We will be talking about the on-screen duo of mother and son in The Partridge Family. Shirley Jones and David Cassidy played a role in this fictional TV Series about a singing family or rock group. The single “I think I love You” from The Partridge Family beat the previous competition. The single from The Monkees TV series “Last Train To Clarksville” was #1 on the charts in November of 1966. But just in a matter of two months, the single from The Partridge Family hit the number one spot premiered on ABC on 25 September 1970.
Shirley Jones acting career
Shirley Jones and David Cassidy were the ones to appear in The Partridge Family records. There were two other very talented characters in the show, but they were in a reasonably nominal role. Shirley Jones had a perfect Hollywood career before the show. She often did the “good girl” roles in the movies. Shirley starred in classic Hollywood musicals The Music Man, Carousel and Oklahoma. It was in 1960 when she won an Academy Award for the film Elmer Gantry. In that movie, Shirley acted the role of a prostitute. She also had a #1 record for “I Think I Love You.” Her name is on that very short list of those actors and actresses who have won #1 record and an Oscar.
In The Partridge Family, Shirley was the first one to be cast, and the rest followed. The real son of Shirley in the TV series is her real step-son David Cassidy. Producers of the show were wary and worried about the decision, but no one knew what David would bring to the show. Shirley’s thoughts were that as they were casting her step-son, they did not know the kind of gravity they both shared. They did not know if they loved each other or hated each other, and they very sheepishly came to her and asked how she felt about casting David for the role as he has been tested and feels perfect. Well, when it was up to Shirley, she loved the idea of David working alongside her.
In reality, David and Shirley shared an amicable bond. David exclaims that he wanted to hate her in the first but with time as his birth mother divorced and moved on, and he was left with none but Shirley. Her warmth and kindness made him love her. Now, as we talk about the TV series The Partridge Family, despite the early hesitations, David came out to be the center of attraction of the show. After only a few episodes, he became the teen idol of the teenies all over America and soon to the world. David skyrocketed a franchise that a TV industry has never seen before, a multi-million dollar franchise. The network earned millions of dollars by merchandising David Cassidy alone on t-shirts, notebook, posters, records, choker necklace and many more.
The conclusion
David Cassidy soon became the Elvis Presley of the early 1970s. This mother-son duo did their record and gained the #1 record. However, Shirley admits that she was the one doing the background vocals for David but still stands proud of the record. It is there on the wall of her house and feels very proud of it.
