A Rosa for Lotta

Bonanza - Episode 01 - A Rose for Lotta - Lotta Crabtree is hired by mining tycoon Alpheus Troy to lure one of the Cartwrights into town and hold him for ransom in exchange for Ponderosa timber rights.

A Rose for Lotta
Director: Edward Ludwig
Writers: David Dortort
Stars: Lorne Greene, pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker
Genre: Western
Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 12 September 1959 USA
Filming Locations: Chavez Ravine, Elysian Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Storyline:
The widower Ben Cartwright is running a huge cattle ranch in Nevada called the Ponderosa. He has been married thrice, and has an adult son with each of the three wives. Adam is the oldest of them, Hoss the biggest, and Little Joe the youngest and cutest. In nearby Virginia City three mine owners are in great need of more wood to be able to build tunnels to new bonanzas. Ben Cartwright has much wood on his ranch, but refuses to cut it down. The mine owners get the idea to hire a famous actress, Lotta Crabtree, who could lure Little Joe to Virginia City, where they can hold him as a hostage. If Ben Cartwright still refuses to sell any wood to them, they will kill his son.