Saturday 9: Bonanza

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Saturday 9: Bonanza (1959)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Bonanza ran on NBC for 14 seasons. Today it's rerun on Me-TV and TVLand. Were/are you a fan?  You betcha! Little Joe was the hottest thing on a horse back in the day and one of my earliest crushes. I still enjoy an episode now and then.

2) The show centers on The Cartwrights, who lived on a massive ranch in Nevada. License plates in Nevada read, "The Silver State." What's on your license plate?  They used to say "The Keystone State," but a while back in an effort to show how cool and hep we are, the good folks in Harrisburg put the state web site on it. They now say "visitPA.com"

3) Ben Cartwright made his fortune as a cattle rancher. What's the last beef dish you ate?  Beef with broccoli in a ginger sauce.

4) Patriarch Ben had his eldest son, Adam, with his refined, bookish first wife, Elizabeth. Unfortunately, Elizabeth died in childbirth. Still Adam inherited her love of the written word. What's the last book you finished?  Basket Case, an easy, cozy mystery. Basically, a fun summer read.

5) Ben's second son, Hoss, was born to his second wife, Inger, who was killed as the family traveled West by wagon train. Hoss inherited her open, friendly manner and her way with animals. Are there pets in your home?  Just one these days. My little diva, Daisy.

6) Ben's youngest, Joe, arrived after Ben married a third time to the passionate Marie, who died in a riding accident when her son was only five years old. Little Joe inherited her impetuosity. Do you consider yourself more spontaneous or predictable?  I was definitely spontaneous when I was younger, but I'd have to say that age and responsibilities have made me more predictable...but don't always count on it. I still have some surprises up my sleeve.

7) Samuel Clemons was a reporter in Virginia City at the time when the Cartwrights would have been there, and a fictionalized version of Mr. Clemons appeared in an episode of Bonanza. Without looking it up, do you know Samuel Clemons' famous pen name?  Mark Twain...and no, I didn't have to look it up.

8) Hair was a big deal in the Bonanza dressing room. Three of the original four stars -- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts and Dan Blocker -- all wore hairpieces. (The fourth, Michael Landon, began dying his hair while still in his 20s because he was going prematurely gray.) Have you ever worn a wig or a hairpiece?  Only for Halloween.

9) Random question -- Tell us the story behind one of your scars.  Old Vacation Bible School war wound. Some genius decided we should play "ring-around-the-rosy" in the church parking lot. The big kids and little kids all played together and when we got to "we all fall down," the big kids yanked all us little kids  (I was probably about 4) to the ground with them. Remember, we were on blacktop. I went down hard and cut my chin and my knee open. I don't remember pain, but I do remember lots of blood.