David Dortort

Birth Name:

David Solomon Katz

Birth Place:

New York City, New York, United States

Profession

Writer, Producer

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

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