https://i.pinimg.com/474x/35/62/76/35627618cbe1dbac2b360516c85151d7.jpg

I'm not necessarily saying that Dave Madden all around, looks terrible, but I just find it odd that for the first three seasons, his character was completely clean shaven, and then all of a sudden, he decides that for Season 4 (https://www.amazon.com/hz/reviews-render/lighthouse/B001LRTT3A/ref=cm_cr_lh_d_paging_btm_2?filterByKeyword=partridge+family&pageNumber=2), he's going to sport a moustache.

It kind of reminds me of David Soul (https://closerthanbrothers.wordpress.com/2016/09/12/920/) sporting one (https://moviechat.org/tt0072567/Starsky-and-Hutch/58c730805ec57f0478f64377/Hutchs-Mustache) in the last season (https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/who-came-up-with-the-idea-for-that-kid-in-the-4th-season-of-the-partridge-family.387688/) of Starsky & Hutch. (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125314/http://www.jumptheshark.com/s/starskyandhutch.htm) It kind of combined with the long sideburns, makes their characters look (https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/2059795/when-starsky-and-hutch-jumped-the-shark) sleazy (https://web.archive.org/web/20140330033318/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3118625-the-insider/page-2#entry2744898).

https://closerthanbrothers.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2007358671_1.jpg?w=335&h=408

Reuben's moustache (and of course, to a lesser extent, the presence of Ricky (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125348/http://www.jumptheshark.com/p/partridgefamily.htm)) is the perfect indicator that I'm watching an episode from Season 4 (https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/36125/partridge-family-the-fourth-and-final-season-the/).

I remember the very early '70s very well. Mustaches and sideburns became extremely popular. I have an older distant cousin who began sporting them at that time.

You can say that they made the actors/characters "look sleazy," but I know of a woman or two who visit these boards that will disagree with you. Things are cyclical when it comes to hair and fashions.

The '70s saw radical changes for men, compared with the narrow neckties, small collars, and straight-leg pants of the '60s for example. "Sleazy" is a very harsh judgement. Some guys I think looked better with facial hair -- Jack Cassidy is a good example (David's dad).

The sideburns and mustaches became popular in the 1970s--as did permed hair for men. Such as Robert Reed in the later season Brady Bunch episodes.