Bonanza
In 2001, there was an attempt to revive the "Bonanza" concept with a prequel, "Ponderosa" – not to be confused with the 1972 summer reruns under the same title – with a pilot directed by Simon Wincer and filmed in Australia. Covering the time when the Cartwrights first arrived at the Ponderosa, when Adam was a teenager and Joe a little boy, the series lasted 20 episodes and featured less gunfire and brawling than the original. "Bonanza" creator David Dortort approved PAX TV (now Ion TV)'s decision to hire Beth Sullivan, formerly of "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman", which some believe gave the series more depth as well as a softer edge. The Hop Sing character is depicted not only as a cook but also a family counselor and herbal healer. The series takes place in Nevada Territory in 1849, which is actually an anachronism. The Nevada Territory did not split from the Utah Territory until 1861, meaning that until at least the 5th season (the episode "Enter Thomas Bowers" establishes that year as 1857), "Bonanza" is also set in what in real life would have been Utah Territory.
Joseph Bonanno
Eventually, Bonanno became involved in bootlegging activities. He operated a distillery located inside an apartment building basement with Gaspar DiGregorio and Giovanni Romano, who was later killed in the distillery due to an accidental explosion. Sometime after 1926, Bonanno went to work for Salvatore Maranzano and supervised his distilleries in Upstate New York and Pennsylvania, he was also responsible for bailing out bootlegging associates from jail. During this time Bonanno admitted to carrying a pistol for the first time in the United States. He began to act as an enforcer for Maranzano and was part of his inner circle. In his book, Bonanno recalled an extortion attempt by Dominick "Mimi" Sabella, brother of Bonanno capo Michael Sabella and Philadelphia crime family boss Salvatore Sabella, where Sabella attempted to muscle his way into Bonanno's bootlegging operations. Bonanno made a gesture with his hand to represent a pistol and pretended to shoot Sabella in the head six times, although Sabella was part of Maranzano's crime family, Bonanno had the most authority and could not be reckoned with.