Holiday Happenings

With the holidays approaching, we've got some early presents! Check out the NEWS story below about Season Three on DVD, view a great video clip from the Christmas episode (courtesy of bluebird1111) and more! In addition, we'll update the Photo of the Week feature more frequently with Christmas-related images. Enjoy!

New Day & Time For Shirley Jones' New TV Series, "Monarch Cove"

"Monarch Cove," Lifetime Television's new series co-starring Shirley Jones has a new day and time. The series can now be seen on Friday nights at 8PM, with two back-to-back episodes. Fourteen episodes were filmed last summer in Australia, with Shirley appearing in seven. Her character, Grace, passed away in last weeks episode but fans of the series can continue to watch on Friday nights. Be sure to check your local listings for exact time and channel in your area.

David Cassidy Auction Highlights

A few weeks ago Julien's Auctions announced a live and online auction of multiple items from the unprecedented career of David Cassidy, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and the Thoroughbred Charities of America, which provides a better life for thoroughbreds both during and after their careers. According to the press release, the beneficiary choices reflect David's passion for thoroughbreds which he owns, breeds and races.

We thought it would be fun to highlight a few items up for auction! The first item is the Technicolor Dreamcoat that David wore while appearing on Broadway as the title role in the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in 1983. It's a satin and velvet robe with gold lame trim and rhinestone accents. Julien's is estimating it will go for $800.00 - $1,200.00.
Another item up for auction is the Gold Record that the RIAA presented to David Cassidy to commemorate the sale of more than one million dollars worth of the 1972 Bell Records LP, "Cherish." The LP was David's very first solo recording and reached Number 15 on Billboard's pop Album Chart. Julien's is estimating it will go for between $2,000.00 - $3,000.00.
The auction items will be available for bidding online at www.juliensauctions.com and the auction will conclude live at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA December 16th, 2006. Highlights from this auction will tour Hard Rock Cafe London (November 14th - November 24th), Hard Rock Cafe New York (November 28th - December 1st) and Circa 55 in The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA (December 11th - December 15th).

TV Academy Interview With Bob Claver

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation conducts detailed interviews with various members of the television community. Occasionally, they make them available for online viewers. Recently, they made available a four-part interview with Bob Claver, Executive Producer of The Partridge Family. In Part One, Bob Claver talks about breaking into television in Chicago and his move to New York where he worked as a writer on various children’s shows. He speaks in detail about working with Bob Keeshan as a writer-producer for five years on Captain Kangaroo. He then talks about his work with Four Star Films and his subsequent employ at Screen Gems.

To view Part One -- which runs 28 minutes, click here. Or, to read our exclusive interview with Bob Claver, visit the People and Places section of the website. Part Two of the TV Academy's interview will follow next week.

The Partridge Family Toy Box

Each week we showcase a different Partridge Family/ David Cassidy collectible!

This week, it's the Susan Dey/Laurie Partridge doll from Remco Toys.
Produced in 1973, the Laurie Partridge doll measures 18" tall and comes complete with a bonus poster of Susan Dey with David Cassidy. Laurie is dressed in a turtleneck sweater with fringed denim jeans that come complete with a partridge appliqué on the pocket! If you look closely at the packaging, you'll see the family performing on the roof of their bus. This shot is from the second season episode, "I Can get It For You Retail." Remco Industries was the same company that produced another rare, hard-to-find collectible: The Partridge Family Toy Bus -- which we'll showcase another time!

Remco planned on releasing a David Cassidy doll -- complete with a concert costume! Unfortunately, sales for Partridge-related merchandise were declining so plans to release the doll were scrapped after their catalog went to press. The photo to the left is the catalog page which shows the planned doll.

Photo Of The Week

This week's photos are from The Partridge Family/My Three Sons Thanksgiving Reunion Special, which aired on ABC-TV Friday, November 25, 1977.
Hosted by Shirley Jones and Fred MacMurray and produced by Dick Clark Productions, the hour-long special was a nostalgic look back at the two TV series. It is the only time the entire cast of The Partridge Family participated in a reunion since the series ended in 1974. Susan Dey was on location filming a movie and was unable to participate in person for the two-day taping. However she did manage to film a short segment for the special, in which she told the cast how much she missed them. And, even though Suzanne Crough was busy filming "Mulligan's Stew," her new series for NBC-TV, she was able to schedule a day off in order to appear.

In the coming weeks we'll showcase some video clips from the special, including solo performances from David Cassidy and Shirley Jones.

Video Clip Of The Week

To help start off the holiday season, this week's clip features "Winter Wonderland," from the Partridge Family's Second Season Christmas episode, "Don't Bring Your Guns To Town, Santa." The song is included on "A Partridge Family Christmas Card," available on CD in stores now. Special thanks to Bluebird1111 for creating this incredible clip for us! Enjoy.

Did You Know?

Prior to joining The Partridge Family, most fans know that Brian Forster appeared in episodes of "Family Affair," "The Brady Bunch," as well as various TV commercials. But did you know he also filmed an Industrial Safety Film titled "The Talking Car?" Filmed in 1969, it's a remake of a 1953 film which attempts to teach youngsters to see, and be seen, before crossing the street. According to Brian, this film was used as his audition for the role of Chris Partridge. To read more about Brian, be sure to read our interview with him.

Here is "The Talking Car," in it's entirety!

Birdwatching: Highlights This Week

The Partridge Family -- 12/01/06 / The i Network
Next Scheduled Episode:
- "Don't Bring Your Guns To Town, Santa" (12/8) / The i Network
When their bus breaks down in a ghost town, an old prospector entertains the Partridge family with stories of old. Songs: "Winter Wonderland," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." With Dean Jagger, Britt Leach. 30 minutes.

Monarch Cove -- 12/01/06 / Lifetime Television / 8PM - 10PM
Episode 1
Bianca, Kathy and Ben try and cope with the loss of their grandmother; Parker has a plan to get the casino's money back. With Virginia Williams, Kieren Hutchison, Simon Rex, Samantha Shelton, Shirley Jones, Matt Funke. 60 minutes- None, USA, 2006, (CC), New

Episode 2
Kathy implicates Victor in the death of her father; Bianca decides to move away from Monarch Cove; Alexander lets Kathy oversee to upcoming charity fundraiser. With Virginia Williams, Kieren Hutchison, Simon Rex, Samantha Shelton, Shirley Jones, Matt Funke. 60 minutes. 2006, (CC), New

Breaking Bonaduce -- Next Episode: 12/10/06 / VH-1
"The Mother Of All Daddies" (2006) Danny visit's his father's grave and a psychic in an attempt to lose some of his demons. 30 minutes.

Check local listings for times and channels in your area.

For more TV Highlights featuring the cast of The Partridge Family, visit the Birdwatching section on the website's Bulletin Board.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Gobble! Gobble!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our cmongethappy.com friends!
(Make sure the bird on your table is a turkey -- and not a Partridge!)

The Partridge Family Toy Box

Each week we feature a different Partridge Family/David Cassidy collectible!

Last week we showcased the mini posters offered on the backs of Hi-C Fruit Drink labels, and mentioned a mail away offer for an Official David Cassidy Beach Towel. Well, here it is! Finding this item -- especially in mint condition -- is difficult, as the colors would fade after a few washings. It's made of 100% cotton and measures approximately 3' X 5'.

Photo Of The Week

Each week we try and showcase a rare photo from our archives.
This week, it's a behind-the-scenes shot of Dave Madden getting ready to shoot his first scene of the day. Mel Berns, Jr., was in charge of make up for all the stars of The Partridge Family, and was even featured in a two-part article starting in the January, 1972 issue of Tiger Beat's Official Partridge Family Magazine! In addition to the PF, Mel worked on such stars as Walter Brennan and Milton Berle and even worked a bit on "Planet of the Apes," before being called in as make-up man for Sally Field on "The Flying Nun."

Video Clip Of The Week

One of the best known -- and most frequently requested -- of The Partridge Family's unreleased songs appeared in the second season episode, "Whatever Happened To Moby Dick?" In the episode, the Partridges decide to make a record at California's Marineland featuring the sounds of a whale in order to bring attention to their diminishing population. "The Whale Song," written by Dan Pevton and Marty Kaniger is one of the few times Shirley Jones sang lead on a Partridge Family song. Enjoy!

Did You Know?

Did you know that Frank Sinatra was instrumental in launching Dave Madden's successful career? In the early 60s, Dave was performing his stand-up routine at a club in Palm Springs, CA, where the audience included Frank Sinatra perched at a ring-side table. "It was eerie," said Dave Madden in 1972 TV Guide article. "The audience ignored me and stared at Sinatra. If he laughed, they laughed." Sinatra did more than laugh. Later, he phoned Ed Sullivan in New York and suggested he book him! Subsequently, Dave Madden was signed for three Sullivan shows. After that, Dave appeared as a series regular on "Camp Runamuck," started a lucrative voice-over career, appeared on a number of shows including "Bewitched" and "Hogan's Heroes," and then signed on as a series regular on "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in" -- all before joining The Partridge Family in 1970.

Birdwatching: Highlights This Week

The Partridge Family -- The i Network
Next Scheduled Episode:
- "Don't Bring Your Guns To Town, Santa" (12/8) / The i Network
When their bus breaks down in a ghost town, an old prospector entertains the Partridge family with stories of old. Songs: "Winter Wonderland," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." With Dean Jagger, Britt Leach. 30 minutes.

Monarch Cove -- 11/25/06 / Lifetime Television / 9PM - 11PM
Episode 1
The Preston family celebrates the casino opening; and Elizabeth throws a dinner party, which doesn't go as expected. Also, Arianna's attempt to remain sober is short-lived; Kathy has an unpleasant run-in with a man she once knew. With Virginia Williams, Kieren Hutchison, Simon Rex, Samantha Shelton, Shirley Jones, Matt Funke. 60 minutes- None, USA, 2006, (CC), New

Episode 2
Elizabeth gets a paternity test; Victor hits a winning streak at the casino, and Parker seeks Kathy's help in getting the casino's money back; Grace's health takes a turn for the worse. With Virginia Williams, Kieren Hutchison, Simon Rex, Samantha Shelton, Shirley Jones, Matt Funke. 60 minutes. 2006, (CC), New

Breaking Bonaduce -- 11/16/06 / VH-1
"Stir Crazy For You" (2006) Danny Danny begins to go crazy in the guest bedroom. 30 minutes.

Check local listings for times and channels in your area.

For more TV Highlights featuring the cast of The Partridge Family, visit the Birdwatching section on the website's Bulletin Board.

Property From The Career Of David Cassidy To Hit The Auction Block

Los Angeles — On November 14th, highlights from the career of David Cassidy will begin their world tour at Hard Rock Cafe London, travel to New York and conclude with the auction at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on December 16th.

In 1970 The Partridge Family premiered, skyrocketing David Cassidy to superstardom. Cassidy had the #1 selling single of the year and became the consummate teen idol. His official fan club grew to become the largest in history, exceeding those of Elvis Presley and the Beatles. His career has continued to boast gold and platinum records, extremely successful Broadway, West End and Las Vegas shows, and tours that have broken box office records.

Julien's Auctions is pleased to announce a live and online auction of multiple items from the unprecedented career of David Cassidy with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and the Thoroughbred Charities of America providing a better life for thoroughbreds both during and after their careers. The beneficiary choices reflect Cassidy's passion for thoroughbreds which he owns, breeds and races.

The sale begins online November 10th at juliensauctions.com and will conclude live at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA December 16th, 2006. Highlights from this auction will tour Hard Rock Cafe London (November 14th – November 24th), Hard Rock Cafe New York (November 28th – December 1st) and Circa 55 in The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA (December 11th – December 15th).

The sale includes custom dark blue polyester overalls by Manuel embellished with custom embroidery featuring a ram, parrot and alligator with rhinestone accents worn on stage by Cassidy during concert performances in 1974, together with two color images of Cassidy wearing the overalls during a live concert and a concert ticket stub from the same event at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds in Australia, 1974, which exceeded all prior box office success there (Est. $800/1,200).

No David Cassidy sale would be complete without one of his trademark guitars. Cassidy's customized Gibson SG electric guitar (Serial Number 358106) featuring a heavily carved body and customized pick guard is included. Owned and played by David Cassidy worldwide during various concert performances and appearances during the 1970s, it was originally custom created for guitarist Louis Shelton, Cassidy's guitarist and arranger, who sold the guitar to Cassidy in 1970 (Est. $8,000/10,000). The guitar was also on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame featuring an exhibition of items from the career of David Cassidy.

"I have saved these items for the past three decades and am now glad to see them go to new homes where they will be treasured," says David Cassidy. Cassidy will make personal appearances at the exhibitions in London, New York and Los Angeles. He will be in London also promoting his new compilation CD, Could It Be Forever…the Greatest Hits (Sony BMG Music UK), his autobiography, also titled Could It Be Forever (Headline Books, March 5, 2007), and an April '07 tour of the UK. He also continues to tour the U.S.

Also included in the auction is a custom white polyester jumpsuit by Manuel, with custom multicolored floral themed embroidery and rhinestones, worn on stage during concert performances by Cassidy in the United States and Europe in 1972 and 1973 (Est. $800/1,200).

Not all items are for high end collectors with unlimited disposable incomes. "There is something for everyone," says Martin Nolan, Executive Director of Julien's Auctions. "David has included several collectible items such as his Partridge Family metal lunch box with accompanying metal thermos (Est. $200/400)," Nolan further states.

