'Bonanza': Best Pictures From The Classic TV Show

'Bonanza' TV Show

Bonanza was the unforgettable Western that aired on NBC from 1959 to 1973. The 14-season show followed the timeless adventures of the "Cartwright" family, headed by patriarch "Ben" (Lorne Greene) with his sons "Adam" (Pernell Roberts), "Hoss" (Dan Blocker) and "Little Joe" (Michael Landon).

Revisit the cast, the Ponderosa, the scenery, and more from the show's glory days in this picture gallery. Enjoy!

The Original Cast

Here's a shot of Bonanza's original cowboy quartet. The original four "Cartwrights" were widower patriarch "Ben" (Lorne Greene) and his three sons "Adam" (Pernell Roberts), "Hoss" (Dan Blocker), and "Little Joe" (Michael Landon), all born to different mothers.

The Location

Bonanza was famous for its scenic backdrops of mountains, forests, and ponderosa pines. The show did use some location shooting and stock footage, but most of the series was actually filmed in Hollywood studios.

Star Michael Landon

Michael Landon was a breakout star while a young actor on Bonanza. He played "Little Joe" for all 14 seasons of the show, and stayed with NBC for two more hit shows afterward — Little House on the Prairie and Highway to Heaven.

The Western Street

Bonanza's four original "Cartwrights" are pictured here in town. The location for the show's classic "Western street" was a set built on the Paramount lot in Hollywood, also used for other Westerns of the 1950s and '60s.

Cast Farewell in Season 6

A final shot of the four original "Cartwrights" together. They filled their roles for the first six seasons, before actor Pernell Roberts ("Adam") quit the show, leading to replacements and new stars in the later seasons.

New "Cartwrights"

"Will Cartwright," pictured here, was the first—but only brief—replacement for "Adam." He acted at the height of the show's popularity in season 5, but the character was soon abandoned due to behind-the-scenes drama. Many other stars would join between seasons 7 and 14.

"Hop Sing"

And while the Bonanza cast did change over the years, Victor Sen Yung, as the cook "Hop Sing," was another stable presence for all 14 seasons. "Sheriff Coffee" was another support star with longevity on the TV Western, too.

New Stars

In later seasons, stars including Bing Russell, Tim Matheson, David Canary, and Mitch Vogel joined the cast in support and starring roles. Vogel, pictured here, was a young actor who played fan-favourite "Jamie Hunter-Cartwright" in season 12-14.

RELATED: Where Is Mitch Vogel Today?

Bonanza's devoted fandom lives on today. The TV show aired 14 legendary seasons in the 1960s and '70s on NBC. But fans still enjoy the series now, watching the timeless adventures of the "Cartwrights" on the Ponderosa Ranch.

Bonanza TV Show: The Best Pictures of the Western

Bonanza featured four original stars—Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker, and Pernell Roberts—later adding cast members and new additions to the "Cartwright" family over the years. Other main stars included Victor Sen Yung, David Canary, Mitch Vogel, Tim Matheson, and Bing Russell.

In this gallery, we'll relive Bonanza's glory days by looking back at the best pictures from the show. See the stars through the years and all the different cast members here. Enjoy!

'Bonanza': The Best Pictures From The Classic TV Show