That was an interesting biography about Shirley Jones on A&E. It is amazing with the extensive movie and stage work she has done that A&E would label her show as part of the TV Mom's Week. Her career just seems incredible. Almost a 50 year career. A few comments and questions 1) Jack Cassidy jealous about his son's David's career? To me that is just so sad. You would think that a father would be so proud of his son's career.   2) During the pre-Patridge Family show how close was David and Shirley? I know they both stated that they got closer when they starred together. 3) Where was David's mother? We saw so many pictures of David with Shirley and i know he considers his half-brothers and really whole-brothers. But i got the sense that he considered Shirley as his mother. What happened to his biological mother? Was he just not close to her? 4) I loved The Music Man. That was such a good movie. She seemed like she was good with children both with Ron Howard and later with the kids on the Patridge Family. Of course my favorite movie with her was Carousel. I like Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals. Although i never saw Elmer Gantry. 5) Why did David Cassidy leave the Partridge Family? Was it because a fan died during his concert? Also its odd that ABC would just cancel a top 10 show. They must have been convinced that without David there would be no show. Sorry but Shirley had a better voice and was a far better actress. 6) That was odd that she won an Oscar for Elmer Gantry but never really made it big as a dramatic actress. She could not have been that old. It seemed like all they wanted to give her was family movies. Well at least she did Music Man. Since Burt Lancaster gave Shirley her big break in dramatic movies did they stay in contact? Did that director ever hire her again? Sometimes directors like to rehire performers if they win an Oscar. 7) It does seem like Jones was the ideal Rogers and Hammerstein leading lady. You really could picture her in any role of theirs. She also would have been a natural for The King and I. Actually i think almost any musical she would have been fantastic in. 8) Marty Engels ok they stated that in the late 80s his agency took off financially. Well how long did that last? According to Engels they both had little money starting off. Which is odd considering how rather successful her career had been and the potential she still had in the theater. The sons especially Shaun stated that he was just after his mother's money. Well if his agency was at one point doing well how did it fail? He did seem like a jerk like when he took over the press conference after she won a settlement. 9) I really liked Jones. She seemed like an honestly nice person. But it did appear tha she let men take over her decision making abilities. She seemed to almost always give in to Jack, married a man because he never stopped persisting then allowed her sons to help break up the marriage. 10) I am amazed how long she stuck around with Jack Cassidy. He seemed totally self-destructive and a very sour person to be around. He just seemed so consumed with jealousy. He really had a good life yet he blew it for himself. 11) Biography does seem like a cheerleader for celebrities. They seemed to just rave about how audiences love her when she is on stage. Anyone see her on stage? How is she?

1) Jack Cassidy jealous about his son's David's career? To me that is just so sad. You would think that a father would be so proud of his son's career.    Poor Jack was heavily into drugs and booze which warped his behavior and which ultimately lead to his death in a fire at home...lit cigarette as I recall.

11) Biography does seem like a cheerleader for celebrities. They seemed to just rave about how audiences love her when she is on stage. Anyone see her on stage? How is she? I've met her.  She is quite beautiful in person, far more than the movies ever captured.   And you are correct about her enormous talent and screen presence...from OKLAHOMA to THE MUSIC MAN...but big Hollywood musicals were dying (despite the success of THE SOUND OF MUSIC) and there was no studio system to help her find a new niche. Buster +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I should have been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas.

                   Why did David Cassidy leave the                    Partridge Family? The fan that died was at a show in London, England-that incident happened between the second and third season of the show. The show was not filming during that time (he was doing a series of summer shows all over Europe), and as I recall, that incident happend around mid-July, which sent David into a tailspin (and I think several concerts ended up being cancelled). I am pretty sure that TPF was _not a Top 10 show whe ABC cancelled it, more like in the low 20's, early 30's in the standings.In the TV movie that was on NBC, threre was a scene where David _object_ed to the way a scene was being shot and the producer said that he could easily get someone to replace him . What I am curious about is (and Linda C. probably could answer this one), what about Paul Witt the show's producer? I have heard that he was an absolute jerk to Shirley and treated her really demeaning, and that David almost came to blows with him over it. Truth or ??? As to Jack Cassidy, didn't Shirley accuse him of domestic abuse at one point and had planned to leave him and file for divorce when he died in that fire? Maryanne

3) Where was David's mother? We saw so many pictures of David with Shirley and i know he considers his half-brothers and really whole-brothers. But i got the sense that he considered Shirley as his mother There was a picture of him with Jack and his mom, they even said her name (which I forget).  He also said later that since Shirley wasn't his mom that they were able to have some good conversations which made them closer. Damn he was fine lookin when he was younger wasn't he :igh:: Lulu If you judge people, you have no time to love them - Mother Theresa

Poor Jack was heavily into drugs and booze which warped his behavior and which ultimately lead to his death in a fire at home...lit cigarette as I recall. I was lucky enough to see old Jack perform live. Brilliant, just brilliant.