The story behind the "Bonanza" map....

[WILCO]

Just started working my way through a small collection of Bonanza DVD's and was curious as to the name of the lake that borders the Ponderosa. Turns out it's lake Tahoe. While searching for the map online, I discovered this little story about the map:

http://blog.theautry.org/2011/05/25/the-bonanza-map-a-fictitious-place-with-very-real-staying-power/

Anyone else still enjoying Bonanza? :Fire:

[captaint]

Always wondered about that map !! I still watch re runs on one of the cable channels. Great stuff. enjoy Mike

[Blammer]

I'm still looking for Mayberry...

[Digger]

Yeah , enjoy "Bonanza" almost every day so to speak ....
Live just about where the stage coach is on that map .., and my work takes me to Tahoe almost daily.
Our company had a yard just down the street from the " Bonanza " ranch in Incline Village there on north shore ... driving down to south shore just north of Round hill , we pass the meadow where they filmed the opening scene of them riding up to the camera with the lake in the back ground.
Now it is cross fenced with more trees in the meadow.
Just yesterday had to check on a job over on west shore and had to drive all the way around ....
It's to easy to get carried away with every day problems and forget where you are ..
All the aspen in the area have their fall colors of yellow and gold , the lake was so blue and Emerald bay was beautiful .
Getting carried away here ....:oops:
I mention to people where that scene was shot and they are surprised .... " I didn't know that ,... and I live here ! ......

digger

[starmac]

At least they put a compass on it to make it look somewhat real. And at least they noticed and knew it wasn't right.
I watch very little tv anymore, but I watched an episode of criminal minds the other night.
The fbi flew in to alaska and worked hand and hand with the county sherrifs dept to solve some murders. lol

You would think that all the money in tv these days, they would have worked with the troopers or a city cop, anything that could possibly exist.

[Jim]

I'm still looking for Mayberry...

http://www.visitmayberry.com/

[smokeywolf]

I still catch Bonanza and Have Gun Will Travel once in while.

[Artful]

Very Cool Thread

[ElDorado]

I’m not sure that I’m buying their explanation of the orientation of the map. They make it sound like the artist just drew it without referring to any maps, and then when everyone noticed that he had Reno to the west of Carson City, he threw in the compass as an afterthought to make it look right.

It’s strange that he knew where to put Washoe Lake and even little Marlette Lake and the Truckee River in relation to Reno and Carson City. I think the map was purposely drawn that way to give it some archaic credence.

I’ve never been to the Ponderosa tourist ranch, but I remember my grandmother telling us about visiting it. I remember hearing that it closed down a few years ago. I guess the new generation doesn’t care much about the Cartwrights or their ranch. I always liked the house the way it was shown on television.

[WILCO]

I remember hearing that it closed down a few years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9jSLUtW16U

[Mal Paso]

Lake Tahoe is only in one or two shots throughout the entire series. The ranch shots were done at Big Bear Lake. Closer to Hollywood.

[smoked turkey]

I always enjoyed the show and watched it faithfully. One episode I remember was Hoss picked up a lady in town and was bringing her to the ranch house for a visit . She asked when they would be getting to the ranch. Hoss said something to the extent.."well mam we have been on the ranch for the last three days". The place was big alright.

[starmac]

That same line was in quigley down under. Them ranches can cover some country in the movies.

[WILCO]

Them ranches can cover some country in the movies.

They sure were! :holysheep

[frkelly74]

It is a like fairy tale. Too close an inspection leads to an inability to suspend disbelief. (It ruins the illusion.)

[gsdelong]

Other side of Cherokee national forest from telico plains could not even buy a beer for a hundred miles. 19.95 for a night at the motel:mrgreen:

[starmac]

Other side of Cherokee national forest from telico plains could not even buy a beer for a hundred miles. 19.95 for a night at the motel:mrgreen:

19.95 is pretty cheap considering that Opie took care of your horse for you, and Aunt Bee fixed a good breakfast. lol

[.22-10-45]

Some more Bonanza trivia: That goergous view you see at begining of series..with lake in background..guess who bought that land and built a mansion there?
Tiger Woods!

