My thoughts on Bonanza: Even when as a small child i knew TV shows like Bonanza and the characters that were played on them were not real people, yet every week i too was swept-up with the happenings of the Cartwright family just like the millions of you guys watching On your TV sets in the 1960s or 1970s. What set Bonanza apart from a lot of the television shows of its day was the fact that “we really liked these guys” and cared about what was happening to them each week, i know i did. Bonanza was one of the first shows to be broadcast in “living color” as they said in the 1960s, yet i started and finished watching this TV show with a black and white zenith TV set. In fact my family didn’t own a color TV until late 1977 mostly because our b/w set was working perfectly, and also because we didn’t have the money to switch to a color set. I remember watching Bonanza and actually looked forward to the next week when my hero’s would be back for another week getting through another scrape and coming out somehow on top, and doing it together as a family. And i know your not supposed to say something like this but i really have to, those times really were the good old days when families actually ate dinner with each other regardless if you were poor or not. Kids went outside to play and didn’t isolate themselves with things like computers and games, and you knew your neighbor . Respect was earned and not expected, and if you made a mistake you most likely owned up to it without blaming a Disease that no one can find or even pronounce! And so Amish Stories honors Bonanza as a wonderful TV show that i still love today. And they really and truly were the good old days…………. Richard
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The Cartwright’s
allowed all of us to step into their lives each week
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Dont let that smile fool you, you knew little Joe was up to something! |
Ben Cartwright was a fair and honest man who was a great businessman, but cared about his family much more than money. |
Ben and the boys on a high and celebrating the moment
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And sharing the low moments. You just know little Joe was responsible for this one. Dragging poor Hoss with him! |
And you knew the Cartwright’s were in trouble if Ben and Adam were in Jail too !
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Adam was the eldest son, he was bright and the more level headed of the 3 sons |
In what looks to be a rare moment of Hoss turning the tables on little Joe, as dad proudly looks on
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Bonaza facts:Initially, the series aired on Saturday evenings opposite Perry Mason . The Saturday night ratings were dismal and Bonanza was soon targeted for cancellation. It was kept on the air as it was one of the first series to be filmed and broadcast in color, including scenes of picturesque Lake Tahoe Nevada. NBC’s corporate parent RCA , used the show to spur sales of RCA-manufactured color television sets (RCA was also the primary sponsor of the series during its first two seasons). Given one last chance, it was moved to Sundays at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, for new sponsor Chevrolet (replacing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show). The new time slot caused the series to soar, and it eventually reached number one by 1964, an honor it would keep until 1967. By 1970, it had become the first series ever to wind up in the Top Five for nine consecutive seasons (a record that would stand for decades) and thus established itself as the single biggest hit television series of the 1960s. Bonanza ran on NBC from September 12,1959 to January 16, 1973. It ranks as the longest running western series (behind Gunsmoke).
Ben and the boys might have had their disagreements and fights, but at the end of the day they were a loving family. a family we were all a part of by only just turning the TV on every week, and maybe just for that hour we were all Cartwright’s.
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Ben and the boys selling cars for Chevrolet in 1964. A must see video.
1/2 cup shortening
3 medium onions, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped
Bonanza Images provided from www.dvdtalk.com |
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 tablespoon pickled jalapeno
8 pounds beef chuck (coarse)
2 (15 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
8 tablespoons ground hot chili
4 tablespoons ground mild chili
2 teaspoons cumin
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon liquid pepper
Garlic and onion salt to taste
Water
Heat the shortening in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, peppers, celery and jalapenos. Cook, stirring until onions are translucent.
Add the meat to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until meat is evenly browned. Stir in the remaining ingredients with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 3 hours. Stir often. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Recipe provided from Recipe goldmine. Bonanza facts provided from Wikipedia. The Bonanza TV images used were supplied by www.dvdtalk.com A film review web site and a place to buy classic dvd’s and tapes. And a special thank you to film reviewer Paul Mavis from dvd talk for providing the Bonanza images for this post. Richard from Amish Stories
Comic books from the 1960’s. Did you have any of these?
Bonanza Comic books from 1964 and 1965 provided by www.Newkadia.com
1960s Bonanza lunch boxes. Images provided by www.serioustoyz.com |
Create your own Bonanza art from 1965 |
Lunch box set from 1965. Image provided by www.timewarpmemories.com |
Bonanza 1959-1973
The recipe of the week will be chocolate chip cookies, from an Amish cook book. Look for that this coming Monday. Richard
Just had a pumpkin Whoopie Pie. Last night I went through the paper as our grocery sales goes in effect today. Anyway they had boopie pies. When I got to the store today I had to see what boopie pies were-they are Whoopie Pies. Whoever typed that add didn't know what they were doing. I had one. It was good but not as good as Jean's. Jean said to save her one so she can see what it tastes like. In talking she and I agreed it must be the spices. The one I got at the grocery is kind of bland compared to Jean's. Jean's Whoopie pies are not hot or strong – but they have something in them that these don't. The filling is great but the top and bottom part seem flat. She said maybe they used cake mix instead of Whoopie Recipes. Being borderline diabetic I divided the rest up and put them in the freezer but I am saving one for Jean to taste. My local grocery store has never had Whoopie Pies in there before.
