DAVID DORTORT

1916-2010

            David Dortort, creator and producer of our beloved BONANZA, died peacefully on September 5^th.   I know all of you will join with me in thinking of his family at this sad time.

            The television shows he produced were for families and were about families.  He gave us entertainment that the whole family could enjoy together without having to fear the bad language and explicit sex and violence that modern shows seem to need.  Best of all he told a good story.  His characters had depth and showed emotions. 

            BONANZA was my mother’s favorite show and I watched with her.  Sadly she died only three months after it began its run here in the UK.  From then on when I watched I not only enjoyed a good western, I remembered her.  If someone had told the twelve-year-old who sat down to watch BONANZA every week that one day she would meet the creator of her favorite show she would have been amazed.

            I first met David Dortort in 1999, at the Golden Boot Awards, where he was being honored.  I was nervous.  I needn’t have been, he came towards us with his arms open and gave us all a hug and chatted to us, as though we had been friends for years.   Later when he received his award he made the usual speech.  Toward the end he referred to the Bonanza Convention arranged for the following month and he mentioned that the lady organizing it had come all the way from the UK to be there and thanked me for organizing the convention.  I was in tears.  This great man who was being honored took the time to mention me.  That was the David Dortort I knew, always ready to praise someone else, to see the good in the world, to want to bring people together.  I think his shows did just that.  I know that there are millions of fans out there who have found each other because of BONANZA websites and mailing lists.  Friendships have been formed between people of different races, religions and ethnic origins because of a television program.  Each friendship is one small step toward a better world.  He is responsible for that. 

            In 2004 he wrote an article for BONANZA Gold magazine.  It was to have been one of a series but regrettably his health deteriorated and he was unable to complete the others.  In this first one he told of his early life and his first trip across the United States from New York to the west coast.  It is written in his best storyteller style with a poignant ending. 

              In his words:

            I hope he has found his Ponderosa with his beloved wife Rose by his side.