The Partridge Family - Season 1, Episode 18 (18)

Title: Soul Club

First aired: January 29, 1971

Synopsis:

The Partridge Family and their manager, Reuben Kincaid arrive in Detroit. They look for a club they are to perform in the evening. The club is called ‘The Fire House’, but instead of the flashy night club all of them expect, it’s a real firehouse converted into a club for the local black community. A sign on the club announces The Temptations, not The Partridge Family. The club it’s situated in the part of the city where people listen to different kinds of music and they probably don’t know The Partridge Family.

The owners of the club, the Simon brothers, are also very surprised seeing a white pop group instead of the famous black soul group. Someone must have made a mistake. For the brothers, it is a real disaster. They have to open tonight and earn enough money to pay back a loan shark called Heavy. The man himself appears at the club, with two security guys. He mocks the brothers and the Partridges, because that wrong booking was his making. He is certain that next week, as a new club owner, he will welcome James Brown performing at The Fire House.

The Simon brothers don’t know what to do but agree when Shirley wants to help and perform for free. However, only one person appears in the evening. The Partridges stay for a night at the club and the next day Shirley comes up with an idea of a block party and infects everybody with her enthusiasm.

The block party will be free with fundraising for the club. Shirley goes to the local Police Department for permission, Keith and A,E.Simon start writing a song, and Sam Simon goes to talk with local merchants, to ask them for food for the party. The song is great, but Keith says they need at least violinists to perform it.

Danny decides to help and goes to the local Cultural Society. There is a group there, big, strong men practicing karate. They are surprised by Danny’s request about music players, but they help him. The block party is a great success, everyone attends the event and the Simon brothers can pay off Heavy. Danny becomes an honorary member of the Cultural Society.
Synopsis written by Weronika Cyrynger

Song:
Bandala

Cast:
Shirley Partridge - Shirley Jones
Keith Partridge - David Cassidy
Laurie Partridge - Susan Dey
Danny Partridge - Danny Bonaduce
Chris Partridge - Jeremy Gelbwaks
Tracy Partridge - Suzanne Crough
Reuben Kincaid - Dave Madden

Directed by: Paul Junger Witt

Written by: Harry Winkler, Harry Dolan

Guest Stars: Richard Pryor as A.E. Simon, Louis Gossett Jr. as Sam Simon, Charles Lampkin as Heavy

Screen Shots: