In 1998, Inkworks issued a series of trading cards, "TV's Coolest Classics,"
consisting of five subsets: The Andy Griffith Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, The
Brady Bunch, Get Smart, and Hogan's Heroes. Interestingly, Robert Reed is the
only cast member who does not appear on any of the Brady Bunch cards--even
in the group shots, he has evidently been cropped out of the picture! Does
anyone care to comment about this? (Yes, I know the actor Reed was gay;
but it just seems odd that they would pretend the character Mike Brady didn't
even exist.)

It doesn't have anything to do with him being gay. His image is protected by his estate. His family is in charge of what projects and products his image is attached to.

Reed's daughter, Carolyn, said she was sick of how she kept getting such low offers for the Brady merchandise, so she set a higher price. Consequently, licensees for Brady merchandise have chosen to eliminate Robert Reed, rather than pay more.

Somehow, I think Robert Reed would approve of his absence from the merchandising.

It doesn't have anything to do with him being gay. His image is protected by his estate. His family is in charge of what projects and products his image is attached to.
I hadn't thought of that, but most of the other actors are/were still living (in
1998) ... with some exceptions (e.g., Irene Ryan, Ed Platt, Bob Crane).

So that explains why my square Brady Bunch mug has the family except for Mike !!

He did appear on the earlier merchandise (made during the show's original run);
the Dell comic books, the Whitman coloring books, the Whitman jigsaw puzzle,
lunch boxes, paperback novels, and Topps' 1969 set of trading cards,for example.

The current merchandise makes it look like Carol was a single mom.

So that explains why my square Brady Bunch mug has the family except for Mike !!

Kooky12, who took Mike's place? Oliver?

:rofl:

Nobody too Mike's place. Here is the mug on Ebay; I managed to find it at a rummage sale for a dollar:
http://cgi.ebay.com/BRADY-BUNCH-70s-TV-Show-COLLECTORS-MUG-OOP_W0QQitemZ4846244302QQcategoryZ201QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Nobody too Mike's place.

Oops, when I saw the word "square" I thought of the 3-by-3 Brady grid and Mike's square at the bottom center. I apologize.

**** I'd like some brady bunch trading cards
________
Kitchen Measures (http://kitchenmeasures.com/)

I would NEVER buy anthing Brady that intentionally left Mike off. He was the soul of the Brady Bunch. #1 TV Dad.

Nobody too Mike's place. Here is the mug on Ebay; I managed to find it at a rummage sale for a dollar:
http://cgi.ebay.com/BRADY-BUNCH-70s-TV-Show-COLLECTORS-MUG-OOP_W0QQitemZ4846244302QQcategoryZ201QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Ooh!!!! I like the mug!!!! :eek: :eek: