The seventies. What a time to be alive.
Bell-bottoms, peace signs, groovy tunes - and of course, sitcoms.
At the beginning of the decade, it was the American musical sitcom ‘The Partridge Family’ that captivated hearts across the US and quickly gained popularity here in New Zealand.
The show blended music, humour, and heartwarming family dynamics in a way that felt both fresh and unforgettable.
Tunes from the show's fictional band - fronted by the dreamy heartthrob David Cassidy - even found their way into real-life charts.
Their track ‘I Think I Love You’ topped Billboard charts for three weeks in 1970.
Loosely inspired by the real-life musical group The Cowsills, ‘The Partridge Family’ followed the adventures of Shirley Partridge - a widowed mother of five, who joins her kids to form a travelling pop-rock band.
At the centre of the show were real-life stepmother and stepson, Shirley Jones and David Cassidy.
Cassidy portrayed the dreamy and slightly rebellious teen Keith Partridge, and through this role, became a cultural phenomenon almost overnight.
His voice - and feathered hair - helped catapult the fictional family and their music to stardom.
Beyond its pop success, the Partridges became a cherished part of fans’ lives across the world.
They offered a feel-good escape, showing that with a little love, laughter, and the right chord, a family could overcome anything.
Though the series wrapped after four seasons in 1974, its legacy continues to echo through reruns, retro playlists, and a generation of fans who still believe in the power of a family band on a brightly painted bus.
