Date: September 12, 1959

Summary: Alpheus Troy needs trees from the Ponderosa in his mining business, but Ben won't sell. Troy acquires the services of actress Lotta Crabtree to entice Joe Cartwright to her room, where Alpheus plans to kidnap him as ransom for the trees.

Written by: David Dortort
Directed by: Edward Ludwig
Guest Stars: Yvonne DeCarlo – (Lotta Crabtree} George MacReady (Alpheus Troy) Barry Kelly – (Aaron Hopper) Willis Bouchey – (George Garvey} Christoper Dark – (Langford Pool) Sammee Tong – (Hop Ling) Ned Glass (Coach driver)


gif slideshow courtesy of ansinico

Date: September 19, 1959

Summary: Mark Burdette and Early Thorne arrive in Virginia City planning to get rich by killing herds of antelope and charging the miners $10 a pound for the meat. When Ben discovers Chief Winnemucca and another Indian are stealing Ponderosa cattle because they are losing their source of meat, he catches on to what Burdette and Thorne are doing. He thwarts their plans for selling cattle at $20 each. Dressing as Indians, Burdette and Thorne attack miners who are buying cattle from Ben. This episode was narrated by Lorne Greene.

Written by: Gene L. Coon and David Dortort
Directed by: Paul Landres
Guest Stars: Barry Sullivan (Mark Burdette); Leo Gordon (Early Thorne); Bel Nelson (Glory); Karl Swenson (Carl Harris); Harry Bartell (Winnemucca); Ron Soble (Tokwa); Jeanne Bates (Stella Harris); Robin Warga (Michael Harris); Jay Hector (Harold Harris); Zon Murray (Miner).


Slideshow images courtesy of Bejules

Date: September 26, 1959

Summary: Blake McCall and his partner John Pennington are headed across the Ponderosa, along with John's sister, Emily, who is engaged to McCall. Ben is concerned because they are in the business of hydraulic mining, and he is afraid his land will be damaged. Hoss is assigned the task of making sure the men leave the Ponderosa, and in the meantime falls in love with Emily, not knowing that she has a terminal illness.

Written by:Thomas Thompson
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Inger Stevens (Emily Pennington); John Larch (Blake McCall); Robert Knapp (John Pennington); Charles Maxell (Krug); George J. Lewis (Jose Moreno); Byron Foulger (Justin Flannery); Diane Grey (Wyoming); Jon Lormer (Doc Riley); Martin Mason (1st Miner); Troy Melton (Merrill).


slideshow image courtesy of Tracy

Date: October 3, 1959

Summary: When four Paiutes come into Wilson's Trading Post, proprietor Jack Wilson keeps and mistreats the two women. Adam and a brave rescue them and Wilson flees to avoid punishment. When Indian raids are made on wagons and small ranches, Wilson accuses the Paiutes. In reality, the Bannock Indians are responsible. Ben and Adam convince the townspeople to ride with them to talk to Winnemucca. Wilson shoots an Indian, which results in a battle between the militia and the Paiutes, and Adam is taken hostage.

Written by: Gene L. Coon
Directed by: Paul Landres
Guest Stars: Jack Warden (Mike Wilson); Anthony Caruso (Chief Winnemucca); Mike Forrest (Young Winnemucca); Walter Coy, Douglas Kennedy, Howard Petrie, Peter Coe, George Keymas, Michael Ryan, I.Stanford Jolley, Gregg Martell.



Images courtesy of Adamant

Date: October 10, 1959

Summary: Samuel Clemens arrives in Virginia City and takes a job at The Territorial Enterprise. After he hears about the sighting of a wild man on the Ponderosa, he writes a story about it in the paper. The article draws curiosity seekers to the ranch, much to the annoyance of the Cartwright's. When Clemens begins writing negative articles on political candidate Judge Yerrington, he is warned that he'd better stop the articles. Note: Sam Clemens was hired as a reporter in Virginia City in 1862-1864 by Territorial Enterprise owners Joseph T. Goodman and Dennis McCarthy.

Written by: Harold Shumate
Directed by: Paul Landres
Guest Stars: Howard Duff (Samuel Langhorn Clemens); John Litel (Judge Yerrington); Dorothy Green (Minaie); Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing); Ann Whitfield (Rosemary); Percy Helton (Blurry Jones); Patrick McVey (Bill Raleigh); Edmund Lyon, Lane Bradford, Arthur Lovejoy, Robert Carson.


