The Partridge Family (TV)
"The Partridge Family" is a television series that aired on ABC from 1970 to 1974, designed to appeal to young viewers through its incorporation of music and relatable adolescent themes. The show follows the fictional Partridge family, which includes a widowed mother, Shirley, and her children: Keith, Danny, Chris, Laurie, and Tracy. Notably, the series was inspired by the real-life family band, the Cowsills. Each episode typically presented a social dilemma faced by the family, culminating in a musical number that connected to the storyline. While only Shirley Jones and her stepson, David Cassidy, performed the songs, the other cast members lip-synced to tracks by professional singers.
The show achieved significant popularity, especially among teenagers, producing hits like "I Think I Love You." The marketing strategy prior to its release included early song promotions on teen radio to generate interest. With a total of 96 episodes, the series was a commercial success, leading to merchandise sales and establishing David Cassidy as a teenage idol. After its cancellation, a cartoon sequel titled "The Partridge Family, 2200 A.D." aired briefly, featuring the family in a futuristic setting. Overall, "The Partridge Family" remains a notable part of television history, recognized for its blend of music, family dynamics, and cultural impact during its time.
The Partridge Family (TV)
Identification Television family series
Date Aired from 1970 to 1974
This series depicted a single mother raising five children in California, driving a multicolored school bus, performing in concerts with her children, and helping her children work through a variety of early adolescent experiences.
Popular with young viewers and successful in ratings and modeled after the popular 1960’s family singing group the Cowsills, The Partridge Family appealed to young adults with its use of music and the depiction of adolescent experiences. The show’s members were widowed mother Shirley (played by Shirley Jones); sons Keith (David Cassidy), Danny (Danny Bonaduce), and Chris (first Jeremy Gelbwaks, later Brian Forster); and daughters Laurie (Susan Dey) and Tracy (Suzanne Crough). David Madden played the family’s manager and agent, Reuben Kincaid.
Each week, a family member would face some sort of social dilemma that was eventually resolved, and the family would sing a song that related to the experience. Only two actors in the series, Jones and her real-life stepson Cassidy, actually sang the songs; the other actors lip-synched to background music performed by professional singers. Danny played guitar, Chris played drums, Laurie played keyboard, and Tracy played the tambourine.
Although The Partridge Family was a fictional singing group, the show’s producers used creative marketing to promote the show before it actually aired. Some of the songs were released by the studio early and played on teen radio stations in order to generate interest in the show. The most popular songs, such as “I Think I Love You” and “I Woke Up in Love This Morning,” hit the Billboard charts and sold millions of records.
The Partridge Family was originally broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) network on Friday evenings after the popular The Brady Bunch series. It was often compared to The Brady Bunch show especially during the later seasons when the Brady children formed their own singing group.
Impact
The early marketing success of the series helped the series become a huge hit with young viewers. Many ancillary products, including books, toys, and lunch boxes, were marketed, and they sold well. Moreover, David Cassidy became an idol to millions of teenage fans worldwide. He performed in live concerts on many weekends and between filming of the series. After four years of juggling acting and concerts, Cassidy decided to focus his talents on a solo singing career and declined to do a fifth season.
After ninety-six episodes, the series was canceled. A cartoon sequel titled The Partridge Family, 2200 A.D. aired on Saturday mornings in 1974-1975 and included the voices of some of the original cast members. In this spin-off, the Partridge Family traveled in outer space to perform concerts.
Bibliography
Cassidy, David. C’mon Get Happy. New York: Warner Books, 1994.
Green, Joey. The Partridge Family Album: The Official Get Happy Guide to America’s Television Family. New York: HarperCollins, 1994.