5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"A Viewer's Guide to the TV Legend ... Bonanza ... BearManor Media (2010)", May 20, 2011
BearManor Media presents "BONANZA: A VIEWER'S GUIDE TO THE TV LEGEND" (Paperback) - Written by David R. Greenland. Invision the Ponderosa as America's Camelot, the good king and his gallant knights supplanted in our democratic republic by the good father and his steady sons - thus "Bonanza" was born.
In the words of David Dortort (creator & producer of Bonanza) -- "An account of people seeking a new beginning, new land and homes, imbued with the hope for a better life for themselves and their families. This is a story of sinking one's roots in the new land, the plow that broke the plains and the tragic subjugation of the previous inhabitants, the Native Americans, because it was believed that they had to make way for the building of homes and farms, of schools and places of worship".
Very reasonable and a good value for the price --- For product description and editorial review check this out on the Amazon site above my review.
INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK:
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Foreword: by David Dortort (Creator and Producer) -- 4
Introduction --------------------------------------- 9
CHAPTER ONE: The Production ----------------------- 13
CHAPTER TWO: The Cast ------------------------------23
CHAPTER THREE: The Early Classics (1959-67) ------- 49
CHAPTER FOUR: Ranging Wide (1967-70) -------------- 77
CHAPTER FIVE: Back at the Ranch (1970-73) --------- 89
CHAPTER SIX: The Legacy -------------------------- 103
CHAPTER SEVEN: Collectibles ---------------------- 118
CHAPTER EIGHT: Episode Guide --------------------- 126
THE BONANAZA CREDO (Found on Page 114 of this book)
By David Dortort
In the Old West, it meant a lot to be a Cartwright.
Being a family, loving the land, being honest and fair.
Giving every man and woman a second chance.
More than most television shows, "Bonanza" has a heart and soul. To protect that heart and soul and to preserve the integrity of the show, the following are the essential values that must be maintained:
1. The Cartwright family, the good father and the good, loyal sons, are the center of gravity around which the movie revolves. They may disagree on any number of issues, but always, in the end, they are a family again, all for one, and one for all.
2. They stand for tolerance, compassion, and concern for all endangered species, and that includes the stranger in need of sanctuary, the battered mother, the abandoned child, the wounded animal, as well as the forests, the mountain streams, the lakes and ponds. No woman, no child, no animal can be abused without swift and full-bore punishment for the abuser.
3. The Ponderosa, the home of the Cartwright family, should be treated as a special kind of place, a sort of mythical kingdom on the glistening crown of the Sierra. Good people, role models, are in charge here. People slow to anger, but tread lightly or suffer the consequences. Stern, formidable, when faced with injustice, but loose, relaxed, fun-loving, a family that can laugh at itself as easy as it can challenge a swindler, a bounty hunter, a slave master, or a robber baron, no matter how high the odds are against them.
It's a whole new world today, but some things never change. Such as the high standards maintained by America's most loved fictional family, the Cartwrights of the great Ponderosa Ranch.
This is a wonderful complete book on the ins and outs of the Cartwright Family on and off screen -- whole heartedly recommend to all the fans. Big thanks to Ben Ohmart and his staff at BearManor Media, as they are the best at what they do -- bringing good and interesting books to the light of day. All my heroes have been Cowboys!
Total Pages: 170 ~ BearManor Media ~ (May 21, 2010)
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