Slideshow courtesy of Gillie

Date: October 17, 1959

Summary: Joe is attracted to French saloon owner Julia Bulette. Ben is not pleased with their relationship due to the fact of her past and their age difference. Ben asks Julia to stop seeing Joe. At first she agrees, but later changes her mind. Julia offers her saloon to help care for the sick after a scarlet fever epidemic breaks out. Shortly afterwards, Julia is robbed and stabbed.

Written by: Al Ward
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Jane Greer (Julia Bulette); Alexander Scourby (John Millain); Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing); Harry Seymour (Piano Player); Robert J. Stevenson (George Romley); Kem Dibbs (Sheriff Olins); Roy Engel, Kay Kuter, Mary Munday, Rush Williams, Robert B. Williams.


Slideshow gif image by Bejules

Date: October 24, 1959

Summary: Annie O’Toole comes to Washoe to take over a mining claim that her fiancé, Swede, had filed for her. On the trip to Nevada, her father dies and is buried by Hoss. Annie thanks Hoss by cooking him a meal, and the miners are attracted by the smell of the food. Adam convinces Annie to open a restaurant to feed the men, which she does and calls it "The Square Meal". Swede arrives and tells Annie he sold one of his two claims to Gregory Spain but cannot remember which one. Spain is sure she is on his property, so Ben uses a miner’s court to decide who the rightful owner is.

Written by: Thomas Thompson
Directed by: Joseph Kane
Guest Stars: : Ida Lupino (Annie O’Toole), Alan Hale Jr. (Swede Lundberg), John Patrick (Kevin “Himself” O’Toole), Harry Lascoe (Gregory Spain), Richard Reeves (Clayton), Ollie O’Toole (Simpson), Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing).


gif slide courtesy of Bejules

Date: October 31, 1959

Summary: German engineer Philip Diedesheimer is brought in to have a look at the Opher mine, which has had a lot of cave-ins. Diedesheimer has a plan to construct a mine that would be safe, but nobody wants to obsorb the cost of the construction. Note: The real Philip Diedesheimer invented the square-set system, on which this episode is based, in 1860.

Written by: Thomas Thompson
Directed by: Joseph Kane
Guest Stars: John Beal (Philip Diedeshiemer); Mala Powers (Helene); R.G. Armstrong (Andrew Halloway); Charles Cooper (Gil Fenton); Paul Birch (Tregalis); Mae Marsh.


gif image courtesy of Gillie

Date: November 7, 1959

Summary: Henry Comstock claims ownership of land where gold is discovered. Joe is attracted to Saratuchee, the daughter of Chief Winnemuca and he takes her to a dance. Chief W comes to the dance to take his daughter home.

Written by: David Dortort
Directed by: John Brahm
Guest Stars: Jack Carson (Henry T.P. Comstock); Joanna Sages (Princess Saratuchee); Terence De Marney (Pat O'Reilly); Jack Mathers (Heck Turner); Richard Cutting (Old Virginny); Bruce Gordon (Winnemucca); Charles Wagenheim (Pike); John Dierkes (Pat McLaughlin); Abel Fernandez (Lean Knife).


Slideshow gif images courtesy of Bejules

Date: November 15, 1959

Summary: The famous actress Adah Menken arrives in Virginia City. Convinced that their father intends to marry her, Adam, Hoss and Joe set about trying to prevent it. Ben wants to protect Adah from her ex-boyfriend, boxer John C. Regan. Regan is not pleased with the attention Adah is receiving from the Cartwrights, and uses his boxing skills against them.

Written by: Donald S. Sanford
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing) Ruth Roman (Adah Isaacs Menken), Don Megowan (John C. Regan), Hal Smith (Watkyns), William Mims (Sledge), Fay Roope (Castellan), Nancy Root (Actress portraying Olinska), Roy Jenson (Miner), Mauritz Hugo (Hotel Manager)


Slideshow images courtesy of Bejules

Date: November 21, 1959

Summary: Luther Bishop and the Cartwrights have been involved in a feud over a piece of land called the Truckee Strip. A silver baron and the foreman of the Bishop ranch plan to take advantage of the feud in order to get the timber off the land. As the feud escalates, Joe and Amy Bishop fall in love.

Written by: Herman Groves
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: James Coburn (Pete Jessup), Adrienne Hayes (Amy Bishop), Carl Benton Reid (Luther Bishop), Charles Horvath (Willard Trump), S. John Launer (Jason Carter), Peter Chong (Lo Chow), John Frederick, Jim Hayward


Images courtesy of Gillie

Date: November 28, 1959

Summary: Adam and Joe join a posse when the husband of the victim forms one, but leave after the posse becomes a lynch mob. They then go after the killers by themselves.

Written by: Carey Wilber
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Arthur Hunnicutt (Paiute Scroggs), Adam Williams (Blackie Marx), Onslow Stevens (Flint Johnson), Alan Reed Jr (Deputy Sheriff Jeb Clanton), Don Haggerty (), Robert E. Griffin (), John Harmon (Sheister), Ray Hemphill (Buck Timmons), Bob Kline (Kirk), Dick Rich (Shoeffer), George Sawaya (Posse member), Evelyn Scott (Vannie Johnson), Barbara Pepper (Lil McSween)


Slideshow images courtesy of Bejules

Date: December 5, 1959

Summary: Ben and Hoss walk in on a bank robbery. Ben is shot but wounds one of the robbers, Billy Morgan. The Sheriff goes after the gang, but is killed. Billy dies, so his brother Carl seeks revenge on Ben and the town.

Written by: Robert E. Thompson
Directed by: Joseph Kane
Guest Stars: Whitney Blake (Ann Stewart), Mort Mills (Carl Morgan), Simon Scott (Tom Pryor), John Milford (Stanford), William Pullen (Sheriff Tolliver), Steve Rowland (Billy Morgan), Bill Quinn (Doc Travis), Harry Carey Jr. (Outlaw), James Gavin (Townsman), Maurice Manson )


slideshow images courtesy of Freya

Date: December 12, 1959

Summary: Adam is arrested for the murder of the saloon girl he's been dating.

Written by: Carey Wilber
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing) Buddy Ebsen (Sheriff Jesse Sanders), Fay Spain (Sue Ellen Terry), Jean Willes (Amelia Terry), Malcolm Atterbury (Ol' Virginny), John Stephenson (John Henry), Charles Meredith


Slideshow images courtesy of Adamant

Date: December 19, 1959

Summary: Hoss and Joe encounter a pregnant Indian and deliver her baby in the wilderness.

Written by: : Donald S. Sanford
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Shoshone Girl...Chana Eden Jason Kyle...Steven Terrell Doctor...Carlyle Mitchell Sumner Kyle...Raymond Bailey Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung.


gif images courtesy of Bejules

Date: January 2, 1960

Summary: Hoss and Joe travel to Monterey to buy a seed bull for the Ponderosa.

Written by: John Tucker Battle
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Don Xavier...Ricardo Cortez Cayetana...Barbara Luna Eduardo El Montalban…Armand Alzamora Indian Chief...Rodd Red Wing Valiente Lopez...Jose Gonzales - Gonzales Esmerelda Lopez...Penny Santon Epifanio Lopez…Alan Roberts Maria Teresa Lorenzo...Alma Beltran Floriana...Tina Menard First Man...Ralph Moody Second Man...Don Kelly


slideshow images courtesy of Freya

Date: January 9, 1960

Summary: After her father and brother are hung, Leta Malvet becomes an outcast and she goes to the Ponderosa to recover. When she returns home she seeks solace from of an ex-con Clay Renton.

Written by: Thomas Thompson
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Clay Renton...Jack Lord Leta Malvet...Susan Oliver Harvey Buford...Edward Platt Mrs. Buford...Irene Tedrow Dr. Paul Martin...Roy Engel Spence...Robert Lieb Boyd...Joel Ashley Garth...Mark Allen.


slideshow images courtesy of Bejules

Date: January 16, 1960

Summary: Though he tries with all his might, Ben cannot keep the politics of the Civil War out of his home…nor can he keep it from dividing his sons. Frederick Kyle, a man with a secret agenda, arrives on the scene and adds fuel to the fire.

Written by: Al C. Ward
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Frederick Kyle...Cameron Mitchel Regis...Stacy Harris Gorman...John Anderson Lily Van Cleet-Kyle...Marianne Stewart Henessy...Howard Wendell Tom...Dan Riss Northern Miner...Mickey Simpson Southern Miner...John Locke Sheriff...Kenneth MacDonald Mine Owner...Stafford Repp Bob Miles...(uncredited)


Slideshow images courtesy of ansinico

Date: January 23, 1960

Summary: While traveling through Kiowa Flats, Hoss and Joe are mistaken for the infamous Slade Brothers.

