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Information from Andy Klyde,
attorney, archivist and historian for Bonanza Ventures, Inc.
(Photo of David Dortort and Andy Klyde by Charlotte Lehan)
BONANZA on "The O'Reilly Factor"
"The O'Reilly Factor" on the Fox News Channel has a segment entitled "TV Icons" from time to time that pays tribute to classic television series and its stars. On Friday, April 18, 2008, at 8 pm (with a repeat at 11 pm) the show will feature "BONANZA." Yours truly will be a part of the segment which should be loaded with clips and rare stills. Hope you get a chance to watch. (O'Reilly is a big fan of the show.)Best BONANZA wishes, ANDY KLYDE
Missed it? Watch it here!
IN MEMORIAM
It is my sad duty to report the sudden passing of Hazel Court at her home near Lake Tahoe on April 15, 20008. We remember her best as "Lady Dunsford" in "The Last Trophy," but she was a renowned actress who starred in her own television series and in several classic horror films. She attended the 2005 convention and regaled everyone with her wonderful recollections. I also had the pleasure to interview her for Bonanza Gold. Sadly, she passed away days before she was to receive a copy of her long-awaited autobiography, which will be published later this year.~~~
It is with deep regret and sorrow that I have to report the passing of Alex Sharp in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 6, 2008. He had suffered from heart and stroke-related ailments in recent months.A veteran of World War II who served in the last Cavalry Unit and saw action in the South Pacific, Alex was a tremendous athlete, a quality that served him well during his fifty years in Hollywood. He was a founding and lifetime member of the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures, but it was his outstanding writing skills that endeared him most to BONANZA and THE HIGH CHAPARRAL enthusiasts. Alex authored some of the most beloved and fondly remembered episodes, including "Hound Dog," "Old Sheba" (directed by his long-time friend and golfing buddy, John Florea), "The Hayburner" and "The Covey."
A man of limitless energy and enthusiasm, and one of the all-time great raconteurs, Alex will be missed by his legion of fans whom he regaled with his tales at BONANZA and THE HIGH CHAPARRAL conventions.
Alex is survived by his devoted wife Kiyo and daughter Charisse Glenn. On Saturday, March 29, 2008, his family and friends gathered at the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City to recall and celebrate his life. It was quite a party, and Alex would've loved it.
Bonanza Antiques Roadshow
The Antiques Roadshow featured an appraisal of a collection of BONANZA photos recently. I'm sure Ponderosa Scenery readers would like to know all the details. Here's a link: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200702A39.html These photos have a rather distinctive history; taken by renowned NBC photographer Elmer Holloway (at least the individual portraits) in early 1961, they were available to subscribing members of the "Bonanza Booster Club," an NBC organization concocted to drum up interest in the series in the early days. When the ratings indicated that that was no longer necessary (by the end of the third season), the "club" disbanded. Individual photos I believe were sold for $.25, and the complete photo package cost $1.00 (!). "Boosters" received their group photo personalized by an anonymous NBC staffer (who worked with our beloved "Madam of the Ponderosa, Joan Sherman Markowitz, author of Booster Club newsletters using her "nom de plume," "Dan King, club president"). The guys signed a bunch of the group shots, and did indeed inscribe as well as autograph their portraits.Wendy Dortort Czarnecki had her rare 5-photo set on display at her father David Dortort's 90th Birthday Celebration at the University of Judaism in 2006. (But they weren't signed!)
Born 92 years ago in New York City, Rose celebrated the 67th anniversary of her marriage to David on September 1st. Her loving husband and children, Wendy and Fred, survive her. Legions of fans, who were fortunate to meet and get to know Rose at various gatherings in tribute to BONANZA, THE HIGH CHAPARRAL and THE PONDEROSA, shall miss her charm, grace, good humor and steadfast devotion to her husband and the legendary television programs that are his legacies.
A service was held at Mount Sinai Memorial Park, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive in Hollywood Hills, (800-600-0076), at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 7th, 2007, and expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at the home of David Dortort, 947 Tiverton Drive, Apt. 1460, Los Angeles, California, 90024
ANDY KLYDE, for Bonanza Ventures, Inc.
Bonanza and The High Chaparral DVD News
by Andrew J. KlydeFirst, a little corporate history: in 1973, after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) barred television networks from participating in the syndication of their own shows, National Telefilm Associates (NTA) purchased the NBC library of television programs. In 1986, NTA changed its name to Republic Pictures Corporation (aka Republic Entertainment). (NTA had achieved such great success with its purchase of Republic Studios library of films that it later bought the Republic name and logo; that is why BONANZA and THE HIGH CHAPARRAL episodes have the Republic eagle tacked onto their end credits). Aaron Spellings Spelling Entertainment Group (which included WorldVision Enterprises, spun off from ABC Films in 1971 to syndicate ABC-owned shows) later purchased Republic, and in 1999 Spelling/Republic merged with Viacom (created originally in 1971 to distribute CBS-owned shows; in 1984 Viacom merged with Paramount Communications, and in 2000 Viacom merged, ironically, with CBS). Now BONANZA and HC episodes have the Paramount mountain logo following the end credits. (Excised, sadly, from BONANZA prints is the trickling coins watercolor proclaiming an NBC Television Network Production.)
At a recent meeting with executives from NBC Universal, I discussed the status of THE HIGH CHAPARRAL and BONANZA and the possibilities of their imminent release on DVD. With regard to HC, NBC has certain obligations it must meet vis à vie worldwide distribution of the series. At present, CBS Paramount International is responsible for distribution outside the U.S. The executives promised to report back to me after they determine what Paramount has done, distribution-wise, which will determine whether Paramount will continue to distribute the series (both in television syndication and on home video/DVD), whether NBC Universal will take over the series, or another entity chosen by Bonanza Ventures. As soon as the executives make their report, we will have a better idea of when the process of making HC available on DVD will begin. I emphasize it is a question of when, not if, episodes will appear on DVD.
Regarding BONANZA, it is also a question of "when" and a matter of communication and coordination between NBC Universal executives, executives at Paramount Home Entertainment, and CBS. Early in 2006 Viacom completed its split into separate CBS and Viacom companies, and as a result, oversight of the pre-1973 NBC library which includes BONANZA passed to CBS from Paramount. Paramount Home Entertainment is now just the home video distributor of the NBC library. CBS has expressed interest recently in releasing BONANZA on DVD in North America (with rights to distribution in other territories, like Germany, having been sub-licensed by Paramount to a European distribution company; BVI is a profit participant in this deal, but did not specifically authorize it).
It is my hope and wish to have maximum input into the selection of episodes for these DVD releases, as well as the content of "extras," which I feel must also be included in season sets.