American television took a decidedly groovier, more musical, and far more vibrant turn on this day in 1970. The Partridge Family made its debut on ABC, serving up a winning cocktail of pop songs, family comedy, and full-blown teen idol mania. Slotted right after The Brady Bunch in the coveted 8:30 p.m. time slot, the show was practically set up to be a hit.

And that's exactly what happened.

A Fictional Family with Real Pop Power

  • At its core, the series centered on a widowed mom and her five children who launched a family band and toured the country aboard a psychedelically painted bus.
  • Shirley Jones took on the role of matriarch Shirley Partridge, while her real-life stepson, David Cassidy, stepped into the spotlight as dreamy teen idol Keith.
  • The remaining "Partridges"—Laurie, Danny, Chris, and Tracy—were portrayed by actors who had no musical background whatsoever.

The concept wasn't breaking entirely new ground. Screen Gems, the same production company that had brought The Monkees to life, drew inspiration from a real-life musical family: the Cowsills. But when the Cowsill family turned down the opportunity to be involved, producers pivoted—casting actors instead and bringing in studio musicians to lay down the tracks.

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Art Imitates Life (Sort Of)

The pilot episode sees the Partridge kids talking their reluctant mom into singing alongside them. They cobble together a demo recording in their garage. A smooth-talking manager catches wind of it. Just like that—instant hit single.

Then, remarkably, reality started mirroring fiction. "I Think I Love You," the show's debut single, climbed all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1970. It actually outsold The Beatles' Let It Be and moved over five million copies. Pretty impressive for a band that didn't technically exist.

  • Behind the scenes, session legends like Hal Blaine and fellow members of the Wrecking Crew were the ones actually playing the music.
  • David Cassidy, though, genuinely performed his own vocals—and parlayed that into a chart-topping solo career.
  • Shirley Jones, already an accomplished singer in her own right, contributed backing vocals.

Not Just a Hit—A Phenomenon

Ratings were only part of the story when it came to the show's impact.

  • Cassidy's face became an inescapable fixture on the covers of teen magazines.
  • Devoted fans showed up outside Shirley Jones' house, dreaming of somehow joining the Partridge clan.
  • A tidal wave of merchandise hit store shelves—lunchboxes, posters, even board games.

Across four seasons, The Partridge Family delivered a sunny, feel-good escape packed with catchy tunes, sibling bickering, and the comedic chaos of manager Reuben Kincaid. By 1974, however, the magic had faded. A move to a tougher Saturday night time slot—where it went head-to-head with All in the Family—sealed its fate. Yet the show's legacy refused to fade with it.

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The Legacy Rolls On

Decades later, the Partridges still stand as an enduring emblem of 1970s pop culture. Reruns, cast reunions, and nostalgia specials have kept that rainbow-colored bus cruising through the years.

  • The show spawned spin-offs, tributes, and even an animated series (Partridge Family 2200 A.D.).
  • It essentially wrote the playbook for the "family band" trope on television.

C'mon, get happy—it's a day worth remembering.