Other highlights in the sale include:

* A custom multicolored satin and velvet robe worn on stage by Cassidy during his publicly and critically acclaimed portrayal of Joseph in the Broadway production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1983 (Est. $800/$1,200)

* A two piece chartreuse satin tuxedo comprised of a bolero style tuxedo David Cassidy's Personal Partridge jacket featuring black and chartreuse striped satin lining together with Family Lunchbox (Est. $200/400) a pair of chartreuse loafers by Emilio Franco (size 8), worn on stage by Cassidy during a performance at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1985 (Est. $700/900).

* A Guild acoustic guitar, chrome and brass Grover tuning heads, owned and played by David Cassidy during various concert performances and recording sessions during the 1970s (Est. $4,000/6,000)

* An Oberheim OBX electronic synthesizer, Serial Number 792617, together with a Boss Chorus Ensemble foot pedal and a Korg FC6 foot controller, owned and played by David Cassidy during the 1980s. Originally owned by record producer John Farrar (Olivia Newton-John) and played on many of Newton-John's recordings including the hit single "Physical." The equipment was also used by Cassidy for recording demos in the 1980s and 1990s (Est. $2,000/3,000).

* An RIAA award presented to David Cassidy to commemorate more than $1 million in sales of the 1972 Bell Records LP Cherish. The effort was Cassidy's first solo LP and included the title track of the same name, his most requested song (Est. $2,000/3,000).

* A 104 page My Three Sons-Partridge Family hardbound final draft script dated October 28, 1977. The script contains final material used during the Thanksgiving reunion show, executive producer Dick Clark (Est. $200/400).

To order your full color illustrated catalog, please visit www.juliensauctions.com or call (310) 836-1818.

Could It Be Forever? A UK Interview With David Cassidy

By Janice Turner

In 1972, David Cassidy was the stuff of millions of teenage dreams until he buckled under the weight of adoration. Janice Turner meets an older, wiser fallen idol, as he prepares to strut his stuff again

We are in a taxi heading for Los Angeles airport when the publicity woman calls. Could we, by any chance, have taken David Cassidy’s make-up bag? The Times photographer and I exchange glances and snigger. But the PR persists. Could it, perhaps, have got packed up with all the lights and lenses? Her teeth-clenched politeness suggests she’s dealing with a situation here: David has another photo-shoot today. And having witnessed how reluctantly he faces the camera with his cosmetics, I dread to think what he’s like without them.

All the way home I think about David Cassidy hunting for his “stolen” make-up bag. The image encapsulates so much about him: his defiant vanity, his (well-founded) paranoia that everyone is out to take from him and, above all, his awful, aching vulnerability. If ever there was an illustration that fame is a cruel and capricious bitch, it is a 56-year-old man, who for five years was the most desired person on the planet, with an entourage of 30 to primp his pretty face, now alone, dabbing on foundation and a slick of kohl to bring out the green of his weary eyes.

To corrupt Scott Fitzgerald’s aphorism, there are few third acts in show business lives. And those like Cassidy brave enough to stick around for Act III are scorned for it. “I could have killed myself and been like Monroe, Elvis or James Dean,” he says, knowing how much tidier that would have been. “A legend. But I chose life.”

In the age of 1,000 digital TV channels, when the music industry is fractured into a gazillion markets, it is hard to recall a time in 1972 when British girls had one simple choice: Donny or David. The Osmonds were too cheesily American, toothsome and God-bothering for sassier teen tastes. Besides, how would you and Donny ever get alone-time without the dozen other members of Team Osmond butting in? David Cassidy, however, was more with-it in his pooka-shell necklace, his hair long but not unkempt, a cheesecloth shirt unbuttoned on to an androgynous torso. He was safety and sweetness but with a homoeopathic dosage of free love. He was hippy-lite.

And Cassidy’s Act I, between 1970 and 1974, was a turning point in show business history. He has sold 35 million records, including three British number ones – How Can I Be Sure (1972), Daydreamer and Dreams are Nuthin’ More Than Wishes (both 1973) – but the music isn’t the point. I am a child of that age and can only recall – vaguely – the chirpy theme tune of his TV show The Partridge Family, I Think I Love You. Cassidy is remarkable as the first celebrity to be globally merchandised, the original one-man brand. Around $500-million worth of David Cassidy lunch-boxes, pillowcases, bubble-gum cards, even dresses were sold worldwide to a multitude of love-crazed girls who formed the biggest fan club any artist – including the Beatles – has ever had. But since his then standard contract meant he didn’t own the rights to his own likeness, Cassidy received just $15,000.

The man I meet at his manager’s house in Laurel Canyon is still angry about being so royally shafted. “There is no conscience in the corporate world,” he says. “I was the commodity. I was the thing people were buying. But no one has ever come forward to me and said, ‘Y’know, you made this company worth 100 times what it could have been. And for that you didn’t make any money. So we’re just going to write you a check. Here’s $5 million, here’s $50,000, here’s five dollars…’”

A fairer settlement would have meant he needn’t have worked so relentlessly hard in the past 15 years, doing eight to ten shows a week in Vegas throughout the Nineties. He’s comfortable financially now, lives with his third wife Sue in a Hello! mansion on the waterfront in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but I have never met anyone who seems so profoundly exhausted. Our interview is split into fragments: he can only focus for 15 minutes before he gets frazzled, wants to just chill out and smoke a cigar, his “one remaining vice”.

Cassidy is 5ft 8in, but his frame is elfin. The spangled dungarees he wore on stage in the Seventies, and has brought to our shoot, fit a child-size mannequin. He had a 28in waist then (all his statistics down to his size 6 ring finger were documented for fans) and is almost as lean now. He claims not to have had plastic surgery and while the eyes seem untouched, there is a tightness about his lower face which runs out around his collar bone with a ring of loose skin. He admits dyeing his hair. I can see why he prefers doing his own make-up, not wishing to let strangers share his mortifying rituals.

What a bad fairy curse to have once been the most beautiful boy in the world. Especially since Cassidy didn’t even enjoy his days of glory. Wasn’t it fun to be worshipped? “That lasted about five minutes,” he says, recalling the day the craziness began. “I walked into a record store at a signing before I’d ever been on TV but already my record was starting to happen. And the store expected 200 to 300 people. But there were 5,000 there and they crashed through barriers and windows. Chaos! I found it amusing for the first hour or two. But they were like ‘Aaaaggghhh!’” he waggles his hands violently in my face.

Cassidy was already 20 when he signed to play Keith, the 16-year-old son in The Partridge Family, a TV show about a clan of fatherless musicians who, with their mother (played by Shirley Jones), travel America in a psychedelic bus. Right from the start Cassidy felt an imposter. Keith was virginal, half-orphaned, played saccharine rinky-dinky pop. But Cassidy was a proper hippy, politically radical, a wild only-child of a bad divorce who played in rock’n’roll bands, was 17 in the Summer of Love. Growing up in LA, he picked up girls on Sunset Strip, smoked pot, hitched up to Haight-Ashbury to see the Velvet Underground and Jimi Hendrix. It tormented Cassidy that America fell in love with Keith, not David.

