“They’re creepy and they’re kooky. Mysterious and spooky.” The Addams Family, emerging from Charles Addams’ single-panel cartoons in The New Yorker, became a defining darkly comedic TV series of the 1960s. Debuting in 1964, this iconic show has captivated audiences across generations. Its influence spanned decades, with animated series in the 70s, a reunion special, and a 90s movie trilogy that reintroduced the family to a new wave of fans. The Addams Family’s cultural resurgence continued in 2022 with Netflix’s Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega, which sparked viral trends and showcased the enduring appeal of the characters. Beyond television and film, The Addams Family universe extends to Broadway and video games, cementing its status as a multi-platform entertainment phenomenon.
Let’s step back into the eerie and eccentric world of the original sitcom and uncover ten fascinating, slightly macabre facts about The Addams Family 1964 Tv Series that might just surprise you.
1. Names After the Fame
Before the Addams Family 1964 TV series graced our screens, Charles Addams, the creator of the comic strip, hadn’t actually named his peculiar characters. It wasn’t until the television adaptation was greenlit that Addams, in collaboration with the show’s production team, finally gave monikers to the family members. And here’s a chillingly fun fact: Wednesday Addams has a middle name, and it’s Friday!
2. The Snap Heard ‘Round the World
“Da-da-da-dum, snap snap!” The theme song of the Addams Family 1964 TV series is instantly recognizable and utterly iconic. This catchy and spooky tune was composed by Vic Mizzy. Legend has it that the studio initially hesitated to hire a vocal trio for the theme, so the resourceful Mizzy used multi-tracking to record himself singing all three vocal parts, creating that signature opening we all know and love.
3. From Butler to Father Figure
During the casting process for the Addams Family 1964 TV series, actor John Astin initially auditioned for the role of the towering butler, Lurch. However, Astin didn’t quite see himself as the silent giant. Luckily, the producers recognized his comedic talent and charisma were perfect for the patriarch, Gomez Addams, and cast him in the role that would define his career.
4. A Macabre Sitcom Standoff
The Addams Family 1964 TV series premiered the same week as another black-and-white sitcom centered around a spooky family: The Munsters. To avoid direct comparisons and create distinct identities, both shows consciously avoided casting guest actors who had appeared on the other series. John Astin himself pointed out the fundamental difference between the two shows, arguing that The Munsters were monstrous in appearance but otherwise ordinary, while the Addams Family, conversely, appeared outwardly normal but were extraordinarily eccentric. Despite these efforts, audiences often conflated the two shows as being similar. Series creator David Levy clarified the show’s concept, explaining, “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.”
5. Double Duty for Lurch
Ted Cassidy not only brought Lurch to life in the Addams Family 1964 TV series, but he also played a second, more peculiar role. Cassidy also portrayed Thing T. Thing, the disembodied hand that emerged from boxes and various openings around the Addams mansion, and even the mailbox. This required Cassidy to perform as Thing from behind walls and under furniture, adding to the show’s quirky charm.
6. A Pink House in Grayscale
Despite airing during the transition to color television, the Addams Family 1964 TV series was filmed entirely in black and white, mirroring the aesthetic of Charles Addams’ original cartoons. Interestingly, the actual interior set of the Addams family house was painted in shades of pink. This was a common practice in early black and white television, as pink tones often translated to more visually appealing shades of gray on screen, enhancing depth and contrast.
7. Recycled Hollywood Sets
Some of the interior décor seen in the Addams Family 1964 TV series was repurposed from the set of the film The Unsinkable Molly Brown, released just months before the sitcom’s premiere. Both productions were produced by MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), allowing for cost-saving measures by reusing set pieces between projects.
8. TV’s First Home Computer
Long before home computers were commonplace, the Addams Family 1964 TV series featured the first family computer on television. Years before Bruce Wayne’s Batcomputer, the Addams family showcased a UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer). This quirky inclusion highlighted the family’s ahead-of-their-time eccentricity and added a touch of playful futurism to the show.
9. Asbestos-Lined Pockets for Safety
Gomez Addams’ signature cigar-smoking was supported by the show’s sponsor, Dutch Masters Cigars. Adding to Gomez’s character quirks, John Astin developed a habit of extinguishing his lit cigars in his coat pocket. To prevent any on-set mishaps, the prop department lined Astin’s suit pockets with asbestos, a toxic but flame-retardant material, ensuring his safety during filming.
10. Scooby-Doo Crossover Pioneers
In 1972, cast members from the Addams Family 1964 TV series, including John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, and Ted Cassidy, reprised their roles in a crossover episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies titled “Wednesday is Missing.” This episode, featuring Jodie Foster as the voice of Pugsley, served as a pilot and precursor to the Addams Family animated series that debuted in 1973, further expanding the franchise’s reach.
