50 ‘Bonanza’ Secrets That Are Worth Knowing

19. Bonanza Fought the “Bumbling Father” Trope

PHOTO: insp.com

Before Bonanza came out on TV in 1959, there was a common theme surrounding male characters in American television. The men played bumbling idiots. The creators of Bonanza wanted to make sure that Ben Cartwright was a loved and respected father who worked hard to support his family and give his children a good life. It worked. The studio got tons of letters from teenage boys who wanted Ben Cartwright to be their dad.



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