Date: September 22, 1963

Summary: Hoss falls in love with glamorous looking Regan Miller, who has a disreputable past.

Written by: William L. Stuart
Directed by: Don McDougall
Guest Stars: Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing, Gena Rowlands as Regan Miller, Jeanne Cooper as Amelia Miller, Robert Adler as Charlie, Craig Duncan as Buggy Driver


Slideshow courtesy of Adamant

Date: September 29, 1963

Summary: The famous novelist Charles Dickens visits Virginia City and provokes trouble for himself and the town.

Written by: Peter Packer
Directed by: Murray Golden
Guest Stars: Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing, Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee, Clegg Hoyt as Townsman, Victor Maddern as Dan Stoker, Jonathan Harris as Charles Dickens, Frank Albertson as Sam Walker, Charles Irving as Roger


Slideshow courtesy of January

Date: October 6, 1963

Summary: A rainmaker visits Virgina City, which suffers from a drought. Ben and Hoss try to help the rainmaker and his daughter to make the incredible happen.

Written by: Robert Vincent Wright
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee, Bing Russell as Deputy Clem Foster, Phil Chambers as Abe, John Anderson as Tulsa Weems


Slideshow courtesy of Freya

Date: October 13, 1963

Summary: Joe is robbed in the desert, knocked out and his horse is stolen. Coming across Martinville, a deserted ghost town, he collapses. When he comes to, he is being treated by Louise Corman, who will not tell him what's going on. He then meets the late Sheriff's wife, who warns Joe to leave town. Joe is well enough to leave, but has to find the man who took his horse and $2,000.

The men of the town want him to be the sheriff, and when her refuses, no one will sell him a horse. Louise tells Joe that they are being held prisoners in town by an outlaw, Felix Mathews, who is coming back that night. Joe finally agrees to take the job if the townspeople will back him up.

Episode summary by Bruce Leiby & Linda Leiby from the book "A Reference Guide to Television's BONANZA.

Written by: Cy Chermak
Directed by: John Florea
Guest Stars: Walter Coy as Masterson, Doris Dowling as Katie O’Brien


Slideshow courtesy of Bejules

Date: October 20, 1963

Summary: Adam gets to know an artist named James Callan, who is married to an Indian woman. Callan can’t defend himself against the hostilities.

Written by: Warren Douglas
Directed by: Tay Garnett
Guest Stars: Philip Abbott as James Callan, Morgan Woodward as McDermott, Donna Martell as Esther Callan.


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy

Date: October 27, 1963

Summary: Hoss goes to Denver on a stage with 2 nuns. The stage is attacked by 2 bandits and is wrecked. Hoss comes to when 2 outlaws are searching the luggage. They take his $200 and the nuns $10,000, which was meant for a hospital in Denver.

The next day they arrive at a way station and find one of the men wounded. To find out what happened to the other man and their money, Mother Veronica decides to operate.

Written by: Warren Douglas
Directed by: Tay Garnett
Guest Stars: Ilka Windish as Mother Veronica, Judy Carne as sister Mary Kathleen, Raymond Guth as Toby, John Kellogg as Stager, James Jeter as Wilson I.Stanford Jolly as Sam.


Slideshow courtesy of Freya

Date: November 3, 1963

Summary: Joe takes a girl named Cal back home to the Ponderosa. Trouble begins when Cal’s boyfriend, Doc Holliday arrives at the Ponderosa too.

Written by: Warren Douglas
Directed by: Charles Rondeau
Guest Stars: Stephanie Powers as Calamity Jane, Christopher Dark as Doc Holliday


Slideshow courtesy of Bejules

Date: November 10, 1963

Summary: While Hoss is tending a mare, Ben joins him and remembers the journey during which Hoss was born.

Written by: Anthony Lawrence
Directed by: Irving J.Moore
Guest Stars: Inga Swenson as Inger Cartwright, William Fawcett as Sulliver, Johnny Stephens as young Adam, Kevin Hagen as Simon


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy

Date: November 17, 1963

Summary: After a mine-cave in Little Joe’s friend Seth kills his fiancée’s father in order to put him out of his misery. Seth asks Joe to keep it a secret, but Joe wonders if it was mercy killing after all.