On YouTube there is a clip circa 1974 of him playing Rock Me Baby, where you glimpse a different David Cassidy, the one he so wanted to be. The song is raunchier than earlier hits and his voice (often speeded up slightly on his records to sound higher and younger) is deep and throaty. And peering knowingly from beneath heavy lashes, he is blatantly sexy. Does he regret The Partridge Family for taking him down the wrong path? “No longer,” he says quickly and firmly. “But there was a time.”



Fame turned his life into an awesome schedule. All week Cassidy recorded his TV show, scribbling songs in his lunch break which he’d record through the night. At weekends he flew across the US or abroad to give concerts. The TV studio was his safe haven: once he stepped off the sound stage he was prey to his fans. In his first trip to Britain in 1972, 5,000 girls camped on Park Lane, serenading him with his own hits, while he remained trapped in his suite at the Dorchester. “It was insane,” he says. “Surreal.”

After that, London hotels declined his custom. So he chartered a yacht on the Thames, but fans only tried to swim to him, were hauled out by police and given tetanus shots. Likewise the BBC couldn’t guarantee his security in the Top of the Pops studio, so he’d step out of his private jet at Heathrow, perform his song on the tarmac, then turn back for LA.

Even then Cassidy was too thoughtful, intelligent and frank to pretend fame was a blast. “I can’t force a smile. It’s so dishonest and it really shows,” he said in 1972, when his face was kissed goodnight on millions of bedroom walls. “I just can’t seem to please everybody. I feel like a loser,” he lamented after his barnstorming European tour.

In truth, he was deeply lonely. “When you have people sleeping outside your house, who follow you to work, and you have to disguise yourself and you can’t walk down the street, you live in this tiny vacuum bubble,” he says. “And it becomes very empty and isolating.”

The man who could have any woman had no time for relationships. So his minders would bring up attractive women in their twenties or thirties. He was never – thank God, given his power over prepubescents – into younger girls. “It wasn’t calculated,” he says. “They were banging on the door to get in.” A few kiss and told, provoking legends that Cassidy was hugely well-endowed: “Well, I wonder where they got that from!” he says gleefully, making a crude pumping gesture with his fisted forearm.

But groupies were also his only connection with real life. “I was interested in them. Honestly. But they looked at me as if I was from Mars. The fact I was moving and breathing freaked them out. I was a poster on their wall who’d come to life. I’d just try to get them to relax. It wasn’t ‘Hi! How are you? Take your clothes off.’ Just having someone to talk to who had a real life… ‘What do you listen to? What do you like? What are you reading?’ A lot of times it was that more than a sexual thing.”

He was a fragile boy, ill-equipped for fame. Donny Osmond, who he only got to know two years ago when they shared billing on a nostalgia tour, told Cassidy he’d enjoyed his Puppy Love years, relished the female attention. “But then Donny was surrounded by his family. He was protected by his brothers and sisters,” reflects Cassidy. “They gave him parameters – I had none.”

David was three when his father Jack, a Broadway and TV actor of flamboyant high style, left his mother, the actress Evelyn Ward. Distraught, David listened to records of Jack’s show tunes, waited beside the phone in case he called, which he rarely did. “He was the most charismatic man I ever met,” says Cassidy. But his father was bi-polar in an age before effective medication. His son’s sudden superior wealth and status tormented him. Moreover, Jack had married Shirley Jones, David’s Partridge Family mother (with whom he had three sons including the actor Shaun Cassidy) an Oscar-winning actress and herself hugely famous.

The worship of ten million girls seemed hollow when his own father refused to express his pride or love. “I was conflicted,” says Cassidy. “Because the more successful and famous I was, the more depressed and angry he became.”

David Cassidy was at the pinnacle of his fame in 1974, when he brought the curtain down on his own first act. It wasn’t a brave decision, he says, there was no other way. He was burnt out. His health was always fragile: he still has a nervy stomach and at 21 had his gall bladder removed. Fans burst into his room when he was unconscious after surgery, he tells me, lifting his cheesecloth shirt to reveal a 6in scar.

But it was visiting Elvis Presley, then living in LA, which made up his mind: “He had all these people around him, but I knew his life was an empty shell. He had this great sense of humour, he was a phenomenal talent, but he sold his soul to the devil. I saw myself sitting all alone like Elvis and it gave me the chills.”

At the beginning of his Act II, Cassidy was still trapped in his mansion, fans camped at the gate. “I just lived in my room, played my guitar, not wanting to work, trying to figure out what I should do.” With nothing in his diary he was “the ultimate single guy: I could afford to do anything. If I wanted to go some place, I could rent a plane. I was free. Free as can be. It was a world without consequences.”

But being removed from reality for five years had stunted his growing up. Aged 24, emotionally he was still 19. He partied hard and unrestrained, drank heavily and tried every drug from qualudes to cocaine, although never fell into addiction. Then in 1976 Jack Cassidy fell asleep on his sofa with a lit cigarette. When he died, David and he hadn’t spoken for nine months. Now the paternal approval he’d longed for could never happen.

Cassidy quickly married Kay Lenz, an actress who was also grieving her lost father. When I ask what advice he’d give his twentysomething self, Cassidy laughs and says, “Hold on, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!”, then adds, “Don’t marry your first wife, just stay friends instead. Oh, and don’t marry your second wife at all!” The second Mrs Cassidy was Meryl Tanz, a horse breeder he met when setting up a short-lived stud farm. The marriage lasted two years.

Cassidy made a couple of solo albums but was most keen to return to acting. Studio executives, he claims, wouldn’t cast him out of spite, because all their teenage girlfriends had fancied him. Although more likely he was a yesterday man in the city of right-now.

Then in 1986 he ran into Sue Shifrin, a song writer with whom he’d had a brief fling during his crazy fame years. Weary of repeating his marital mistakes, Cassidy embarked on analysis three times a week and finally, he says, addressed the gaping hole in his psyche, the dad who deserted him. But David Cassidy’s Act III begins properly with the birth of his son, Beau, who finally gave him something to care about beyond the vagaries of his career.

Cassidy says he wants to be the father he himself never had. He has a daughter, too, with an on-off model girlfriend from the Eighties. When Katie Cassidy was 15, her mother found her an agent and a record deal, releasing a Britney Speared-up version of I Think I Love You. David was aghast: “She was too young. I wanted to protect her as no one protected me.” But now she’s 19, and breaking through as an actress with the Lucy Ewing role in the movie of Dallas, he feels the paternal pride Jack Cassidy never could. Beau’s birth forced Cassidy to get out and make money again, face the indignity of making calls, pitching ideas, hustling for theatre work. He moved to Vegas, created the show The Rat Pack Is Back and in the honest daily labour of performance found, at last, something approaching contentment. Cassidy says he would swap every teenage screamer for a single night back on Broadway in Willy Russell’s musical Blood Brothers (alongside his own half-brother Shaun), a gritty role where he got dirty and ugly, and was judged on his talent, not his looks.

