“They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re altogether ooky, The Addams Family.” For decades, the theme song alone conjures images of a delightfully macabre family, and it all started with The Addams Family sitcom in 1964. Inspired by the darkly humorous single-panel cartoons of Charles Addams in The New Yorker, this black and white television series introduced the world to Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Grandmama, Lurch, and Thing. From animated series in the 70s to blockbuster movies in the 90s and the recent Netflix hit Wednesday, the Addams Family continues to captivate audiences. But let’s journey back to where it all began and unearth ten fascinating facts about The Addams Family sitcom that might just surprise you.
Origin of the Names: Before the Sitcom, They Were Nameless
Believe it or not, before The Addams Family sitcom graced our screens, Charles Addams’ iconic cartoon characters were nameless. These ghoulish figures populated his New Yorker cartoons without the need for identifiers. It was only when the 1964 television adaptation was in development that Addams, in collaboration with the show’s producers, decided to christen the family members with the names we know and love today. And here’s a truly eerie tidbit: Wednesday Addams has a middle name – Friday!
The Unforgettable Theme Song: A One-Man Show
“Da-da-da-dum, snap snap!” Can you imagine The Addams Family sitcom without its iconic theme song? This catchy and spooky tune, instantly recognizable, was the work of composer Vic Mizzy. Interestingly, budget constraints almost led to a less elaborate version. The studio was reportedly hesitant to hire a trio of singers for the vocals. Resourceful Mizzy, however, ingeniously used multi-tracking technology to record himself singing all three vocal parts, creating the memorable chorus we all know and love.
From Butler to Patriarch: John Astin’s Audition Twist
John Astin, the actor who perfectly embodied the zany and passionate Gomez Addams, initially had his sights set on a different role. During the audition process, Astin originally tried out for the part of Lurch, the towering and monosyllabic butler. However, Astin himself felt he wasn’t quite right for the role of the hulking servant. Fortunately for fans of the sitcom, the producers recognized Astin’s comedic talent and his natural fit for the energetic and eccentric patriarch, Gomez Addams. The rest, as they say, is delightfully spooky history.
The Munsters Rivalry: Distinction in the Macabre
The Addams Family sitcom premiered the same week as another iconic black-and-white family sitcom with a spooky twist: The Munsters. To avoid direct competition and establish their unique identities, both shows consciously avoided casting guest actors who had previously appeared on the other series. John Astin himself emphasized the fundamental difference between the two families. He argued that The Munsters were monstrous in appearance but otherwise quite ordinary in their suburban lives, while The Addams Family, conversely, appeared outwardly normal but were profoundly eccentric and embraced the macabre as commonplace. Despite these efforts to differentiate themselves, the general public often conflated the two shows, seeing them as interchangeable spooky family sitcoms. However, as Addams Family creator David Levy explained, the intention was to portray the family as “full-bodied people, not monsters,” staying true to the spirit of Charles Addams’ original cartoons and avoiding grotesque portrayals.
Ted Cassidy: Lurch and More Than Just a Hand
Ted Cassidy is best known for his portrayal of Lurch, the towering butler of the Addams Family, famous for his deep “You rang?” and slow, deliberate movements. However, Cassidy’s contribution to The Addams Family sitcom extended beyond just Lurch. He also played the iconic role of Thing T. Thing, or simply “Thing” – the disembodied hand that resided in boxes and various compartments around the Addams mansion. Cassidy would contort himself and reach into hidden openings on set to bring Thing to life, adding another layer of quirky charm to the show.
Filmed in Pink (But Seen in Black and White): Set Secrets
Despite airing during a period when television was transitioning to color, The Addams Family sitcom was intentionally filmed in black and white. This stylistic choice mirrored the stark, shadowy aesthetic of Charles Addams’ original cartoons and contributed to the show’s gothic and eerie atmosphere. Interestingly, the actual interior set of the Addams Family house was painted in pink. This might seem counterintuitive for a black and white show, but pink, under black and white film, could create a nuanced grayscale tone that the production team desired for the show’s distinctive visual style.
Recycled Sets: From Musical to Macabre
Hollywood often reuses sets to save time and money, and The Addams Family sitcom was no exception. Some of the interior decorations and set pieces used in the Addams mansion were recycled from the set of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, a musical comedy film released just months before The Addams Family premiered. Both productions were under the umbrella of MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), making set recycling a convenient and cost-effective solution. This behind-the-scenes fact connects the opulent world of a musical with the delightfully spooky world of the Addams Family.
Ahead of Their Time: The First TV Family with a Computer
In an era long before personal computers were commonplace, The Addams Family sitcom featured a home computer in their mansion. The UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) made appearances on the show, making the Addams Family the first television family to own and use a computer. While Bruce Wayne’s Batcomputer in the Batcave might be more famous, the Addams Family’s UNIVAC predates it, showcasing the show’s quirky and subtly futuristic elements within its gothic setting.
Gomez’s Cigars: A Fiery Habit and Asbestos Safety
Gomez Addams was rarely seen without a cigar in hand, a habit that became a signature part of his character. This cigar-smoking quirk was even supported by the show’s sponsor, Dutch Masters Cigars. Adding to Gomez’s eccentricities, actor John Astin developed a habit of extinguishing his lit cigars in his coat’s breast pocket. To ensure Astin’s safety during filming, the prop department ingeniously lined his suit pocket with asbestos, a toxic but flame-retardant material at the time, allowing for the gag without any actual fire risk.
Scooby-Doo Crossover: Animated Team-Up
Decades before recent animated Addams Family adaptations, there was a classic crossover event in animation history. In 1972, The New Scooby-Doo Movies featured an episode titled “Wednesday is Missing,” which welcomed several original Addams Family sitcom cast members as guest stars. John Astin, Carolyn Jones (Morticia), Jackie Coogan (Uncle Fester), and Ted Cassidy reprised their roles in voice form. Notably, a young Jodie Foster, at age 11, provided the voice for Pugsley Addams. This episode served as a pilot of sorts, paving the way for The Addams Family animated series that premiered in 1973, further extending the legacy of this beloved spooky family.