Hi Richard, this was fascinating. Some time back I read about a developer who had bought the Bonanza set and had it open to the public for awhile. Here's a link if you'd like to read about it: http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/laketahoe/a/ponderosa.htm
Hi Jenny and i knew of a resort that was started in the early 1970s and i think the link you have provided is the same one I'm thinking of. Sadly if i am correct this resort closed down for good a few years ago. I know that there are some images from that ponderosa resort online, and it looked like a pretty cool place to visit when open. Richard
That was some whoopie pie story Marilyn,lol. Its funny i bought a banana cake with a cream cheese topping last night at the Dutch way bakery in Lebanon county. So i look forward to eating that tonight, and they also had a lot of variety's of whoopie pies among other baked goods. Its a favorite market for me to go to, and its proved to be a favorite of the Amish and Mennonites of Lebanon county. And I'm not surprised that Jeans pies are better than store bought, and i look forward to posting 3 of Jeans recipes for this Wednesday. Richard
Neat blog post-I have to admit I never got into bonanza, my preteen show of choice was Little house, I actually don't like the show anymore after reading the books (they are MUCH better than the show)I would probably like Bonanza now if I had a chance to see it :)We got rid of our cable.BTW 8 POUNDS of meat in that chili? darn!Sounds like a good recipe tho-maybe scaling it down to 2 lbls would work 😀
Love the Bonanza blog and looking forward to the Big Valley too!We could always tell if the show that week was going to be 'serious' or 'full of fun/slightly serious' just by the music! We 4 kids along with our parents loved that show – truly FAMILY entertainment!
I remember Bonanza. I was more into Little House on the Prarie. Love the simplicity of their lives, even with the drama of the shows.Just wanted to say thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog 🙂
My next one should be of the Walton's, and will be much shorter than this post was. I don't think they made a lunch box from this TV show or any other kind of merchandise, but i could be wrong. Richard
And for some reason even though i watched Gunsmoke a little, most of those characters were not even close to being warm and fuzzy like the cast on Bonanza. So its not on my short list of shows that i really loved, so i wont be doing anything on this blog of that one. Richard
Gosh, I had no idea they published Bonanza comic books. Bonanza was one of my dad's favorite TV shows, so we watched it like regulars.
I had no idea either Leigh until i started getting material for this Bonanza post. But then again I'm not surprised because this show was hugely popular. Richard
WOW! Richard, this must be a record for the most amount of posts! Good job friend ! ~ Lissa
Any help scaling down that chili recipe? 🙂
Hi anonymous, i went back to the source to see if i had missed the servings size and still couldn't find it. It looks like a recipe for some hungry cowboys, and id say for about 10-12 people maybe. I'm sorry anonymous, but please stop by for 3 of Jeans recipes which i will post this Wednesday, i think you will like at least one of them. Richard
And no Lissa I've had a few post with comments that went into the 80s , But this is a very good turn-out and i really appreciate all of the readers who took the time to post a comment. Richard
Bonanza is one of my family's favorite shows. My youngest daughter even asked to have a Bonanza themed birthday party a few years ago and she dressed up as Little Joe. It's definitely a very quality and classic bit of television entertainment.
Hi Jenn and i love the fact that your young daughter saw a quality in Bonanza at her age. I think Bonanza still can be enjoyed by any age group, and is a wonderful show regardless of when it was made. How many TV shows will stand the test of time like this show made now, I'm still trying to think and I'm coming-up empty! Richard
Ty for that Richard-I will look for the recipes and try scaling down this one-guess I was too lazy to do the math 🙂
Well you could cut it in half if that helps, and save the rest. Im sure that it will turn out great. Let me know how it turns out. Richard
I didn't see anything in this post about Roosters Mr. Amish Stories person. What do us Roosters look like, sandwich meat!……………. Monty the Rooster
Not many people know what what we look like cause they are running from us, like Mr. Amish Stories person!!!……….Love Monty
I only put one said in there ??Monty the Rooster……..
Keep it up Monty, you know im orig from New York now. Enough said,lol. Richard
What a beautiful tribute to your Mother Richard! and you have a nice desk too! (0: ~ Lissa
My whole blog is for my mom, she loved going to Lancaster. And when she was here she was never happier. And thank you for that nice comment Lissa. Richard
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I'm looking forward to putting together that Walton's post. I have not even come close to starting it yet, but when i start a post i do finish it! Richard
Yes I know you will! and by the way I didn't think the Bonanza post was to long I enjoyed it! I speak for my self anyway. ~ Lissa
I'm very happy with the response's from all of the folk's who checked this Bonanza post out Lissa. So it was a very highly rated post and i recieved a lot of hits as well. Plus i truly enjoyed working on this one and remain a huge fan still today. Richard
Of course, you always knew if any young woman was unfortunate enough to fall in love with a Cartwright, she was doomed! They couldn't go marrying off the boys! So before show's end the doomed damsel would meet an untimely end. Loved how you worked in that family dinner comment. I'm a great believer in The Dinner Hour, when everyone in the family sits down at the table together without any electronic distractions!
Yes your very right Jean as the boys always seem to get close to marrying a nice young lady, and then something would happen and "poof" she was gone. And even though they had their disagreements they stood as a family when the chips were down, i really love Bonanza as I'm sure you could tell. Richard
Thanks for the Bonanza memories.I had an uncle that went west in winter, & brought me back one of 'Hoss's hats. I cherished that for years.
ah yes, THIS was my favorite show back in the days! Of course I had a crush on Little Joe. I cried the time his new paint horse out-raced a train and Joe was able to save a little girl (??) and the horse died.great tribute! – The Equestrian Vagabond
Thanks for re-visiting this Bonanza post folks, I had fun doing this one! Richard