Bonanza
Sign in to saveAlso known as Ponderosa
Bonanza is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, Bonanza is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on American network television (behind CBS's Gunsmoke), and one of the longest-running, live-action American series. The show continues to air in syndication. The show is set in the 1860s and centers on the wealthy Cartwright family, who live in the vicinity of Virginia City, Nevada, bordering Lake Tahoe. The series initially starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, D
TV series · TMDB
★ 7.5The High-Sierra adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their ranch while helping the surrounding community.
- Aired
- 1959–1973
- Seasons
- 14 · 431 episodes
- Status
- Ended
- Created by
- David Dortort
- Network
- NBC
- Genres
- Western, Action & Adventure, Drama, Family
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
Key facts
- Television.image
- Bonanza title screen.jpg
- Television.alt_name
- Ponderosa
- Television.genre
- Western
- Television.creator
- David Dortort
- Television.open_theme
- "Bonanza"
- Television.end_theme
- "Bonanza"
- Television.country
- United States
- Television.language
- English
- Television.num_seasons
- 14
- Television.num_episodes
- 431
- Television.list_episodes
- List of Bonanza episodes
- Television.runtime
- 49–50 minutes (excluding commercials)
- Television.company
- NBC Productions
- Television.channel
- NBC
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Duration
- 50
- FilmAffinity ID
- 136587
- Image
- Bonanza full cast 1962 larger.jpg
Show 6 more facts
- number of episodes
- 431
- Commons category
- Bonanza (TV series)
- start time
- 1959-09-12
- end time
- 1973-01-16
- number of seasons
- 14
- title
- Ponderosa
via Wikidata · CC0
~34 min read
Article
25 sectionsContents
- Premise
- Cast
- Episodes
- Background and production
- Set and filming
- Costumes
- Hair styles
- Music
- Cancellation
- Themes
- Release
- Broadcast history and ratings
- Home media
- Other media information
- Television movies
- Prequel
- ''Bonanza'' merchandise
- Legacy
- Accolades
- Awards and nominations
- Other honors
- See also
- Citations
- General bibliography
- External links
Bonanza is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, Bonanza is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on American network television (behind CBS's Gunsmoke), and one of the longest-running, live-action American series. The show continues to air in syndication. The show is set in the 1860s and centers on the wealthy Cartwright family, who live in the vicinity of Virginia City, Nevada, bordering Lake Tahoe. The series initially starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon and later featured (at various times) Guy Williams, David Canary, Mitch Vogel and Tim Matheson. The show is known for presenting pressing moral dilemmas.
The title "Bonanza" is a term used by miners in regard to a large vein or deposit of silver ore, from Spanish bonanza (rich ore body) and commonly refers to the 1859 revelation of the Comstock Lode of rich silver ore mines under the town of Virginia City, not far from the fictional Ponderosa Ranch that the Cartwright family operated. The show's theme song, also titled "Bonanza", became a hit song. Only instrumental renditions, without Ray Evans's lyrics, were used during the series's long run.