Bonanza Brand Episode Guide: Season 7

Season 7 Episode Guide
Episodes 203- 235

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Welcome to the BonanzaBrand Episode Guide!

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

Episode #203
The Debt
September 12, 1965
A brother and sister work for free on the Ponderosa to make up for their father's robbing of the Ponderosa.
Written by: William R. Cox
Directed by: William Witney
Guest Stars: Wiley Kane(Tommy Sands), Annie Kane(Brooke Bundy), Sam Kane(Ford Rainey), Roy Coffee(Ray Teal)

Trivia: This was Tommy Sands first and only appearance in the series. He was a disc jockey at age 12 with a radio station and cut his first record at age 14 which attracted the attention of Colonel Tom Parker and RCA Records. Sands became an immediate overnight sensation after copping the landmark lead in the Kraft TV presentation of "The Singin' Idol" which was the first TV drama on the subject of rock-and-roll. Tommy played a Southern Baptist Elvis-like lead. The single from that show went to #2 on the Billboard charts. Married to Frank Sinatra's daughter Nancy for five years. Rumor has it that when they divorced, Frank Sinatra saw to it that Sands' career would end.

Episode #204
The Dilemma
September 19, 1965
A bank robber tells temporary Judge Ben Cartwright that he'll reveal where he hid the bank money if he is allowed to go free
Written by: John and Ward Hawkins
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Sundown Davis(Tom Tully), Billy(Anthony Call), Ruth(Elizabeth Perry), Drugan(Kelly Thordsen), Roy Coffee(Ray Teal)

Trivia: This was Tom Tully's first of two appearances in the series. Tully got into the acting business after a stint in the U.S. Navy. He had extensive experience in radio and on the stage before making his film debut in Northern Pursuit (1943). Tully worked steadily for the remainder of his career, and was typically cast as a somewhat tough but basically decent cop, military officer or other authority figure. He was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his role as the captain being replaced by Humphrey Bogart in The Caine Mutiny (1954).

Episode #205
The Brass Box
September 26, 1965
A neighbor of the Ponderosa says he has papers which show that he owns most of the land around him, including most of the Ponderosa.
Written by: Paul Schneider
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: José Ortega(Ramon Navarro), Miguel(Michael Dante), Mueller(Adam Williams), Minton(Sidney Smith)

Trivia: This was Michael Dante's first and only appearance in the series. He appeared in many TV westerns in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Adam's absence is mentioned for the first time in this episode.

Episode #206
The Other Son
October 3, 1965
After being denied going through Placerville, Ben hires a man and his two sons to help him transport explosives across the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe.
Written by: Thomas Thompson
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Clint Watson(Ed Begley, Sr.), Andy Watson(Tom Simcox), Ellis Watson(Richard Evans), Sheriff Walker(Bing Russell)

Trivia: This is Tom Simcox's first and only appearance in the series. That Yankee cowboy" is how Beatle John Lennon referred to actor Tom Simcox after both spent time at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in India. In her book, John, Cynthia Lennon, the Beatle's first wife, reveals that John secretly suspected her of having an affair with Simcox while at the retreat. Of Tom, she writes, "The Yankee cowboy was an American actor called Tom Simcox, whom we'd met at the Maharishi's center. I'd got on well with him, but the idea that we'd had an affair was preposterous. Tom had never even hinted at anything untoward between us, apart from once asking me, very sweetly, if I had a twin sister."

Episode #207
The Lonely Runner
October 10, 1965
A friend of the Cartwrights shoots a man who stole his prize mare.
Written by: Thomas Thompson
Directed by: William Witney
Guest Stars: Jim Acton(Gilbert Roland), Deputy Pete(Pat Conway), Roy Coffee(Ray Teal)

Trivia: This was Gilbert Roland's first and only appearance in the series. Born Luis Antonio Dámaso de Alonso, he changed his name to Gilbert Roland after his two favorite movie stars, John Gilbert and Ruth Roland.

