Bonanza Episode Guide: Season 13

Season 13 Episode Guide
Episodes 390- 415

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Episodes appear in order of original air date which may not coincide with when they were actually filmed.

Episode #390
The Grand Swing
September 19, 1971
Ben and Jamie travel the Ponderosa to teach Jamie about responsibility.
Written by: Ward Hawkins, John Hawkins, William Koenig
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Betsy Rush(Charlotte Stewart), Clint Rush(Med Flory), Harlowe Trapp(Ted Gehring), Tall Pony(Ralph Moody)

Trivia: This was Med Flory's third and last appearance in the series, and Charlotte Stewart's second and last appearance in the series. Stewart was married to child actor Tim Considine for four years. She also worked with controversial filmmaker David Lynch on two occasions, in the cult classic Eraserhead (1976) and the TV series "Twin Peaks" (1990).

Episode #391
Fallen Woman
September 26, 1971
After Hoss testifies against her husband, the angry wife deposits her son with the Cartwrights.
Written by: Ward Hawkins
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Jill Conway(Susan Tyrrell), Dr. Hubert(Arthur O' Connell), Judge Simms(Ford Rainey)

Trivia: This was Susan Tyrrell's first and only appearance in the series. A bizarre, one-of-a-kind Hollywood gypsy and self-affirmed outcast, she was mostly cast in more offbeat projects. In only her fourth film, Susan earned an Academy Award nomination for her powerhouse portrayal of a cynical, low-life boozer girlfriend opposite Stacy Keach's has-been boxer in John Huston's potent but high depressing Fat City (1972).

Episode #392
Bushwhacked!
October 3, 1971
Joe is found backshot in the desert. He is brought to a ranch where Ben and Hoss try to figure out just what his delirious ramblings mean and if they relate to how he was hurt.
Written by: Preston Wood
Directed by: William Wiard
Guest Stars: Patricia Griswold(Peggy McKay), Tom Griswold(Richard O' Brien), Doc Schully(David Huddleston), Sheriff Truslow(Walter Barnes), Ern Griswold(Keith Carradine)

Trivia: This is Peggy McKay's only appearance in the series. She is probably best known for her role of Caroline Brady on the long running NBC soap opera 'Days of Our Lives.'

The dream sequences that Joe has in his delirium were edited out when this episode was broadcast on the Pat Robertson owned Family Channel.

Episode #393
The Rock-A-Bye Hoss
October 10, 1971
Hoss is talked into being a judge in a Most Beautiful Baby contest.
Written by: Preston Wood, Robert Vincent Wright
Directed by: Herschel Daugherty
Guest Stars: Cissy Porter(Patricia Harty), Bert(Edward Andrews), Elaine Summers(Ellen Moss), Jim Pinder(George Furth), Charlie(Ivor Francis)

Trivia: This is character actor Ivor Francis' second and last appearance in the series. He was the father of 'General Hospital' star Genie Francis.

Episode #394
The Prisoners
October 17, 1971
Joe accompanies an old sheriff and his felon to jail. Trouble ensues when the convict kills the sheriff and wounds Joe.
Written by: Arthur Heinemann
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Hank Simmons(Michael Witney), Sheriff Clyde Moorehouse(Morgan Woodward), Maria(Priscilla Garcia), Yancy(Bob Hoy), Hop Sing(Victor Sen Yung)

Trivia: This is Michael Witney's fourth and last appearance in the series. He was married to the model Twiggy from 1977 until his death in 1983.

Episode #395
Cassie
October 24, 1971
Hoss puts together a horse race to help a troubled family.
Written by: True Boardman
Directed by :Herschel Daugherty
Guest Stars: Kevin O' Casey(Jack Cassidy), Norma O' Casey(Diane Baker), Cassie O' Casey(Lisa Gerristen)

Trivia: This was Jack Cassidy's first and only appearance in the series. He was the father of David, Shaun, Ryan and Patrick Cassidy. Cassidy turned down the role of Ted Baxter on the CBS hit 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show(1970) but did guest star as Ted's brother. Tragically, he died in 1976 in a fire started in his apartment - he fell asleep with a lit cigarette on his couch.

This was Lisa Gerritsen's first and only appearance in the series. A child actor in the 70s, she is best known for her role as Bess Lindstrom on 'The Mary Tyler More Show' and it's spinoff sitcom, 'Phyllis.' Her grandfather, famous screenwriter True Boardman, was the writer of this script.

