Pilot oddity - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Laugh30 · 11-17-2004, 11:49 PM

Did I imagine this or not. I first saw the show on our local station back in the early 1970s. I was taken aback when I saw the pilot episode "My Fair Munster" and its different theme song sequence. It caught me completely off guard. Many of you have seen it in the Munsters Lost Pilots video. But here's the odd thing. I remember seeing another alternate take of the sequence altogether. It began with Herman and Grandpa sitting on the stairs, then Lily walking over to them. Did I dream this? Would anyone know if a take like this was actually filmed in 1964 and used in syndicated runs in the early 1970s?

Munsters#1 · 11-18-2004, 07:22 AM

Believe it or not, there are actually 4 versions of "My Fair Munster"!

Three pilots, the first in color featuring Joan Marshall, the second in Black & White featuring Joan Marshall, and a third featuring Yvonne De Carlo.

Then there's episode # 2 of The Munsters, which is actually pilot # 3 thats been used again.

Laugh30 · 11-18-2004, 08:17 AM

In the video "The Monsters, The Munsters Unaired Pilots, TV Commercials and Promos" is a segment of the Yvonne DeCarlo version of the pilot with added scenes and dialog, bits of alternate takes of dialog, and a different creepy music score. The sequence of Grandpa in the basement is an alternate take from start to finish. Could this be the one I saw years ago with the alternate theme song sequence of Herman and Grandpa sitting on the stairs? That sequence doesn't appear on the video.
On Ebay once, someone was selling a 16mm film of the Joan Marshall pilot and this person included some stills. They were from the black and white version but they were alternate takes, shot from different angles not seen in the black and white Joan Marshall pilot. The black and white version of the Joan Marshall pilot on those Munsters lost pilot videos were just the color footage converted to black and white. Is it possible that they actually did film it completely over again in black and white?
Our cups runneth over in Munsters pilots here.

Munsters#1 · 11-18-2004, 03:43 PM

All I know is this...

Pilot #1
In the Spring of 1964, a color pilot was made featuring Joan Marshall and Happy Derrman.

Pilot #2
Later that Spring, Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher took that Pilot and added a few cut scenes to it and threw in a closing theme at the end of this new pilot. Then, copied it onto Black & White film.

Pilot #3
Still CBS hated it, so Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, fired Joan Marshall and Happy Derrman, and were replaced by Yvonne De Carlo and Butch Patrick. Then, they filmed a new THIRD version of "My Fair Munster".

The series was picked up by CBS.

Episode #1 aired on September 24th, 1964. The episode was titled "Munster Masquerade".

Then, Joe and Bob had to come up with Episode #2. So they took pilot #3, and they had to reshoot all the Eddie scenes, because in pilot #3 Eddie did not have a widows peak. So, with Episode #2 now complete, they aired it on CBS on October 1st, 1964.

****************************************************

Now, I want to get back to talk to you about Pilot #3.

Pilots of The Munsters have been sold by numerous manufacturers, which means somehwhere along the line, somebody fooled around with Pilot #3's music and has made it sound different from the original Pilot #3. But we will know what Pilot #3's real music sounds like, because Universal says they'll put that in as an "extra" in Season 2's DVD Box Set.

Laugh30 · 11-18-2004, 07:27 PM

The Yvonne DeCarlo pilot, with the Eddie scenes reshot with the widow's peak and the traditional theme song sequence inserted, is all you get to see on television. Whether it was WTBS, WOR, Nickelodeon or TV Land. Even the recent Season 1 DVD release uses it. The Munsters Lost Pilots video has the original cut of the DeCarlo pilot, complete with the alternate theme song and Eddie without the widow's peak. Years ago, WPIX in New York would show that version.
You may notice that I'm obsessed with the Munsters pilot episodes!

Schmoe56789 · 11-27-2004, 12:40 AM

There also seems to be two versions of episode 2. When Herman goes to the Raven, and it tells him what time it is, Herman polishes/breaks his pocket watch. In one version it makes a grandfather clock ding dong noise, and in another it makes the noise of breaking glass.

inspector_jack · 11-27-2004, 05:41 PM

In reply to the question about the pilot featuring different music and alternate scenes. This pilot also had an alternate opening which is different from the aired season one opening. Although it is different, it doesn't show Herman and Grandpa sitting on the stairs. Although I have no idea why, a local station may have created their own opening to the show when it was shown in syndication and used a clip from one of the existing episodes.

