Geri Reischl

Geri Lee Reischl (born December 31, 1959) is an American actress and singer. She was a child actress in the 1970s, most notably as Jan Brady on the variety show The Brady Bunch Hour, and appeared in various television commercials.

Geri Reischl
Reischl in 2019
Background information
Birth nameGeri Lee Reischl
Born (1959-12-31) December 31, 1959
Bellflower, California, U.S.
GenresPop, Country, Adult Contemporary
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, Actor
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1966–1983, 2000–present
Associated actsMarty Robbins, Sammy Davis, Jr., Rene Simard
Websitewww.gerireischl.com

Acting career

Reischl's first appearance was at the age of six playing Gretl in a production of The Sound of Music, starring Patrice Munsel, at the Melodyland Theatre in Anaheim, California. There, she was discovered by a talent agent who signed her and got her parts in two commercials. She was then signed to an exclusive contract with Mattel Toys until she was retired in 1971 by the company at the age of 11. Her last Mattel commercial was for Mattel's Rock Flowers series of fashion dolls, and according to Reischl the series' 'Heather' doll was patterned after her likeness.[1][2]

During her career, Geri appeared in over 40 commercials. From 1979 to 1983, she appeared in a series of Wizard of Oz-themed commercials for the breakfast cereal Crispy Wheats-n-Raisins, in which she played Dorothy.[1] On television, Reischl appeared on Gunsmoke, The Interns, Apple's Way and The Bold Ones. In addition, Geri filmed a television pilot with Rene Simard entitled Rene and the Proteens. She went on to star in two low budget splatter films: The Brotherhood of Satan (1971) and I Dismember Mama (1974).[1][3]

The Brady Bunch Variety Hour

Reischl is best known for portraying Jan Brady in nine episodes of The Brady Bunch Hour during the 1976–77 television season.[4] Her appearances as Jan have been referred to as 'Fake Jan'.[5] Reischl has embraced this fan-created moniker as a badge of honor and her personal brand.[1] She was selected from over 1,500 girls, including Kathy Richards, who auditioned for the role in 1976 and supposedly came in second place for the part.[6] Reischl hadn't watched the original The Brady Bunch show at the time, since she was too busy with schoolwork, playing and singing with her band, and acting in television commercials and movies to watch much television.[1] The rest of the cast immediately welcomed her and made her feel at ease on the show.[1]

After The Brady Bunch Hour, Reischl went back to high school and after graduating she held a job in a doctor's office while continuing to audition. She married in 1979 and had two children before getting divorced in 2010. Reischl was given the role of Blair Warner in the television pilot Garrett's Girls (later renamed The Facts of Life), but was forced to give it up due to her contract with General Mills.[7]

Music career

Reischl sang and played guitar in a California band by the name of Sand Dabs from 1974–76. She went on to perform at U.S.O. clubs, Magic Mountain, Knotts Berry Farm, the Harrah's Club, and with Marty Robbins at the Palomino Club of North Hollywood. She was one of Sammy Davis, Jr.'s "Kids" in his Lake Tahoe night club act,[3] and also performed with Red Skelton.

In the summer of 1976, Reischl toured the United States and Montreal doing an act with Canadian singer René Simard.[8] Because of her interest in country music she made a guest appearance on the show Pop! Goes the Country in 1977 that was filmed at the Grand Ole Opry.

Reischl released a re-recording of her Brady Bunch Hour performance of Your Song titled "Fake Jan Sings for Real" on September 25, 2011. A studio album, 1200 Riverside, was released later the same year on November 1.

Personal life

Reischl was adopted when she was three days old.[1] She recalled that her mother told her she was adopted when she was four or five years old because she did not want her to develop the idea that there was something wrong with being adopted.[1]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Fake Jan Sings For Real (2011)
  • 1200 Riverside (2011)

Filmography
Year Name Role Other notes
1970 The Interns Jane Doe 1 episode, "The Prisoners"
1971 Gunsmoke Anne Burney 1 episode; "Captain Sligo"
1971 The Brotherhood of Satan K.T.
1971 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Lisa 1 episode; "Glass Cage"
1972 I Dismember Mama Annie
1974 Apple's Way Jan Cooper 1 episode; "The Engagement"
1976–1977 The Brady Bunch Hour Jan Brady 9 episodes
1977 The Mike Douglas Show Herself Episode dated 9 February 1977
1977 Donny & Marie Herself Episode 14, Season 2
1977 Pop! Goes the Country Herself Episode 18, Season 4
1979 Garrett's Girls Blair Warner unaired pilot

References
  1. Eury, Michael (August 2020). "Fake Jan Gets Real: An Interview with The Brady Bunch Variety Hour's Geri Reischl". RetroFan. United States: TwoMorrows Publishing (10): 46–52.
  2. "1971 "Rock Flowers" Mattell Doll Commercial". Internet Archive. 1971. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  3. "About Geri Reischl". Archived from the original on October 9, 2012.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. "The Fort Scott Tribune". 4 February 1977.
  5. Love To Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story Of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. ECW Press. 2009. p. 266. ISBN 978-1-55022-888-5.
  6. Love To Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story Of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. ECW Press. 2009. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-55022-888-5.
  7. Love To Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story Of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. ECW Press. 2009. p. 267. ISBN 978-1-55022-888-5.
  8. "Rene Simard plays in Montreal". 4 September 1976.
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