Keep it in the family! The best on-screen families from ’70s TV

This week marks the birthday of two very special TV shows with The Brady Bunch turning 50 and The Partridge Family turning 49. Half a century later, and the world is still besotted with the families that graced our screens all those years ago.

It’s not only these special bunches that have stuck around, as family sitcoms have become a dime a dozen since they began, but only a few have really stood the test of time. So let’s take a stroll down memory lane to look back at those on-screen families that stole our hearts from the very beginning!

The Brady Bunch

‘Here’s a story, of a lovely lady…’ It’s hard not to sing along to the catchy theme song that defined the entire show. Although the show was not a massive commercial hit when it first aired, the beloved story of the blended family has definitely stood the test of time with movie and TV spin offs happening for years to come.

The wholesome show explored the story of two families led by Carol, played by Florence Henderson, and Mike, played by Robert Reed, who came together under one roof kicking off sibling arguments and learning life lessons. And it of course birthed a few classic sayings including Jan’s famous line: “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.”

The Partridge Family

The Partridge Family was the dream for every young kid in the ’70s who wanted to travel the country in a big, colourful bus, playing music with their family. The musical sitcom bought plenty of fun, catchy tunes to screens around the world including ‘I Think I Love You’ and ‘I Can Feel your Heartbeat’.

However, other than an interesting plot and loveable characters – The Partridge Family also truly shot teenage sensation David Cassidy to fame. Playing the oldest child of the bunch, Cassidy gained worldwide fame from the show and became one of the biggest teenage heartthrobs of the decade.

Little House on the Prairie

This delightful period sitcom followed the Ingalls family throughout their lives on a small farm during the 1870s and the 1880s. A good majority of the show was viewed through the lens of the youngest daughter, Laura, as the audience was able to follow her maturing throughout the years.

Watching the family grow with the births of new siblings and memorable adoptions in the later years was fulfilling for all the fans, but this show definitely wasn’t scared to venture into the more serious areas of television as well. From Mary going blind to Albert getting leukaemia, this show knew exactly how to pull on the heart strings and get the waterworks going!

The Sullivans

The Sullivans were the quintessential middle-class family living in Melbourne during the most crucial period of World War II. The show was beloved for its high production quality and incredible attention to detail when it came to presenting historical accuracy on Australian screens.

But the close-knit relationships within the family in such tumultuous times became the main focus of the show. Unfortunately, Paul Cronin, known and loved for his role of Dave Sullivan, actually passed away earlier this month surrounded by his four daughters and grandchildren.

Happy Days

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W6y7YhHdVE

This sitcom easily became one of the most popular family-focused shows in history. Not only did it kick Henry Winkler’s fame into high gear, but it also made the then-up-and-coming Ron Howard a household name.

Interestingly however, Winkler’s beloved character Arthur Fonzarelli, otherwise known as The Fonz or Fonzie, was never supposed to be a main character throughout the show. However, his popularity with the audience was undeniable and when Howard’s character Richie eventually left the series, there was no one more suited to take the spotlight than The Fonz.

Bonanza

Before Little House on the Prairie, Michael Landon was famed for his role in Bonanza. This famous western looked into the lives of the Cartwrights, an all-male family with a widowed father and his three sons, each from different mothers.

Bonanza was renowned for changing the template for western TV shows by taking the focus off the typical issues and shifting the lens onto the inner-workings of the family including their relationships and the community around them.