Written by: Peter Packer
Directed by: Joseph H. Lewis
Guest Stars: Richard Rust as Seth Pruitt, Nancy Rennick as Sara Pruitt


Slideshow courtesy of Bejules

Date: December 8,1963

Summary: When Frank Dayton is thrown from his horse and killed, his wife Laura tells their daughter, Peggy, that he went on a long trip, preferring to let the little girl hold onto the hope that her daddy would come home again someday. But Laura's plan to shelter Peggy from her father's death is soon challenged when Adam Cartwright comes to call and the pretty widow finds herself falling in love.

Adam takes a noticeable interest in Laura and makes it a personal priority to help her and Peggy to move forward. How? By convincing Laura to tell Peggy the truth.

This is the first of a four part story arc.

Summary in part found on IMDB and wiki

Written by: Ed Adamson
Directed by: Richard C. Sarafian
Guest Stars: Kathie Browne as Laura Dayton, Katie Sweet as Peggy Dayton, Wayde Preston as Frank Dayton, Craig Duncan as Wagon Driver


Slideshow courtesy of January

Date: December 15, 1963

Summary: When Adam, Joe and Hoss think that their father is dead; they split up in order to find those responsible But Ben is still alive and when he hears about his boys’ plan, he hopes nothing dreadful happens.

Written by: Anthony Wilson
Directed by: Bernard McEveety
Guest Stars: Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee, Robert H. Harris as Jacob Dormann, Bob Miles as Chapin Ranch Hand, Sandy Kevin as Billy Chapin


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy

Date: December 22, 1963

Summary: Hoss discovers little funny looking men on the Ponderosa. Whenever he tries to show them to his family they are gone and Hoss the target of his family’s guffaw. But Joe, Adam and Ben soon learn that Hoss was right.

Written by: Robert V. Barron
Directed by: John Florea
Guest Stars: Sean McClory as Professor James Aloysius McCarthy, Clegg Hoyt as Dorsel, Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee
Slideshow courtesy of Bejules

Date: December 29, 1963

Summary: Ben and his rival, Barney Fuller, compete over the same lumber contract.

Written by: Peter Packer
Directed by: Christian Nyby
Guest Stars: Jay C. Flippen as Barney Fuller,Melora Conway as Martha, Raymond Guth as Otis Watts, Ralph Moody as Gabe, Butch Patrick as Jody.


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy

Date: January 5, 1964

Summary: Joe and Adam accompany a judge. While traveling, Joe finds a saloon girl in the back of the wagon and finds out that she is wanted for murder. Because she appears helpless and not guilty, Joe wants to take her back to Virginia City in order to give her the chance to have a fair trail.

Written by: Preston Wood, George Waggner
Directed by: Tay Garnett
Guest Stars: Andrew Duggan as Judge, Patricia Blair as Lila Conrad


Slideshow courtesy of January

Date: January 12, 1964

Summary: Ben and his boys await visitors from Mexico. The bull breeder’s daughter, Dolores, soon becomes a victim of Adam’s, Joe’s and Hoss’ efforts to impress her.

Written by: Alex Sharp
Directed by: Don McDougall
Guest Stars: Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing, Marianna Hill as Dolores Tenino, Nestor Paiva as Senor Tenino


Slideshow courtesy of Adamant

Date: January 19, 1964

Summary: Ben wants to marry again and is engaged to widow Katherine Saunders. But the engagement is in danger when Katherine’s son is wanted for murder.

Written by: Denne Bart Petitclerc
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing, Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee, Teresa Wright as Katherine Saunders, Dee Pollock as Eden Saunders


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy

Date: January 26,1964

Summary: Joe Cartwright’s look-alike causes trouble and leaves Joe to deal with the consequences.

