David Dortort

In his three-hour-plus interview, David Dortort (1916-2010) speaks of his early career as a novelist and writer of feature films, and he recalls his friendship with author Norman Mailer. He talks about early programs he worked on, including Suspense, Fireside Theatre, and Climax!, for which he adapted William Faulkner's "An Error in Chemistry." He chronicles creating and producing The Restless Gun, starring John Payne, where he first met and cast Michael Landon and Dan Blocker. Dortort recalls creating Bonanza for NBC, and insisting it be shot in color. He discusses the enormous popularity of the show, and its cast. He outlines mentoring Michael Landon when Landon started to write, and later direct, episodes of Bonanza. He details the end of the show due to the death of Dan Blocker and the loss in the cast of Pernell Roberts. He talks about producing subsequent shows including The High Chaparral, The Chisholms, and the Bonanza prequel Ponderosa. Henry Colman conducted the interview on August 8, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.