Buzz
Despite their eerie and enigmatic nature, The Addams Family remains one of the most cherished sitcoms even decades after its original run. If the iconic theme song still makes you snap your fingers, here are some fascinating tidbits about this peculiar family.
1. THE SHOW WAS INSPIRED BY A CARTOON IN THE NEW YORKER.
Charles Addams, a freelance artist, started working with The New Yorker on February 6, 1932, earning $7.50 for a cartoon about a window washer. The initial cartoon featuring the Addams Family's distinctive characters debuted in 1938, marking one of the few appearances of this darkly humorous family in his work.
2. THE CHARACTERS REMAINED NAMELESS UNTIL THE TV SHOW CAME ALONG.
Addams never assigned names to his characters in the New Yorker cartoons, though he did propose a few for the TV adaptation. For the family patriarch, he favored “Repelli” over Gomez. He also suggested “Pubert” for the son, but it was rejected for being too risqué. The name eventually appeared in the film Addams Family Values (1993). Interestingly, “Wednesday” wasn’t Addams’s creation; it was coined by a toy company promoting the show. They drew inspiration from the nursery rhyme “Monday’s Child,” which links personality traits to birth days. Wednesday’s child, as the rhyme goes, is “full of woe.”
3. JOHN ASTIN WAS INITIALLY EYED FOR THE ROLE OF LURCH.
Although John Astin auditioned to play the butler, casting directors ultimately saw him as the perfect Gomez. Astin himself acknowledged the alignment, stating, “My brother once said Gomez is the closest reflection of my real personality in any role I’ve played. That’s genuinely who I am.”
4. THE ACTRESS PORTRAYING GRANNY FRUMP HAD A HISTORY OF PLAYING WITCHES.
Granny Frump, Morticia’s rarely-seen mother, was portrayed by Margaret Hamilton, who is most famous for her iconic role as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.
5. LURCH WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO BE SILENT.
However, actor Ted Cassidy improvised the line, “You rang?” which gave Lurch a voice. While he remained a man of few words, he occasionally spoke—and even briefly ventured into a music career as a rock star:
6. JACKIE COOGAN, KNOWN AS UNCLE FESTER, HAS A LAW IN HIS NAME.
Coogan, a former child star who played the lead in Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid, faced financial ruin by age 21 due to his parents’ mismanagement of his earnings. His plight led to the Coogan Law, which mandates that 15% of a minor’s earnings be placed in a trust fund, known as a Coogan Account, in states like California.
7. COUSIN ITT WAS CREATED BY PRODUCER DAVID LEVY.
Gomez’s hair-covered cousin didn’t appear in the original Addams cartoons; he was introduced at the suggestion of producer David Levy. Addams sketched a cartoon featuring Itt to familiarize viewers with the character before the show aired. The illustration depicted the hairy figure on the phone, declaring, “This is It speaking.”
8. THE CAST DIDN’T RECEIVE RESIDUALS FROM RERUNS.
As John Astin explained, the actors didn’t profit from the show’s constant reruns. “Back then, we were paid for five reruns, and that was all. People often ask, ‘Aren’t you upset?’ But for me, acting is about connecting with people and sharing emotions, messages, or encouragement. If that connection endures, what more could I ask for? That’s far more valuable than money.”
9. ADDAMS EARNED APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION FROM THE SHOW.
From episode fees, reruns, and residuals, Addams earned $141,276—equivalent to roughly $1,073,074 today. His earnings could have been higher, but as part of his divorce agreement, he gave 10% of his show income to his ex-wife.
10. THE ADDAMS FAMILY'S HOUSE ACTUALLY EXISTED.
The iconic house in the opening credits was a real property, situated at 21 Chester Place in Los Angeles. To enhance its eerie vibe, special effects experts added a third floor with a tower. Sadly, the house was torn down between 1968 and 1972.
11. THEME SONG COMPOSER VIC MIZZY CREATED ANOTHER ICONIC TV TUNE.
Just a year after The Addams Family premiered, Vic Mizzy composed the catchy theme for Green Acres.
Still, The Addams Family was his primary source of success: “That’s why I live in Bel-Air,” he once remarked. “Two finger snaps, and you’re in Bel-Air.”
12. THE NEW YORKER DECLINED TO PUBLISH THE CARTOON WHEN THE SHOW PREMIERED.
Although Charles Addams had been drawing the macabre characters for The New Yorker since 1938, the magazine didn’t want to be linked to the TV series. However, Addams occasionally managed to include them subtly in other cartoons he created for the publication.
13. THE SHOW WAS CANCELED AFTER JUST TWO SEASONS.
With The Munsters launching around the same time as The Addams Family, audiences quickly grew tired of monster-themed sitcoms—or so the networks thought. Both shows were canceled after their second seasons. “We had talented writers. It was a lighthearted comedy, but it was executed well,” noted Felix Silla, who portrayed Cousin Itt. “That year, ABC axed The Addams Family, The Munsters, and practically everything else!” Carolyn Jones, who played Morticia, perhaps had the most positive perspective: “Maybe that’s just how television works!”
