MovieChat Forums > Bonanza (1959) Discussion > Un-chaperoned women at the Ponderosa

Un-chaperoned women at the Ponderosa

posted 8 years ago by rerunwatcher
5 replies | jump to latest

I am on "a Bonanza kick" now so I have been watching a lot. I am thinking about episodes that feature un-chaperoned women staying at the Ponderosa. This is the 1800's and I would be surprised if it would not be a scandal. I grew up in the rural south (of course in the 20th century, lol) and if a female was staying with men it would be a huge deal...(unless it was her brother or father or uncle) I guess since Bonanza was filmed in Hollywood where anything goes nobody thought about it. But in the 1800's unless she was a "loose woman" it would be a scandal. Two episodes are Shining in Spain and A Woman in the House that I can think off the top of my head. I know it happened a lot of other episodes. Of course the Cartwrights are perfect gentlemen. But in real life it would have been a big deal.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I dunno, maybe things were different way out on the frontier.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

I expect they were. I mean if a lady had a choice between staying in a house of a man unchaperoned or sleeping on the open prairie because the nearest neighbor was a six hour ride away... well, sleeping in a bed is more ladylike than sleeping on the ground.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

The Cartwrights were above reproach. No one dared question their morality, or Ben would have dealt with them himself.

[–] [email protected] (5497) 6 years ago

The Ponderosa was so far away from Virginia CIty, how would anyone in town have known about the sleeping arrangements on the ranch? LOL

Of course in the episode "The Bride", things are a bit different. A woman named Jennifer shows up and insists that she is Ben Cartwright's new wife. When Ben comes home, she is "shocked" and says that he isn't the man she married. Of course it's all a big scam.

Ben tells her that she can stay the night and he'll take her back home the next day.

Ben starts up the stairs, but then says, "We better sleep in the bunkhouse."

The next day his sons say that they will accompany Ben and Jennifer.

Hoss says that a man travelling alone with a lady "wouldn't look right."

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

They all stood up for each other and made sure that any accusations wouldn't go anywhere, and bullied anybody who showed the least bit of interest in their land. Nepotism in action.