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Bonanza

This show falls into the category of a western.   The premise of the show was to follow the Cartwright family as they went through their lives.   The scenes take place in three primary locations:  the ranch house, one of the western towns, or on the range. Other locations are used in a less regular manner. Remember, like most ranchers, these men were more or less tied to the land.

These episodes were all family friendly. There was some mild language and sexual innuendo given the time period these shows were taped. The guidelines against sex and violence weren’t in effect yet so a gunfight or a heartfelt embrace were rather common.   The writers stuck to real life situations with no writing devices used such as supernatural or clairvoyant powers, superhuman abilities or extreme talents.  Adam Cartwright was depicted as having a fine singing voice and this was utilized on the show. Little Joe was considered a good horseman.

The "formula" that was used by the series writers included a crisis that would be handled by the family as a whole. While one episode or another would often feature one man heavily, the solution to the problem of the week was generally found in the family values that Ben Cartwright tried to instill in his sons. This show used the word “hero” in the highest sense…..the men were seen as loyal, intelligent, brave, strong, and good-hearted.

The family members that were the center of the show are as follows:

Ben Cartwright is the father who was married three times. Each marriage resulted in one son. Each wife died tragically at a young age. He was totally dedicated to his children and his own high standards of living life as a good man. He built the Ponderosa from a small holding into a ranch, and he would defend his property and his family from all comers. Strong willed, Ben would often find himself in situations where his moral conviction was tested to the max.

Adam Cartwright is the eldest son. College educated as an architect, he came back to help his father with the ranch. Adam is the solid down to earth sort that begrudgingly shows a sensitive side. He’s well read and enjoys music, playing the guitar very well and singing on key. The most creative of the three sons, it’s often Adam who has that spark of inspiration that will resolve a problem.

Eric “Hoss” Cartwright is the middle son. He is the gentle giant with the heart of gold. A large man, Hoss is often seen as the most gullible of the sons. However, in moments that require insight into the human heart and mind, Hoss is the pro. He sees through most pretenses and can be counted on for his loyalty and determination.

Joseph “Little Joe” Cartwright is the youngest son. Volatile and, at times, irresponsible, Joe lives for the moment. He lives life passionately and believes strongly to the point of obsession. His natural charm and easy smile make him the babe magnet of the family. Week after week, charming young ladies would find him irresistible only to be set aside for one reason or another. Throughout the years the show was on television, it was often the marked changes in Joe as he “grew up” that provided many of the plot lines for the writers. A great deal of Bonanza often dealt with Little Joe coming of age.

The remainder of the cast can be broken up as follows: Hop Sing, the cook, was a regular on the show. This uprooted Chinaman had an ongoing fight with Hoss for encroaching on his kitchen in search of snacks. Sheriff Coffee, the aging but highly capable sheriff of Virginia City, was a personal friend of Ben Cartwright’s and often took a personal interest in keeping the “boys” in line. 

The stories centered around the family and their struggles on the ranch and with their personal lives. This show was very much about relationships and every possible angle of their entanglements was investigated by the show’s writers. It should be noted again that this show was primarily shot prior to the violence on television guidelines so you do see guns, guns being fired, people getting shot or injured and romantic situations that stop short of today’s standards but that were explicit in their own way.