Episode
Bonanza: The Emperor Norton
Overview
Joshua Norton, an eccentric and formerly wealthy San Francisco merchant who considers himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, comes to the Ponderosa. Authorities want to have him committed, and Ben contacts Mark Twain to testify to Norton's sanity.
Details
- Series
- Bonanza
- Season
- Season 7
- Episode
- Episode 23
- Air date
- 1966-02-27
- Runtime
- 49 min
Episode context
The Emperor Norton is Episode 23 in Season 7 of Bonanza. It aired on 1966-02-27. The runtime is 49 min.
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More episodes from this season
Episode 21: The Code
Joe is goaded into facing gunman Dan Taggert, unaware there is more to be prearranged than he realizes.
Episode 25: The Trouble with Jamie
The Cartwrights attempt to straighten out the snobbish young son of Ben's cousin.
Episode 20: Peace Officer
While Sheriff Coffee is in Saint Louis, the Morrisey bunch decides to work off excess energy by wrecking the saloon in a violent spree. When Deputy Bill Harris tries to arrest them, they hit him on the head with a whiskey bottle, accidentally killing him. All of them get away except Cliff, who is put in jail. He refuses to say the names or locations of his friends. Mayor Garrett holds an emergency meeting of the Virginia City town council.
They hire legendary lawman Wes Dunn, as the temporary sheriff. He is a humorless man who is determined to restore order in town. He beats Cliff almost to death to find out where his friends are, but Cliff will not say anything. Meanwhile, Hoss finds Chuck, a wounded gang member. When he tries to take Chuck's gun away, he shoots Hoss. Joe goes with Dunn to find the other men. He thinks Dunn is a hero until he sees him murder one of the suspects in cold blood.
Episode 26: Shining in Spain
Young, adoring Wendy Daniels has come to Virginia City to meet up with her father, Taylor Daniels, who has been traveling on business for the last five years. Joe is attracted to Wendy, but he faces stiff competition for her affections. She idolizes her father and cannot stop talking about his great business visions, although she has not seen him in five years.
The Cartwrights realize there is something wrong when Wendy's supposedly rich father leaves her stranded in Virginia City with no money. When she is evicted from the hotel after running up a debt of $50, Joe takes her to the Ponderosa, only to have her dreams of her father shattered when he shows up flat broke.
Episode 19: Destiny's Child
After his only friend is killed, the Cartwrights take in a slow-witted man, who Roy Coffee informs them, is wanted for murder by Arizona authorities.
Episode 27: The Genius
Hoss chooses a difficult path when he decides to rehabilitate a famous poet, Will Smith, who is really William Warlock Evans, who spends too much time drinking and eventually his wife arrives at the Ponderosa.
Episode 18: Ride the Wind (2)
Conclusion to the previous-week's episode, where the Cartwrights provide needed assistance to the Pony Express.
Episode 28: The Unwritten Commandment
Everyone feels Andy Walker is an outstanding singer but his father, who feels the boy should concentrate on ranch work instead. Joe mentions receiving a letter from Adam, currently in Paris.
Episode 17: Ride the Wind (1)
The Pony Express sets up office in Virginia and Joe is one of the first to join up. Ben also decides to invest in the fledgling enterprise. However, troubles soon plague the Pony Express with the Paiutes and a newspaper reporter, both trying to get their own agendas across.
Episode 29: Big Shadow on the Land
Italian immigrants are determined to establish their own vineyard on Ponderosa property.