Bonanza, Lorne Greene, and Me
Lorne Greene played a duo part, his starring role as Ben Cartwright as well as a look-alike Hustler, exact replica of Papa Ben Cartwright. This was to be one of my favorite roles as I played Dixie Wells, a break from the simple pretty girl parts and given a character that I hadn't ever played before. You might say I was a Seductress. I could slip into being a woman who'd been around and when I say "been around" I mean she'd worked in saloons and knew exactly how to entice men and wrap them around her fingers Big Time. Actually, you fellows are no doubt aware of this species of females, AREN'T YOU??? As the character I was familiar with how to "work my feminine charms on my men as you'll surely pick up on & notice her strategies, etc. This was really a very fun part for me to play. And, If I may, the antithesis of who I was in real life. OH BOY!, this was a wonderful part Indeed and one I was excited to play... Going forward, the whole Cartwright family was exceptional, exuding warmth and was special because they represented very good and honest Americans. Each and every one of the actors in the Cartwright Family were Brilliant along with the devoted helper and cook Hop Sing played by Victor Sen Yung. Before closing this fun and interesting segment, I want to mention that I was also chosen to play another part or role on Bonanza that will entice you, my audience, friends and followers. You will see in a totally different Bonanza segment, the lovely and talented Linda Crystal and me together. The title is WARBONNET. Now, let’s get right into it. Lorne Greene was wonderful and in my estimation, he enjoyed every minute of it. He would say to me during breaks, "this is a good switch for me. I can finally be a bad guy and surprise my audience.” I heard him utter some words under his breath, quickly looking at me saying, "you didn't hear that did you?" I said, "what"? he said good, you're not supposed to hear words that aren't meant for your ears. To tell the truth, I did hear it but I just wasn't going to go there...You know what I mean. Mr. Greene loved switching back from the honorable Ben Cartwright, powerful head of one of the biggest family ranch owner in the territory, to a swindling hustler bad guy and may I say he did it with a great deal of finesse. During lunch breaks, he'd go into his trailer but occasionally would come out and talk as he always had something to say but only when he was in the mood. Over all, he couldn't have been nicer and garnered a great deal of respect from all cast members and crew. Oh, I want to add something about a specific scene of so-called passion with Ben Cartwright playing a dual part as the bad guy imposter and me, as the conniving wench hoping to luck out and entice some attractive man with her sensual charms, and make some money to get away from being a simple saloon girl selling those charms. Her character had always dreamed of falling in love with a rich man. Thinking back to one day in particular, our Director, Lewis Allen, had become very interested in one scene he was directing. And since I was in that scene, I vividly recall from my vantage point that I could actually see our director’s reflection in a mirror on the wall that no one else could see, just me. Especially, NOT Even from the cameraman's POV aka "Point of view". So YES, there was a passionate kiss I had with Ben Cartwright as the conniving look alike bad guy. And lest you forget, I was the only human being that could see the director’s reflection in that mirror. Now, to this day, I believe that, for an instant, I saw the director's eyebrows kind of flipping up and down as if He Was not only enjoying but living vicariously through the Ben Cartwright romantic scene. It might have been a nervous tick but I Don't Think So.
