting in the series.
Who was the first Adam on Bonanza?
Adam Cartwright was the eldest and at times the most responsible of Ben Cartwright’s sons and the first Adam on the popular television show, Bonanza. He was portrayed by Pernell Roberts and appeared in the show from 1959 to 1965.
Adam was originally from Pennsylvania and was college-educated, the only Cartwright with such a distinction. He was a civil engineer for the Central Pacific Railroad, which his father had helped to form, and eventually went on to become a rancher in Virginia City, Nevada.
While living in Virginia City, he served as Justice of the Peace and was often consulted as an expert in civil and criminal matters. Adam was characterized by his dedication to justice and was often seen protecting the rights of the less fortunate or championing unpopular causes.
While he was a serious and thoughtful man, his love for adventure and his skill with a gun often led him into a variety of dangerous situations. He was especially close to his younger brother Hoss and frequently took him under his wing and tried to teach him the importance of education and hard work.
Did Pernell Roberts regret leaving Bonanza?
Overall, Pernell Roberts did not regret leaving the show Bonanza. He was the first actor to ever leave a long running television show without a contract dispute and it wasn’t an easy decision for him.
In a 1994 New York Times interview he said, “It was painful for me,” but added that he was “unsure whether the advice the network gave was right for me, and I left. ” Later in the same interview he said, “I thought I could best serve my art and humanity by leaving, and I think that was served.
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Roberts had committed to the show for six seasons and felt that it was becoming increasingly commercialized and predictable. He was determined to move on with his career and focus more on his activism work.
Roberts was an advocate for civil rights, spoke out against the Vietnam War and was a vocal opponent of South African apartheid.
In a separate 2006 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Roberts reiterated that he had no regrets about leaving Bonanza. He said: “I’m glad I did. I did a lot of other projects that involved even more controversial issues and brought a lot of attention to causes that would not have had the attention had I stayed on the show”.
Roberts acted in numerous TV and film roles after Bonanza and returned to the Bonanza universe in subsequent shows like Bonanza: The Next Generation. He continued his activism until his death in 2010.
Overall, Roberts may have had mixed emotions and sadness at the time of his Bonanza departure but in the end, he felt it was the right decision. He went on to have a successful career and use his platform to promote activism, a legacy that he would not have been able to do had he stayed with Bonanza.
Which show ran longer Gunsmoke or Bonanza?
Gunsmoke ran longer than Bonanza by a significant amount. Gunsmoke began airing in 1955 and ran for 20 seasons until its finale in 1975. Bonanza, on the other hand, ran for 14 seasons until its finale in 1973.
This made Gunsmoke the longest-running prime-time scripted television western series in US television history until it was surpassed by The Simpsons in 2009. During its broadcast, Gunsmoke amassed 635 episodes.
Bonanza, on the other hand, had 431 episodes by the time it ended. Also, unlike Bonanza, Gunsmoke was nominated for five consecutive Emmy awards for Outstanding Drama Series in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963.
For these reasons, Gunsmoke ran more than Bonanza during its time.
Who wore toupees on Bonanza?
No character on the classic western television show Bonanza wore a toupee. The majority of the cast including Lorne Green, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts and David Canary all wore their own hair and no falsifications.
Even after the passing of Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts, Ray Teal and Mitch Vogel who stepped in to the place of their characters wore their natural hair.
How much did the cast of Bonanza make per episode?
The cast of Bonanza earned between $5,000-$6,000 per episode in the first season, gradually increasing over the series run. By seasons 11 and 12, Michael Landon and Lorne Greene were reportedly making a then-large sum of $75,000 per episode.
During the show’s 14-season run, Dan Blocker, who played Hoss Cartwright, earned $15,000 per episode which was the highest salary among the cast. Moreover, Pernell Roberts earned a reported $25,000 per episode during the show’s last three seasons.
By the end of the series, most of the main cast earned an estimated $25,000-$30,000 per episode.
How many wives did Ben Cartwright have on the show Bonanza?
Ben Cartwright, the patriarch on the western television series Bonanza, had three wives in the course of the show’s 14 seasons. His first wife, Elinore, appears in several flashbacks during the series.
She gave him two sons—Adam and Hoss—before her death. His second wife, Inger, makes a few appearances in the series. Her marriage to Ben was short-lived and she died, leaving him with a third son—Little Joe.
Ben’s third wife, Marie, is seen in the series most often—appearing in 22 episodes. She had no children of her own, but was a strong motherly figure to all of the Cartwright boys. Although each of Ben’s wives was important to him, it was Marie who was closest to him and who provided the most stability to his life on the Ponderosa ranch.