Episode #396
Don't Cry, My Son
October 31, 1971
The new doctor in Virginia City loses his mind when his wife deserts him after the death of their baby.
Written by: Michael Landon
Directed by: Michael Landon
Guest Stars:: Dr. Mark Sloan(Richard Mulligan), Ruth Sloan(Diane Shalet), Eli Johnson(Dan Ferrone), Annie Johnson(Ann Whitsett), Clem(Bing Russell).

Trivia: This was Richard Mulligan's second and last appearance in the series. He was a well-known television actor, best known for his roles on the NBC series 'Empty Nest'(1988) and on the groundbreaking ABC sitcom 'Soap'(1977). He won two Emmys for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. In an interesting 'Bonanza' tie, he was married to actress Joan Hackett(Margarita, from Season 6's 'Woman of Fire') from 1966-1973.

Episode #397
Face of Fear
November 14, 1971
Jamie helps a friend who witnessed a murder and is afraid to tell anyone.
Written by: Ken Pettus
Directed by: Christopher Crisenberry
Guest Stars: Griff Bannon(Bradford Dillman), Thatcher(Donald Moffat), Neta(Jewel Blanch), Mrs. Griggs(Athena Lorde), Garroway(Chick Chandler), Clem(Bing Russell)

Trivia: This is Donald Moffat's second and last appearance in the series. He has played two United States Presidents: Lyndon Johnson in The Right Stuff (1983), and the fictional President in Clear and Present Danger (1994).

Episode #398
Blind Hunch
November 21, 1971
A Civil War veteran comes to Virginia City to investigate his brother's death.
Written by: John Hawkins, Robert Pirosh
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Will Hewitt(Rip Torn), Patrick Clayton(Don Knight), Laurie Hewitt(Loretta Leversee)

Trivia: This was Rip Torn's first and only appearance in the series. Torn was married to actress Ann Wedgeworth from 1956 to 1961, whom he divorced to marry Geraldine Page. They remained married until her death in 1987. Torn helped his cousin, Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek, to make her way as an actress, seeing to it that she was accepted by the Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio and then the Lee Strasberg Institute. He garnered six Emmy nominations and one win for Best supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as 'Artie' in 'The Larry Sanders Show' on HBO.

Episode #399
The Iron Butterfly
November 28, 1971
A man is hellbent on revenging his son's death and sets out to ruin the Cartwrights.
Written by: Harold Swanton
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars: Lola Fairmont(Mariette Hartley), Grady(Stefan Gierasch), Charlie(Allen Garfield), Senator Carson(Peter Whitney), Mayor(Jack Collins), Bennett(John McCann), Sheriff Coffee(Ray Teal)

Trivia: This was Mariette Hartley's fourth and final appearance in the series. This was Peter Whitney's third and final appearance in the series. A well known character actor, he switched from movies to television in the mid 50's, when he was featured in about every popular western and crime drama there was including "Gunsmoke," "Wagon Train," "The Rifleman," "Bonanza," "Perry Mason" and "Peter Gunn." He finally cut loose a bit and spoofed his own grubby rube image with guest turns on such bucolic series as "Petticoat Junction" and "The Beverly Hillbillies," the latter playing a greedy ne'er-do-well fellow rustic. His obesity may have triggered an early fatal heart attack at age 55 in 1972.

This episode was rerun on May 14, 1972 - the day after Dan Blocker's death. NBC did include a ten second tribute at the end of the episode that evening.

Episode #400
The Rattlesnake Brigade
December 5, 1971
Escaped prisoners take Jamie and some friends hostage.
Written by: Gordon T. Dawson
Directed by: William Wiard
Guest Stars: Doyle(Neville Brand), Price(Severn Darden), Fancher(David Sheiner), Tobias Temple(Don Keefer), Ricardo(Richard Yniguez), Judith(Michele Nichols)

Trivia: This was Neville Brand's third and final appearance in the series. His heavy features and gravelly voice made Brand a natural tough guy. He once told a reporter, "With this kisser, I knew early in the game I wasn't going to make the world forget Clark Gable."

Episode #401
Easy Come, Easy Go
December 12, 1971
A penniless Luke Calhoun and his daughter Meena return to the Ponderosa. Luke turns to gambling in order to make ends meet - and the Cartwrights aren't happy. Third and last installment of the 'Meena' episodes.
Written by: Jack B. Sowards
Directed by: Joseph Pevney
Guest Stars: Meena Calhoun(Ann Prentiss), Luke Calhoun(Dub Taylor), Dusty Rhoades(Lou Frizzell).

Trivia: This is the last episode where the recurring character of Dusty Rhoades appeared. No explanation was ever given for his exit.

