Date:September 15, 1968

Summary: A lumber tycoon is filing on unclaimed land for his timber operation and destroying a lot of land and trees. Joe decides to file on an unclaimed piece of land that has the water rights to stop the lumber tycoon, not realizing that a strong willed woman already lives on it. Things go awry when Joe tries to get this woman to file a claim.

Written by: Suzanne Clauser
Directed by: Leon Bensen
Guest Stars:Irene Tedrow (Kerry Picket),John Randolph (Jason Milburn)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: September 22, 1968

Summary: Hoss is accused of murder, so he takes to the fugitive's trail with the help of Cowboy Child Barnett to prove that he is innocent.

Written by: Jack B. Sowards
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars: Harry Hickox (Mayor Bingham), John Marley (Sheriff Millett), Yaphet Kotto (Child Barnett)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: September 29, 1968

Summary: Candy helps an Army unit under attack and the the commanding officer is married to Candy's former wife.

Written by: John Hawkins
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars: Pat Conway (Captain Jim Harris), John Kellogg (Sergeant Ordy), Sandra Smith (Ann Harris)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: October 6, 1968

Summary: The Sheriff of Muddy Creek is murdered by his prisoner, Luke Harper, in front of the Cartwrights. Ben and Joe take the prisoner back to a cowardly town that desert them and leave them to face Harper's outlaw family alone.

Written by: Alf Harris
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars: Joe Don Baker (Luke Harper), Jean Hale (Casey Collins), Clifton James (Hotel Owner)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy. Images from Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: October 13, 1968

Summary: The Cartwrights and Candy battle with Jeremy Roman over a bull that Ben sold to his father that is now ill and decides to pay Ben less than the agreed price.

Written by: B.W. Sandefur
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars:Jeremy Slate (Jeremy Roman), Denver Pyle (Claude Roman), Diana Muldaur (Mary Roman)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: October 20, 1968

Summary: Hoss and Joe have been arguing and Ben sends them to town for some relaxation from the ranch. While in town they are still fussing and they make a bet that they can get their Mayor's choice for VC elected. But in the process divide the town and cause a ruckus and a headache for the Sheriff.

Written by: Robert Vincent Wright
Directed by: Joseph Pevney
Guest Stars:Tom Bosley (Titus Simpson), Wally Cox (Phineas Burke)


slideshow courtesy of Tracy and bonanza boomers gallery

Date: October 27, 1968

Summary: The Cartwright's and Candy arrive in Tinbucket to sell hide's to Amos Parker, but the town thinks Ben is broke, Joe is a pick pocket, Hoss is a drunk and Candy a card thief.

Written by: David Lang
Directed by: Robert L. Friend
Guest Stars: Paul Richards (Amos Parker), Slim Pickens (Sheriff Gant)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: November 3, 1968

Summary: Ben's cousin Martha sends her handful of a daughter for Ben to keep so that the child's rich Grandfather won't try to take her away from her till she can get back on her feet.

Written by: Michael Fessier
Directed by: Don Richardson
Guest Stars: Linda Sue Risk (Samantha Dorcas), Antoinette Bower (Martha Cartwright Dorcas), George Mitchell (Calvin Dorcas)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy from Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: November 10, 1968

Summary: Alicia Purcell was abducted by Indians and has a half breed son. Ben recognizes her and takes her back to a bigoted husband.

Written by: S.H. Barnett, Colin MacKenzie and John Hawkins
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars: Mariette Hartley (Alicia Purcell), John Carter (Wayne Purcell)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy from Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: November 17, 1968

Summary: There is trouble between Ben and a neighbor that have some over friendly Indians living on his land.

Written by: William F. Leicester
Directed by:Robert L. Friend
Guest Stars: Jack Kruschen (Giorgio Rossi), Brioni Farrell (Regina Rossi), Penny Santon (Maria Rossi)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy from Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: December 1, 1968

Summary: Candy and Joe win a Mill in a Poker game but there is a catch; they only own 40 percent and their partner, a lively woman, Kate Kelly owns 60 percent.

