The early 70s brought us a unique mix of simplicity, charm, and unforgettable talent, and The Partridge Family captured it all. David Cassidy’s incredible voice and undeniable charisma made him a household name, while Susan Dey’s relatable charm won the hearts of fans everywhere.
With its sharp writing, solid acting, and wholesome vibe, the show became a beloved part of television history. But even die-hard fans may have missed some fascinating details hidden in plain sight. Let’s take a nostalgic dive into the secrets and surprises that make The Partridge Family even more unforgettable!
The Partridge Family was a lighthearted sitcom about a widowed mother, Shirley, and her five children who formed a pop band and toured the country in their iconic colorful bus. Packed with catchy tunes and heartfelt moments, it became a cultural phenomenon of the 70s.
Partridge family wasn’t so fictional after al
Did you know The Partridge Family was loosely based on a real pop band? Yep, the show drew inspiration from The Cowsills, a family music group that made waves in the late 1960s. The original plan was for the actual Cowsills kids to star in the series, but let’s just say acting wasn’t their thing. Plus, they were a little too old for the parts. So, the producers scrapped the idea and created their own fictional musical family instead.
Here’s a fun twist: at first, Shirley Jones was the only cast member slated to sing. But when the producers got their hands on David Cassidy’s demo tracks, they realized they had a superstar in the making and gave him the mic too.
And get this — the Partridge Family wasn’t just a fake band on TV; the music made such an impact that they were actually nominated for the 1970 Best New Artist Grammy. Imagine that — a fictional band going up against real musicians! (The Carpenters ended up winning, but still — what a story…)
Why David Cassidy couldn’t face the public
The fame that came with The Partridge Family was a double-edged sword for many of the cast members, especially for David Cassidy. While the role as Keith Partridge skyrocketed him to teen idol status and made him a pop sensation of the 1970s, it also came with pressures that would eventually take their toll.
Cassidy went from being the charming TV son to a superstar whose every move was scrutinized – the mass hysteria around him was dubbed “Cassidymania”.
”I never went out in public after the first three months. It was too ridiculous. It’s not like that for celebrities anymore. Audiences are more sophisticated. They can see stars over and over on video, so they’re more human, more accessible now,” Cassidy said in 2017.
The audition that made David Cassidy a teen idol
Did you know David Cassidy almost didn’t get to sing on The Partridge Family?
The network knew he could carry a tune, but they weren’t focused on that — they just wanted actors. Cassidy, who already had dramatic roles on shows like Bonanza and Ironside, had to audition multiple times just to land the part.
After the pilot was sold, he auditioned again — this time for record producer Wes Farrell — to prove he had what it took to bring the Partridges’ music to life. Luckily, he nailed it, and the rest is history.
”When I started singing on the show, it was a whole other thing,” Cassidy shared.
Danny Bonaduce’s secret weapon
Did you know Danny Bonaduce, the wisecracking middle kid from The Partridge Family, had a secret talent (and a bit of a mischievous streak)? While he sometimes struggled during script readings because of dyslexia, Danny had an eidetic memory – meaning he could memorize not just his lines but everyone else’s too.
This impressive skill didn’t always win him points with his castmates, though. If someone forgot their line, Danny was quick to jump in and remind them – whether they wanted the help or not. Talk about knowing your role…and everyone else’s!
Autographs on flesh & riding elephants
Danny Bonaduce wasn’t immune to the whirlwind of fame that The Partridge Family brought. Overnight, he became a teen heartthrob, and it’s safe to say he had his fair share of admirers.
“We had 21-year-old girls hanging around our house all night,” his mother, Betty, shared with People magazine in 1992. “I was the witch who wouldn’t let them in.”
But Danny didn’t seem to mind at the time. From his suburban Los Angeles home, he had a front-row view of fans eagerly waiting for him outside.
“They’d open their shirts and have notes written on their bodies – ‘DANNY, WE LOVE YOU.’ I put my autograph on a lot of flesh,” Danny revealed to The Age.
By the time the show ended in 1974, 14-year-old Danny had a $350,000 fortune in the bank. Life was a blur of fame and rubbing elbows with other young stars, including a 16-year-old Michael Jackson.
“I spent my childhood on jet planes and with mayors. I didn’t play baseball, but I did ride on an elephant. I missed out on football, but I flew on the Concorde. I totally lucked out,” Danny recalled.