But it is still more lucrative to play David Cassidy. He tours singing his old hits to loyal fans, women now aged 40 to 45. They don’t mob him these days: “They’re usually very polite. If they’re drunk they can be obnoxious.” To them he represents pure love untarnished by adult disappointments, and so he must strive, with his make-up bag, to resemble that boy they first adored. “I never wanted the fame. I have always tried to be someone who doesn’t get noticed. I wear a hat and glasses all the time,” he says. “I try to be part of our society so I can exist without being a freak.”

Could It Be Forever, David Cassidy’s greatest hits album, was released on Monday, November 13. He will perform in Britain in April next year on the Rewind Tour with the Osmonds and David Essex.

From www.timesonline.co.com

New Partridge Family/David Cassidy-Related DVD and CD Releases

New David Cassidy/Partridge Family Greatest Hits Released

On November 13, 2006 Sony/BMG released for the UK market a Partridge Family/David Cassidy Greatest Hits collection. Titled David Cassidy and The Partridge Family: Could It Be Forever . . . The Greatest Hits, the CD contains 25 hits from The Partridge Family and David Cassidy's solo career. Scroll down to read the October 25 news story which includes the track listing and how to order from amazon.co.uk.

Shirley Jones on Good Morning America With New R&H release
On November 7, 2006 Shirley Jones, Mitzi Gaynor, Rita Moreno and Charmain Carr were Diane Sawyer's guests on Good Morning America, to help celebrate the release of a 12 disc set of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musicals on DVD. Shirley was on hand to represent Oklahoma! and Carousel and told the story of Frank Sinatra being cast as the original Billy Bigelow in "Carousel." (The advent of Cinemascope 55 -- which produced a much wider picture -- required most scenes to be shot twice. Sinatra balked at filming "two movies" and quit the picture. Gordon MacRae was hired, and the rest is movie history.) Also featured in this Boxed Set: The Sound of Music, The King and I, South Pacific and State Fair.

Best Buy/Partridge Family Exclusive
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has partnered with Best Buy to release TV Starter Sets on DVD. Each of the 7 different starter sets includes similarly-themed shows along with a coupon for $10.00 off the first season on one of the shows. Instead of offering one or two episodes of each series as other studios have done, Sony has included the entire first disc from each of the series included. "The Partridge Family" is represented on the Classic Comedy TV set along with Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and Gidget. Episodes 1 - 8 of The Partridge Family's first season are included on the disc.
The sets are available exclusively at Best Buy for $19.99, and went on sale October 17, 2006.

Cheyenne Social Club on DVD
On August 15, 2006, Warner Bros. released this 1970 film, which teamed director Gene Kelly with two veteran Hollywood actors -- Henry Fonda and James Stewart -- in a light-hearted romp about two over-the-hill cowboys who inherit a bordello (presided over by Shirley Jones). Released on June 12, 1970 and filmed at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this was the last film Shirley appeared in prior to joining The Partridge Family. Cheyenne Social Club appears with another Fonda/Stewart film, Firecreek.

Also Available:

Popstar Released
Like the platinum-selling sensation that plays him, J.D. McQueen (Aaron Carter) is a pop star. The livin' is easy until his grades slip, so his mom puts an end to the home schooling and sends him off to the local high school. "Popstar" is a sweet-spirited, family-oriented look at the difficulties between balancing young fame and the desire to be a "normal guy." With former teen heartthrobs David Cassidy -- channeling The Partridge Family's Reuben Kincaid -- as J.D.'s manager and Leif Garrett as a proverb-spouting janitor.

Don't Forget To Send In Your Requests!

If you haven't emailed Sony yet, requesting they release "Bulletin Board" on CD and "The Partridge Family -- Season Three" on DVD, please do so now. We have provided links and information to make it quick and easy! Just scroll down to the corresponding stories and vote -- and often! The only way we're going to get this material released is if Sony sees the demand for it!

The Partridge Family Toy Box

Each week we feature a different Partridge Family/David Cassidy collectible!
In 1972, Hi-C Fruit Drinks offered mini posters on the backs of their wrap-around product labels. (In the 70s, Hi-C was offered in over-sized tin cans, as opposed to the plastic containers now on store shelves.) In all, there were eight mini posters to collect, each measuring approximately 5" X 7." Seven posters featured each individual cast member, and the eighth was a photo of the entire cast. If you weren't able to collect them all from the backs of the labels, Hi-C also had a mail-away offer for the entire set.

In addition to the mini posters, Hi-C had an exclusive mail-away offer for an Official David Cassidy Beach Towel. Both posters and beach towel are considered quite rare and can fetch upwards of $35.00 for each mini poster and $200.00 for the beach towel.

Photo Of The Week

Each week we showcase a rare photo from our archives.
This week, it's a performance photo from the third season's premiere episode, "This Male Chauvinist Piggy Went To Market," in which a battle of the sexes takes a serious turn when Keith must stand up to a school bully.

It may look like The Partridge Family is performing in a park in downtown San Pueblo, but the band shell was actually constructed right across the street from their home on the Columbia Ranch, and a stone's throw from the fountain seen on the opening credits to "Friends."

This photo is the exact image used on the packaging for the second ViewMaster set (B 592) in 1973 -- which featured the same story in it's three reels. And in case you're wondering, The Partridge Family is singing an unreleased track, "God Bless You Girl." It's one of 25-plus songs that were never released on an LP or CD hits compilation!

Video Clip Of The Week

Each week we feature a video clip of our favorite TV family!

This week, it's an early ABC-TV Network Promo for Season One of The Partridge Family. This promo aired in the fall of 1970, as the series was beginning it's four-year run. Getting an Academy-Award-winning star like Shirley Jones to sign onto a TV series was considered a coup in 1970, and this promo features her prominently.

Did You Know?

Did you know that Brian Forster is an accomplished race car driver? He has over 20 years of racing experience, and eight years as a professional instructor! Since 1983, Brian has been winning championships in all types of road racing, including Sports Renault (1989 Champ) and Formula Ford (1993, 1996 Champ). Cars raced include Formula Ford, Atlantic, Mazda, F2000, Sports Renault Sports 2000, sedans, and stock cars (including the 410 Sprint car). In addition, his track and qualifying records at Willow Springs (Formula Ford, 1995) still stands! For more on Brian, race on over and read his interview in the People and Places section of the website!