Episode #402
A Home For Jamie
December 19, 1971
Jamie's grandfather arrives at the Ponderosa juat as Ben is set to adopt him.
Written by: Jean Holloway
Directed by:Leo Penn
Guest Stars: Paris Callahan(Will Geer), Judge Taylor(Ford Rainey), Hop Sing(Victor Sen Yung), Jess McLean(Robert Karnes), Phinney McLean(Robert Carradine)

Trivia: This was Will Geer's third and final appearance in the series. He is probably best remembered for his role as Grandpa Walton in the long running CBS series 'The Waltons.' He was briefly considered for the part of Amos McCoy for "The Real McCoys" when original choice, Walter Brennan was unavailable. However since show creator Irving Pincus created the part with Walter Brennan in mind, he decided to wait until Brennan was available. His fervant, active interest in liberal politics resulted in his Hollywood blacklisting in 1951. He built the Will Geer Theatrical Botanicum during those hard times in order to find an acting haven for himself and his many blacklisted friends.

This episode uses flashbacks from previos episodes, something that wasn't usual for this series. As Jamie remembers his life with the Cartwrights, clips from Season 12's "A Matter of Faith" and the first episode of Season 13, "The Grand Swing" are shown.

Episode #403
Warbonnet
December 26, 1971
After Joe is saved from death in the desert by Red Cloud, he feels compelled to stop a duel between the indian and the most powerful man in town.
Written by: Arthur Heinemann, Charles Goldwad and Robert Blood
Directed by: Arthur H. Nadel
Guest Stars: Frank Ryan(Forrest Tucker), Red Cloud(Chief Dan George), Teresa(Linda Cristal), Swift Eagle(Patrick Adiarte).

Trivia: This was Forrest Tucker's first and only appearance in the series. He is probably best known for his role in the 60's comedy, 'F-Troop'(1965) as Sargent O'Rourke. Tucker was a 1938 graduate of Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, VA. Other alumni include Shirley MacLaine, Warren Beatty and Sandra Bullock.

Episode #404
The Lonely Man
January 2, 1972
While on vacation, Hop Sing falls in love. Unfortunately, the law prohibits interracial marriage.
Written by: John Hawkins
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Missy(Kelly Jean Peters), Hop Sing(Victor Sen Yung), Clem(Bing Russell), Judge Hill(Peter Hobbs)

Trivia: This was the only episode that featured Hop Sing as the lead character. Though known throughout the world for his role as Hop Sing, Young also played the role of "Number Two Son" in 25 Charlie Chan films during the late 1930s and most of the 1940s; his comedic character was alternately named James, Jimmy, or Tommy Chan. In 1972, Yung, returning to Los Angeles from San Francisco, was among the passengers on a PSA airliner hijacked by two Bulgarians demanding ransom and passage to Siberia. Yung was wounded along with another passenger, and a third passenger and the two hijackers were killed when FBI agents stormed the plane on the ground at San Francisco. An accomplished Cantonese cook and the author of one cookbook, Young died accidentally on November 9, 1980 from accidental asphyxiation, as he left on a faulty gas stove for heat.

Episode #405
Second Sight
January 9, 1972
When Jamie is lost in the high country, the Cartwrights ask a clairvoyant woman for her help in finding him.
Written by: Arthur Weingarten, Suzanne Clauser
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Judith Coleman(Joan Hackett), Jess Avery(James Booth), Hop Sing(Victor Sen Yung)

Trivia: This was Joan Hackett's second and last appearance in the series. A firm believer in the paranormal, while on location in Texas filming Harnessing the Sun (1980), she persuaded the film's director, Dirk Wayne Summers, to fly in a clairvoyant-aura reader. She arranged for the entire crew to receive extrasensory readings. The clairvoyant spent a week with the film's cast and crew. When Summers was asked by a reporter from a Dallas newspaper why he approved such unusual arrangements - and did CBS know - Summers answered that "Joan Hackett is so great to work with and so perfect in her role that I would have flown in Uri Geller if Joan had wanted him.".

Episode #406
The Saddle Stiff
January 16, 1972
A fired ranch hand goads Ben into taking a job as a ranch hand under an alias.
Written by: Samuel A. Peeples, John Hawkins
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Cactus(Buddy Ebsen), Paul Walker(Don Collier), Cass Breckenridge(Charles H. Gray)

Trivia: This was Buddy Ebsen's second and last appearance in the series. This was Don Collier's fifth and last appearance in the series. Collier was Sam Butler in David Dortort's other series, 'The High Chaparral.' He has made over 70 credited movie and television appearances and has performed with John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Anthony Quinn, Dean Martin, Tom Selleck, James Arness, and even Elvis Presley.

