December 12, 2024 – West Bend, Wi – There’s a unique collection of cowboy TV history on display on the second floor of the West Bend Public Library as librarian Annie Bahringer shows off her memorabilia from the popular 1960’s TV show Bonanza.
Bahringer said she always had a fascination with the Wild West and over the last three years started a diligent collection of all things related to life on the Ponderosa Ranch. Of course, it was Little Joe (Michael Landon) who caught her fancy.
“Michael Landon is probably one of my favorite characters; Little Joe was my favorite and then of course Hoss; you know who doesn’t love Hoss. The two of them together really made it for me because they have so many episodes together and they’re funny and sweet.”
“I really love this show and it’s so much fun,” said Bahringer. “I looked on eBay and there were tons of things for it, so I thought hey why not. I don’t collect anything else, so it’d be fun to start a collection on Bonanza.
“My first piece was a comic book. I have them all and in several languages including Greece, Germany, French, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Sweeden.”
Bahringer’s collection also includes 120 magazines, dolls, glass ware, TV Guides, scripts from the TV show, and View-Master discs.
Bahringer offers insight into show trivia including the fact Michael Landon would frequently spin around whenever he got shot during an episode. Matter of fact, there is a video compilation on YouTube called Little Joe Gets Shot A Lot.Â
The Little Joe figure Bahringer acquired comes in its own box. “He’s very well protected inside,” she said pulling back the bubble wrap. “He comes with accessories including a gun, bandana, hat, vest and a green coat.”
Bahringer confesses she has a similar green coat she wears during the summer. “Yes, I know I’m a little weird… and yes, people have mentioned my collection. Of course, my mom laughs at me all the time, but I’ve got her to watch it on MeTV in the afternoons and now she’ll text me and say Hoss is doing something funny. So now she’s having fun with it too.”
The Bonanza collection is on display in a glass case on the second floor. Bahringer said it should remain on display through the end of the year at the West Bend Public Library, 630 Poplar Street.
