Date: September 13, 1970

Summary: An arsonist threatens to destroy Virginia City as Clem and his fiance make wedding plans.

NOTE: This episode was the first to be filmed at Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, Calif., after 11 years of being filmed on the Paramount lot. Both the Virginia City and Ponderosa sets were very different from their familiar Paramount versions.

Written by: John Hawkins
Directed by: William Wiard
Guest Stars: Bing Russell (Deputy Clem Foster), Ray Teal (Sheriff Roy Coffee), Angel Thompkins (Janie Lund), Mona Bruns (Mrs. Carter)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: September 20, 1970

Summary: Orphan Jamie Hunter promises to bring rain to a drought-stricken Virginia City.

NOTE: This episode is the first appearance of Jamie.

Written by: D.C.Fontana, John Hawkins, Jack B. Sowards
Directed by: William Wiard
Guest Stars:Mitch Vogel (Jamie Hunter), Lou Frizzell (Dusty Rhodes)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: September 27, 1970

Summary: Civil War veterans struggle to fit into Virginia City society.

Written by: Robert Pirosh
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars:Richard Thomas (Billy), Lee Purcell (Angie), Lonny Chapman (Colter), Elisha Cook, Jr. (Marcus)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers gallery.

Date: October 4, 1970

Summary: A wounded Hoss is captured to take the place of an escaped prisoner aboard a prison wagon.

Written by: Ken Pettus
Directed by: James Neilson
Guest Stars: Salome Jens (Madge Tucker), Denver Pyle (Price Buchanan)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers gallery.

Date: October 11, 1970

Summary: Stranded in the desert with a murderer, a wounded Ben struggles to stay alive as Joe attempts to make it back to town for help.

Written by: Joel Murcott
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars: Rupert Crosse (Davis), Lou Frizzell (Dusty Rhodes)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers gallery.

Date: October 18, 1970

Summary: A sheriff breaks the law to protect his wife, putting Joe in danger.

Written by: Ken Pettus
Directed by: Herschel Daugherty
Guest Stars: Richard Kiley (Sheriff Gideon Yates), Terry Moore (Lydia Yates), A Martinez (Luis)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers gallery.

Date: October 25, 1970

Summary: Hoss volunteers to be the temporary sheriff of Trouble, California.

Written by: Jack B. Sowards
Directed by: Herschel Daugherty
Guest Stars: E.J. Andre (Judge), Gene Evans (Montana Perkins), Edgar Daniels (Tom Blackwell)



Image courtesy of Tracy and BonanzaBoomers Gallery

Date: November 1, 1970

Summary: Trapped, seriously injured and delusional, Ben struggles to survive as Joe seeks help from settlers frightened of a corrupt rancher.

Written by:Preston Wood
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Gregory Walcott (Ed Thornton), Carl Reindel (Frank Wells), Harlan Warde (Tom Boyle), Heather Menzies (Martha Boyle)


Image courtesy of Tracy and BonanzaBoomers Gallery

Date: November 8, 1970

Summary: An old friend of Ben's must find love in his heart for his estranged, dying daughter and her illegitimate son.

Written by: Michael Landon
Directed by: Michael Landon
Guest Stars: Will Geer (Zach Randolph), Josephine Hutchinson (Martha Randolph), Carol Locatell (Etta), Michael-James Wixted (Scott)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: November 15, 1970

Summary: The Cartwrights help a young Mexican keep his land and clear his name of a murder charge.

Written by: Dick McDonagh, Ken Pettus
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Rodolfo Acosta (Sheriff Vencente Aranda), Anna Navarro (Sara), Jamie Sanchez (Ramon Cardenez), Warren Stevens (Driscoll)



Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers gallery.

Date: November 22, 1970

Summary: A reformed outlaw befriends Jamie and causes trouble for the Cartwrights.

Written by: William Marks, George Schenck
Directed by: Nicholas Webster
Guest Stars: Neville Brand (Pepper Shannon), Walter Brooke (Corey)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomer gallery.

Date: December 13, 1970

Summary: Hoss and Joe impersonate stage robbers in an attempt to find the stolen money.

Written by: Robert Vincent Wright
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars:Strother Martin (Joad Bruder), Anthony Colti (Randy)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers gallery.

Date: December 20, 1970

Summary: A drunken drifter befriends Jamie and gives the Cartwrights reason for concern.

Written by: Arthur Heinemann
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Jack Elam (Honest John)



Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomer gallery.

Date: December 27, 1970

Summary: The Cartwrights help a young girl when her aunt and uncle mistreat her.

