Everyone knows the popular TV series “Bonanza”. And the youngest may also have heard of it. A western set in the American West and which aired on NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. With a duration of 14 seasons and 431 episodes. Bonanza was the first hour-long television series to be recorded in color.
The series chronicled the adventures of the Cartwright family, led by a widowed patriarch, named Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene). Ben had three biological children, each by a wife. The eldest, Adam, was an architect (Pernell Roberts) who built the house on “La Ponderosa” ranch; the second was the kindly giant Eric, better known by his nickname, “Hoss” (Dan Blocker); and the youngest was the brash “Little Joe” (Michael Landon).
Elvis was a big fan of the TV series “Bonanza” and was very fond of enjoying episodes of it.
And as a lover of the series, he felt a great affinity towards his characters.
Due to this circumstance Elvis got to know the actors and protagonists of the series.
Elvis met Dan Blocker, at the request of Dan – who played the character “Hoss Cartwright” in the series – in the spring of 1963, at Paramount Studios, Hollywood. And they took some photos together, in their cordial meeting on the set of “Fun In Acapulco”.
He also had a meeting, at Elvis’s request, with actor Lorne Green, whose first role on American television was that of Ben “Pa” Cartwright, the loyal family patriarch. The meeting took place at Metro-Goldwing-Mayer, on the set of the movie “Double Trouble” in the summer of 1966.
The three felt mutual admiration and fortunately had the opportunity to meet.
Two cordial meetings of which we have these photographs for history.