Episode #208
Devil On Her Shoulder
October 17, 1965
A woman is accused of being a witch by the leader of a religious order headed by her crazy uncle. The Carwrights try to help as Ben has developed an attraction for the woman.
Written by: Suzanne Clauser
Directed by : Virgil W. Vogel
Guest Stars: Sarah Reynolds(Ina Balin), Reverend Evan Morgan(John Doucette), Gwylem(Peter Helm), Emma Morgan(Adrienne Marden)

Trivia: This is Ina Balin's first and only appearance in the series. Ina lost two big roles to Natalie Wood in her early career. She lost the title role in Marjorie Morningstar (1958) and was tested for and seriously considered for the part of Maria in West Side Story (1961). A soft, slender, but intent-looking actress who could play various types of ethnicities (Jewish, Italian, Mexican, Spanish, Greek, et al.), she had a lovely, quiet glow to her, but could easily display the fiery temperament of an Anna Magnani when called upon. In the 1960s, however, she was overshadowed by a number of her leading men in their respective showcases. There was little room for any actor to generate interest upon themselves when playing opposite the likes of an Elvis Presley, Jerry Lewis and/or John Wayne. In other situations, her roles were merely decorative, less showy, or proved less integral to the main plot, such as her secondary role as Martha in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). While Ina maintained a fine balance of TV roles ranging from the dramatic ("Bonanza," "Mannix," "Quincy," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea") to the humorous ("The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Get Smart"), the one big acting role that could have set her apart from the others never materialized. She died at the age of 52 from a rare case of pulmonary Hypertension, which some think may have been caused by something she may have breathed or ingested while in Vietnam. Many Vietnamese women who developed pulmonary hypertension may have gotten it from the herb fen-fen.

Episode #209
Found Child
October 24, 1965
Hoss rescues a young girl from a stagecoach accident and brings her to the Ponderosa.
Written by: Frank Cleaver
Directed by: Ralph E. Black
Guest Stars:: Collins(Gerald Mohr), Lisa(Eileen Baral), Doctor(Grandon Rhodes)

Trivia: this was Gerald Mohr's second of three appearances in the series. Perhaps the only person to voice a character from both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Besides being the voice of Green Lantern (DC) he was the voice of Reed "Mr. Fantastic" Richards (Marvel) in Hanna-Barbera's "Fantastic Four"(1968) animated series. He can be heard singing 3 songs, "My Darling Clementine," "Oh, I Killed A Man" and "Aura Lee," in the "Cheyenne" (1955) episode "Rendezvous at Red Rock."

Episode #210
The Meredith Smith
October 31, 1965
Ben needs to decide who is the true heir to a massive fortune - with consequences that would affect the Ponderosa.
Written by: Lois Hire
Directed by: John Florea
Guest Stars: Callie(Anne Helm), Ace(Robert Colbert), Little Meredith(Strother Martin), Swanson(Robert Sorrells), Mr. Potts(Eddie Firestone), Widow Smith(Winnie Coffin)

Trivia: This is Strother Martin's second of four appearances in the series. Strother Martin collaborated with friend and filmmaker J.D. Feigelson on dialog in the screenplay for cult film "Dark Night of the Scarecrow." Feigelson was writing the the film to star Strother, but before it could be set for production he passed away. Actor Charles Durning replaced Martin in the lead role of Otis P. Hazelrigg. One of memorable lines in the film was Strother Martin's contribution: "He's thirty-three years old, Mrs. Ritter, he's physically mature.".

