Hear it Here: CHRISTMAS ON THE PONDEROSA (1963)

Here's the complete album from 1963, a follow-up to PONDEROSA PARTY TIME! (you can hear that HERE). I like this one a lot less than the first, but it is a Christmas album, so I guess that's to be expected.

MICHAEL LANDON SINGS (sort of)

Following his performances of "Careless Love" and "Shenandoah" on the 1962 album PONDEROSA PARTY TIME! (You can hear that HERE), Little Joe recorded two singles, apparently in an attempt to become a teen idol like Bobby Sherman. Somewhere along the line he also recorded a slower, alternate version of "Linda is Lonesome." Give him a little listen . . .

Hear it here: PONDEROSA PARTY TIME! (1962)

This 1962 LP was, I believe, the first appearance of any of the Bonanza gang on record. They followed up with a similar effort called "Christmas on the Ponderosa." Lorne Greene went on to record several albums of his own. Pernell Roberts did an album of folk songs. Dan Blocker released two talkers, one on his own called "Tales for Young 'Uns," and another with singer/actor John Mitchum (brother of Robert). Michael Landon did a couple of singles as an attempted teen idol. Some reviewers think this album is silly. I found it better than expected. You Be Da Judge. 

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN MASKS (Part 6)

The Mouse of Tomorrow

Mr. Greenjeans

"Fool!"

Fool

Sandwich

Robert Blake

Boris

Darth Jr.

Mr. Fantastic's uncle

The Monk

Huckleberry I

Huckleberry II

Hoss

See 'em all (so far) HERE.

VINTAGE HALLOWEEN MASKS (Part 3)

Uncle Ben Cartwright

Wolf Dude

The Donald

Supes

Chewy

Vlad and friend

John

Fred

The Sarge

The Cap'n

The Boze

W.C.

Our first two sets are HERE. 

Saddle-Up with Johnny Cash and sing Bonanza

If the Man in Black were still with us, you can bet he'd be tuning into INSP's Saddle-Up Saturday today and singing along with the Bonanza theme at 1pm, 8pm and 9pm Eastern (that's a 10am start time for you owlhoots in the actual Old West). And inbetween-time he'd be looking at three episodes each of The Big Valley and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

P.S. Rumor has it that two more classic shows will soon be joining the Saddle-Up Line-Up. So stay tuned!

It's Saddle-Up Saturday. Ride!

On INSP

                    1pm ET, 10am PT:     BONANZA   "The Spanish Grant"
                    2pm ET, 11am PT:     THE BIG VALLEY   "Heritage"
                    3pm ET, Noon PT:     THE BIG VALLEY   "Winner Lose All"
                    4pm ET, 1pm PT:       THE BIG VALLEY   "My Son, My Son"
                    5pm ET, 2pm PT:       DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN   "The Healing"
                    6pm ET, 3pm PT:       DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN   "Father's Day"
                    7pm ET, 4pm PT:       DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN   "Bad Water"
                    8pm ET, 5pm PT:       BONANZA   "The Spanish Grant"
                    9pm ET, 6pm PT:       BONANZA   "Blood on the Land"
                    10pm ET, 7pm PT:     THE BIG VALLEY   "The Iron Box"
                    11pm ET, 8pm PT:     THE BIG VALLEY   "Last Stage to Salt Flats"

Click HERE (not there) to enter!

The Bonanza Lifestyle: Hats

What could be better than watching Bonanza on INSP's Saddle-Up Saturday? Watching it while wearing an authentic Bonanza hat, of course.

If you still have a kid-sized head, you might want to seek out a vintage model (above) on eBay. Otherwise, if you have a spare 150 to 200 bucks laying around, the replicas below are available HERE.

Any one of them would come in mighty handy if you win that trip to the dude ranch, right HERE.

The Hoss

The Ben

The Adam

The Little Joe

The Bonanza Lifestyle: Lunch Boxes

In honor of the new expanded SADDLE-UP SATURDAY lineup on INSP, we'll be taking a look at some of the other fine ways you can bring a little more Bonanza into your life. Today: How to tote your lunch like a Cartwright . . .

Hats Off to Saddle-Up Saturday!

Some folks (like me) just can't get enough Western TV action. Well, INSP is doing its part to help, with an expanded line-up for Saddle-Up Saturday, every Saturday beginning at 1pm ET. In addition to classic episodes of Bonanza and The Big Valley, they'll be some surprises coming your way. For more info on Saddle-Up Saturday, click HERE.

But first, YOU have a chance to win an all-expenses-paid, one-week trip to a dude ranch (a $5000 value). Yee-hah, right? Click the banner above to throw your hat into the ring.

And click the PLAY button below to hear Lorne Greene sing the Bonanza Theme Song. Even if you've heard him DO this before, you'll likely hear some new lyrics, because this is the rare extended version of the song, from the 1962 LP, "Ponderosa Party Time."