[Just Duke]

I have a copy of the map and always figured it was fictitious. I just need to find a suitable mat and frame. I'll get a pic up. The home is still there but closed for tours. I wished I would have been around to furnish the home. For a wealthy man like Cartwright you would think his home would of been a little more in tune with the local Spanish Mission genre influence of decor which would have been more opulent. No wonder he was single. lol
Now if you would hitch up your buggy and ride over to Victoria Barkleys place her home looks much more inviting for my tastes.

http://img1.ranker.com/list_img/4700/284700/full/full-cast-of-the-big-valley-cast-list-for-the-show-the-big-valley.jpg?version=1349343647000

Here' a pic showing typical attire for the era. The Barkley girls were period correct the men were not.
The oufits the girls a wearing were Gaucho pants which after fastening the buttons on the side turned a skirt also included a the Balero style coat.
http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/warponysaddlery/BOOTS/the-big-valleylg_zps9ff78bca.png

Here's Barbie with the similar outfit and very functional for riding. Balero Vest and Hat and Gaucho Pants/skirt.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/warponysaddlery/BARKLEY5_zps095aa8b5.jpg

One of the poster asked in the Bonanza article asked why they wore the same outfits. The reason was the they were just cheap skates. Very few western had any descent clothing, the wardrobe was not up to Goodwill par, the saddles and gun leather looked liked it had been sitting in the bottom of a septic tank for 20 years. If you notice the cantles on saddle of just about every western out the is 2" high so they could get on and of easier. The gun belts were all rotten looking rentals as you can see many adjustment holes in which a leather thong could be woven thru. Sad. Back then a horsemans rig and duds were all they had so they always had the best looking gear especially seeing the geographic area was derived from the "Vaquero" (pronounced ba-ke-do) influences.
Well here, I'll just for starters post some pics of the bits and spurs from the era.


http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/warponysaddlery/BITS/059099ef.jpg

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/warponysaddlery/BITS/20abdf6e.jpg

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/warponysaddlery/BITS/42acfbad.jpg


This is a reproduction spade bit that is wrapped with copper to induce salivation. This bit was used in conjunction with a Bosal.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/warponysaddlery/BITS/121ce14d.jpg

Here's an accurate C Port Bit w/Copper Barrels Santa Barbara Vaquero Style Bit Cricket replica of a couple Barbie sells in her tack store. You can see the same bit in the new movie "Cowboys and Aliens" in the mouth of Harrison Fords horse. Hats off to the historical advisers in this movie.


http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/warponysaddlery/BITS/BIT2407512_zps45fb9117.jpg


http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/warponysaddlery/BITS/BIT2407511_zpsc14c18cd.jpg


http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w432/warponysaddlery/BITS/BIT21112111_zps77315010.jpg

[Just Duke]

We don't need no stinkin badges!

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/WILD%20BUNCH/356837528_2Ye2m-O.jpg

[Just Duke]

This would have been the saddle or reasonable facsimile of what the Cartwright's would have sat in and not the cut down cantle you see in all the Hollywoodland westerns. That era saddle would have had a side jockey as pictured below. Older models had no side jockey. Please note that saddles of the period never ever had any brass rigging but had leather covered steel rings.


http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/SADDLERY/18935_0106_4_lg-1.jpg

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/SADDLERY/FAMEANEA1-2.jpg

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/SADDLERY/calif1890.jpg


From the museum in Utah.
http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/SADDLERY/calif-halfseat.jpg

[Just Duke]

Here's a period correct saddle one of the Cartwright's Spanish ranch hands would have sat in. This saddles was used in many Hollywoodland westerns.
Typical Vaquero styling.

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/SADDLERY/SILVERSADDLE-1.jpg

[Just Duke]

Here's a movie rental adjustable holster Marion Mitchell Morrison aka John Wayne wore in several movies from behind the scenes of 1967 El Dorado.
Someone please take that cigarette away from Joey aka Michele Carey. She is just such a beautiful woman.
http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/BELTS/1.jpg

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/BELTS/2.jpg

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/BELTS/ElDoradoRigelement16.jpg


This is appalling. Maybe worthy for the town drunk but no self respecting horsemen would have ever worn anything like this.
Ask me for the period correct pics of gun belts and holsters of the era.
http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/BELTS/Museum_Photo_El_Dorado_Rig_2.jpg

[popper]

So the Ponderosa was the valley east of the big hill going into Tahoe from the east? I remember pulling a camper with a Malibu wagon (265 V8) up that hill, driving, I guess, the coach road and across the flats to the foot of that hill. Mixture richened out and about stalled going up some residential type road. Wife and kids got out while I decided if it could make it. First color TV show I think. Don't know about the period correctness of the saddles, but I never found one that was comfortable. I do remember hanging onto the 'handle' when crazy horse decided to rear up over a Renault convertible - and the look of the kids in the car. A friend would come get me (bareback), pick me up by the belt and put me on behind her. Mom always laughed when she saw that. Her horses were all crazy, running into trees and such, but never did buck the back end. As for gun belts, Gramps and his dad just put their revolver in their pocket, in Missouri.

[starmac]

The couple of museums I have visited there claims that, that part of the country was never cow country. All the western stuff they have going on around there came about because of the tv show.

[Beau Cassidy]

I visited the ranch 11 years ago. It is amazing how small the house and rooms are.