Episode #407
Frenzy
January 30, 1972
A friend of Ben's fears for her life as her husband loses his grip on reality.
Written by: Preston Wood, Karl Tunberg
Directed by: Lewis Allen

Guest Stars: Anna(Kathleen Widdoes), Nick(Michael Pataki), Sandor(Jason Karpf), Clem(Bing Russell)

Trivia: This was Kathleen Widdoes' first and only appearance in the series. She is best known for her role on the CBS soap opera 'As the World Turns,' appearing as Emma Snyder.

Episode #408
The Customs of the County
February 6, 1972
Joe is arrested in the Mexican town of Agua Santos for removing his hat in a Church. Hoss comes to his rescue, but comes across the towns quirky rules in the process.
Written by: Joseph Bonaduce
Directed by: Joseph Pevney
Guest Stars:Simon(Alfonso Arau), Ernest(Allan Oppenheimer), Ines(Pilar Seurat), Padre(David A. Renard)

Trivia: This was Arau's first and only appearance in the series. Arau has had a long and fruitful career, both in front and behind the camera and is one of the most prominent filmmakers of the Latino community in Hollywood. A renowned writer-producer-director-actor in theater and films for the past twenty years, Arau directed in 1969 his first feature film "Barefoot Eagle (1969)", which he also starred. He has directed many films in Mexico, and he has received 6 Arieles, the Mexican equivalent to the Oscar, and numerous international film awards.

Episode #409
Shanklin
February 13, 1972
A former confederate soldier and his gang demand $25,000 from Ben and shoots Hoss, leaving him gravely injured. In an twist of fate, Hoss' life rests in the hands of the soldier who shot him.
Written by: William Felley
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars:Shanklin(Charles Cioffi), Dr. Ingram(Woodrow Parfrey), Irons(Karl Lukas), Hop Sing(Victor Sen Yung)

Trivia: This is Charles Cioffi's first and only appearance in the series. A veteran television actor, he has appeared in a number of daytime serials. However, Mr. Cioffi will most likely be remembered most for his sinister portrayal of revenge-seeking Ernesto Toscano on NBC's hit soap "Days of Our Lives" (1965). He can be heard on Pink Floyd's album, "The Wall". One of his scenes from "Another World" (1964) was used as the TV program in the background while the groupie is walking through the apartment ("Are all these your guitars?"), immediately before the song "One of My Turns".

Episode #410
Search in Limbo
February 20,1972
A head injury leaves Ben with a shaky memory. When he is accused of murdering a man he despised, he cannot account for his actions the day of the murder.
Written by: Don Ingalls
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars: Sheriff(Albert Salmi), Zeena(Pamela Payton-Wright), Mrs. Melody(Lucille Benson), Sid Langley(Lawrence Montaigne)

Trivia: This is Albert Salmi's third of four appearances in the series. This was Lucille Benson's first and only appearance in the series. She was a plump, distinctive and marvelously quirky character actress with a heavy down-home Southern accent who portrayed an offbeat and enjoyable array of colorful supporting dotty old lady roles in both films and TV shows.

Episode #411
He Was Only Seven
March 5, 1972
A bank robbery in Virginia City leaves an old man's grandson dead. Joe and Jamie head out to track the killers.
Written by: Michael Landon
Directed by: Michael Landon
Guest Stars: Joshua Morgan(Roscoe Lee Browne), Zack Springer(William Watson), Clem(Robert Doyle)

Trivia: This was Roscoe Lee Brown's first and only appearance in the series. Brown had a long career in theatre, film and television. He appeared all the top 70s sitcoms including "All in the Family", "Maude," "Sanford and Son", "Good Times" and "Barney Miller" (Emmy-nominated), and he played the splendidly sardonic role of Saunders, the Tate household butler, after replacing Robert Guillaume's popular "Benson" character on "Soap" (1977). In 1986 he won an Emmy Award for his guest appearance on "The Cosby Show" (1984). His trademark baritone lent authority and distinction to a number of documentaries, live-action fare, and animated films, as well as the spoken-word arena, with such symphony orchestras as the Boston Pops and the Los Angeles Philharmonic to his credit.

Michael Landon re-used this script in his next series, 'Little House on the Prairie' with the Season 8 episode, 'He Was Only Twelve.'