Laugh30 · 11-28-2004, 08:25 AM

That alternate opening you describing is in the various Munsters pilots videos. WPIX in New York showed that version. It starts with Herman stepping down from the first step with a zombie look on his face. Herman and Grandpa's makeup was creepy in the pilot. I love it. The theme song has a echo-sounding harpsicord.
Nowadays all you see of the pilot in syndication is what Munster1 described, the producers did a reshoot in 1964 to remove footage of Eddie without the widow's peak. And you see and hear the traditional theme song sequence.
Inspector Jack, that color photo you use on your post, is it from the Munsters view-master?

inspector_jack · 11-28-2004, 01:01 PM

no, it is a picture i colorized

Laugh30 · 11-28-2004, 01:30 PM

A nice job done. I've developed the hobby myself recently when I started tinkering with photo programs. I got tired of waiting for the show to be colorized and got into a colorizing kick. I've done a number of them and I'm working on more.
Here's one, it needs more work.

Munsters#1 · 11-28-2004, 02:49 PM

Could you colorize this one for me?

Laugh30 · 11-28-2004, 05:35 PM

I'll try working on it. You'll notice that my pictures that I've posted on this site are what I took off the television. I have some photos that I've colorized that came off the Internet which actually turned out even better. I didn't want to post them because there could be some conflict about using other people's website pictures.

Munsters#1 · 11-28-2004, 05:41 PM

Thank You for colorizing my picture.

But back to the episodes...

Do you mean to say that you have colorized some Munsters episodes?

Munsters#1 · 11-28-2004, 05:55 PM

I also have this picture. It is not colorized, it is an actual color photo.

Laugh30 · 11-28-2004, 06:02 PM

No, it just the still photographs that I do. I'm a babe in the woods when it comes to this. The people who've done the colorization of film and video, Bless them, it's way past my knowledge.
I would love to see those Munsters episodes colorized.

11-28-2004, 01:30 PM	#10
Laugh30 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Feb 01, 2004 Posts: 666	A nice job done. I've developed the hobby myself recently when I started tinkering with photo programs. I got tired of waiting for the show to be colorized and got into a colorizing kick. I've done a number of them and I'm working on more. Here's one, it needs more work. Attached Images

11-28-2004, 02:49 PM	#11
Munsters#1 Banned!! Happy Holidays! Join Date: Jun 29, 2004 Posts: 2,917	Could you colorize this one for me? Attached Images

11-28-2004, 05:55 PM	#14
Munsters#1 Banned!! Happy Holidays! Join Date: Jun 29, 2004 Posts: 2,917	I also have this picture. It is not colorized, it is an actual color photo. Attached Images

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11-17-2004, 11:49 PM	#1
Laugh30 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Feb 01, 2004 Posts: 666	Pilot oddity Did I imagine this or not. I first saw the show on our local station back in the early 1970s. I was taken aback when I saw the pilot episode "My Fair Munster" and its different theme song sequence. It caught me completely off guard. Many of you have seen it in the Munsters Lost Pilots video. But here's the odd thing. I remember seeing another alternate take of the sequence altogether. It began with Herman and Grandpa sitting on the stairs, then Lily walking over to them. Did I dream this? Would anyone know if a take like this was actually filmed in 1964 and used in syndicated runs in the early 1970s?

11-18-2004, 07:22 AM	#2
Munsters#1 Banned!! Happy Holidays! Join Date: Jun 29, 2004 Posts: 2,917	Believe it or not, there are actually 4 versions of "My Fair Munster"! Three pilots, the first in color featuring Joan Marshall, the second in Black & White featuring Joan Marshall, and a third featuring Yvonne De Carlo. Then there's episode # 2 of The Munsters, which is actually pilot # 3 thats been used again.

11-18-2004, 08:17 AM	#3
Laugh30 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Feb 01, 2004 Posts: 666	In the video "The Monsters, The Munsters Unaired Pilots, TV Commercials and Promos" is a segment of the Yvonne DeCarlo version of the pilot with added scenes and dialog, bits of alternate takes of dialog, and a different creepy music score. The sequence of Grandpa in the basement is an alternate take from start to finish. Could this be the one I saw years ago with the alternate theme song sequence of Herman and Grandpa sitting on the stairs? That sequence doesn't appear on the video. On Ebay once, someone was selling a 16mm film of the Joan Marshall pilot and this person included some stills. They were from the black and white version but they were alternate takes, shot from different angles not seen in the black and white Joan Marshall pilot. The black and white version of the Joan Marshall pilot on those Munsters lost pilot videos were just the color footage converted to black and white. Is it possible that they actually did film it completely over again in black and white? Our cups runneth over in Munsters pilots here. Last edited by Laugh30 : 11-20-2004 at 04:42 PM.

