The famous TV show Bonanza first aired in the U.S. in September 1959. It was one of the first shows filmed in color. In the beginning, it was sponsored by the TV company R.C.A., who used the show to promote their new color televisions. The message was clear: Buy a new TV and watch Bonanza in color.
At first, the show didn’t do well in the ratings. In its first year, it was ranked number 45. The next year, it moved up to number 17. But then, it found success. It moved to a Sunday night time slot, and the ratings soared, reaching number 2. For the next nine years, Bonanza stayed in the top 5. By its sixth season, it reached number 1. The actors were paid $10,000 per episode by then, and there were even big money-making deals with products related to the show.
The show's success was thanks to the chemistry between the main characters: the father, Ben, the smart and serious Adam, the young and hot-tempered Little Joe, and, most importantly, Hoss, played by Dan Blocker. Hoss was the heart of the show.
Dan Blocker’s journey to fame is an interesting one. He was on vacation with his family in Hollywood when he stood out in a phone booth wearing a cowboy shirt, large cowboy hat, and standing tall. A Hollywood agent spotted him and offered to represent him. This led to Dan appearing in other popular shows like Gunsmoke, Maverick, Have Gun Will Travel, The Restless Gun, and The Rifleman. His first regular role was in Cimarron City, which didn’t last long. But that turned out to be a good thing, because his next project was Bonanza.
Viewers loved Dan Blocker as Hoss. He was beloved by the people he worked with, and the public really connected with him. Sadly, Dan’s health wasn’t good. In 1972, he complained of pain and went to the doctor, who suggested gallbladder surgery. The surgery seemed simple and safe, but after the operation, Dan developed a blood clot in his lung and passed away unexpectedly. He was only 43 years old and left behind a wife and four children.
His death shocked everyone—his family, the cast and crew of the show, and fans across the world. It felt like losing a family member.
Even though the show had already lost Adam, the loss of Hoss was too much. The show tried to carry on, but it just wasn’t the same without him.
In the show, they mentioned Hoss’s death, but didn’t give many details. Joe spoke about his older brother in the past tense, and Ben looked at a picture of Hoss with sadness. Later, in a spinoff called Bonanza: The Next Generation, it was said that Hoss had drowned while trying to save someone.
Dan Blocker was buried next to his parents and sister. After his passing, Bonanza kept going with just Ben and Joe, but it didn’t last long. The show was canceled, and an important chapter in TV history came to an end.
Though the show ended, we can still watch reruns, and we’ll continue to remember and love Hoss and Dan Blocker for a long time. Continue reading
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