Episode #412
The Younger Brother's Younger Brother
March 12, 1972
The Cartwrights are mistaken for a family of inept outlaws.
Written by: Michael Landon
Directed by: Michael Landon
Guest Stars: Cole Younger(Strother Martin), Lonnie Younger(Chuck McCann), Sheriff(Henry Jones), Warden(Ken Lynch), Stage Guard(James Jeter), Sam(John Steadman), Pa Younger(William Challee), Bart Younger(Ted Gehring), Hotel Manager...Doc Severinsen...(uncredited; bit part).

Trivia: This was Strother Martin's fifth and last appearance in the series. This was Henry Jones' second and last appearance in the series. Jones amassed a considerable stage resume. He was active on Broadway as early as 1931, working there rather infrequently until late 1938 when his appearance there began to increase. He continued to appear on Broadway in numerous hit productions ("My Sister Eileen," "The Solid Gold Cadillac," "The Bad Seed," "Sunrise at Campobello," and "Advise and Consent") until 1961 when he moved into film and TV work exclusively. He appeared in 'The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County' with Dan Blocker in 1970.

Keep Your Eye Out... Doc Severinsen, the band leader of the 'Tonight Show' starring Johnny Carson, portrayed a hotel manager in this episode.

Episode #413
A Place to Hide
March 19, 1972
An Army Major continues his personal vendetta against a Confederate officer and his soldiers, despite the Cartwrights attempts to broker a peaceful surrender.
Written by: William D. Gordon, Ward Hawkins
Directed by: Herschel Daugherty
Guest Stars: Rose Beckett(Suzanne Pleshette), Cody Ransom(Jon Cypher), Major Donahue(Hurd Hatfield)

Trivia: This is Suzanne Pleshette's first and only appearance in the series. She will be forever known in television as Emily Hartley in 'The Bob Newhart Show'(1972). With an acting career that spanned close to 50 years, she was nominated for an Emmy four times. Pleshette was married three times: In 1964, she wed teen idol Troy Donahue, her co-star in the 1962 film "Rome Adventure" and in 1964's "A Distant Trumpet," but the marriage lasted less than a year. By contrast, her union with Texas oil millionaire Tim Gallagher lasted from 1968 until his death, in 2000. After becoming a widow, she and widower Tom Poston (a Newhart regular) rekindled an old romance they had enjoyed when appearing together in "The Golden Fleecing," a 1959 Broadway comedy. They were married from 2001 until Poston's death, in April 2007. Pleshette was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent chemotherapy in the summer of 2006; she rallied, but in late 2007, she barely survived a bout of pneumonia. She died of respiratory failure on Saturday, January 19, 2008, a few days shy of her 71st birthday.

This was the last episode filmed for Season 13, and consequently, the last episode worked on by Dan Blocker and Ray Teal.

Episode #414
A Visit to Upright
March 26, 1972
The Cartwrights head to the town of Upright to get involved in the saloon business - but once they get there, complications arise.
Written by: Joseph Bonaduce
Directed by: William Wiard
Guest Stars: Dalrymple(Allan Oppenheimer), Ellen Sue(Loretta Swit), Miss Frost(Anne Seymour), Blakely(Dan Tobin), Frenchy(Ernest Sarracino)

Trivia: this was Allan Oppenheimer's third and last appearance in the series. This was Loretta Swit's first and only appearance in the series. She is probably best known for her role as Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on the CBS series "M*A*S*H"(1972). During a "M*A*S*H" season hiatus, Loretta starred as Chris Cagney in the pilot episode of "Cagney and Lacey" in 1981. She wanted to leave the show, which was in its ninth season, to star as the police officer when the pilot was picked up. The "M*A*S*H" producers, however, wouldn't let her go. Meg Foster subbed in for Loretta, who in turn was replaced by Sharon Gless.

Episode #415
One Ace Too Many
April 2, 1972
Ben's dastardly look-alike Bradley Meredith takes his place and starts to destroy the Ponderosa.
Written by: Stanley Roberts
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Jordan(Greg Mullavey), Ellen(Kate Jackson), Williams(William Mims), Sheriff Coffee(Ray Teal)

Trivia: This is Greg Mullavey's second and last appearance in the series. A TV character actor in the 70s and 80s, he is probably best remembered for his role as Mary Hartman's husband Tom on the 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.' His father, Greg Mulleavy, played Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox and was third base coach for the Dodgers, when they played in Brooklyn as well as in Los Angeles. With the Dodger organization, he won four World Series championships. Currently, he has a recurring role as Carly's grandfather on the Nickelodeon series 'iCarly.'

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