Bonanza is western television series that ran on the NBC network from September
12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as
the second longest running western series (behind Gunsmoke). It still continues 
to air in syndication. In 2002, Bonanza was ranked #43 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest
TV Shows of All Tine.

Filming on the Bonanza set

Linda Ann Gray is probably best known for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing on
the CBS television prime-time soap opera Dallas (1978-1991). Prior to acting,
Gray began working as a model in the 1960s. The famous film 1967 poster
for The Graduate (below) showed Gray’s legs, even though the actress in
the filmed role was Anne Bancroft. Gray began her professional acting
career in the 1970s, with guest roles on TV shows such as Marcus
Wilby, M.D. on ABC from 1969 to 1977, and the NBC series McCloud
1970 to 1977.

 

Linda Gray with co-star Larry Hagman

Ariana Clarice Richards is an actress and professional painter. She is best known
for her portrayals as Lex Murphy in the highly successful Steven Spielberg Sci-fi
film Jurassic Park (1993), and as Carol Wetherby in the 1989 family film Prancer
with Sam Elliott. Richards was born in Healdsburg, California. Her sister, Bethany,
is also and actress. Ariana graduated from Skidmore College in New York State,
earning a degree in Fine Art and Drama. She continued her education with
instruction at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and also attended
Western Oregon University in Monmouth.

 


Publicity still of Ariana Richards, Sam Neill, and Joseph Mazzello in Jurassic
Park

 
    
     Ariana Richards

Damage to the Pentagon from the crash of American Airlines Flight 77

Marian McQuade of Oak Hill, West Virginia is recognized as the founder of
National Grandparents Day. Her goal in 1973 was to educate the youth in
her community about the important contributions seniors have made
throughout history. She also urged the youth to "adopt" a grandparent,
not just for one day a year, but rather for a lifetime. McQuade organized
supporters and began contacting governors, senators, and congressmen
in all fifty states and urged each state to proclaim their own Grandparents
Day. Within three years, she received proclamations from forty- three states
and sent copies to Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WV).       
 
In February, 1977, Senator Randolph, with the concurrence of many other
senators, introduced a Joint Resolution to the Senate requesting then-
President Jimmy Carter to "issue annually a proclamation designating the
first Sunday of September after Labor Day of each year as ‘National
Grandparents Day’. Congress passed the legislation and President Carter
signed the proclamation on August 3, 1978.
 

Marian McQuade (left) with Senator Jennings Randolph