I really do need to remember a seemingly simple yet profound observation from the good doctor, John Dolittle, when he received the unasked-for gift of that fabulous pushmi-pullyu: “How thoughtful of somebody….people are awfully nice.” Such was my immediate response a week or two back when my postman delivered a rather substantial carton containing inside a fabulous treasure: a complimentary Bonanza: The Official Complete Series DVD boxed set!

By Paul Mavis

Of course, I divined immediately that this had to be the work of friend Andrew J. Klyde, the DVD Executive Producer par excellence of this marvelous, massive undertaking (as well as the producer of yet another remarkable achievement in Western television history and preservation: the Gunsmoke: The Complete Series 65th Anniversary boxed DVD set). Only a producer of Andy’s caliber and frankly, gravitas—there literally is no one else out there doing the kind of vitally important work he’s doing for vintage TV history—could get CBS and Paramount to send such a mammoth set with the hopes of me, the “voice of vintage TV history” as I’ve been called by that guy at the track who keeps falling into the dumpster, reviewing it.

Released in May, 2023, the Bonanza: The Official Complete Series DVD set includes all 14 seasons of NBC’s most successful dramatic series of the 1960s—that’s 431 full-length episodes on 112 discs!—gathered together for the very first time, along with hours and hours of bonus material painstakingly curated by wunderkind producer Andy Klyde. Every episode—and I mean every episode, including the sometimes problematic Season 2 transfers that were released many a moon ago, have been digitally restored and remastered from the original 35mm color film camera negatives, complete with original music. The results are, frankly, astonishing (they look and sound like they were filmed yesterday).

Starring Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon as the legendary “First Family of the West,” Ben, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe–the indomitable Cartwrights of the fabulous spread, the Ponderosa—Bonanza was a killer in the Nielsen ratings during its 14-year run, and Andy has done series creator and producer David Dortort’s efforts proud by assembling a ridiculous amount of bonus material for this DVD set, including all the fantastic extras that were on previous releases, along with an exclusive new bonus disc containing nearly 2 ½ hours of rare content not seen in more than 60 years! Extras on this disc include such gems as:

Michael Landon Visits Sweden – Interview (1962)
Lorne Greene’s Bonanza – episode of the CBC series, Telescope, chronicling “a day in the life” of the beloved actor, including rare behind-the-scenes Bonanza set footage (1963)
Lorne Greene Interview – episode of the CBC series, Take 30 (1966)
All-American Soap Box Derby Featurettes: The Long, Happy Race – Narrated by Lorne Greene (1962), and Sideline…? Or Starting Line? – Narrated by Dan Blocker (1964)
The Cartwrights Visit Sesame Street (1970)
The Last Party (“wake” gathering of the BONANZA company days after the series’ abrupt cancellation in November 1972; audio with slide show)
Bonanza Blooper/Gag Reel
Michael Landon: Question & Answer session with Vikki Carr and The Tonight Show audience (audio with slide show; 1973)
Lorne Greene: Comedy Routine (1981)
New Featurette: Mariette Hartley’s Memories
Public Service Announcement (P.S.A.): Endangered Wildlife – with Lorne Greene (1975)
U.S. Savings Bonds P.S.A.s with Lorne Greene and Dan Blocker (1968)
Salute to Bonanza (Narrated by Orson Welles; 1976)
Michael Landon: The Last Interview (slide show with audio; March 1991)
Bonanza Episode Trailers with rare on-camera introductions: Mighty Is the Word (Introduced by Lorne Greene; 1965), The Prince (Introduced by Dan Blocker; 1967), Dark Enough to See the Stars (Introduced by Michael Landon; 1967)
1959 NBC Fall Preview promo – announcing Bonanza‘s premiere
1961 NBC on-air promo narrated by Lorne Greene
1967 NBC Fall Preview promo – Bonanza (designed by Bill Feigenbaum)
1972 Chevrolet Billboard Intro
The Ed Sullivan Show – Pernell Roberts Sings (1965)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – Lorne Greene Interview (1972)
Gallery of rare publicity, episodic, “behind-the-scenes” and portrait photos

I know, I know. You’re saying right now, loyal readers, as they flicker the lights at the bowery flophouse and roust you out of your bunks, “But Paul…you still have 18 seasons of Gunsmoke to review! How are you ever going to get to Bonanza?!” And I would say to you: Hey listen, Mac, if you knew the kind of people who are after me—they never stop, they never quit—you’d be slapping me on the back and buying me another round just for those two season reviews, so lay off! That said…I will begin Bonanza reviews—this month, in fact—and I will continue the Gunsmoke reviews. I swear on my Captain Midnight Secret Decoder Ring.

Meanwhile, get on CBS’s or Paramount’s websites, or Amazon, or go to the store (do they still have those?), and order Bonanza: The Official Complete Series DVD set today. I mean right now. You want to blow someone’s mind come Christmas morning? I can’t think of a more impressive gift than this DVD set for the vintage TV lover in your life. Don’t believe me? Wait for that first season Bonanza review, and you’ll see.

Click to order Bonanza: The Official Complete Series on DVD:

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