On this date (January 16) in 1973, Bonanza's last episode aired, end of the 14th season. This show probably did more in total to promote early color TV than any other.

Disney's Wonderful World of color did also, of course, but for a shorter period. I think Bonanza's muted natural colors, punctuated by the characters wearing different colored vests (anyone else notice that?) reduced the volume of public comment about color TV still needing to be "perfected," at the same time that color "Specials" and "Spectaculars" were being used to promote color TV in more splashy tints.

Big fan of Bonanza. I especially liked ‘Columbo’ and any other Technicolor based series.

One of my in-laws shared a video made from a home movie (8mm) c.1961. One of the things they were proudly showing off was the opening sequence of "Bonanza" on their new RCA color set! (I saved a screenshot somewhere.)

As for me, I'd never really watched it but today while playing around with a few sets I tuned it in. Not bad. Ironically, every set I played with today was b/w. The next time it comes on I really need to fire up the CTC-5.

I mi$$ that show!!!


I also remember going to Bonanza on my birthday and getting yummy mac salad on the buffet!!!! (MMMMMMMMMM)

If you can find good copies they are real sweet on a roundie.
All the episodes are on utube. Last winter I watched them all in a row a few every day. One thing funny is if you are a girl DONT marry a Cartwright,
you will wind up dead !

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD !

If you can find good copies they are real sweet on a roundie.
All the episodes are on utube. Last winter I watched them all in a row a few every day. One thing funny is if you are a girl DONT marry a Cartwright,
you will wind up dead !

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD !

Well, let's discuss how many concussions the Cartrights have had over the years!!

:eek:

John

Well, let's discuss how many concussions the Cartrights have had over the years!!

:eek:

John

^big bad John! Big John. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KnnHprUGKF0
:D

The CBS DVDs are nice remastered with lots of goodies like the Chevrolet spots where the cartrights focus on a specific car.
Btw the 2nd season is not as good as the rest , they were not redone.

Star trek for the first year or two was used to promote color sets too but let's not forget bonanza was originally created to promote color tv sets , it didn't do well in its first year and if it it wasn't pushing color tv sets it may have been a one or two season show and then gone , but it sure did take off being in the top ten year after year

I've seen the show on Romanian television in the '90's. But it also brodcasted during communism in Romanian and Poland. In Poland they made some new uncompartmented passanger railway (rairolad) cars, usually used on comuter trains (those cars where made under licence in Romania, but also Polish imports). Because they where uncompartemented like the cars from the tv series (note that in Europe we had back then a lot of trains with compartmented cars) they where named "Bonanza"! So, if in Romania some railway enthusiast or employee sayed "bonanze" ("bonanzas" will be in English) they where those models of passangers cars. Look for vagoane 11-47, 21-47, 21-57.

I've seen the show on Romanian television in the '90's. But it also brodcasted during communism in Romanian and Poland. In Poland they made some new uncompartmented passanger railway (rairolad) cars, usually used on comuter trains (those cars where made under licence in Romania, but also Polish imports). Because they where uncompartemented like the cars from the tv series (note that in Europe we had a lot of trains with compartmented cars) they where "Bonanza"! So, if in Romania some railway enthusiast or employee sayed "bonanze" ("bonanzas" will be in English) they where those models of passangers cars. Look for vagoane 11-47, 21-47, 21-57.

Thanks for that - very interesting!