Written by: Carey Wilbur
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: B. Bannerman Brown...Henry Hull Jubal...George Mitchell Alonzo McFadden...Douglas Spencer Twirly Boggs...King Donovan McFadden Boy...Dennis Holmes Lorna Doone Mayboy...Ellen Corby Amanda McFadden...Ann Graves, Clara Lou Kinsey...Jenny Maxwell Sonny...Billy McLean Anse Hadfield...Jonathan Gilmore Lisabelle Jones...Jody Fair Quisy McFadden...Dorothy Neumann Susan Hadfield...Dorothy Crehan Bob Miles...(uncredited extra and stunt double) Bill Clark...( uncredited extra and stunt double)


Slideshow gif image by Bejules

Date: January 30, 1960

Summary: Bigotry rears its ugly head in Virginia City in the form of mayoral candidate Andy Fulmer. Chinese citizens are the victims of its wrath and the Cartwrights are deputized to help fend off violence and disaster.

Written by: Fred Unger, Thomas Thompson
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Andrew Fulmer...Gene Evans, Amanda Ridley...Helen Westcott, Mr. Ridley...Frank Ferguson, Jesse Tibbs...Christopher Dark, Jimmy Chang...Guy Lee, Billy Wheeler...Ray Stricklyn, Lee Chang...Philip Ahn, Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung, Sally Ridley...Patricia Michon, Cyrus Hammond...Arthur Space, Sheriff Halstead...Gregg Barton, Judge...Alexander Campbell, Chinese Elder...Peter Chong, Bob Miles...(uncredited extra) Bill Clark...(uncredited extra).


gif image courtesy of Gillie

Date: February 6, 1960

Summary: A Spanish noblewoman insists that part of the Ponderosa belongs to her family and she has an old Spanish Land Grant validating her claim.

Written by: David Dortort, Leonard Heideman
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Isabella Marie Inez de la Cuesta/Rosita Morales.Patricia Medina Don Antonio Luga...Sebastian Cabot Sanchez...Paul Picerni Donna Theresa Epananza...Celia Lovsky Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung Judge Blaton...Ned Weve High Card Smith...Michael Ragan Proprietor...Salvador Baguez Andy Logan...John Frederick Mary Logan...Claudia Bryar Sheriff Hawkins...Stuart Randall Dancer...Genaro Gomez Bob Miles...(uncredited stunt double)


slideshow images courtesy of January

Date: February 13, 1960

Summary: Jeb Drummond allows his sheep to graze on the Ponderosa. Ben orders him off his land. Drummond kidnaps Adam, in exchange for ownership of the Ponderosa.

Written by: Robert E. Thompson
Directed by: Felix Feist
Guest Stars: Jeb Drummond...Everett Sloane Billy...Ray Daley Collier...Ken Lynch Wheeler...Jerry Oddo Sam...Glen Holtzman Burton...Tom Reese Bob Miles...(uncredited stunt double)


slideshow courtesy of Adamant

Date: February 20, 1960

Summary: Marshall Emmett Dowd arrests Dave Walker, a Cartwright hand, and plans to take him back to California to stand trial for murder. Adam and Hoss go along to make sure their friend gets to his destination in one piece.

Written by: Donald S. Sanford
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Marshal Emmett Dowd...Claude Akins David Walker...Wesley Lau Andrea Strasser...Fintan Meyler Dr. Andrew Strasser...John Wengraf Hurd Cutler...Ron Hayes Charlie...Bud Osborne Michael Bailey...Will Wright Deputy Dan...Tom Greenway.


gif slideshow courtesy of gillie

Date:February 27, 1960

Summary:New Orleans police inspector Charles LeDuque, arrives on the eve of Ben’s gubernatorial campaign, with a warrant for Ben's arrest -- on a charge of murder. NOTE: In this episode we get to see Marie Cartwright’s grave.

Written by: Leonard Heideman, Oliver Crawford
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Charles Leduque...Lloyd Nolan Tom Cole...Hal Baylor Dennis...Arthur Shields Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung Sheriff Brady...Robert Foul Alfred Gibbons...Donald Foster Dixie...Joan Staley Alice...Elizabeth York Louise Gibbons...Jomarie Pettit Jake...Charles Tannen Way Station Owner...Hank Worden Bob Miles...(uncredited stunt double) Bill Clark...(uncredited extra)


slideshow images courtesy of Adamant

Date: March 5, 1960

Summary: Three army deserters find themselves on the Ponderosa and Ben comes up against the brutal and relentless army captain who is pursuing them.

Written by: Robert E. Thompson, Bill Barrett
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Neda...Gloria Talbott Captain James Bolton…Chris Alcaide Colonel Metcalfe...Dayton Lummis Corporal...Sherwood Price Jimmy Sutton...Joe Maross Paul Tyler,...Grant Williams Mertz...James Parnell


Slideshow images courtesy of Calamity

Date: March 19, 1960

Summary: : Sally Byrnes wrongfully accuses Ben and Adam of murdering her father and they are condemned to die. The town turns their back on them, but Hoss and Joe find an ally in a stranger named Lassiter.