David Cassidy’s contract nightmare
David Cassidy’s rise to fame as a young star came with a tough reality behind the scenes. While his image was raking in cash for companies like Columbia Pictures, David wasn’t seeing much of it.
His contract didn’t include royalties, and he had no say in how his name and image were used, even though fans were paying to be part of his fan club. It wasn’t until his manager realized he’d signed the contract when he was just 19 — not the legal age of 21 — that they could make a change. With this legal loophole, they were able to renegotiate his terms, giving him a piece of the profits and a weekly salary that matched his fame. Before that, he was only earning $600 a week.
Being a teen idol wasn’t all fame and fortune — it came with the downside of being taken advantage of at a young age.
The guardian who helped Susan Sey
At just 18 years old, Susan Dey catapulted to TV stardom as Laurie Partridge on The Partridge Family. From 1970 to 1974, she played the smart and sweet older sibling, but her off-screen life was just as eventful as her on-screen one.
Did you know Susan wasn’t the producers’ first choice to play Laurie? Olivia Newton-John was actually in the running for the role. Fast forward a few years, and in a twist of fate, when Grease was casting, the producers initially wanted Susan for Sandy. But, as we know, Olivia ended up landing the role. The universe sure knows how to throw some curveballs…
According to a 1972 article, it was pure luck that decided it all. Screen Gems producer Paul Witt couldn’t find the right Laurie in Hollywood, so he ventured to New York to search for fresh faces. One look at Susan, a slim, graceful high school junior with wide eyes and an undeniable charm, convinced him she was the one for the part — despite her lack of dramatic training. What she lacked in musical talent, she more than made up for with charm, humor, and a natural presence. After a few high school plays, Susan was ready to shine.
Though Susan modestly claimed, “thousands can do the part,” she landed the role. During the filming of the early episodes, because she wasn’t yet 18, she had to live with a guardian. After interviewing several candidates, 23-year-old Jane Joyce, a college graduate and Laurie’s stand-in, was chosen. Not only did she help Susan with her on-screen duties, but she also assisted her with homework by mail and made sure Susan stayed on track with her education.
Susan Dey’s time on The Partridge Family wasn’t all glitz and glamour, even though she was the down-to-earth, relatable teen idol. While she even appeared in tampon ads aimed at her audience, life behind the scenes had its challenges.
During her time on the show, Susan struggled with an eating disorder, revealing the darker side of rising to fame at such a young age.
But Susan was also incredibly hard on herself when it came to her performance on the show. She referred to herself as “awful” in the first season, never feeling able to fully relax or feel like she was doing herself justice.
“The thing was – I couldn’t let go. All that stiffness came through on the screen,” Susan told The Star Press.
From crush to cold distance
At first, Susan Dey formed strong bonds with several of her castmates. For a while, she even stayed with her co-star Danny Bonaduce. It’s also well-known that Susan had a huge crush on David Cassidy throughout the entire run of The Partridge Family. However, after the show ended, it seems Dey wasn’t eager to stay connected to the series that made her a star.
After the show wrapped in 1974, Susan moved on to other TV roles, including a prominent part in L.A. Law in 1986.
“By then, she and David had grown apart, and nowadays they were completely out of touch, which hurt David tremendously,” Shirley Jones, who played Shirley Partridge on the show, wrote in her memoir.
“I was also hurt that out of everyone on the show, only Susan consistently refused to take part in any TV reunions of The Partridge Family.”
Maybe the answer lies in a 1972 newspaper article, where Susan Dey opened up about her early years on The Partridge Family.
”I wasn’t prepared for the dishonesty and politics involved in making a show. And it’s been hard for me to put my foot down and say no.”
The co-stars Shirley Jones couldn’t stand
Shirley Jones, with her warm personality and versatility as an actress, was no stranger to success. With a career that spanned Broadway, film, and television, she earned an Academy Award in 1960 for her role in Elmer Gantry. However, it was The Partridge Family that solidified her status as an iconic TV mom and beloved figure to audiences everywhere
In her autobiography, Jones shared some candid insights about her time on the show. She revealed that she got along with most of her co-stars, except for Dick Clark and Ray Bolger.
