“They’re creepy and they’re kooky. Mysterious and spooky.” Few television series have captured the cultural imagination quite like The Addams Family. Emerging from the darkly humorous, single-panel cartoons of Charles Addams in The New Yorker, this iconic family transitioned to the small screen in 1964 and has remained a beloved staple of pop culture ever since. From animated series in the 1970s to reunion specials, and a blockbuster movie trilogy in the 1990s that reintroduced the family to a new generation, The Addams Family’s appeal is timeless. The 2022 Netflix spin-off, Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega, further cemented the franchise’s relevance, captivating global audiences and sparking viral trends across social media platforms. Beyond television and film, The Addams Family universe extends into Broadway productions and video games, showcasing its enduring legacy.
But let’s journey back to where it all began and unearth ten fascinating and eerie facts you might not know about the original Addams Family television series that started it all.
Unveiling the Names: Characters Born for Television
Before the 1964 television adaptation, the quirky characters in Charles Addams’ cartoons were nameless. It was only when the series was greenlit that Addams, in collaboration with the show’s production team, embarked on the task of christening this unusual clan. A surprising piece of trivia? Wednesday Addams actually has a middle name: Friday! This detail adds another layer of peculiar charm to the already enigmatic character.
The Snap-Happy Theme Song: A Whimsical Creation
“Da-da-da-dum, snap snap!” The iconic theme song is undeniably integral to The Addams Family’s identity. This instantly recognizable and catchy tune was composed by the talented Vic Mizzy. Budget constraints almost led to a simpler rendition, as the studio was initially reluctant to hire a trio of singers. However, Mizzy ingeniously overcame this obstacle by employing multi-tracking techniques, performing and layering his own vocals to create the three-part harmony we hear in the opening credits, making it a truly unique and resourceful musical feat.
From Butler to Father: John Astin’s Audition Twist
John Astin, who became synonymous with his portrayal of the energetic and passionate Gomez Addams, initially auditioned for a very different role: Lurch, the towering butler. While Astin gave it his best, he confessed to finding it difficult to fully connect with the character of Lurch. Fortunately, the producers recognized Astin’s comedic timing and charisma were perfectly suited for the patriarch, Gomez Addams. This casting decision proved to be inspired, solidifying Astin’s place in Addams Family history.
A Tale of Two Families: The Addams Family vs. The Munsters
The Addams Family premiered in the same week as another macabre-themed, black-and-white sitcom, The Munsters. To carve out distinct identities and avoid audience confusion, both shows consciously avoided casting guest actors who had previously appeared on the rival series. John Astin himself emphasized the fundamental difference between the two families, arguing that The Munsters were monstrous in appearance but otherwise ordinary, while The Addams Family appeared outwardly normal yet possessed extraordinary eccentricities. Despite these efforts to differentiate, the general public often conflated the two shows, highlighting the shared fascination with spooky family dynamics on television at the time. Series creator David Levy clarified their approach, stating, “We have made [the family] full-bodied people, not monsters … They are not grotesque and hideous manifestations. At the same time we are protecting the images of [Charles] Addams’ ‘children,’ as he refers to them. We are living up to the spirit of his cartoons.”
Double Duty for Lurch: Ted Cassidy’s Secret Role
Ted Cassidy, famed for his booming voice and imposing stature as Lurch, actually took on a dual role within The Addams Family. While he is best remembered as the monosyllabic butler, Cassidy also provided the physical embodiment of Thing T. Thing, the disembodied hand. Cassidy would contort himself beneath furniture and behind walls to operate Thing, adding a literal hand to the show’s quirky cast. Thing’s appearances, often emerging from boxes or even the mailbox, became a beloved and surreal element of the series.
Pink Walls in a Black and White World: Set Design Secrets
Despite airing during television’s transition from black and white to color, The Addams Family was deliberately filmed in gothic grayscale, mirroring the stark aesthetic of Charles Addams’ original cartoons. Ironically, the actual interior set of the Addams mansion was painted in shades of pink. This seemingly bizarre choice was a clever trick of black and white cinematography; pink tones translated to varying shades of gray on screen, providing depth and visual interest within the monochrome palette. This behind-the-scenes detail reveals the meticulous craftsmanship that went into creating the show’s signature look.
Recycled Décor: Hollywood Resourcefulness
Adding to the show’s intriguing production history, some of the Addams family home’s interior décor was repurposed from the set of the musical film The Unsinkable Molly Brown, released just months before The Addams Family premiered. Both productions were under the umbrella of MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), showcasing Hollywood’s practical approach to set design and resource management. This detail highlights the interconnectedness of studio productions and the creative reuse of resources within the film industry.
Ahead of its Time: The Addams Family’s Home Computer
The Addams family holds a unique place in television history as the first family to own a home computer. Years before Bruce Wayne’s Batcomputer became a staple in the Batcave, the Addams family showcased a UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) in their home. This early depiction of a home computer, while fantastical for the 1960s, positioned the Addamses as surprisingly forward-thinking and technologically advanced, adding another layer to their charmingly anachronistic persona.
Smoking with Asbestos: A Peculiar Prop Detail
Gomez Addams’s penchant for cigars was a defining characteristic, even supported by the show’s sponsor, Dutch Masters Cigars. John Astin further embraced this quirk by developing a habit of extinguishing lit cigars in his breast pocket. To ensure actor safety during filming, the prop department lined Astin’s suit pocket with asbestos, a toxic but flame-retardant material. This unusual detail underscores the lengths taken to create authentic character details, even with potentially hazardous materials in a different era of safety standards.
Scooby-Doo and the Addams Family Crossover: Animated Team-Up
In 1972, The Addams Family characters crossed paths with another beloved animated franchise in the third episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies, titled “Wednesday is Missing.” This episode featured original Addams Family cast members John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, and Ted Cassidy reprising their roles in voiceover form. Notably, a young Jodie Foster, years before her Oscar wins, voiced Pugsley Addams. This animated crossover served as a pilot episode, paving the way for The Addams Family’s own animated series in 1973, further expanding the franchise’s reach into different media formats.
