The mega popularity of the Partridge Family meant fame, fandoms, a prying press and a lot of stress for the stars. Shirley was no different, even though she seemed a perfectly poised mom. Fans even confused her for the five young actors’ real mom. On top of the confusion was the fact that she really was a stepmom to the show’s superstar.
Fans believed she was his real mom and this, in turn, saddened David Cassidy’s real mom, Evelyn Ward. There was a schism. A fictional TV family was producing music as an actual band, so the line was blurred. In reality, Shirley suffered a lot of emotional ups and downs because of the harsh spotlight.
Why Couldn’t Danny Bonaduce Remember His Lines?
Danny Bonaduce remembered every word of his lines. Unfortunately, he could not get them out in the correct order. Struggling with a persistent Dyslexia, Bonaduce was besieged with a tendency to say his lines incorrectly.
On the other hand, he possessed a photographic memory, so he recognized immediately if another cast member misspoke the script. His predilection to point these mistakes out was a constant irritation to the rest of the cast.
Altering David Cassidy’s Voice
While most of the cast lip-synched songs during The Partridge Family broadcasts, Shirley and David’s voices were recorded live. The only caveat is that during the weekly filming of the show, the recording of David’s voice was altered.
Audiences preferred a higher pitch than he could deliver, so they altered the recording to meet listener preferences.
Fame Hit David Cassidy Hard
When Cassidy did the Rolling Stone photoshoot and interview, he was at the peak of his fame, and it was clear that he was partying it up and living a wild, wildlife. Like many of his famous brethren, he suffered a lot of painful consequences.
Cassidy went bankrupt, battled out-of-control substance abuse issues, was convicted of three DUIs, and was in debt over $400,000 (don’t forget inflation). On top of that, he went through three divorces and checked into rehab in 2014. As his life went on, things never got better.
The Partridge Family Outsold the Beatles
Maybe it’s because they had a weekly TV show to stage their music, but one song really flew up the charts. In 1971, the song “I Think I Love You,” written by Tony Romeo, peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard charts in December of that year.
It won a gold disc award after it sold over 5 million copies. Not even the Beatles hit song “Let it Be” sold that many records!