Even half a century after the original The Addams Family aired, they’re still one of the most beloved shows. Actually, Charles Addams, a cartoonist, first came up with the fictional family. Then, it aired as a sitcom satirizing the ideal American family in 1964. Of course, then we had the subsequent films inspired by the show. So from that show to the films, there’s a lot to reveal about the creepy family, The Addams Family!
Painful Truth
First, we have to talk abotu Angelica Huston’s role as Morticia in the movies. In order to get the look right, the makeup team used string and glue to hold her eyes in an upwards slant. Due to this intense procedure, Huston suffered headaches daily, but her metal corset prevented her from lying down to rest. Sounds exhausting! Maybe it was worth it since Huston was nominated for two Golden Globes. On the show, it took two hours to finish Carolyn Jones’ hair and makeup, but that seems like a piece of cake in comparison!
Painful Truth
Nameless Characters
Back when Addams created The Addams Family for his New Yorker cartoons, he didn’t invent names for everyone. Apparently, he did prefer Repelli to Gomez, but what can you do? Also he wanted Pubert to be the son, but others felt it sounded too dirty. However, they did use Pubert during Addams Family Values in 1993. Also, the company that made toys to go with The Addams Family show, came up with Wednesday from an old nursey rhyme that linked traits to kids based on which day they were born. In the rhyme, Wednesday’s kid was ‘full of woe.’ Now, it all makes sense!
Nameless Characters
Invention of Itt
Again, talking about producer David Levy’s The Addams Family from the 60’s, Levy was responsible for Cousin Itt. Turns out, Itt wasn’t originally part of Addams’ cartoon. Once Levy suggested the hairy cousin, Addams drew him in to introduce regulars to this new character before Levy’s The Addams Family aired. Addams drew the hairy relative speaking on the phone and it read, “This is It speaking.”
Invention Of Itt
TV Cast Didn’t Get Residuals From Reruns
It’s true, the cast did not get huge payouts for the syndication of The Addams Family or even the films. Actually, John Astin who played Gomez Addams spoke about it without resentment. Astin said, “In those days, we got paid for five reruns, and that was it. People ask me, ‘Aren’t you disappointed?’ You know, one is an actor primarily—at least, I am—because he wants to communicate with people. I want to spread whatever feeling or message or encouragement there is. Who can ask for more than that if it continues? That’s much more important than money.”
TV Cast Didnt Get Residuals From Reruns
A Real Home
Speaking of Gomez, that house he and the family in The Addams Family sitcom lived in was an actual home. Yes, the house featured in the opening credits sat at 21 Chester Place in L.A. The Addams Family special effects technicians even added in a third floor with a tower to make it appear a bit more spooky. However, you can’t visit the home today because they demolished the home sometime between 1968 and 1972.
A Real Home
Cancellation
Sadly, the original The Addams Family only aired for two seasons. It seems that since The Munsters also aired around the exact time The Addams Family debuted, people grew tired of monster sitcoms. Both sitcoms lasted just two seasons. Felix Silla (who played Cousin Itt) said, “We had good writers. It was a light comedy, but it was well done. That year ABC canceled The Addams Family. They canceled The Munsters. They canceled everything!” However, Carolyn Jones (she played Morticia) kept a neutral outlook, saying, “Perhaps the only answer is: That’s television!”
Cancellation
Uncle Fester Had A Law Named For Him
On to Uncle Fester! Actor Jackie Coogan played Fester, but was no newcomer to Hollywood. As a kid, Jackie Coogan starred in Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid in the title role. Sadly, his parents did not handle his earnings well and when Jackie Coogan turned 21 he was practically broke. This incident helped create the Coogan law in states like California, which requires at least 15% of a minors’ earnings to be kept in a trust fund called a Coogan Account.
Uncle Fester Had A Law Named For Him
Lurch Was Supposed To Be Mute
When you think of the butler Lurch (Ted Cassidy), you probably hear mostly groans or grunts. Remember how Gomez and Morticia called him by pulling a hangman’s noose to ring the bell? Originally he was supposed to be mute, but when Ted Cassidy ad-libbed, ‘You rang?’, they decided to give him a voice! Well, he still didn’t say much, but his main line became iconic! Also, let’s not forget “The Lurch” song and dance!
Lurch Was Supposed To Be Mute
Natural Witch
Did Grandma Frump look oddly familiar to you? Well, that’s because the famous Margaret Hamilton played Morticia’s mother for The Addams Family show. Who is Hamilton? Oh, she’s just the actress that played the iconic Wicked Witch of the West in the original The Wizard of Oz. So, you could say she was a natural for the role of a witch.
Natural Witch
Movie Sparked Lawsuit
As is typical in showbiz, The Addams Family projects caused some tension and bitterness among the creative minds behind the scenes. Unfortunately, producer David Levy felt that the film creators took many of his original ideas from The Addams Family for the commercially successful films. Since, he still owned The Addams Family TV rights, he sued because specific quirks like Thing being a disembodied hand and also Gomez blowing up tiny toy trains were taken from him. Levy eventually settled with Paramount out of court.
Movie Sparked Lawsuit
Sorry Cher
Although Cher desperately wanted to play the role of Morticia for The Addams Family films, producer Scott Rudin had his eye on Anjelica Huston already. Instead of studying the original Morticia from The Addams Family show, Huston looked to Grey Gardens for inspiration. That 1975 documentary was about the cousin and aunt of Jacqueline Kennedy who lived in a dilapidated mansion.
Sorry Cher
10 Year Old Ricci Led The Rebellion
During The Addams Family film, the actors were very worried about how the Fester plot-line would play out due to its ambiguity in the script. According to the original script, it was unknown whether the man suffering memory loss was really Uncle Fester. Thus, the cast chose Christina Ricci, who was just 10 years old, to speak with Rudin and director Barry Sonnenfeld just two weeks before filming. They had her plea with them that Uncle Fester would not be an impostor. When recalling the sort of actor rebellion, Sonnenfeld remembered out of the whole cast only actor Christopher Lloyd didn’t care even though he played Fester!
10 Year Old Ricci Led The Rebellion
Hopkins Opted For Lecter Over Fester
Speaking of Fester, they actually offered that role for The Addams Family movie to Anthony Hopkins. However, this legendary actor turned it down so he could play Hannibal Lecter for Silence of the Lambs. Apparently, they offered Sean Connery the role of Lecter before Hopkins but Connery turned it down. Hey, we can’t say Hopkins made the wrong move choosing Silence of the Lambs since he won Best Actor at the Oscars for his performance as Lecter!
Hopkins Opted For Lecter Over Fester
Asbestos In His Pockets
The character Gomez would typically place lit cigars into his jacket pocket. Now, this presented a bit of a challenge for the original The Addams Family show. However, the prop team came up with an innovative solution. They stuffed actor John Astin’s pockets with asbestos, which acted as a fire retardant.
Asbestos In His Pockets
Steamy Romance
Back when The Addams Family show aired, even married television couples were not very sexual, but actors Carolyn Jones and John Astin hoped to change that. No, we never even see them kiss on the lips, but they did break some boundaries. We would often watch Gomez kiss up and down his wife’s arm. In fact, the whole relationship was this elaborate romance on the show. Well, that’s how people saw it in the 60’s.
