EPISODE: A Rose for Lotta

Reviewed by Susan Grote

Episode 1, Season 1, Originally aired September 12, 1959

Guest Stars: Yvonne De Carlo, George Macready

Written By: David Dortort

Directed by Edward Ludwig

SUMMARY:

This was the first episode of the series, so there’s not a lot of in-depth plot stuff here. Basically, it’s designed to introduce us to the characters and the premise of the show.

The show opens with Ben and Adam admiring the scenery of Lake Tahoe, and then Adam (in his stern older brother mode) goes off to find Joe. Adam finds Joe at the Ponderosa ranch house, yells at him about not getting the cattle down and the two have a fight. Ben walks in and roars at the two while Hoss breaks up the fight. Everyone kisses and makes up, and then we meet Hop Sing, who is presented as the treasured cook.

Meanwhile, the evil mine owners in Virginia City want to steal the timber from the Ponderosa, so they hire Lotta Crabtree to seduce one of the Cartwright boys and bring him to town. The plan is to hold the unlucky seducee as hostage until Ben gives them the timber. Lotta arranges for her carriage to break down on the Ponderosa, and gets Joe to take her to town. When Ben realizes Joe has gone to town with “that woman” and is walking into a trap, he, Adam and Hoss ride to the rescue.

Joe tries to romance the beautiful Lotta but she has second thoughts about what’s going to happen and warns Joe. While Joe is fighting his way out of the clutches of the thugs who were hired to kidnap him, Ben, Adam and Hoss show up at the saloon and confront the evil mine owners. Adam has a shoot-out with their hired thug and wins (of course). Then Adam goes off to find Joe. He goes to Lotta’s hotel room, accuses her of leading Joe astray.

After searching the town, Ben, Adam and Hoss finally find Joe and Lotta dancing in a café. Ben yells at Joe to come home, and leaves with Joe and Hoss. Adam stays to steal a kiss from Lotta (proving that he too could have been the seducee if only she had asked). Then the Cartwrights get on their horses and ride out of town.

To me, this episode shows how very rude the Cartwrights can be when they want to. First, Joe takes off with Lotta, and spends the entire ride into town telling her his life story, not letting the poor woman get a word in edgewise. Next, Ben ties up the coach driver and threatens to kill him just on general principle (how rude!). Then Ben shows up at the saloon with his other two sons and insults everyone in sight, culminating with his encouragement of his oldest son to shoot the mining tycoons' gunslinger (Adam, who had learned some good manners when he was in Boston, only wounded the guy because he knew it was terribly impolite to kill someone to whom one hadn't been formally introduced). Meanwhile, Joe causes the bad guys to wreck and set fire to the Chinatown section, and instead of apologizing for the chaos, he gleefully jumps into throw a few punches. Eventually, Adam shows up to steal the girl from Joe (how very rude!). And finally, the show ends with the Cartwrights, after threatening, shooting and causing fires, simply riding out of town, joyfully singing some silly song (OK, they don't show them singing but we know that clip exists). It's no wonder they were less than popular in Virginia City.

Thankfully, Hop Sing ordered a copy of Emily Post's "Guide to Good Manners for Land Barons in Nevada" and forced each of the Cartwrights to read it. This is the real reason the Cartwrights modified their behavior and were thereafter only occasionally charged with murder in Virginia City.

REVIEWS:

“I see "A Rose for Lotta" as taking the place of the "baby videos" we all have hidden someone where no one will find them because we look like such jerks back in the days when we had no clue as to how to be coooool, and yet our parents and grandparents go all "oooo and ahhhhh" over them because they find loud, uncouth kids to be absolutely adorable simply because they're theirs.” KD

"Punching out Adam, or trying to, playing with his epee, jumping on the furniture---what can I say? Then you have Ben and the fire and brimstone line! Ok they needed work, but it was the start of 14 years of greatness, so it has special meaning in that."   Wrangler

"The absolutely worst thing was Hoss looking at Lotta like she was a turkey dinner."  Ginny

"My favorite scene is Joe with his dashing, slashing, strong, straight and true epee. My, could that boy thrust his weapon in a manly way."  Barb

"It's also the first time we really get a feel for the great Ponderosa with that scene with Pa and Adam comparing the Ponderosa to heaven.  "Look at it Adam, Feast thine eyes on a sight that approaches heaven itself!"  And it was wasn't it?"  Crystal

"Thought it was funny, Adam calling LJ's epee, a "New Orleans monkey pick"." Sherri

"It was so painful to watch the first time I saw it.  My first thought was "no wonder Pernell Roberts wanted to leave."  Anne

"The epitome of rudeness would be to whoop and holler as you rode hell bent for leather down the street while most of the town was still sleeping."  Jo

"Adam threatening her with broken bones and then GRABBING her (OH BABY! The first time our Adam thinks with his lips and not his brain!)"  Robin

 "Regardless of its aesthetic qualities (or lack thereof) you gotta love A Rose For Lotta because it was the start of something big...very big!”  Lillian

"This episode is the pilot episode for the new hit series:  Bonanza - a story of the world's most beautiful horse."  I am Cochise