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Illustrator behind the famous Ponderosa map passes away

Illustrator behind the famous Ponderosa map passes away

THE illustrator Robert Ayres, who drew the famous Ponderosa map for the Bonanza TV series, has passed away. He was 98.

Mr. Ayres had been working for Paramount Studios in Hollywood in 1959 when he was asked to produce a map to be used in a new western series.

Officially known as the “Map to Illustrate the Ponderosa in Nevada”, the illustration was used in the opening credits of Bonanza which was a hit show on both sides of the Atlantic from 1959 until 1973.

The map burns during the opening sequence (see below) to reveal the stars of the series riding towards the camera. The show starred Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Michael Landon and Pernell Roberts.

Mr. Ayres had worked as a commercial artist before entering the movie industry.

During his career with Paramount and then Disney, Mr. Ayres worked on hundreds of films including Blue Hawaii (1961), which starred Elvis Presley, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), which starred James Stewart and John Wayne.

After drawing the Ponderosa map, Mr. Ayres lost track of his original creation — in fact it had hung in the home of Bonanza co-creator David Dortort for many years.

Following Mr. Dortort’s death in 2010, the map was donated to the Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles. Mr. Ayres had gone to see his map again only three days before he died.

To see how Mr. Ayres’ map was used in the opening titles of Bonanza, click here.

 

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