(ABC Primetime, 1969 - 1974, as "The Brady Bunch";
ABC Saturday Mornings, as "The Brady Kids" -- cartoon;
ABC Primetime, 1977, as "The Brady Bunch Hour" -- comedy-variety)
[a sitcom derived from the new-to-the-60's notion of a "mixed
family" -- two single parents merge families to create one
big clan with a total of six kids. Playing the parents were
Florence Henderson and Robert Reed (who had previously played a
lawyer on "The Defenders") and who battled behind the scenes
with producers over the light writing and the stereotypical
"Dad" role that he was obliged to play;
Despite the youth revolution of the 1960s, this was one TV
series that stood firm for "traditional family values" (and was
considered fondly, but a bit dated, even when it aired.) So it
was particularly ironic when Robert Reed revealed later that
he was gay and had to stay in the closet to protect his career
and protect the series from a fatal scandal.
Several spinoffs and sequels were mounted, including an animated
"Brady Kids" series on Saturday Mornings, a short-lived variety
show "The Brady Bunch Hour" in 1977, and "The Brady Brides" in
1981. In 1990 a short-lived sequel was attempted called "The Bradys"]
[Above is the title as filed for copyright; The ASCAP database
title variations include: "Brady Bunch (Sig) (M & E)";
aka: "Theme from 'The Brady Bunch'"; and
aka: "Brady Bunch Main Title Theme";
Producer Sherwood Schwartz, who claimed co-writer credit, said that
this THEME song was an integral part of the show --
since it was a way of giving necessary exposition of
the complicated merging-family plot backstory.]
Composers: music by Frank Denny De Vol (ASCAP), and
lyric by Sherwood Schwartz (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: Addax Music Co., Inc. (ASCAP)
2000 Publisher: Addax Music Company, Inc. (ASCAP)
c/o Famous Music Corporation
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: March 14, 1969; Eu 111 143.
Renewal Date: Jan. 6, 1997; RE-746-398.
Recordings:
[above is title as filed for copyright; ASCAP title variations
aka: "Sunshine Day";
This rather bland tune from a spin off record album became a
secondary signature for this comparatively bland show -- it was
featured during a couple of "Brady Bunch" movies, and in several
retrospective tributes to the show. Perhaps it became more well
known in retrospect, since the THEME song has some tricky rythmic
offsets (added beats to fit Schwartz's expository lyric.)]
Composer: Stephen R. McCarthy (ASCAP)
1978 Publishers: Famous Music Corporation (ASCAP), and
Language of Sound, Inc. (ASCAP)
2000 Publishers: Famous Music Corporation (ASCAP)
of Los Angeles, CA; and
Language of Sound, Inc. (ASCAP)
c/o Fricout Music Company
of Nashville, TN
Copyright Date: Sep. 5, 1972; Eu 353 035.
Renewal Date: Jan. 6, 2000; RE-821-696.
Recordings: