Ponderosa Ranch According to the Andersons, tourists would regularly show up at their gates asking where the Ponderosa was. Smelling opportunity, the Andersons contacted NBC and "Bonanza" creator-producer David Dortort. They proposed turning their small ranch into a theme park. NBC, Dortort, and the cast saw the tie-in as a "bonanza" for everyone. All parties being of one accord, the cast agreed to promos being shot at the ranch site and the Virginia City set - including the nearby Silver Dollar Saloon - for financial consideration. The ads stimulated revenue for the park. The park opened to the public in 1968, complete
Bonus Bonanza Bonus Bonanza Bonus Bonanza was the official state lottery game show of Massachusetts, running from 1995 to 1998. It was hosted by Brian Tracey and Dawn Hayes. The show was produced at WCVB-TV by Mark Goodson Production later Jonathan Goodson Productions, and all of its games and its theme were virtually identical to the Illinois state lottery game show "Illinois Instant Riches" (later "Illinois Luckiest"). All audience members wore name tags (a la "The Price Is Right") but only those that earned their way on to the show by means of a Massachusetts lottery ticket were chosen to be in