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Let’s Go Back to the Ponderosa, Pa: Fun Facts About NBC’s Bonanza

The Cast Never Changed Outfits?

Bonanza is an iconic TV show, not just because of its characters and scenic shots, but also because of its recognizable outfits. Interestingly enough, the show’s cast wore the same clothing in almost every episode, starting from the third season. There are two reasons that producers made this decision. One, it made it much easier to dress the show’s stunt doubles: Hal Burton, Bob Miles, Bill Clark, Lyle Heisler, Ray Mazy.

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Photo by Moviestore Collection / Shutterstock

The decision also saved the series on filming costs. Since the characters wore the same outfit in every episode, the show could reuse action shots, such as horse-riding clips between scenes. Although Bonanza was one of the most well-funded shows at the time, the episode length and elaborate sets meant that it was very expensive.