Shirley Jones

Actress

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her two-and-a-half-hour Archive interview, Shirley Jones speaks about her early career, her discovery by composer Richard Rodgers, and her television debut on Playhouse 90, which lead to Burt Lancaster casting her in her Academy Award-winning role in “Elmer Gantry.” She talks about working on the feature film “The Music Man” and other features. She discusses in-depth her first series role as “Shirley Partridge” on The Partridge Family and describes working with her stepson and co-star, David Cassidy. Jones recounts the many made-for-television movies she has made including: The Children of An Lac, There Were Times Dear and Hidden Places. She comments on her work on The Drew Carey Show, where she played “Drew's” much older love interest for three episodes. Karen Herman conducted the interview at her home in Encino, California on December 7, 2005.

"Every once in a while, I would find some young 16, 15, 14-year-old sitting on my lawn, just off a bus from Iowa, Michigan or someplace, saying, 'I've come to be in The Partridge Family. I want to be in your band.' ... I just had to tell them the truth and say, 'listen, this is a television show. We don't have a band.'"

Highlights

Shirley Jones on the television movie Silent Night, Lonely Night costarring Lloyd Bridges

02:02

Shirley Jones on starring on Playhouse 90

02:56

Shirley Jones on guest starring on The Drew Carey Show as Drew's girlfriend

01:49

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On her early life and influences; on being discovered by Richard Rodgers, and being cast on stage in "South Pacific"

On being cast in the film version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma"; on working with Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, II

Chapter 2

On the filming of "Oklahoma!", and on dealing with her newfound fame; on the first time she saw television and her early impression of the medium; on starring on Playhouse 90

On the experience of shooting "Elmer Gantry"; on appearing on Playhouse 90 and acting on live television

On appearing on Lux Video Theatre's "Dark Victory" and on The Ed Sullivan Show; on appearing in the feature film "Courtship of Eddie's Father" and other feature films

Chapter 3

On working with Marlon Brando, and on working with Robert Preston in "The Music Man"; on the television movie Silent Night, Lonely Night costarring Lloyd Bridges

On how she came to be cast as "Shirley Partridge" on The Partridge Family, and on David Cassidy being cast as her son "Keith Partridge"; on the cast of The Partridge Family; on David Cassidy becoming a rock star from The Partridge Family

On the character of "Shirley Partridge" on The Partridge Family, and on the writers getting ideas from Shirley's life; on how The Partridge Family reflected its times, and on working with show creator Bernard Slade; on The Partridge Family being based on The Cowsills singing group, and on show producer Bob Claver, and on the musical aspects of the show

Chapter 4

On the music of The Partridge Family; on the cast of The Partridge Family

On The Partridge Family bus; on her favorite episodes of The Partridge Family, and on the merchandising of the show; on "Shirley Partridge" being a role model on The Partridge Family, and on the end of the show

On various made-for-television movies she starred in; on failed pilots, and on working with Bob Hope on variety specials; on returning to series television with Shirley

Chapter 5

On various guest-starring roles and television movies; on guest starring on an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; on guest starring on The Drew Carey Show as Drew's girlfriend

On then-current projects, and on how the industry has changed since she started; on ageism in the industry and on her family following in her footsteps; on advice to an aspiring actress, and on how she'd like to be remembered

Shows

Burke's Law

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Shirley Jones on appearing on The Slap Maxwell Story and Burke's Law