Despite a few bumps along the way, Shirley enjoyed working with young talent like Jodie Foster, and she fondly recalled how the entire cast predicted that Farrah Fawcett, who guest-starred on the show, would eventually become a huge star.
The Farrah Fawcett photo
Farrah Fawcett’s brief cameo in The Partridge Family (Season One, Episode Two) was nothing short of iconic! She effortlessly set a new standard for beauty — just look at the picture of her with Danny, and you can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking.
This photo pops up on social media from time to time, and the comment sections are always the same — everyone can’t get enough of how stunning Farrah was. Sadly, she left us far too soon.
By the way, did you know that Farrah wasn’t the only future Charlie’s Angel to make a guest appearance on Patridge? Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd also graced the show, each in their own separate episodes. Talk about a star-studded lineup before they all became Charlie’s Angels!
A lost family member
Even though The Partridge Family seemed like a perfect, well-crafted show, there were definitely some funny bloopers sneaking in here and there. One of the best ones actually happens in the pilot episode — a little moment that many might not have noticed.
At the end of the pilot, the kids are all frozen in place as the curtain goes up, and they’re supposed to sing in front of an audience.
Their mom, Shirley (played by Shirley Jones), tries to help them relax by asking them to think about when they’re just playing in the garage at home. But instead of saying, “Remember when the six of us were rehearsing in the garage?” Shirley accidentally says, “Just imagine you’re in the back of our garage, all five of us, just having fun.” Oops! Looks like she forgot one family member…
The Skunk wire
Here’s another funny detail from the Skunk episode in Season 1, Episode 8. While the family is having a picnic, a skunk sneaks onto the bus and ends up spraying them.
The episode was inspired by writer Bernard Slade’s own experiences growing up, where he had a family of skunks living under his house. But here’s the fun part that most people probably missed: When the family is leaving the picnic and heading back to the bus, you can actually spot the skunk being “coached” onto the bus using a wire!
It seems like no one was too keen on training a skunk (or maybe there were no professional skunks available in Hollywood), so the production team decided to attach a wire to the skunk’s neck and basically pull it onto the bus. Not exactly the most humane method, huh?
Revealing mistakes
The inside of the Partridge home was actually shot on a set, not in a real house. But, in episodes where we get a peek through the open front door, you can spot a wall just a few feet beyond it. Here’s the kicker though — when we’re inside the house, there’s no wall in that spot! Magic of TV, right?
And here’s another thing that will make you chuckle: in almost every episode, there are zero monitors, speakers, or amps for their vocals and electric guitars. I mean, how is the band supposed to rock out without the gear? Guess it’s just another Partridge family miracle…
David Cassidy lied about one thing
David Cassidy sadly passed away on November 21, 2017.
The former teenage star had been battling several health issues before he died of liver failure. Like many other former teenage stars, his drinking problem clouded the last years of his life.
In 2008, David went public with his problem and said that he was going to seek help. He managed to convince family and friends that he had stopped drinking – but it was all a lie.
During his last live performance, in February 2017, David forgot the lyrics to songs he had been singing for nearly 50 years. According to reports, the singer also appeared to be drunk and fell off the stage.
David then announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia and was retiring from all further performing. But the truth was that his drinking caused his declining health.
In the documentary David Cassidy: The Last Session, David could be heard making a shock confession. Just two months prior to his death, the iconic heartthrob of the ’70s had a telephone conversation with an A&E producer that was recorded. Once again he was hospitalized – but this time, he decided to come clean about how he had lied about his drinking.
“I have a liver disease,” Cassidy said to A&E producer Saralena Weinfield.
“There is no sign of me having dementia at this stage of my life. It was completely alcohol poisoning. My life has changed dramatically. The first few days I was unconscious and near death. The last week or so my memory has come back,” David said.
David Cassidy’s final words
David died of liver failure on November 21, 2017, at the age of 67.
Davids’s daughter Katie took to Twitter and shared her father’s last words on the deathbed:
“My father’s last words were “So much wasted time”. This will be a daily reminder for me to share my gratitude with those I love as to never waste another minute….thank you,” she wrote.
Millions mourned the passing of David, including his stepmother Shirley Jones – who fondly recalled working with him on Partridge Family.
“I actually think our true-life relationship, our closeness, helped us in the show,” Jones told the Hollywood Reporter.
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