Twelve-year-old Katherine Lippincott wasn't even born when "The Brady Bunch" went off the air in 1974, but Sunday afternoon she was first in line to get Maureen "Marcia Brady" McCormick's autograph at the Baltimore Book Festival.
Lippincott of Baltimore County became a fan when watching DVDs of the sitcom while carpooling to school. The seventh-grader was less interested in McCormick's autobiography, "Here's the Story," that the actress was promoting and more eager to ask McCormick a question about one of the episodes.
"Did she really have braces?" said Lippincott, who's set to get her own pair soon.
McCormick's book-signing was near the end of the three-day festival that kicked off at noon on Friday. The 14th annual festival was on target to attract 50,000 visitors, similar to previous years, said Tracy Baskerville, with the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts, which produced the event. Guest authors this year included activist Ralph Nader, former astronaut Buzz Aldrin and PBS anchorwoman Gwen Ifill.
But for many, McCormick was the only reason to attend the festival Sunday afternoon.
Jeri Bullock and Trish Dunn came from Pasadena to see the actress. Both wore Ravens jerseys and gave up watching Sunday's game live against the Cleveland Browns for McCormick.
"She's definitely a symbol of what America used to be," said Dunn. "Of course, in the early '70s, a lot of sex and drugs and everything was going on, but the Bradys didn't do it. The worst that happened was a football hit her nose."
Bullock said she grew up with three brothers, just like Marcia.
"I loved her as a character. I thought she was an awesome actress," Bullock said. "She had a lot of obstacles in her life that she overcame, and I can kind of relate with some of them."
Many of the people attending McCormick's book signing said they came because they grew up with the "Brady Bunch." And McCormick didn't disappoint. But for the black-framed glasses, there was no mistaking the trim, blond actress, now 53. Book festival staff even asked the police to stand nearby because some enthusiastic fans got a little too close to the author.
"As soon as I walked up close to the tent and saw a person with blond hair, I knew it was her," said Cynthia Pyle of Baltimore "She hasn't changed a bit."
"The Brady Bunch" ran five seasons. McCormick's book discusses her subsequent struggles with drug addiction and weight gain.
"She was an icon because she was in 'The Brady Bunch' and she affected a lot of people," said Jeannine Reardon, a fellow author at the festival who waited in line with a copy of her book to give to McCormick. "But by this book, she has inspired other groups in America, those trying to lose weight; those who are battling addiction."
Tim Scully, though, came with a purpose: To get McCormick's autograph on a decades-old photo album "Meet the Brady Bunch." The Arbutus fan already has the signatures of the two other Brady girls, Eve "Jan" Plumb and Susan "Cindy" Olsen.
After taking questions from an audience, McCormick headed to the table to sign books and sit for photos with fans.
Lippincott walked off with an autographed photo of McCormick and the answer to her question.
Marcia only wore braces for one episode, Lippincott said.
