partridgefamily

The world knows Brian Forster best as Chris Partridge, the youngest boy in The Partridge Family, and the group’s drummer, which was his passport to fame.

On September 25, The Partridge Family will be 50 years old having first aired on ABC that day in 1970, and in our conversation Brian recalls his excitement of landing the role and how he learnt to play the drums.

He also also been a science teacher, wine maker, race winning race car driver and these days races historic Formula Ford single seaters.

He recently got his first British passport thanks to his family ancestry: his great, great, great grandfather was Charles Dickens, regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era writing A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.

His grandfather was Alan Napier, who played Alfred the faithful butler in the Batman television series; his mother actress Jennifer Raine;  father Peter Forster a renowned director, television and film actor; and his stepfather Whit Bissell a character actor.

In our conversation, Brian reflects on:

• His favourite episodes as a member of The Partridge Family
• What he learnt from his co-star David Cassidy
• Explains how his drumming technique improved
• Talks about his passion for motor racing
• His love for wine making
• His family history
• Why he and his wife might move to the United Kingdom

Growing up in the Midwest in 1972. I was in a New School, with a New Teacher, & I loved a few TV shows.

Bob Sink, former archivist of the New York Public Library, begins his story during the civil rights era, when he was a member of Students for a Democratic Society, and he explains how his desire to ensure justice brought him into archives. He discusses the joys of creating and maintaining an institutional archives and of his research into the librarians of NYPL. Alexa makes a brief appearance in this episode.