Bonanza

BONANZA. American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12th 1959 to January 16th 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, it is NBC's longest-running western and ranks overall as the second-longest-running western series on US network television (behind CBS's Gunsmoke) and within the Top 10 longest-running, live-action American series. The show is set in the 1860s and it centers on the wealthy Cartwright family who live in the vicinity of Virginia City Nevada. The show's theme song also became a hit. Only instrumental renditions were used during the series's long run. In 2002, Bonanza was ranked No 43 on "TV Guide's Greatest TV Shows of All Time". Lorne Greene (Ben Cartwright) died in California aged 72 on September 11th 1987. Michael Landon (Joe Cartwright) died in California aged 54 on July 1st 1991. Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright) died in California aged 43 on May 13th 1972.