BONANZA
Set in Nevada during the Civil War era, BONANZA followed the wealthy Cartwright family, played by Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon. Its mix of drama, social commentary, and humor made it a cultural phenomenon. The show’s popularity even led to the creation of the Ponderosa Ranch theme park in Nevada, which welcomed visitors for decades.
Airing on NBC from 1959 to 1973, it became one of the most beloved and longest-running Westerns in television history. As the first Western broadcast in color, it showcased RCA’s groundbreaking technology while captivating audiences with 14 seasons and 431 episodes. From 1964 to 1966, it was the number one show in America. Decades later, BONANZA still holds a special place in the hearts of Western fans worldwide.
Michael Landon’s "Little Joe" Boots
These are the original rough tan suede boots actor Michael Landon (1936-1991) wore on the television series, BONANZA. Landon played Joseph “Little Joe” Cartwright, the youngest son of the Ponderosa patriarch, Ben Cartwright. In addition to acting in the series, Landon wrote and directed many episodes. His creative talents and production skills would help him develop his future series, Little House on the Prairie, Father Murphy, and Highway to Heaven. Landon says he wore these boots on the series from season three (when the characters began wearing their trademark wardrobe) through the fourteenth and final season. B.B. Hudspeth began his collection of Western memorabilia with these boots. Having had his own pair of “Little Joe” boots as a child, he jumped on the opportunity to own the real ones. Both Hudspeth and the boots were featured in Volume VII – Issue 3 of “BONANZA Gold” in 2009. Later that same year, the boots were exhibited at the official “BONANZA 50th Anniversary Friendship Convention” in Lake Tahoe, Nevada where Hudspeth served as a presenter along with BONANZA production manager Kent McCray.
Victor Sen Yung’s "Hop Sing" Cap AND Queue
Victor Sen Yung (1914-1980) played the role of Hop Sing, the Cartwright family cook for the Ponderosa Ranch in Nevada. He appeared in 109 BONANZA episodes. Creator David Dortort had this to say about Sen Yung: “Victor was just absolutely delightful. He loved the part; he loved doing it. In fact, he began to develop fans, to the extent that I wrote him in as the feature part in a number of shows.” Sen Yung was an accomplished chef in real life. After BONANZA ended, he supported himself by appearing on cooking shows and authoring The Great Wok Cookbook. In addition to Hop Sing, he is best remembered for his role as Jimmy Chan in the Charlie Chan films. In 1972, Sen Yung was shot in the lower back during a hijacking on Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 710 as the FBI stormed the plane and survived. He attended the University of California, Berkeley where he majored in animal husbandry. Each year, the university’s Chinese Alumni Association awards the Victor Sen Yung memorial scholarship to a student. Sen Yung’s son, Brent Young, and B.B. Hudspeth were both guests at the “BONANZA 50th Anniversary Friendship Convention” in Lake Tahoe, NV in 2009. Hudspeth obtained the cap and queue directly from Young on behalf of the Victor Sen Yung estate.
A South Seas Masterpiece: Joe Domela’s “Meadows Sunset” Painting in “The Artist”
Oil on canvas, 30 x 26 in.
This original plein air oil on canvas was painted by Academy Award–winning designer and artist Joe Domela (1894–1973) and featured prominently in the 1962 BONANZA episode, “The Artist.” In a key scene, blind painter Matthew Raine negotiates with Mr. Stevens, who refers to the work as “this one from the South Seas.” The painting reappears in the final moments of the episode, as the camera lingers on it just before Ben Cartwright blows out the lantern and the screen fades to black. Joe Domela earned an Oscar in 1956 for his matte artistry on The Ten Commandments, starring Charlton Heston. He painted an astonishing 120 matte backdrops for the film’s sweeping visual effects. For nearly four decades, Domela was a dominant creative force at Paramount Studios, serving as its principal matte painter and leaving a lasting legacy in cinematic art.
Original Writer Credit Hand-Painted Title Card
Ink and watercolor on board
18 x 24 in.
It was believed that none of the original watercolors featured in the opening and closing credits of BONANZA had survived. Thought to be lost or destroyed, these iconic pieces seemed gone forever—until 2020, when the “Written By” credit artwork resurfaced after nearly 60 years in storage. The piece was originally gifted by BONANZA and The High Chaparral creator David Dortort to Dale Tate in the early 1960s. Tate, who worked in the special photographic effects department at Consolidated Film Industries (CFI) and Republic Studios, collaborated closely with BONANZA’s art department and even developed the concept for title card visuals. Remarkably, the artwork still bears its original matte black gaffer tape, used to guide the camera framing during production. While artist Joe Messerli is known for painting many of the series’ title cards, the creator of this particular piece remains unknown.
“Wanted: Curt Bukel” – A Familiar Face in Bonanza
This Wanted poster for the outlaw Curt Bukel, worn with age and full of nail holes, appears in numerous episodes of the series, becoming a recognizable prop for keen-eyed viewers. Grace Gregory (1910–1985), a two-time Academy Award nominee and affectionately known by the cast and crew as “The Lady of the Ponderosa,” served as the series’ set decorator. Her dedication to authenticity helped define the visual tone of the show. The reverse side of the poster bears multiple “Gregory/BONANZA” stamps, confirming its original use in the production and preserving a tangible piece of television history.