Written by:Michael Fessier
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars: Celeste Yarnall (Katie Kelly), Paul Lambert (Miles Renfrew)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: December 8, 1968

Summary: Beaudry, an old friend of Ben's, outsmarts Joe and Candy at every turn, but he wants to buy cattle from Ben to start his own ranch but learns that he is a yonder man not capable of settling down.

Written by: Milton S. Gelman
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars:John Vernon (Beaudry)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy. Images from Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: December 15, 1968

Summary: Emo Younger cuts Hop Sing's(Victor Sen Yung) pigtail off and Joe goes to Emo's house and fights with him and gets Hop Sing's hair back. Later, Joe is framed and arrested for Emo's murder. Hoss and Hop Sing put together a defense to clear Joe of a murder charge.

Written by: Ward Hawkins and Frank Telford
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars: Dick Foran (Ed Gittner), Alan Bergmann (Mr. Gordon), Lou Frizzell (Jackson), Sam Greene (Emo Younger)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: December 22, 1968

Summary: A US Marshall asks Ben to hide a grand jury witness till the trial and it brings a lot of trouble for the Cartwrights.

Written by: Preston Wood
Directed by: Hellstrom Gunner
Guest Stars:James Patterson (Charles Ball)


image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: January 5, 1969

Summary: Hoss finds a stowaway in his wagon, Annie Laurie who needs help to get away from her outlaw husband. Annie thinks she has killed her husband but things are not what they appear to be.

Written by: John Hawkins, Kay Lenard, Jess Carneol and Jackson Gillis
Directed by: Don Richardson
Guest Stars:Joan Van Ark (Annie Laurie Adams), Lawrence Dane (Paul Rodgers), James Olson (Kelly Adams)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: January 12, 1969

Summary:Candy is accused of murder and his only witness is an Indian horse thief. To prove Candy's innocence the Cartwright's have to find the Indian to testify and clear Candy.

Written by:Jack B. Sowards and Stanley Roberts
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars:John Saxon (Jacova), Chick Chandler (Judge Butler), Woodrow Parfrey (Theodore Scott), Gregory Walcott (Sheriff Crowley)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: January 19, 1969

Summary:Mrs. Wharton makes Candy her servant. While he is on his way back to the ranch, the stage they are on gets robbed and strong willed Mrs.Wharton wants to go after the bandits that stole her jewelry by herself but Candy insists that he go along with her. Little does he know she can handle anything.

Written by:Preston Wood
Directed by:Leon Benson
Guest Stars: Mildred Natwick (Mrs. Wharton)


Slideshow images courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers gallery

Date: January 26, 1969

Summary: Hoss finds some Indians with one of their cows and meets Erin, an Irish woman raised by the Sioux Indians. She trades Hoss’ horses for the cow that the Indians took. Hoss and Erin fall in Love and plan to marry but bigotry and superstition loom over their Love.

Written by: Sandy Summerhays
Directed by: Don Richardson
Guest Stars:Mary Fickett (Erin O'Donnell)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy. Images from Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: February 2, 1969

Summary: Candy's retired Sergeant asks if he and some of his retired men can stay on the Ponderosa for a while, but what Candy doesn’t know is they plan on robbing the Carson City Mint.

Written by: Kay Lenard and Jess Carneol
Directed by:Leon Benson
Guest Stars: James Gregory(Sergeant Mike Russell)


Slideshow images courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: February 9, 1969

Summary: Ben stops in to see an old friend of his, Ruth Manning, the owner of The Clarion newspaper and it is being destroyed to force her out of business. Ben comes to her aid.

Written by: John Hawkins and Frank Chase
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars:Simon Oakland (Judge Seth Tabor), Phyllis Thaxter (Ruth Manning)


Slideshow image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: February 23, 1969

Summary: Ben and the other ranchers are having trouble with a Mountain Lion killing cattle. Ben and Roy go in hunt of the Lion because Hoss and Joe think they both are sparking the magician's daughter. It's causing rivalry and confusion unaware they're sparking twins.