Episode #211
Mighty Is The Word
November 7, 1965
The new preacher in Virginia City finds his violent past catching up with him, as the brother of an old victim finds him.
Written by: Thomas Thompson, Robert L. Goodwin
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Reverend Paul Watson(Glenn Corbett), Sue Watson(Sue Randall), Cliff Rexford(Michael Witney), Dolly(Julie Gregg)

Trivia: This was Glenn Corbett's first of two appearances in the series. This was Sue Randall's third and final appearance in the series. She is best remembered as the grade school teacher "Miss Landers" in "Leave It to Beaver" (1957). She appeared on the series, occasionally, from 1958-1962. Her last television appearance was on an "I Spy" (1965) episode in 1965. A heavy smoker, Randall contracted lung cancer and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 26, 1984 at the age of 49.

Episode #212
The Strange One
November 14, 1965
Joe and Hoss come across a woman who has been abandoned by her wagon train because of her clairvoyant ways.
Written by: Jo Pagano, Stephen Lord
Directed by: Gerd Oswald
Guest Stars: Marie(Louise Sorel), Wyn(Willard Sage), Jeremy(Robert McQueeney), Francine(Jean Engstrom)

Trivia: This is Louise Sorel's first and only appearance in the series. She is probably best known as an actress in many soap operas - her most recognizable role was the evil Vivian Alamaine in the NBC soap 'Days of Our Lives.'

Episode #213
The Reluctant Rebel
November 21, 1965
Hoss tries to bridge the gap between a father and son.
Written by: Wally Geor
Directed by: R.G. Springsteen
Guest Stars: Billy Penn(Tim Considine), Hank Penn(Royal Dano)), Sam Cotterfield(Keith London)

Trivia: This is Royal Dano's second of three appearances in the series. Dano provided the voice for Disney's audioanimatronic Abraham Lincoln in "Great Moments with Mister Lincoln," presented as part of the State of Illinois pavilion during the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. It was later turned into the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction at Disneyland. He has also voiced Lincoln for the Hall of Presidents at DisneyWorld. His voice is still in use today.

Episode #214
Five Sundowns To Sunup
December 5, 1965
Joe is among the hostages of a gang headed by a woman - whose son is sentenced to hang.
Written by: William L. Stewart
Directed by: Gerd Oswald
Guest Stars: Ma Lassiter(Marie Windsor), Roy Coffee(Ray Teal), Reverend Holmes(Douglas Henderson), Major Sutcliffe(John Hoyt), Harry Lassiter(Jack Chaplain)

Trivia: This was Marie Windsor's first and only appearance in the series. Often cast as an adulterous wife, slutty girlfriend, female gang leader or gun moll, she proved so convincing in those roles that she often received Bibles in the mail with passages underlined that covered the "sins" she had committed onscreen, warning her that she would go to hell if she didn't reform. Several of those types of letters dwelt so much on her "immorality" and "evil ways" that, unnerved, she turned them over to the police. Her best work was in the "film noir" category, most notably her role as the manipulative, double-crossing wife of Elisha Cook Jr. in The Killing (1956) (which earned her "Look" magazine's Best Supporting Actress award). She also served as a director of the Screen Actors Guild for 25 years.

Episode #215
A Natural Wizard
December 12, 1965
Hoss befriends a lonely young man who shares Hoss' love of animals.
Written by: William Blinn, Suzanne Clauser
Directed by: Robert Totten
Guest Stars: Skeeter Dexter(Eddie Hodges), Joy Dexter(Jacqueline Scott), Doctor Woods(Karl Swenson), Stony(Douglas Kennedy)

Trivia: This was Eddie Hodges' first and only appearance in the series. Ten-year-old Eddie split the $25,000 grand prize with future astronaut and American hero Maj. John Glenn as his teammate after successfully appearing on a very popular episode of the TV game show "Name That Tune" (1953) on Oct 4th 1957. He had several hit records in the early 1960s, most notably "I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door" and "Girls Were Made to Love." Hodges retired from acting in the early 70s to become a mental health counselor in his native Mississippi.

