15 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Bonanza’

4. Lorne Greene Was a Music Star, Too

Once Bonanza caught on, Lorne Green actually capitalized on his image by releasing a string of folksy country-and-western albums. In 1964, he even scored a number one hit with his spoken word ballad, “Ringo”. Greene even performed a fictional history of the Ponderosa, called, appropriately enough, “Saga of the Ponderosa”.

5. ‘Bonanza’ Means Exactly That

The show was named Bonanza after its real world counterpart, a slang term used by miners to describe a large mineral deposit or ore. Its meaning is synonymous with “jackpot”. A real life bonanza was discovered close to the Cartwright’s ranch, the famous Comstock Lode.

6. A Quick Note About Hop Sing

These days, educated viewers know that the Cartwright’s cook, Hop Sing, is a massively racist stereotype. However, over more than 100 episodes, the cook was there to help the Cartwrights out as much as possible. Hop Sing was played by Victor Sen Yung who had an extremely successful character acting career in Hollywood. What’s more, throughout the series, the actor’s enthusiastic performance remained a bright spot on the show.