September 12, 1959…’Bonanza’ Debuts On NBC

Initially, ‘Bonanza’ aired on Saturday evenings opposite ‘Perry Mason’. The ratings were dismal and the show was soon targeted for cancellation, but NBC kept it because ‘Bonanza’ was one of the first series to be filmed and broadcast in color, including scenes of picturesque Lake Tahoe Nevada. NBC’s corporate parent, RCA, used the show to spur sales of color television sets and was also the primary sponsor of the series during its first two seasons.

In 1961, NBC moved Bonanza to Sundays at 9:00 with a new sponsor…Chevrolet (replacing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show). The new time slot caused ‘Bonanza’ to soar in the ratings, and it eventually reached number one by 1964, an honor it would keep until 1967 when it was seriously challenged by the ‘The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour’ on CBS. Had the geniuses at CBS not put ‘The Judy Garland Show’ against ‘Bonanza’, it would have certainly lasted more than one season.

By 1970, ‘Bonanza’ was the first series to appear in the Top Five list for nine consecutive seasons (a record that would stand for many years) and thus established itself as the single biggest hit television series of the 1960s. ‘Bonanza’ remained high on the Nielsen ratings until 1971, when it finally fell out of the Top Ten.

The show ran from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series, just behind ‘Gunsmoke’ which ran for 20 seasons.

By the way, Michael Landon was the only cast member that did not require a hair piece. Even Hop Sing wore a fake Q. Enjoy and share!
-Bobby Ellerbee

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