The High Chaparral
The High Chaparral was a Western-themed television series which aired on NBC from 1967 to 1971. The show was created by David Dortort, who had previously created the hit Bonanza for the network.
The show starred Leif Erickson as Big John Cannon, a rancher who lived in the Arizona Territory in the 1870s. He ran the ranch with his brother Buck and son Billy Blue. Billy Blue's mother was killed in the first episode, and to ensure his future, Big John courted and later married the daughter of the powerful Montoya family. His marriage to Victoria Montoya brought her brother Manolito into the picture, and he also came to live with the family.
The High Chaparral was Dortort's brainchild, and he left the day-to-day running of Bonanza in the spring of 1967 so he could focus all of his energies on The High Chaparral. After the show's cancellation in 1971, Dortort did not return to Bonanza, but retired instead.
External links
- The High Chaparral TV Show page at Crazy About TV contains trivia, a plot summary, cast list, and episode titles for the series.