Betty Endicott was the stand-in for Pernell Roberts and a stuntwoman for various actresses on Bonanza, but she also had many roles in front of the camera…79 of them from 1960 until 1969 according to IMDb!
She played Virginia City townswomen, neighbors and party-goers, a Quaker, and a pioneer on a wagon train coming west with Ben and Inger, and many times she was on camera as a lively saloon girl. We figure that anybody who was a part of so many key moments in the Cartwright’s lives just had to be one of their good friends.
This week’s POD, brought to you by nyspats and myself, features...
Betty Endicott ~ Saloon Girl Extraordinaire!
Betty Endicott was never credited in her saloon girl role...she was listed merely as 'brunette saloon girl'. She often appears with her friend, Martha Manor, who was listed simply as 'blond saloon girl'. She brings a tremendous amount of charm and beauty to every scene she is in, and her changing expressions provide a silent "color-commentary" that enhances the unfolding story.
Here's Betty (with Martha) in the saloon scene from The Infernal Machine. Hoss has just brought back the money that was stolen by Mr. Throckmorton, but the townspeople are strangely silent when he tells them the good news. Tragedy has befallen Hoss's friend, inventor Daniel Pettibone.
gilliecap from The Infernal Machine
Betty Endicott standing at top left