Written by:B. W. Sandefur
Directed by: Don Richardson
Guest Stars: Jewel Blanch (Carrie), Paul Fix (Buford), William Bramley (Gifford), Madeleine Sherwood (Vella)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: January 3, 1971

Summary: When one of them accidentally shoots Hoss, the Brennans hold him captive for fear of recrimination.

Written by: Suzanne Clauser
Directed by: William Wiard
Guest Stars:Beth Brickell (Dilsey Brennan), Jeff Corey (Frank Brennan), John Schuck (Tom Brennan)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: January 10, 1971

Summary: Already feeling neglected at home, Jamie struggles to fit in at school and when he damages Ben's prized rifle, Ben must find a way to reach the boy.

Written by: Preston Wood
Directed by: Joseph Pevney
Guest Stars: Jessica Myerson (Mrs. Hagan), George Paulsin (Frank)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery

Date: January 17, 1971

Summary: Ben's aging foreman is put to the test by an arrogant, young hand.

Written by: John Hawkins, Arthur Heinemann
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Ben Johnson (Kelly James), Walter Barnes (Weatherby), Roger Davis (Bert)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: January 31, 1971

Summary: Ben's double attempts to con the citizens of Virginia City.

Written by: Stanley Roberts
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Alan Oppenheimer (Wentworth), Linda Gaye Scott (Dixie), Tom Basham (Dan Fielding)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: February 7, 1971

Summary: A black couple accused murderer hold Hoss hostage.

Written by: George Lovell Hayes
Directed by: Phillip Leacock
Guest Stars: Louis Gossett, Jr. (Buck Walter), Marlene Clark (Liza Walter), Ramon Bieri (Sheriff)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: February 14, 1971

Summary: A young couple from London must save their company's ranch.

Written by: Stanley Roberts
Directed by: Phillip Leacock
Guest Stars: Daniel Massey (Leslie Harwood), Jill Haworth (Gillian Harwood)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: February 21, 1971

Summary: A highly respected General's chances for the governorship are jeopardized by his unknown racism.

Written by: John Hawkins, B. W. Sandefur, Mel Goldberg
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars: Ruben Moreno (Greybuck), Dean Jagger (General Ira Cloninger), Laurence Luckinbill (Freed), Linda Watkins (Bertha)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: February 28, 1971

Summary: An epidemic threatens Virginia City. A young doctor's wife must convince the town to try her methods to save those stricken, including Ben.

Written by: John Hawkins, Edward DeBlasio
Directed by: Leo Penn
Guest Stars: Meg Foster (Evangeline Woodtree), Ion Berger (Dr. George Woodtree), Louise Latham (Harriet Clinton)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: March 7, 1971

Summary: An insane killer plans to prevent a peace treaty signing by murdering everyone in attendance.

Written by: Michael Landon
Directed by:Michael Landon
Guest Stars: Iron Eyes Cody (Winnemucca), Steve Ihnat (Mr. Ganns), Dabbs Greer (Sam Johnson), Chubby Johnson (John Baines), Byron Mabe (Hunter)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: March 14, 1971

Summary: Joe loses his sight in an explosion and, along with Ben and Hoss, struggles to cope with his loss.

Written by: Suzanne Clauser, Arthur Weingarten
Directed by: Michael Landon
Guest Stars: Jo Van Fleet (Ellen Dobbs)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: March 21, 1971

Summary: A dear friend of Ben's is attacked by a wolf.

Written by: Don Ingalls
Directed by: Phillip Leacock
Guest Stars: Vera Miles (April Christopher), Melissa Newman (Lori Christopher), Henry Beckman (Dr. Phelps)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date:March 28, 1971

Summary: A foreman must stand up to his boss, even though he could lose his job.

Written by: John Hawkins, Robert Pirosh, Jack Rummler
Directed by: William Wiard
Guest Stars:Glenn Corbet (Howie Landis), Clifton James (Mr. Quarry), Sheilah Wells (Marie Landis)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: April 4, 1971

Summary: The Cartwrights and Candy are held and forced to work as slave labor.

Written by: Michael Landon
Directed by: Joseph Pevney
Guest Stars:Alfred Ryder (Judge), Luke Askew (Sheriff Hatch), Richard Mulligan (Farley)


Image courtesy of Bejules and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.

Date: April 11, 1971

Summary: Joe must convince a fighter to return to Virginia City to testify for Dusty.

Written by: Preston Wood
Directed by: Herschel Daugherty
Guest Stars: Victor French (Tom Callahan), Sandy Duncan (Evangeline), Lou Frizzell (Dusty)


Image courtesy of Tracy and Bonanza Boomers Gallery.