The Partridge Family - Season 2, Episode 13 (38)

Title: Don't Bring Your Guns To Town, Santa

First aired: December 17, 1971

Synopsis:

Reuben books The Partridge Family in Vegas for a show on Christmas Eve. When The Partridges are heading home, unfortunately their bus breaks down in a ghost town in the middle of the desert. An old man named Charlie only lives there with his burro. Charlie tells them that there is a garage 12 miles away but it's closed. Keith and Reuben try to fix the bus and the rest of the family go to Charlie's cabin.

When Chris and Tracy complain that they will miss Christmas, Charlie tells them a story about the ghost town 100 years ago. In the story the town is now clean and new and there are many people. Charlie tells them that the town had a beautiful, shiny silver bell which people came for miles to see and brought Santa Claus to the town each year. In the story Keith becomes the singing Sheriff Swell, Laurie is the school marm and Shirley is saloon mistress Belle.

Everything is fine and happy one year until the day before Christmas when Mean Sidney (Reuben) comes to town and steals the bell so that Santa can't find the town. Everyone tries to get the bell back from Mean, but no one can outsmart him. Little the Kid (Danny) rides into the town on his white horse and the people are hopeful. Little and Mean have a card game right up to the stroke of midnight and Little can't beat Mean either. The people discover that Santa hadn't forgotten them after all and it was their spirit of Christmas rather than the bell that brought him each year.

When Charlie finishes the story, The Partridges say they loved it and felt much better. Keith comes in and says he managed to fix the bus and the family takes off. Charlie is left behind feeling very lonely. The family returns with silver paint to make the bell look new. They also bought a tree and presents to share with Charlie.
Synopsis written by April Dent

Songs:
Winter Wonderland,
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

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

Directed by: Richard Kinon

Written by: Bernard Slade

Guest Stars: Dean Jagger as Charlie

Screen Shots: