Bonanza Tahoe-based "Ponderosa" theme park from 1967–2004; a line of American Character action figures in 1966–1967; Aladdin lunch buckets and thermos bottles in 1966–1968; View Master slide sets in 1964, 1971; Ponderosa tin cups from 1967–2004; a series of Hamilton collector plates in 1989–1990; and most recently, Breyer Fiftieth Anniversary Ponderosa Stable sets, with horses and Cartwright figures in 2009–2011. Fourteen "Bonanza" novels have been published: "Bonanza: A Novel" by Noel Loomis (1960); "Bonanza: One Man With Courage" by Thomas Thompson (1966); "Bonanza: Killer Lion" by Steve Frazee (1966); "Bonanza: Treachery Trail" by Harry Whittington (1968); "Winter Grass" by Dean Owen
Bonanza "One suggestion was to return Pernell Roberts, who had played another Cartwright son when "Bonanza" first premiered on NBC fourteen years ago. We only considered that briefly, [producer Richard] Collins says... Some people felt it was a logical step—the oldest son returning at a time of family need—but most of us didn't think it would work.' Dan Blocker was 6-foot-4, 320-pounds when chosen to play the gentle middle son Eric, better known as "Hoss". The nickname was used as a nod to the character's ample girth, an endearing term for "big and friendly", used by his Swedish mother (and Uncle