Bonanza various times) Guy Williams, David Canary, Mitch Vogel, and Tim Matheson. The show is known for presenting pressing moral dilemmas. The title "Bonanza" is a term used by miners in regard to a large vein or deposit of silver ore, from Spanish "bonanza" (prosperity) and commonly refers to the 1859 revelation of the Comstock Lode of rich silver ore mines under the town of Virginia City, not far from the fictional Ponderosa Ranch that the Cartwright family operated. The show's theme song, also titled "Bonanza", became a hit song. Only instrumental renditions, absent Ray Evans' lyrics, were used during the
Spahn Ranch notorious for having been the primary residence of Charles Manson and his followers, the "Manson Family", for much of 1968 and 1969. The ranch took its name from dairy farmer George Spahn, who purchased the property in 1948. Silent film actor William S. Hart owned the ranch prior to Spahn. Many western-themed movies and television shows were filmed on the ranch, including "Duel in the Sun" (1946) and television episodes of "Bonanza", "The Lone Ranger", and "Zorro". It was also the filming location for the B-movie "The Creeping Terror". Spahn was 80 years old, going blind and living at his