Written by: Robert Vincent Wright
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Owen Bush as Dugan, Keenan Wynn as Sgt. O'Rourke, Douglas Dick as Cpt. Merced


Slideshow courtesy of January

Date: February 2, 1964

Summary: : A man who claims to be Jean Lafitte comes to Virginia City and befriends Hoss. When a man is killed with Lafitte’s knife, the stranger’s life is in danger.

Written by: William Bruckner
Directed by: Don McDougall
Guest Stars: Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee, Sheldon Allman as Walter Betts


Slideshow courtesy of January

Date: February 9, 1964

Summary: ‘The Cheating Game’ is the sequel to ‘The Waiting Game’. (Part 2 of 4) Laura and Adam argue with each other about how to run a ranch. Laura doesn’t listen to Adam’s advice and falls prey to Ward Bannister, who wants to con her.

Written by: William L. Stuart
Directed by: Joseph Sargent
Guest Stars: Kathy Browne as Laura Dayton, Katie Sweet as Peggy Dayton, Lincoln Demyan as Lane, Peter Breck as Ward Bannister


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy

Date: February 16, 1964

Summary: Joe is shooting at an animal and accidentally shoots a girl named Tessa blinding her, who’s riding in a wagon with her family. She and the family stay with the Cartwright’s and Joe, out of guilt, asks Tessa to marry him.

Written by: Tom Seller
Directed by: Tay Garnett
Guest Stars: Marlyn Mason as Tessa Caldwell, Denver Pyle as Marcus Caldwell, Steve Harris as Lon Caldwell


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy

Date: February 23, 1964

Summary: John Leyton lives in the mountains. When he decides to marry beautiful Julie, he asks Hoss to be his best man. But Julie’s father doesn’t want his daughter to marry John. Hoss has to help the young couple.

Written by: Robert Sabaroff
Directed by: Don McDougall
Guest Stars: Slim Pickens as John Leyton, Laurie Mitchell as Julie, Robert Middleton as Julie’s father


Slideshow courtesy of Freya

Date: March 1, 1964

Summary: A young woman, who was raised by Indians, falls in love with Ben. Taken aback by her crush on him, he tries to teach her proper social behavior.

Written by: Frank Cleaver
Directed by: Tay Garnett
Guest Stars: Anjanette Comer as Joan, Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing, Wynn Pearce as John Turner


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy

Date: March 8, 1964

Summary: Every year Hoss suffers from spring fever and causes a lot of trouble. This year, Hoss accidentally takes the wrong stage coach and finds himself in an unfriendly town.

Written by: Lois Hire
Directed by: Don McDougall
Guest Stars: Stanley Adams as Sheriff Tate, Glenda Farrell as Lullabelle Watkins, Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee


Slideshow courtesy of Freya

Date: March 15, 1964

Summary: People in Virginia City question Roy Coffee’s ability to act as sheriff. Ben and Adam try to help Roy.

Written by: Jerry Adelmann
Directed by: Don McDougall
Guest Stars: Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee, John Kellogg as Wagner, William Zuckert as Browning


Slideshow courtesy of January

Date: March 22, 1964

Summary: Ben travels to Pine City in order to pay his respects to his nephew Will Cartwright, who is presumed dead. When he arrives, he learns that Will is still alive but doesn’t want anybody to know. Ben and Will decide that it is best to travel back to the Ponderosa. But they are followed by Will’s former gang.

Written by: Jack Turley
Directed by: Don McDougall
Guest Stars: Guy Williams as Will Cartwright, Robert J. Wilke as Marshal Hollister, Arch Johnson as Mr. Butler, Gregg Palmer as Gannett


Slideshow courtesy of January

Date: March 29, 1964

Summary: Muley Jones, cousin of the Cartwrights, visits Virginia City and his relatives and causes trouble with the Indians.

Written by: Robert Barron, Alex Sharp
Directed by: John Florea
Guest Stars: Bruce Yarnell as Muley Jones, Ken Drake as Brave Pony, Jesse White as Esky


Slideshow courtesy of Freya

Date: April 5, 1964

Summary: Will Cartwright doesn’t know whether he should stay with his relatives or not. While alone at the Ponderosa, army soldiers arrive with the prisoner Hewitt. Hewitt’s gang arrives shortly after and Will is taken hostage.