Is Bonanza the longest running show?
No, Bonanza is not the longest running show. It is a western series that aired from 1959 to 1973 and included 14 seasons and 430 episodes. This makes it one of the longest-running shows in television history, but it is not the longest running show.
That distinction belongs to the animated sitcom The Simpsons, which started airing in 1989 and is currently still in production. It has aired for 31 seasons with 669 episodes and counting.
Did Matt Dillon and Ben Cartwright ride the same horse?
No, Matt Dillon and Ben Cartwright did not ride the same horse. Matt Dillon was the character in the classic western TV show Gunsmoke which ran from 1955-1975, while Ben Cartwright was the main character in Bonanza which ran from 1959-1973.
While both shows featured heroic characters traveling the American West, Matt Dillon had a trusty steed named “”Traveller” and Ben Cartwright had his own horse named “Joe”. While both horses were played by the same actor onscreen, Buck McKee, they were never shown riding the same horse in any episode of either show.
Why was Bonanza Cancelled?
Bonanza, one of the most beloved television shows in US history, was cancelled in 1973 after 14 seasons on the air. The show had started to decline in its ratings during the 12th season and NBC executives made the difficult decision to end the show.
According to Michael Landon, who played Little Joe Cartwright, the cancellation came as a surprise to the show’s producers and cast.
Although Bonanza was a popular and successful show, there were several factors that may have contributed to its decline in popularity. One of the major issues was that television viewership was changing – viewers were beginning to prefer more socially relevant programming than just a western.
Additionally, the show’s writers had run out of stories to tell, so they were having to recycle old storylines. This led to dwindling audience numbers which the network was not willing to overlook.
Ultimately, Bonanza was cancelled due to the combination of these factors, as well as the fact that the show had run its course. After 14 successful seasons, it was time to move on.
Why did the show Bonanza end?
Bonanza ended after 14 seasons due to multiple factors. Although the show was still popular and watched by many, NBC decided to end it in 1973 due to the rising cost of production and an increasingly large cast, as well as the fact that it was taking up the prime-time slot on Saturday nights.
It was also believed by the network that airing Bonanza during the prime-time slot made it difficult to expand their reach to newer and younger viewers. Moreover, viewers were increasingly interested in shows that were more based in reality, which Bonanza clearly was not.
Finally, the death of Dan Blocker in 1972 and the desire to focus on more contemporary programming prompted further decisions to end the show.
What scene took Bonanza off the air?
The final episode of the long-running, beloved show Bonanza aired on January 16th, 1973, after having been on the air for 14 years. The episode, titled “The Last Viking”, marks the end of the Ponderosa, the Cartwright family’s ranch.
In the scene that took Bonanza off the air, all four of the Cartwright brothers join hands to pledge their commitment to cherish the memories and traditions of their family. Afterwards, they all bid farewell to each other and their beloved ranch.
As the Cartwright family, and the show, reaches its closing scene, the camera pans over to a statue of the Virgin Mary on a nearby hill, poignantly symbolizing the end of Bonanza.
Why did Bonanza change to Ponderosa?
Bonanza changed to Ponderosa because the original name of the television show was Ponderosa, and executive producer David Dortort believed the new title better captured the stories of the Cartwright family and their sprawling Nevada ranch.
The show had originally been pitched in 1959 as “Bonanza” and ran as such until 1962. When NBC began to promote the show with a new title and theme song, executives at NBC insisted the new title of the show better embodied the rural flavor of the show.
Changing the title to Ponderosa meant the show had an immediate identity and the network quickly embraced the title for both promotional and marketing efforts. Although “Bonanza” has remained a catchphrase within the fandom, the show was rebranded as The Ponderosa from that point forward.
Why is Bonanza called the lost episodes?
Bonanza is called the lost episodes because while filming, many of the original episodes were not given the proper care in preserving them and subsequently lost. Additionally, many of the original negatives and prints were destroyed as the show was being filmed and as a result, much of the original footage is no longer available.
Due to the damage to the negatives and prints, the original Bonanza episodes have become very difficult to find. Even if an episode is found, the audio, visuals, and quality on the episode may be poor, making it difficult to watch or enjoy.
Thankfully, there are many Bonanza fans who are dedicated to preserving the original episodes, and there are a few episodes that have been found after being thought lost for decades. Despite this, Bonanza is still known as the “lost episodes” as a reminder of the many original Bonanza episodes that were lost.