Birdwatching: Upcoming Highlights

The Partridge Family -- 11/17/06 / The i Network
- "Did You Hear The One About Danny Partridge?" -- 11/17/06
Morey Amsterdam as a joke writer. With Jackie Coogan, Warren Miller, Kip King. 30 minutes.
- "Don't Bring Your Guns To Town, Santa" 12/08/06 / The i Network
When their bus breaks down in a ghost town on Christmas Eve, an old prospector named Charlie entertains the Partridge family with stories of old.
Songs: "Winter Wonderland," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." With Dean Jagger, Britt Leach. 30 minutes.

Monarch Cove -- 11/11/06 / Lifetime Television / 9PM - 11PM
Bianca is tempted to tell Jake the truth about Elizabeth and the baby; Parker shocks the Preston family with his secret connection to them; and a drugged Grace reveals some upsetting information about Kathy. 60 minutes- None, USA, 2006, (CC), New With Virginia Williams, Kieren Hutchison, Simon Rex, Samantha Shelton, Shirley Jones, Matt Funke. 60 minutes.

Episode 2: A troubled Bianca seeks comfort from Eddie; Jake spends his honeymoon with Elizabeth in Australia. Also, Parker presents Alexander with a casino proposal. With Virginia Williams, Kieren Hutchison, Simon Rex, Samantha Shelton, Shirley Jones, Matt Funke. 60 minutes.


Breaking Bonaduce -- 11/19/06 / VH-1
"Anti Chamber" (2006) After noticing progress, Gretchen offers Danny a probationary period. 30 minutes.

Check local listings for times and channels in your area.

For more TV Highlights featuring the cast of The Partridge Family, visit the Birdwatching section on the website's Bulletin Board.

Bonaduce's Pulling Back From The 'Breaking' Point

Danny Bonaduce took train-wreck TV to a new level of carnage last season with his VH1 reality show, "Breaking Bonaduce." The series followed the child star -- turned tabloid headline -- turned radio host as he fell off the sobriety wagon - very, very hard.

Drugs, alcohol and a deepening obsession with exercise led him to add steroids to his regimen. And when his wife threatened to leave him, he slit his wrists, later explaining the bandages to his then 10-year-old daughter, Isabella, by implying that he cut himself installing windows.

What's he going to do for season two?

"I want to change the things that will embarrass my children or my wife," said Bonaduce. Last season's antics landed him in rehab. He's been sober ever since. As the second season of "Breaking Bonaduce" opens (Sunday, 9:30 p.m.), his marriage to Gretchen is again in trouble. In rehab, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Gretchen says in the show. And she's unable to deal with his continued volatility, so she kicks him out of the house.

Revealing his ugly side to the TV viewing public was a business decision.

"As the talent of 'Breaking Bonaduce,' I may have done myself a disservice in how people perceive me," he told the Daily News earlier this week. "As an executive producer, I was brilliant in getting my talent to go that far."

"Breaking Bonaduce" has certainly given the erstwhile "Partridge Family" star a healthy influx of cash and opportunities. He's juggling an increasingly busy standup schedule. (He'll be at Comix on W. 14th St. Oct. 25 and 26.) He's also been hosting "Starface" on the Game Show Network. And he had a two-episode guest arc on "CSI" this year (and starts filming another episode today).

"Am I the complete lunatic from 'Breaking Bonaduce' or am I the consummate professional from 'CSI'? The answer is both," he said. "Just give me the money and tell me which one you want me to bring to work."

And although he hasn't let his children - there's also Dante, 5 - watch "Breaking Bonaduce," accidental exposure is inevitable, as when he brought his daughter to a recent awards show.

"I was the best dad in the world because [Isabella] sat right next to the guys from Green Day," he said. Then they showed a clip from "Breaking Bonaduce" in which he was shooting steroids and generally acting like a maniac.

"My daughter burst into tears right then and there," which prompted a sympathetic hug from lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, he said. "When the guy from Green Day is hugging my daughter," he said, "I could have blown my brains out on that clip." Swaggering nonchalance notwithstanding, when pressed he does admit to worrying how his behavior and the show affect his children.

"I regret it now in certain ways," he said. "My kids aren't off the hook."

So he's through with "Breaking Bonaduce" after this season.

"I'm a showman," he said. "That's as far as it can go before people will say take his kids away and lock him up."

Originally published on October 18, 2006

Meet Brian Forster and Suzanne Crough!

Suzanne, Shirley and Brian at a 2003 Autograph Show.

On February 16 and 17, 2007, fans will have an opportunity to meet Brian Forster and Suzanne Crough at The Hollywood Collector's Show in Burbank California. The event, held at the Burbank Hilton Hotel is a great opportunity for fans of classic television to meet celebrities and get autographs. Brian and Suzanne have appeared previously (along with Shirley Jones) and had a great time meeting fans of The Partridge Family. We are hoping to add Ricky Segall to the lineup, schedule permitting. This is will be Rick's first appearance at an autograph show! We'll keep you up-to-date as soon as he confirms. Check out the Hollywood Collector's Show website for continuing updates as more celebrities are booked to appear. (Scroll down and click on "Burbank.")

If you live out of town, and are unable to attend the show, email us and we can assist you. To view the items that Brian and Suzanne will be selling, click here. Of course, you are permitted to bring your own items as well.

The Partridge Family Toy Box

Each week we feature showcase a different Partridge Family collectible! This week, it's Paper Dolls featuring Susan Dey as Laurie Partridge.
Two different companies manufactured Partridge Family Paper Dolls between 1971 and 1973. Booklets were produced by a company called Artcraft, while the Boxed Sets were produced by Saalfield (who also produced coloring books, activity books, etc.). Four different Paper Doll collections featuring Laurie Partridge were released, while four other Boxed Sets were released that featured the entire family. (We'll showcase those another time.) The Paper Doll fashions were designed by Kate Greenaway, a well-known designer of young girl's clothing. Kate Greenaway also designed a line of Partridge-themed clothing for young girls (sorry, boys) with David's photo, colorful bus/bird motifs or an "I Think I Love You" imprint on the pockets.

Photo Of The Week

Each week we try and showcase a rare, never-before-seen photo from our archives.

This week, it's a behind-the-scenes shot of Shirley, David and Dave filming a scene in the kitchen. Notice how pieces of the set can be removed in order to film from all different angles. The metal bracing to the left is where the refrigerator would fit, before the living room wall is put back in place.

Video Clip Of The Week

When purchasing the first season of The Partridge Family on DVD, fans were disappointed when they discovered the ending was missing to the last episode, "A Knight In Shining Armor." This was the pilot episode to the spin-off series, "Getting Together," starring Bobby Sherman and Wes Stern. Thanks to bluebird1111, here it is, in it's entirety. Enjoy!

Did You Know?

It's hard to imagine anybody else but Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta starring in the 1978 feature film musical, "Grease." But did you know that Susan Dey and Henry Winkler were first offered the roles? They turned them down!