11-18-2004, 03:43 PM	#4
Munsters#1 Banned!! Happy Holidays! Join Date: Jun 29, 2004 Posts: 2,917	All I know is this... Pilot #1 In the Spring of 1964, a color pilot was made featuring Joan Marshall and Happy Derrman. Pilot #2 Later that Spring, Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher took that Pilot and added a few cut scenes to it and threw in a closing theme at the end of this new pilot. Then, copied it onto Black & White film. Pilot #3 Still CBS hated it, so Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, fired Joan Marshall and Happy Derrman, and were replaced by Yvonne De Carlo and Butch Patrick. Then, they filmed a new THIRD version of "My Fair Munster". The series was picked up by CBS. Episode #1 aired on September 24th, 1964. The episode was titled "Munster Masquerade". Then, Joe and Bob had to come up with Episode #2. So they took pilot #3, and they had to reshoot all the Eddie scenes, because in pilot #3 Eddie did not have a widows peak. So, with Episode #2 now complete, they aired it on CBS on October 1st, 1964. **************************************************** Now, I want to get back to talk to you about Pilot #3. Pilots of The Munsters have been sold by numerous manufacturers, which means somehwhere along the line, somebody fooled around with Pilot #3's music and has made it sound different from the original Pilot #3. But we will know what Pilot #3's real music sounds like, because Universal says they'll put that in as an "extra" in Season 2's DVD Box Set.

11-18-2004, 07:27 PM	#5
Laugh30 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Feb 01, 2004 Posts: 666	The Yvonne DeCarlo pilot, with the Eddie scenes reshot with the widow's peak and the traditional theme song sequence inserted, is all you get to see on television. Whether it was WTBS, WOR, Nickelodeon or TV Land. Even the recent Season 1 DVD release uses it. The Munsters Lost Pilots video has the original cut of the DeCarlo pilot, complete with the alternate theme song and Eddie without the widow's peak. Years ago, WPIX in New York would show that version. You may notice that I'm obsessed with the Munsters pilot episodes!

11-27-2004, 12:40 AM	#6
Schmoe56789 Frequent Poster Member Join Date: Jul 06, 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 85	There also seems to be two versions of episode 2. When Herman goes to the Raven, and it tells him what time it is, Herman polishes/breaks his pocket watch. In one version it makes a grandfather clock ding dong noise, and in another it makes the noise of breaking glass.

11-27-2004, 05:41 PM	#7
inspector_jack Frequent Poster Member Join Date: Aug 24, 2004 Posts: 32	In reply to the question about the pilot featuring different music and alternate scenes. This pilot also had an alternate opening which is different from the aired season one opening. Although it is different, it doesn't show Herman and Grandpa sitting on the stairs. Although I have no idea why, a local station may have created their own opening to the show when it was shown in syndication and used a clip from one of the existing episodes.

11-28-2004, 08:25 AM	#8
Laugh30 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Feb 01, 2004 Posts: 666	That alternate opening you describing is in the various Munsters pilots videos. WPIX in New York showed that version. It starts with Herman stepping down from the first step with a zombie look on his face. Herman and Grandpa's makeup was creepy in the pilot. I love it. The theme song has a echo-sounding harpsicord. Nowadays all you see of the pilot in syndication is what Munster1 described, the producers did a reshoot in 1964 to remove footage of Eddie without the widow's peak. And you see and hear the traditional theme song sequence. Inspector Jack, that color photo you use on your post, is it from the Munsters view-master?

11-28-2004, 01:01 PM	#9
inspector_jack Frequent Poster Member Join Date: Aug 24, 2004 Posts: 32	no, it is a picture i colorized

11-28-2004, 05:35 PM	#12
Laugh30 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Feb 01, 2004 Posts: 666	I'll try working on it. You'll notice that my pictures that I've posted on this site are what I took off the television. I have some photos that I've colorized that came off the Internet which actually turned out even better. I didn't want to post them because there could be some conflict about using other people's website pictures.

11-28-2004, 05:41 PM	#13
Munsters#1 Banned!! Happy Holidays! Join Date: Jun 29, 2004 Posts: 2,917	Thank You for colorizing my picture. But back to the episodes... Do you mean to say that you have colorized some Munsters episodes?

11-28-2004, 06:02 PM	#15
Laugh30 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Feb 01, 2004 Posts: 666	No, it just the still photographs that I do. I'm a babe in the woods when it comes to this. The people who've done the colorization of film and video, Bless them, it's way past my knowledge. I would love to see those Munsters episodes colorized.