Written by: Peter Packer
Directed by: John Florea
Guest Stars: Guy Williams as William Cartwright, Scott Marlowe as Lee Hewitt, Jim Beck as Dolph, Julie Sommars as Emma Hewitt, Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee


Slideshow courtesy of January

Date: April 12, 1964

Summary: Hoss orders fireworks from China but due to an accident a girl arrives instead at the Ponderosa. Now it is Hoss’ duty to deal with the headstrong Chinese girl.

Written by: Lewis Clay
Directed by: Don McDougall
Guest Stars: Marlo Thomas as Tai Lee, Benson Fong as Nu Shan, Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing, William Fawcett as Rafe


Slide show courtesy of January

Date:April 19, 1964

Summary: Will Cartwright has his old friend Mateo and his wife as visitors. Mateo tries to convince him to return back with him to Mexico.

Written by:John Hawkins
Directed by: William F. Claxton
Guest Stars: Guy Williams as William Cartwright, Frank Silvera as Mateo Ibera, Faith Domergue as Carla Ibera, Roy Engel as Doc Martin


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy

Date: April 26, 1964

Summary: Thomas Bowers, a famous black opera singer, performs in Virginia City and has to endure racial prejudices.

Written by: Murray Golden, Jessica and Leon Benson
Directed by: Murray Golden
Guest Stars: William Marshall as Thomas Bowers, Alice Frost as Mrs. Sarah Gable, Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee, Jason Wingreen as Luke, Ken Renard as Jed


Slideshow courtesy of Freya

Date: May 3, 1964

Summary: Bounty hunter Dev Farnum searches for Pete Burnside. His wife Holly hides at the Ponderosa and is met by Dev.

Written by: William Bruckner
Directed by: Murray Golden
Guest Stars: Dennis Hopper as Dev Farnum, Susan Seaforth as Holly Burnside, Jim Bole as Peter Burnside


Slideshow courtesy of Bejules

Date: May 10, 1964

Summary: ‘The Pressure Game” is the sequel to “The Cheating Game”. (Part 3 in the 4 part Adam/Laura Arc.) Laura’s aunt Lil visits her niece Laura and little Peggy. Soon Lil learns that Laura yearns for Adam’s proposal and she decides to accelerate things a little by trying to make Adam jealous.

Written by: Don Tait
Directed by: Tay Garnett
Guest Stars: Guy Williams as William Cartwright, Kathie Browne as Laura Dayton, Joan Blondell as Lillian Manfred, Katie Sweet as Peggy Dayton


Slideshow courtesy of Tracy

Date: May 17, 1964

Summary: ‘Triangle’ is the last episode of the ‘Laura and Adam’ series. (Part 4 of 4)

Laura and Adam are engaged and plan to marry soon. Adam secretly builds a house for himself, Laura and Peggy. Laura feels rejected and left alone after Adam often falls asleep and is late for a picnic. Will helps out and accompanies Laura and Peggy. Will and Laura both feel that they belong to each other, but when Adam falls from the roof of his newly build house and he's bound to a wheelchair, Laura decides to stay with Adam.

Written by: Frank Cleaver
Directed by: Tay Garnett
Guest Stars: Guy Williams as Will Cartwright, Kathie Browne as Laura Dayton, Katie Sweet as Peggy Dayton


Slideshow courtesy of January

Date: May 24, 1964

Summary: ‘Walter and the outlaws’ is a sequel to ‘Any friend of Walter’s’. Hoss agrees to take care of Walter, a dog, while Obie, his owner, is away. Three outlaws take Walter as hostage. Hoss and his friend Obie try to free the dog.

Written by: Lois Hire
Directed by: Ralph E. Black
Guest Stars: Arthur Hunnicutt as Obie, Steve Brodie as Macy, James Luisi as Willard, Vic Werber as Teague


Slideshow courtesy of Freya