Also, in addition to her TV Movie and Feature Film roles, did you know that Susan Dey appeared as a series regular on FIVE TV series? Here's the rundown:

The Partridge Family - 1970 - 1974
Loves Me Loves Me Not - March 1977
Courtship was the theme of this sitcom which also starred Kenneth Gilman and Art Metrano. It was created by Susan Harris (Soap, Golden Girls, Empty Nest) and produced by Tony Thomas and Paul Junger Witt (who also produced the first season of The Partridge Family).

Emerald Point N.A.S. - 1983
Created by the same team that brought Dynasty to television, this serial drama, set on the southern Naval Air Station of Emerald Point, centers around the relationships of two powerful families headed by Rear Admiral Thomas Mallory (Dennis Weaver), commander of the base, and Harlan Adams (Patrick O'Neal/Robert Vaughn), a ruthless industrialist.

LA Law - 1986 - 1992
This popular TV drama depicted life in a large Los Angeles law firm. The plots were strongly character-based and dealt with both the personal lives and professional activities of the partners, associates, and staff. Scenes centered around the courtroom and the law offices. Often, an episode would open with a surprising twist, which would then be played out during the rest of the show. Susan was nominated for three Emmy Awards and won a Golden Globe Award (nominated 4 more times) for her portrayal of Grace Van Owen.

Love and War - 1992 - 1993
A comedy about a woman running a bar/restaurant in downtown Chicago while maintaining an on-again, off-again romance with an egotistical sports writer. Other comedic elements include the bar's regular patrons, the restaurant's chef, and a neurotic waitress waiting for her husband to get out of prison. Created by Diane English (Murphy Brown), it was the highest rated new series of the 1992-93 season.

Birdwatching: Upcoming Highlights

The Partridge Family -- 11/10/06 / The i Network
- "But the Memory Lingers On" (11/10) / The i Network
The family has a run-in with a skunk --- the skunk wins. Song: "Brand New Me." With Robert Gibbons, Dick Balduzzi, Howard Morton. 30 minutes.
- "Did You Hear the One About Danny Partridge?" (11/17) / The i Network
Danny tries to become a comedian by buying old jokes from comedy writer Zippy Shnurr. Song: "Somebody Wants To Love You." With Jackie Coogan, Warren Miller, Kip King. 30 minutes.

Monarch Cove -- 11/11/06 / Lifetime Television / 9PM - 11PM
Episode 2: Bianca deals with an emotional blow and encounters a hotel guest who has a connection to Straker; Alexander disapproves of Arianna's decision to hire Kathy as her personal assistant; and Kathy plots to find out the truth about Elizabeth's pregnancy. With Virginia Williams, Kieren Hutchison, Simon Rex, Samantha Shelton, Shirley Jones, Matt Funke. 60 minutes.

Episode 3: Jake admits his feelings for Bianca on the night before his wedding; the affair between Arianna and Steve continues, while Alexander attempts to woo a lover of his own; Ben is caught robbing the Preston home. With Virginia Williams, Kieren Hutchison, Simon Rex, Samantha Shelton, Shirley Jones, Matt Funke. 60 minutes.

Breaking Bonaduce -- 11/12/06 / VH-1
"El Gringo Loco" (2006) Danny agrees to promote the show in Mexico City. 30 minutes.

Check local listings for times and channels in your area.

For more TV Highlights featuring the cast of The Partridge Family, visit the Birdwatching section on the website's Bulletin Board.

Shirley Jones on "Good Morning America"

On Tuesday, November 7, Good Morning America is planning a "Rodgers & Hammerstein Reunion" on their morning talk show. Shirley Jones (Oklahoma!, Carousel), Rita Moreno (The King & I), Mitzi Gaynor (South Pacific) and Charmain Carr (The Sound of Music) are among the participants. Good Morning America, hosted by Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts, Chris Cuomo and Sam Champion airs from 7 - 9 AM on ABC-TV.

Getting "Bulletin Board" Released On CD

If you're a fan of The Partridge Family's music, you know that Bulletin Board, the group's last LP of original material has yet to be released on CD. The last time Sony/BMG released Partridge Family material was May 20, 2005 with the release of The Partridge Family Notebook, The Partridge Family Crossword Puzzle and a greatest hits compilation, Come On Get Happy: The Very Best of The Partridge Family which included four rare, previously unreleased tracks. This greatest hits compilation was released in conjunction with the first season of the TV series on DVD.

Legacy Recordings is the label within Sony/BMG that concentrates on releasing re-issues, Boxed Sets, Expanded Editions and Special Compilations. Our sources have told us that sales of Crossword Puzzle were disappointing. So, as of this writing there are no plans to release any more new material from The Partridge Family. But, by going to their website and requesting that Bulletin Board gets released onto CD, perhaps the powers-that-be will realize there is a demand for this music. You can do just that by clicking here. The LP number, as requested on their form is Bell 1137. The year of it's original release was 1973.

In addition to Bulletin Board, there are over 25 SONGS that have NEVER before been released on LP or CD (although many appeared in various episodes of the television series). These truly "lost" songs are just ripe for a definitive Partridge Family Boxed Set. When requesting Bulletin Board's release, please send a separate request for this music as well. If you have several email addresses, use them. If you have split personalities, use those names too. Ask your friends and family to do the same. The only way we are going to get this music released is if Sony/BMG realizes there is a demand for it.

So why are you still here? Click on that link and get to it! Too lazy to scroll up? Here it is again. Go, Go, GO!

'Til Death Do Us Part(ridge Family)

The Partridge Family is back on prime-time TV -- sort of.

The FOX Thursday night comedy "'Til Death" has chosen The Partridge Family's house façade on the Warner Bros. Ranch as the home for Eddie and Joy Stark, played by Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) and Joely Fisher ("Desperate Housewives," "Ellen").

‘Til Death is a comedy about middle-aged Eddie and Joy Stark, who are on day 8,743 of their marriage and have the battle scars to prove it. Their new next-door neighbors are young newlyweds Steph (Kat Foster, “Law & Order”) and Jeff Woodcock (Eddie Kaye Thomas, “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”) – idealistic, passionate, adorable and married for all of 12 days. It’s a show about new marriage versus old marriage, about keeping the romance alive – or at least staying together so you have someone to drive you to the hospital for your operations. If you recognize the Woodcock's home, it's because Jeannie and Tony Nelson lived there in "I Dream of Jeannie."

Of course this isn't the first time the façade has been used. Before the Partridges moved in, Gladys Kravitz, (the nosy neighbor on "Bewitched") lived there, Kate Jackson lived there in "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," Mel Gibson blew it up in a "Lethal Weapon" movie, Corky, Becca and Patti LuPone lived there in "Life Goes On," and Danny Bonaduce returned when filming his TV Movie about "The Partridge Family."

The front of the façade has changed over the years, but the garage and back door breezeway have remained the same. The three photos below show the home during different periods of filming.