Episode #216
All Ye Saints
December 19, 1965
A little boy travels to the high country in search of God to ask him to save his wounded father. However, the man he finds there is really a fugitive from justice.
Written by: William Blinn
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Tom Cain(Leif Erickson), Michael Thorpe(Clint Howard), Lijah(Rodolfo Acosta), Evan Thorpe(Simon Scott)

Trivia: This is Leif Erickson's second and final appearance in the series. He is probably best remembered for his role in David Dortort's other series, 'The High Chaparral' as Big John Cannon.

This was Clint Howard's first and only appearance in the series. He is Actor/Director/Producer Ron Howard's younger brother.

This script was started in 1964, with Pernell Roberts' Adam being the main Cartwright in the story. The outdoor shots necessary for this episode could not be shot until the following year, which was after Roberts' departure from the series.

Episode #217
The Dublin Lad
January 2, 1966
Joe stands alone in a jury intent upon convicting Terrence O'Toole of murder.
Written by: Mort Thaw
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Terrence O' Toole(Liam Sullivan), Molly MacGregor Dimmer(Maggie Mahoney), Jeb Dimmer(Tim McIntire)
Trivia: This was Liam Sullivan's first and only appearance in the series. Known for playing villians, he also appeared in 'Little House on the Prairie' and Highway to Heaven.'
This was Maggie Mahoney's first and only appearance on the series. She is the mother of Academy Award winning actress Sally Field.

Episode #218
To Kill A Buffalo
January 9, 1966
Hoss stumbles upon an injured indian who must decide whether he will return to his people or adopt the ways of the white man.
Written by: Michael Fisher
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars:Tatu(Jose De Vega), Martinez(Steven Gravers), Julie(Trudy Ellison), Hop Sing(Victor Sen Yung), Mrs. Flanners(Sarah Selby)

Trivia: This was Jose De Vegas' first and only appearance in the series. He is probably best remembered for the role of Chino in the 1961 movie classic 'West Side Story.' He also was the Choreographer for the movie 'The Karate Kid Part II' (1986).

Episode #219 & #220
Ride The Wind, Parts 1 and 2
Part 1: January 16, 1966
Part 2: January 23, 1966
Joe becomes part of Charles Ludlow's 'Pony Express,' much to Ben's dismay. This was the first Bonanza episode to be shown in two parts, and was later seen as a full length feature film in other countries; In Mexico, it was called "Jinetes del Viento".
Written by: Paul Schneider
Directed by: William Witney
Guest Stars: Charles Ludlow(Victor Jory) Curtis Wade(Rod Cameron) Tully(DeForest Kelley), Jabez Ludow(Tom Lowell), Hoke. (Warren Vanders), Aaron(Stewart Moss), Sykes(James Noah), Herb(Clay Tanner), Pat(David Pritchard), Winnemucca(Richard Hale)

Trivia: This was Victor Jory's first and only appearance in the series. Victor Jory was the boxing and wrestling champion of the Coast Guard during his military hitch, and never lost his big, burly physique. His sinister looks and distinctive voice typed him as a heavy, at which he excelled, but he did occasionally play sympathetic leads, one of which was, oddly enough, the sci-fi cult classic Cat-Women of the Moon (1953).

Episode #221
Destiny's Child
January 30, 1966
The Cartwrights take in a mentally handicapped man whose friend has been killed; they later find out that the man is wanted for murder.
Written by: Robert V. Barron
Directed by: Gerd Oswald

Guest Stars: Sonny(Richard Peabody), Jess Pherson(Walter Burke), Jamie(Tim Stafford), Darrell(Steve Raines), Badgett(Lindsay Workman), Doctor(Grandon Rhodes), Hunter(Chris Anderson), Roy Coffee(Ray Teal)

Trivia: This was Richard Peabody's first and only appearance in the series. He is probably best remembered for his portrayal of 'Littlejohn' in the ABC drama "Combat" which ran from 1962-1967.