Written by: Larry Markes
Directed by: Joseph Pevney
Guest Stars: Richard Haydn (Malcolm The Magnificent), Alyce Andrece (Janice), Rhae Andrece (Jan)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy & Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: March 2, 1969

Summary: Toby Bristol is on trial for murder. The deputy takes him to the basement to a holding cell until the trial continues. Ben and Callie are down there searching records and Jonathon, a witness against the accused, comes to take Callie to lunch when an explosion triggers the collapse of the courthouse, trapping them all together.

Written by: Ken Trevey
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Scott Thomas (Jonathan Pike), Tiffany Bolling (Callie McGill), Don Knight (Toby Bristol)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy. Images from Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: March 9, 1969

Summary: Hoss goes on a vacation and rides into a town called Chiso. He meets a little black boy named John, who has stolen some candles from the store. Hoss asks why and he says he wishes on the candles and one of his wishes is that his father be white. Hoss tries to help John's ex-slave father make a go of their farm, but some of the town’s people won't let it happen.

Written by: Michael Landon
Directed by:Michael Landon
Guest Stars: Ossie Davis (Sam Davis), George Spell (John O. Davis)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: March 16, 1969

Summary: Candy comes across a sergeant with a gunshot wound that has been accused of desertion and framed for murder. Candy helps him prove his innocence.

Written by: B.W. Sandefur and John Dunkel
Directed by:Leon Benson
Guest Stars: Ben Johnson (Sergeant Samuel Bellis), Ellen Davalos (Nanata Bellis)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: March 23, 1969

Summary: Joe's ex-fiancée Emily move's to Virginia City. She lies to Joe and her husband and gets Joe accused of robbery and murder.

Written by: Preston Wood and Elliott Gilbert
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars:Beth Brickell (Emily Anderson), Ron Hayes (Marshal Wade McPhail)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: March 30, 1969

Summary: Candy gets a letter from friends in Butlerville that need his help. Candy and Joe go to Buttlerville and find out that an old friend of Ben's is using arson and murder to keep his grip on Butlerville.

Written by: John and Ward Hawkins
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars:Will Geer (Calvin Butler), Robert Pine (Jess Parker)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: April 6, 1969

Summary: Ben's friend retired Marshall, Luke Mansfield, and his daughter come for a visit but the Marshall has to go looking for a criminal and leaves his handful of a daughter with Ben.

Written by: Thomas Thompson and Suzanne Clauser
Directed by: Herschel Dougherty
Guest Stars: Bonnie Bedelia (Lorrie Mansfield), Charles McGraw (Marshall Luke Mansfield), Michael Vincent (Rick Miller)



Slideshow courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: April 20, 1969

Summary: Coley Claybourne, a young boy, and his Father strike Gold and the boys’ Father dies leaving Ben, a cousin and a judge as his executers. Ben and Hoss are drawn into a custody battle because everyone wants the Gold mine.

Written by: B.W. Sandefur and Norman Katkov
Directed by:Leon Benson
Guest Stars: Kevin Burchett (Coley Claybourne), Dana Elcar (Caleb Milton), Patricia Smith (Margaret Claybourne)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy & Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: April 27, 1969

Summary: Ben and Hoss visit Sam Masters,the former commander of a Confederate prison, where they become under attack by Colonel Jim Hudson and his men. They blame Masters for starving their men.

Written by: Wards Hawkins, Milton S. Gelman and Alf Harris
Directed by:Lewis Allen
Guest Stars:John Anderson (Sam Masters/Thomas Andrews), J.D. Cannon (Colonel Jim Hudson), Verna Bloom (Ellen Masters)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy. Images from Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: May 11, 1969

Summary: Three swindlers robbed the Virginia City Bank and shoot Ben. Joe and Hoss go after the robbers through the desert.

Written by: John Hawkins and Peter Germano
Directed by: Leon Benson
Guest Stars: Robert Hogan (Tobias Horn), Marj Dusay (April Horn), Anthony Zerbe (John Spain)


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy. Images from Bonanza Boomers Gallery.