Bonanza's Adam is "the other Cartwright", the sometimes forgotten eldest of Ben's three sons.
Because he left the Ponderosa after six seasons he was largely unknown to new viewers of Bonanza from Season
7 onwards. However, Adam's years are sometimes called the "Glory Years" of Bonanza. Dark, handsome,
mysterious and somewhat aloof, Adam is intelligent and educated, with a love of music and literature. He has
a keen sense of right and wrong and will fight for the underdog and for justice. He is fiercely protective of
his family and the ranch. Women are very attracted to Adam but because of his cautious, serious and aloof
manner, he does not have a string of girlfriends like his passionate, outgoing brother Joe. Most women find
Adam uncontrollable and too hot to handle! Adam seems to have been the least important of the Cartwrights. He
was often in the background or absent altogether on one of his many journeys away from the ranch. He did not
get a birthday party, but his father and brothers all did. Hoss and Joe were both given bathtub scenes but
Adam was not, to the disappointment of his fans. Sadly, Adam wanted to see the world and left the Ponderosa,
leaving his fans heartbroken. Equally sadly, the ratings did not drop and the show continued as if he had
never existed. His presence or absence did not seem to matter to most viewers, but for many of his fans his
departure was a disaster which spelled the end of the show for them. For these loyal fans who did not watch
the rest of the show, it was all wrong, with a huge hole which only his return could have filled. It should
always be remembered that Ben Cartwright had three sons. Adam is still loved and not forgotten.
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