Episode #222
Peace Officer
February 6, 1966
A gang terrorizes Virginia City while Sheriff Coffee is out of town. The town hires a temporary sheriff, a man who is a legendary lawman. But little does everyone know that this hero is not all he is known to be.
Written by: Donn Mullally
Directed by: William Witney
Guest Stars:Wes Dunn(Eric Fleming), Dave Morrisey(Ron Foster), Cliff(Ray Stricklyn), Chuck(Dee Pollock), Mayor Garrett(Ted Knight), Deputy Bill Harris(Clyde Howdy)

Trivia: Fleming is probably best-known for his portrayal of Gil Favor on the TV western 'Rawhide.' This was Eric Fleming's third and last appearance on Bonanza, previously appearing in the two part episode, 'The Pursued.' His Bonanza TV appearance was his last before his untimely death in September 1966. He was hired by MGM-TV to film the two-part adventure program "High Jungle" in Peru. During the shooting of location shots on the Huallaga River, Fleming dove from a dug-out canoe after paddling it beyond the rapids. His body was lost in the turbulent water and was not recovered until three days later.

Episode #223
The Code
February 13, 1966
Joe is tricked into a gunfight with a professional gunslinger.
Written by: Sidney Ellis
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Dan Taggert(George Montgomery), Sally(Jan Shepard), Fitts(Robert Ellenstein)

Trivia: This was George Montgomery's first and only appearance in the series. Montgomery was married to singer/actress Dinah Shore for twenty years. After his divorce from Shore in 1963, his private life again made headlines when his housekeeper, suffering obsessive infatuation, attempted to shoot the actor, planning to then commit suicide, but failing in both endeavors.
An excellent craftsman, he ran a cabinet shop for over 40 years while directing and appearing in action movies. He also designed and built 11 houses for friends and family. A self-taught artist, he created bronze busts of Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Gene Autry and Randolph Scott. In later years he made sculptures of Charles Farrell and ex-wife Dinah Shore; hers and those of his children and himself sit at the Mission Hills Country Club, home of the Dinah Shore Golf Tournament. Some of his sculptures are in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum and Library in Simi Valley, California.

Episode #224
Three Brides For Hoss
February 20, 1966
Three women arrive on the Ponderosa, each claiming that they are marrying Hoss.
Written by: Jo Pagano
Directed by: Ralph E. Black
Guest Stars: Jester(Stuart Erwin), Annie Slocum(Majel Barrett), Jed(Wynn Pearce), Libby Spencerfield(Mitzi Hoag), Yvette(Danielle Aubry), Ned(Claude Hall), Jenny(Sharyl Locke).

Trivia: This was Majel Barrett's second and last appearance in the series. Best known for her role as Nurse Chapel on 'Star Trek,' she was married to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry from 1969 until his death in 1991. She was given the nickname, 'The First Lady of Star Trek.' Barrett was also the voice of the Starship Computers in the original series up until the latest movie released in 2009.

Episode #225
The Emperor Norton
February 27, 1966
Authorities wish to commit a man who thinks he's the Emperor of the United States. When he winds up on the Ponderosa, Ben gets in contact with someone who can attest to Norton's sanity.
Written by: Robert Sabaroff, Gert P. Young
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Emperor Joshua Norton(Sam Jaffe), Harry Crawford(Parley Baer), Sam Clemens(William Challee), George Harris(Tom Palmer)

Trivia: This is Sam Jaffe's first and only appearance in the series. An accomplished actor on Broadway and film, he was a victim of the Hollywood blacklist during the HUAC hearings. After filming 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' (1951), he didn't appear in another Hollywood film until the late 50's.
In an interesting 'Bonanza' connection, Jaffe was married to Bettye Ackerman, who portrayed Estelle Dawson in the Season 9 episode, 'Second Chance.'