Written by: Clair Huffaker
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Lassiter...Vic Morrow Sally Byrnes...Jean Allison Hawkins...Richard Devon Fred...James Anderson Bert...Harry Swoger Ed Baxter...Ian Wolfe Thornton...Nestor Paiva Sheriff Hansen...Robert Griffin Jimmy...Eugene Martin Hoag...Bill Catching Barney Arden...Robert Brubaker Bill Clark...(uncredited extra)


Slideshow image courtesy of Gillie

Date: March 26, 1960

Summary: : Lord Marion and Lady Beatrice Dunsford, friends of Ben, come for a visit. Adam takes them on a hunting trip, where they are nabbed by a crude gang of ruffians.

Written by: Bill S. Ballinger
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Lady Beatrice Dunsford...Hazel Court Lord Marion Dunsford...Edward Ashley Simon Belcher...Bert Freed Whitey...Ken Mayer Touma...Naomi Stevens Cavanaugh...Don Hix Cavanaugh's Grandson...Jimmy Carter.


gif slideshow courtesy of Gillie

Date: April 2, 1960

Summary: Ben, Hoss and Joe deliver a herd to San Francisco and in the process get shanghaied on the Barbary Coast. Hop Sing and all his cousins to the rescue.

Written by: Thomas Thompson
Directed by: Arthur Lubin
Guest Stars: Quick Buck Katie...Kathleen Crowley Alexander Pendelton...David White Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung Cut Rate Joe...Murvyn Vye Captain Shark...Richard Deacon Johnny...Robert Nichols Hamp...O. Z. Whitehead Sergeant...Stephen Roberts Cousin # 3...James Hong Bartender...Herb Vigran Big Henchman...Michael Ross Little Henchman...Donnelly Rhodes Busthead Brannigan...Tor Johnson Bob Miles...(uncredited stunt double) Bill Clark...(uncredited stunt double)


gif image courtesy of Gillie

Date: April 9, 1960

Summary: The Cartwrights get embroiled in a fight with their neighbor over water rights on land adjacent to the Ponderosa.

Written by: Harold Jack Bloom
Directed by: George Blair
Guest Stars: Todd McKaren...Don Dubbins Virginia Keith...Merry Anders Len Keith...Robert Simon Andy McKaren...Rhys Williams Jim Tucker...Ken Becker Roy Wilkins...Frank Watkins Jamison...Clarke Alexander Cosmo...Forrest Taylor Lynn Noe...(uncredited extral)



slideshow images by Gillie

Date: April 16, 1960

Summary: Billy Allen is the son of a convicted felon who is temporarily in Ben’s custody. Billy and Hoss become close friends…until Hoss kills Billy’s father and the boy will not forgive him. NOTE: This is the first episode where Ben admonishes Joe to “take your feet off the table.”

Written by: John Furia, Jr.
Directed by:Arthur Lubin
Guest Stars: Billy Allen...David Ladd Vance Allen...Logan Field Pike...Robert Tetrick Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung Sheriff...Tom Greenway Charlie...Guy Prescott Oroville...Philip Grayson Mr. Sherman...John Eldredge Sarah...Riza Royce Bob Miles...(uncredited stuntman)


gif image courtesy of Freya

Date: April 23, 1960

Summary: Joe falls in love with Tirza, a gypsy girl, believed to be possessed by the devil.

Written by: Anthony Lawrence
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Tirza...Susan Harrison Zurka...Hugo Haas Bruja...Lili Valenty Spiro...Arthur Batanides Bruja's Helper...Argentina Brunetti Doctor Marin...Grandon Rhodes Bob Miles...(uncredited stunt double)


Image courtesy of Calamity

Date: April 30, 1960

Summary: Sam Bryant and his thugs are terrorizing Virginia City and the Cartwrights finally stand up to his tyranny. When Farmer Perkins, a gang member, is sentenced to hang, Bryant takes Ben as hostage and threatens to kill him if Perkins is not set free.

Written by: Laurence Mascott
Directed by: Charles F. Haas
Guest Stars: Sam Bryant...Robert Middleton Farmer Perkins...Gregory Walcott Sheriff Biggs...Morgan Woodward Beth Cameron...Nancy Deale McNeil...Paul Carr Judge Scribner...Wendell Holmes Dr. Tom Brahm...Hugh Sanders Norton...Peter Leeds Gunman #1...Ric Marlow Hangman...Anthony Jochim Mr. Cameron...Bill Edward Bill Clark...(uncredited extra) Bob Miles...(uncredited extra)


gif image courtesy of Gillie