Geri Reischl
Encyclopedia
Geri Lee Reischl is an American actress and singer, known for her work as a child actor
in the 1970s, most notably on the variety show The Brady Bunch Hour
and various television commercials.
, 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. During her career, Geri appeared in over 40 commercials for almost any product imaginable. 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.
On television, Reischl appeared on Gunsmoke
, The Interns, Apple's Way
and The Bold Ones
. In addition to her noteworthy role as Jan Brady on The Brady Bunch Hour
, Geri filmed a television pilot
with Rene Simard
entitled Rene and the Proteens.
She went on to star in several low budget splatter film
s such as The Brotherhood of Satan
(1971) and I Dismember Mama
(1974).
in nine episodes of the The Brady Bunch Hour
during the 1976-77 television season
. Her appearances as Jan have been referred to as 'Fake Jan'. She was selected from over 1,500 girls, including Kathy Hilton
, who auditioned for the role in 1976. She became a member of the famous television family when Eve Plumb declined to reprise her role in the new series.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=64M1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=6J4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3833,564592&dq=geri-reischl&hl=enhttp://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7novAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hzUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5304,2149431&dq=geri-reischl&hl=enhttp://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-kZiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=THcNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1327,1315672&dq=geri-reischl&hl=en
, 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, and also performed with Red Skelton
.
In the summer of 1976, Reischl toured the United States and Montreal
doing an act with Canadian singing sensation Rene Simard
. 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
.
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
in the 1970s, most notably on the variety show The Brady Bunch Hour
The Brady Bunch Hour
The Brady Bunch Hour is an American variety television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in association with CBS Television Distribution, which aired on ABC between 1976 to 1977....
and various television commercials.
Acting
Reischl's first appearance was at the age of six playing Gretl in a production of The Sound of MusicThe Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
, starring Patrice Munsel
Patrice Munsel
Patrice Munsel is an American coloratura soprano, the youngest singer who ever starred at the Metropolitan Opera, nicknamed "Princess Pat"....
, at the Melodyland Theatre in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
. 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
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
Toys until she was retired in 1971 by the company at the age of 11. During her career, Geri appeared in over 40 commercials for almost any product imaginable. From 1979 to 1983, she appeared in a series of Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
themed commercials for the breakfast cereal Crispy Wheats-n-Raisins in which she played Dorothy.
On television, Reischl appeared on Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
, The Interns, Apple's Way
Apple's Way
Apple's Way is a television dramedy which aired on CBS from 1974-1975. It was created by Earl Hamner, Jr..-Premise:The Apples, a family from Los Angeles, seek refuge from the hectic pace of city living and relocate to the father's hometown of Appleton, Iowa, which was founded by the father's...
and The Bold Ones
The Bold Ones
The Bold Ones is the umbrella title for several television series. It was produced by Universal Television and broadcast on NBC from 1969 to 1973...
. In addition to her noteworthy role as Jan Brady on The Brady Bunch Hour
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
, Geri filmed a television pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
with Rene Simard
René Simard
René Claude Simard is a pop singer from Quebec, chiefly popular in the 1970s. He was discovered and managed by Guy Cloutier...
entitled Rene and the Proteens.
She went on to star in several low budget splatter film
Splatter film
A splatter film or gore film is a subgenre of horror film that deliberately focuses on graphic portrayals of gore and graphic violence. These films, through the use of special effects and excessive blood and guts, tend to display an overt interest in the vulnerability of the human body and the...
s such as The Brotherhood of Satan
The Brotherhood of Satan
The Brotherhood of Satan is a 1971 low-budget horror film written, produced and starring L. Q. Jones It was directed by Bernard McEveety and also stars Strother Martin.-Plot:...
(1971) and I Dismember Mama
I Dismember Mama
I Dismember Mama, also known as Poor Albert and Little Annie, is a 1974 horror film. During its original theatrical release, patrons were given free paper "Up Chuck Cups" with the purchase of a ticket...
(1974).
The Brady Bunch
Reischl is best known for replacing Eve PlumbEve Plumb
Eve Aline Plumb is an American actress and painter. She is best known for her portrayal of Jan Brady in the iconic television sitcom The Brady Bunch.-Early career:...
in nine episodes of the The Brady Bunch Hour
The Brady Bunch Hour
The Brady Bunch Hour is an American variety television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in association with CBS Television Distribution, which aired on ABC between 1976 to 1977....
during the 1976-77 television season
1976-77 United States network television schedule
This was the television schedule on all three United States television networks for the fall season beginning in September 1976. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with a few exceptions, such as Monday Night Football....
. Her appearances as Jan have been referred to as 'Fake Jan'. She was selected from over 1,500 girls, including Kathy Hilton
Kathy Hilton
Kathleen Elizabeth "Kathy" Hilton is an American actress. She is the mother of Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton.-Personal life and family:...
, who auditioned for the role in 1976. She became a member of the famous television family when Eve Plumb declined to reprise her role in the new series.http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=64M1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=6J4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3833,564592&dq=geri-reischl&hl=enhttp://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7novAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hzUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5304,2149431&dq=geri-reischl&hl=enhttp://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-kZiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=THcNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1327,1315672&dq=geri-reischl&hl=en
Singing
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 ClubHarrah's Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates over 50 casinos, hotels, and seven golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues $8.9 billion...
, and with Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
at the Palomino Club
Palomino Club (North Hollywood)
The Palomino Club was a music venue in North Hollywood, called "Country Music's most important West Coast club" by the Los Angeles Times. It featured such performers as Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, Buck Owens, Patsy Cline, Delaney Bramlett, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Johnny Carver, Hoyt Axton,...
of North Hollywood. She was one of Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
's "Kids" in his Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
night club act, and also performed with Red Skelton
Red Skelton
Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton was an American comedian who is best known as a top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971. Skelton's show business career began in his teens as a circus clown and went on to vaudeville, Broadway, films, radio, TV, night clubs and casinos, all while pursuing...
.
In the summer of 1976, Reischl toured the United States and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
doing an act with Canadian singing sensation Rene Simard
René Simard
René Claude Simard is a pop singer from Quebec, chiefly popular in the 1970s. He was discovered and managed by Guy Cloutier...
. Because of her interest in country music she made a guest appearance on the show Pop! Goes the Country
Pop! Goes the Country
Pop! Goes the Country was a weekly half-hour syndicated variety country music television series between September 7, 1974 and January 1, 1982 for a total of 234 episodes...
in 1977 that was filmed at the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
.