Episode #226
Her Brother's Keeper
March 6, 1966
Ben finds that his new love's brother is endangering their blossoming romance.
Written by: Mort Thaw, Lee Pickett
Directed by: R.G. Springsteen
Guest Stars: Claire Armory(Nancy Gates), Carl Armory(Wesley Lau), Doctor(Grandon Rhodes)

Trivia: Lorne Greene suffered a real life eye injury which was incorporated into the script as Ben being hurt in a hunting accident.
This was Nancy Gates' first and only appearance in the series. This was her second to last television appearance before she retired from acting to raise her family.

Episode #227
The Trouble With Jamie
March 20, 1966
The son of Ben's cousin learns a few life lessons from the Cartwrights.
Written by: Helen B. Hicks
Directed by: R.G. Springsteen
Guest Stars: Jamie(Michael Burns), Matthew(Ross Elliott), Elizabeth(Tracy Olsen)

Trivia:his was the first of Michael Burns' two appearances in the series; he also appeared in the Season 8 episode 'Napoleon's Children.' He was familiar to television audiences of the early 1960s as the teenage character Barnaby West on the popular TV series "Wagon Train." Burns left acting in his 20s to pursue his interest in history. He went on to a distinguished career as a historian, writer, and college professor. He is now retired and raising thoroughbred horses in Kentucky.

Episode #228
Shining in Spain
March 27, 1966
A young woman comes to Virgina City to await her father, who he hasn't seen in five years. She finds out that his business dealings didn't bring him the success she thought they did, when he turns up broke.
Written by: Elliott Gilbert
Directed by: Maury Geraghty
Guest Stars: Wendy Daniels(Judi Rolin), Jim Huber(Woodrow Parfrey), Taylor Daniels(Gene Lyons), Drummer(Hal Baylor), Hotel Clerk(Robert B. Williams)

Trivia: This was Gene Lyons' first and only appearance in the series. He is probably best known for his role as Commissioner Dennis Randall in the long running NBC drama 'Ironside.'

Episode #229
The Genius
April 3, 1966
Hoss tries to help a drunken poet.
Written by: Donn Mullally
Directed by: R.G. Springsteen
Guest Stars: Will Smith~William Warcock Evans(Lonny Chapman), Lydia Evans(Jorja Curtwright), Jesus(Salvador Baguez), Draves(Troy Melton), Joel(Raymond Mays), Doctor(Grandon Rhodes)

Trivia: This was Lonny Chapman's first of two appearances in the series. A reliable, gruff-toned character actor on stage screen and TV for over six decades who, following service in the South Pacific during World War II, graduated from the University of Oklahoma, then moved to New York City where he landed the lead in "Come Back, Little Sheba".

Episode #230
The Unwritten Commandment
April 10, 1966
A father does not see his son's talent as a singer and keeps him working at the family ranch.
Written by: Jo Pagano, William Blinn, Dan Ullman
Directed by: Gerd Oswald
Guest Stars: Andy Walker(Wayne Newton), Miss Lily(Ann Jefferys), Willard Walker(Malcolm Atterbury), Mike(Jerry Newton), Reverend Porter(Robert Cleaves)

Trivia: This was Wayne Newton's first of two appearances in the series. A world wide entertainer, he is known by the nickname 'Mr. Las Vegas.' Discovered by Jackie Gleason, he has had a number one US single - 'Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast.' Because he had a high pitched voice, many joked (wrongly) that he was effeminate or even gay. Newton once threatened Johnny Carson over jokes Carson told attacking his manhood. Carson stopped telling the jokes.

Episode #231
Big Shadow On The Land
April 17, 1966
An Italian Family turns up on the Ponderosa, looking to start a vineyard.
Written by: William F. Leicester, Richard H. Bartlett
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Georgio Rossi(Jack Kruschen), Regina Rossi(Brioni Farrell), Lorenzo Rossi(Michael Stefani), Maria Rossi(Penny Santon)

Trivia: This is the first of three Bonanza episodes with the Rossi Family. They appear again in Season 8's 'The Deed and the Dilemma' and Season 10's 'The Sound of Drums'. There was talk about this family being spun off into their own series, but NBC felt that such a show would be too ethnic in nature and the idea was scrapped.

