The strange, macabre, but somehow amusing cartoon characters created by Charles Addams for The New Yorker magazine made their live-action debut in the fall of 1964, one of two almost identical "ghoul comedies" to premiere that year (The Munsters). Morticia was the beautiful but somber lady of the house. Her husband Gomez had strange eyes and rather destructive instincts, as did Uncle Fester. Lurch, the butler, was a seven-foot-tall warmed-over Frankenstein monster whose dialogue usually consisted solely of the two words, "You rang?" the children also had a rather ghoulish quality about them. Grandmama, although a witch, was the most normal-looking one of the bunch. They all lived in a musty, castlelike home full of strange objects--such as a disembodied hand, called "Thing," which kept popping out of a black box--and they scared almost everyone--except viewers--half to death.

An animated version of The Addams Family aired Saturday mornings on NBC from September 1973 to August 1975, with Jackie Coogan and Ted Cassidy providing the voices of their animated characters. A second animated Addams Family ran on Saturday mornings on ABC from September 1992 to January 1995, with John Astin returning to provide the voice of Gomez.

Series summary from The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows: 1946-Present

Did You Know?

The characters did not have names in the New Yorker cartoons; Charles Addams came up with their names when the television series was developed.

Fester was Morticia's uncle.

dnesday's pet, Homer, was a black widow spider. Her headless doll was named Marie Antoinette.

Pugsley's pet Octopus was named Aristotle.

The Addams lived in Victorian Mansion at 000 Cemetery Lane.

Morticia's man-eating plant was named Cleopatra.

Wednesday Addams' name is a reference to the nursery rhyme that says, "Wednesday's child is full of woe".

The role of The Thing (credited as "Himself") was played by Ted Cassidy (Lurch).

The role of Thing (credited as "Itself") was played by Ted Cassidy (Lurch).

Gomez and Morticia Addams were the first married couple on American TV implied to have a sex life.

John Astin was given the choice of two names for his character, and selected Gomez over Repelli. The son's name was originally to be Pubert, but was changed to Pugsley because Pubert sounded too sexual.

Carolyn Jones and John Astin decided to give Gomez and Morticia "a grand romance" as an antidote to the virtually asexual parents then common in television shows.

Thing was the hand of Ted Cassidy, except in scenes that had Thing and Lurch in the same shot. The cuff and sleeve of Cassidy's Lurch costume can often be seen.

The "train crash" sequence, in which the model trains collide and explode, was shot once, and that footage was used every time Gomez wrecked model trains.

Jackie Coogan was originally rejected as Uncle Fester. He went home, shaved his head, and did his own Fester makeup and costume. This won him the part.

Thing was usually a right hand. 'Ted Cassidy' (Lurch) occasionally used his left hand just to see if anybody would notice.

The name of the Addams' pet lion was "Kitty Cat".

Morticia's maiden name was Frump.

Did You Know Facts from The Internet Movie Database

The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows: 1946-Present by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh

“This is the Guinness Book of World Records . . . The Encyclopedia Britannica of television!” –TV Guide

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Videos:

The adventures of America's creepiest family continue in two more fiendishly fun-filled episodes: "The Addams Family Meets a Beatnik" and "Art and the Addams Family."

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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6302390230/ref=nosim/happydaysonline

Two more laugh-filled episodes about America's spookiest family: "The Addams Family Meets the Undercover Man" and "Mother Lurch Visits the Addams Family."

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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6302390249/ref=nosim/happydaysonline

The laughs and chills continue with two more classic Addams Family episodes: "Uncle Fester's Illness" and "The Addams Family Splurges."

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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6302390257/ref=nosim/happydaysonline

Catch the spooks and the laughs with two more episodes of the Addams Family: "Cousin Itt Visits the Addams Family" and "The Addams Family in Court."

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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6302390265/ref=nosim/happydaysonline

Join America's creepiest family for two more bizarre episodes: "Amnesia in the Addams Family" and "Thing is Missing."

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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6302390273/ref=nosim/happydaysonline

The Addams Family uses humor, charm, and their own brand of spookiness to get through two more episodes: "Crisis in the Addams Family" and "Lurch and His Harpsichord."

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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6302390281/ref=nosim/happydaysonline

The Addams Family uses humor, charm, and their own brand of spookiness to get through two more episodes: "Family Tree" and "Politician."

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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/630223168X/ref=nosim/happydaysonline

The Addams Family movie - 1991

Piquant comedy based on Charles Addams' macabre cartoon family (later popularized on the same-named TV series), whose greedy lawyer tries to plunder their fortune by planting an impostor in the household who claims to be their long-lost Uncle Fester. Huston and Julia are absolutely perfect as Morticia and Gomez, and manage to maintain a light touch while dispensing their gleefully ghoulish black humor. Impressive directorial debut for talented cinematographer Sonnenfeld. Followed by two sequels.

For more information and to purchase from Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6302409365/ref=nosim/happydaysonline

The Addams Family Values movie - 1993

Funny follow-up to the 1991 hit has scheming Cusack invading the Addams household, plotting to marry Fester for his money, then bump him off. Full of hilarious one-liners (delivered with gusto by Julia, as Gomez, and Lloyd, as Fester), but the real star is young Ricci as the stone-faced Wednesday, who finally exacts her revenge for being sent to a summer camp run by a pair of bland and giddy grownups (MacNicol and Baranski). Runs out of steam toward the end. Direct-to-video sequel: ADDAMS FAMILY REUNION.

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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6303057942/ref=nosim/happydaysonline

The Addams Family Gift Set

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Books:

The Addams Chronicles : An Altogether Ooky Look at the Addams Family by Stepen Cox

In a marvelous tribute to the Addams' oddball creatures and the television show that made them instant celebrities, "The Addams Chronicles" contains lively behind-the-scenes stories and exclusive interviews with cast members and the show's creator. B&W photos. Color insert.

For more information and to purchase from Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1888952911/ref=nosim/happydaysonline

Music:

Addams Family Values: The Original Orchestral Score

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Message Board:

Have a question about The Addams Family, comment, trivia question, update on the cast members, etc.? Then post your message on the:

The Addams Family Message Board

Links:

The Unofficial Addams Family Web Site

The Addams Family (TV Land)

The Addams Family episode guide (TV.com)

The Addams Family episode list (epguides.com)

The Addams Family page (Tim's TV Showcase)

The Addams Family (ClassicTVHits.com)

WWWF Grudge Match: The Addams Family vs. The Munsters

Yahoo links for The Addams Family

dmoz links for The Addams Family

Internet Movie Database entry for The Addams Family

Wikipedia entry for The Addams Family

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