David Dortort Biography

Fast Facts

• From 1964 to 1967, "Bonanza" was the most watched television show in America
• Served in the U․S․ Army Special Services during World War II, where he arranged for Hollywood entertainers to perform at an Army hospital in Torrance, California
• Won two Western Heritage Awards for Fictional Television Drama, one for "The High Chaparral" in 1969 and one for "Bonanza" in 1970
• Graduated from the City College of New York with a degree in American History
• Quote: "(On "Bonanza"): "Little by little, the idea of the family caught on․ People got caught up in the message of love, peace, harmony, all the good qualities in humankind․""
• Quote: "(On making "Bonanza" historically accurate): "The gunfighter played a small, inconsequential role in the story of the West․ The true history of the West is about family, pioneers․""
• Best known as the creator and executive producer of "Bonanza" and "The High Chaparral․"
• His insistence that "Bonanza" should be shot in color meant that it was influential in the rise of color TV sets in the 1960s
• Published the novels "Burial of the Fruit" in 1947 and "The Post of Honor" in 1949
• Was one of the first people to serve as both a writer and producer on one show, which he started on "The Restless Gun" in 1958