Episode #232
The Fighters
April 24, 1966
Hoss seriously injures a prizefighter. Hoss' guilt over the situation makes him decide that he will never use his fists again....that is, until Joe comes home severely injured.
Written by: Robert L. Goodwin
Directed by: R.G. Springsteen
Guest Stars: Hank(Michael Conrad), Dugan(Phillip Pine), Rubi(Mari Aldon), Charlie(Cal Bolder), Smitty(Gene Tyburn), Bert(Bruce Mars), Doc(Grandon Rhodes).

Trivia: This was Michael Conrad's first and only appearance in the series. A television veteran who appeared in many programs in the '50s, '60s, 70s' and early '80s, he is probably best remembered for his role as Sgt. Phil Esterhaus on the 1980's drama, 'Hill Street Blues', and his signature line, "Let's be careful out there." Conrad died in November 1983 from urethral cancer.

Episode #233
Home From The Sea
May 1, 1966
Two robbers appear on the Ponderosa, one claiming to be a sailor friend of Adam's. They befriend the Cartwrights as they prepare to rob them.
Written by: George F. Slavin, Stanley Adams
Directed by: Jean Yarbrough
Guest Stars: Gilly Maples(Alan Bergmann), Morgan(Ivor Barry).

Trivia: This was Alan Bergmann's first of two appearances in the series. He would later appear in Season 10's 'Mark of Guilt'. An actor in the '60s and '70s, he became an accomplished television director in the '80s, directing such shows as 'Barney Miller', 'Family Ties', 'Night Court' and 'Archie Bunker's Place'.

Episode #234
The Last Mission
May 8, 1966
An Army colonel enlists the Cartwright's help - but what Ben and Hoss do not know is that the colonel plans to extinguish all the indians he sets his sights on.
Written by: William Douglas Lansford and S. S. Schweitzer
Directed by: R.G. Springsteen
Guest Stars: Colonel Keith Jarrell(R. G. Armstrong), Sergeant Devlin(Tom Reese), Lowell(Brendon Boone), Poker(Ken Mayer), Chief Elkoro(George Keymas).

Trivia: This was R.G. Armstrong's third and final appearance in the series. A student of Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio, Armstrong has had a long career beginning on Broadway in the early '50s. He then went west to Hollywood, appearing in 80 movies and three television series in his career, along with guest starring in 90 television series, many of them westerns.

Episode #235
A Dollar's Worth of Trouble
May 15, 1966
A fortune teller spells out trouble for Hoss which includes a blue-eyed blonde, a moonshiner, and a murderous gunslinger. .
Written by: Robert L. Goodwin
Directed by: Don Daves
Guest Stars: Kathleen Walker(Sally Kellerman), Craig Bonner(Hamton Fancher), Walker(Elisha Cook, Jr.), Seth(Robert Foulk), Madam Adella(Mabel Albertson).

Trivia:This was Elisha Cook Jr.'s first of two appearances in the series. He would later appear in Season 12's 'The Weary Willies.' One of the most familiar character actors of the mid-twentieth century, small-statured Cook would be a Hollywood immortal if only for his roles in The Maltese Falcon (1941) with Humphrey Bogart and Shane (1953). Since he was very slightly built, he has been referred to as 'Hollywood's Lightest Heavy".

This was Mabel Albertson's first and only appearance in the series. She is probably best remembered for her recurring role in the ABC comedy 'Bewitched', portraying Darren's mother, Phyllis Stephens. She also was a recurring character on four episodes of 'The Andy Griffith Show', portraying Mrs. Sprague, Howard's mother. She was the sister of actor Jack Albertson, star of the 70s NBC Comedy 'Chico and the Man' and who also appeared on Bonanza in the Season 9 episode, 'A Girl Named George.'

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