By Laura Salas
Bonanza was not just filmed in color. In fact, it was one of the very first U.S. Western TV shows to be 100 percent produced in color, just like The Cisco Kid. That’s also the reason why it’s one of the most expensive of its time. If it wasn’t for that decision the show would have been canceled before it had the chance to become one of the most popular TV shows of all-time.
The only Western TV series to run longer than Bonanza was Gunsmoke, which ran for 15 seasons while Bonanza for just 14. Syndication for both shows continues in various parts of the world up to this very day.
During the first few shows the Cartwrights were hostile to visitors who came onto their land. However, Lorne Greene realized that the family ran an important business for the community. That meant many people would visit their homestead to conduct business. The show’s characters were soon altered to make them more approachable for their neighbors.
Large portions of Bonanza’s income came from its long-standing partnership with Chevrolet. The car company sponsored almost all of the TV show’s 431-episodes which helped keep the series in production. The stars appeared in numerous Chevrolet commercials as part of the sponsorship deal which showed them endorsing various vehicles.
Almost every major actor of the 1966 TV series Star Trek appeared at some point during Bonanza’s run. Some of them were William Shatner, James Doohan, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Grace Lee Whitney, Majel Barrett, and Walter Koenig.