The Partridge Family Facade, 1973

The facade, during Danny Bonaduce's 1999 ABC-TV Movie

The facade today, for FOX-TV's " 'Til Death"

Take a detailed tour of the Ranch by visiting the People and Places section of the website.

Bernard Slade's "I Remember You" At The Falcon Theater in Burbank, CA.

Bernard Slade, creator of The Partridge Family and seven other TV series including The Flying Nun and Love On A Rooftop has written a new play titled "I Remember You," currently on stage at The Falcon Theater in Burbank, California.

"I Remember You" is set in a smoky Manhattan cabaret, amidst the plinking piano keys and the whiskey-smooth standards, where a charming piano player lands in a love triangle. Starring television, film and Broadway veteran Tony Danza (Taxi, Who's The Boss?, The Iceman Cometh) and directed by Walter Painter, this nostalgic, romantic comedy by playwright Bernard Slade (Same Time, Next Year) is a big city lullaby you'll never forget.

Also starring Ovation Award nominee Robin Riker (Geffen Playhouse's All My Sons), Richard Gilliland (Designing Women, thirtysomething, 24), and Los Angeles Drama Critics' Award winner Madison Dunaway (I.C.T.'s Agnes of God).

Bernard Slade made his Broadway debut with Same Time, Next Year, which was nominated for a Tony, won the Drama Desk Award, and played close to four years on Broadway. He also wrote the screenplay, which was nominated for both Academy and Writer's Guild Awards. His next play, Tribute, starred Jack Lemmon both on Broadway and in the film. Apart from his work in the theater, he has written extensively for film and television, creating over seven television programs (The Flying Nun, Love On A Rooftop, The Girl With Something Extra, The Partridge Family, and more).

For tickets and additional information please call the Falcon Theatre Box Office at (818) 955-8101. The Falcon Theatre is located at 4252 Riverside Drive in Burbank, CA.

For more on Bernard Slade, read his interview in the People and Places section of the website.

The Partridge Family Toy Box

Each week we showcase a different Partridge Family collectible!
This week it's the Patti Partridge doll! Manufactured by Ideal Toys in 1971, the packaging and advertisements feature Suzanne Crough as Tracy Partridge. The doll, which smiles, yawns and plays patticake measures approximately 16" tall and was featured in the second season premiere episode, "Dora, Dora Dora." (Look closely when the family is listening to Dora Kelly singing in their garage. Tracy holds her fingers up to the doll's ears, to shield her from Dora's off-key warbling of "I Left My Heart In San Francisco.") Initially, Bob Claver, the Executive Producer of "The Partridge Family," fought to keep the studio from heavily merchandising the series, as he felt doing so cheapened the show. "I fought this licensing thing," he told TV Guide in 1972. "I don't mind the lunch bucket. I guess what I'm really disturbed about -- well, say there's a doll [Patti Partridge, $12.95]. I absolutely won't use it -- or anything else -- on the show. Sadly, Patti Partridge was never heard from again -- although collectors have found her hanging out on eBay. And in case you were wondering, Suzanne Crough has one too!

Photo Of The Week

Each week we dip into the archives and feature a photo from our Gallery.

This week's photo features David Cassidy sitting on the steps in front of his dressing room on the Columbia Ranch. "Dressing Rooms" were actually modular trailers, parked outside close to the soundstages, rather than actual "rooms" inside. Although some series did use indoor dressing rooms, "The Partridge Family" was not one of them -- as they had access to only one soundstage on the Columbia Ranch and space was at a premium.) Shirley, David, Susan, Danny and Dave all had their own trailers. Brian and Suzanne shared a three room trailer with Brian on one end and Suzanne on the other. (The third room was used for guest stars.)

Interestingly, the dressing room that Shirley Jones used was occupied the year before by Robert Brown on "Here Come The Brides." It was decorated in masculine shades of brown, but for Shirley, the studio redid it from top to bottom in bright colors with Corita Kent paintings on the wall.

Video Clip Of The Week

Each month we showcase a different video clip from our favorite TV family!

Last month we showed the first commercial that the cast filmed for Kellogg's Rice Krispies. This month, we feature their second commercial, with Shirley Jones and David Cassidy. Although David didn't record the Rice Krispies jingle, the Partridge Family background singers -- John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Ron Hicklin and Jackie Ward -- did! Enjoy!

Did You Know?

At the height of The Partridge Family's popularity, David Cassidy employed two personal managers, a business manager, a road manager, the regular services of a law firm, two William Morris agents (one East Coast, one West Coast), an equipment manager, a conductor, 13 key musicians, two singers, a concert merchandiser, a stage manager, a bunch of security officers, and several publicists!

In addition, when he went on tour he carried around 25 different outfits, all costing over $500.00 a piece! His concert costumes were designed by Mike Bales who said, "David's very funky by nature, so we go in for antique beads a lot, porcupine quills, ecology-minded materials. For movement, a lot of fringes and tassels. The open space down the front, that's for ventilation. I tend to dress him in white. It makes a suitable virgin sex symbol for the pubescent audience."

Birdwatching This Week

Highlights This Week:

The Partridge Family -- 11/3/06 / The i Network
- No episode scheduled this week (11/3)
Next episode:
- "But the Memory Lingers On" (11/10) / The i Network
The family has a run-in with a skunk --- the skunk wins.
Song: "Brand New Me." With Robert Gibbons, Dick Balduzzi, Howard Morton. 30 minutes

Monarch Cove -- 11/4/06 / Lifetime Television / 9PM - 11PM
Episode 1: Eddie's little charade angers Kathy; Arianna enters into a secret affair with her security guard, Steve; Sophia gives Jake's fiancée, Elizabeth, the cold shoulder; and Jake considers breaking off his engagement and pursuing a relationship with Bianca. With Virginia Williams, Shirley Jones, Kieren Hutchison, Samantha Shelton, Rachel Ward, Simon Rex. 60 minutes

Episode 2: Bianca deals with an emotional blow and encounters a hotel guest who has a connection to Straker; Alexander disapproves of Arianna's decision to hire Kathy as her personal assistant; and Kathy plots to find out the truth about Elizabeth's pregnancy. With Virginia Williams, Kieren Hutchison, Simon Rex, Samantha Shelton, Shirley Jones, Matt Funke. 60 minutes

Breaking Bonaduce -- 11/05/06 / VH-1
"Honorary Degrees of Separation" (2006) Danny asks Gretchen to come with him to Boston. 30 minutes.

Check local listings for times and channels in your area.

For more TV Highlights, check out the Birdwatching section on the website's Bulletin Board.

Partridge Family DVDs On Sale at DeepDiscountDVD.com

www.deepdiscountdvd.com has announced a Two-For-One sale on all SONY TV Titles through November 9, 2006. You can purchase BOTH Season One and Season Two of The Partridge Family on DVD for a TOTAL of $22.61, which includes FREE shipping! Now would be a good time to stock up on DVDs for holiday gift giving! Click here for more information.