ADDAMS FAMILY Theme Song HAS Been TRICKING You for 60 Years! REVEALED!

[@donnicholas7552]

"You rang?" Lurch is my favorite. I wasn't aware of the multi-tracking.

[@mikeotolski9549]

Hard to believe that John Astin only one left alive.

[@rivaridge7211]

Aw, the wonderful John Astin, at age 93, is the only living original cast member. He outlived his "children" which is sad. Thanks, Rick, for keeping the memory of this fun show current in our minds and hearts. Cheers to all!

[@whiteowl4097]

Morticia was always my favorite character. Always so down to earth, classy and mysterious at the same time. Love her.

[@sandrablanchette2239]

And pretty

[@irishis3]

Cousin It is my favorite character. He isn't in nearly enough episodes 😊

[@craiglaw7578]

I loved it when Lurch wrote his own line with; You Rang! I love it even more when I learned, from this channel, that Lurch was supposed to be silent! He took a big chance speaking! That lead to more lines…..He was outstanding!

[@patricial8255]

Gomez. He was adorable in all the episodes but my favorite was the first one when he was trying to get the kids in school. He was just being a dad. LOL

[@MicahThomason]

In one episode, Gomez was gonna sue someone. He was gonna represent himself and, "regardless of the verdict, I will appeal." I've been working variants of that line into my comedy all my life.

[@ricknineg]

Haha

[@cjmarshall0221]

I get the feeling the writer of that line was a Marx Brothers fan, because that's exactly what I would expect to hear from Groucho.

[@johngreening463]

Definitely Gomez. I like upbeat, smiling people with a dark sense of humor. John Astin embodied that.

[@vincentcalvelli6452]

Addam's Family had an iconic cast and their interactions are memorable, which makes choosing a favorite character difficult but I lean to Uncle Fester as my favorite.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

I always watch Jackie Coogan in the opening credits. Right before it cuts away to the first close up of Carolyn Jones, Jackie looks over to his left. I always watch him do that.

[@Chuck_Hooks]

I was always struck by Gomez being so passionately in love with Morticia, brilliantly conveyed in 1960s TV whenever she spoke French. Whoever came up with that is a genius. Made such an impression that I worked to model my own love after their awesome love. Great show.

[@ricknineg]

Tish, that’s French!

[@Chuck_Hooks]

@rick nineg Tish, that French ripples from your lips! Darling, please! Not in front of our son! Camera cuts to Uncle Fester holding a chimp. Hahaha.

[@032319581]

John Astin and Carolyn Jones came up with the passion, but never kiss.

[@kevinmiller6380]

​@@032319581 Unlike Tony and Jeannie, or Max and 99.

[@kevinmiller6380]

​@@ricknineg Now do the Munsters theme song.

[@perry3928]

Love Lurch. The funniest episode with him was when he became a pop star. 🤣.

[@sallyn2393]

Theme songs were so integral to Classic TV. They are so iconic and memorable, some more than others, and The Addams Family surely is one of the catchiest and memorable of all. Thanks for the really interesting info on Vic Mizzy, I had no idea.😊👍👍👍

[@jamesanthony8438]

Favorite character: Lurch. Ted Cassidy had some _amazing_ comedic timing in that show. =)

[@jamess5154]

The secret to their success was no matter how odd they were it was a very loving family that except for Lurch totally enjoyed life and you had to love them as well. It was the era of family sitcoms but they were the most loving and happy of any of them.

[@dawoool]

Lurch enjoyed his harpsichord.

[@dwaynec7542]

I’ve got to go with Gomez. John Aston is iconic in that role. As an aside, go see him in Evil Roy Slade if you haven’t already. Hysterical!

[@jamesanthony8438]

Oh man, loved that movie as a kid in the 70's. Ran across a DVD of it a few years ago in a bargain bin and snatched it up for the collection. Great film =)

[@markrowley8177]

I always loved both Gomez and Morticia and the way they adored each other.

[@timothyimmel4745]

I thought all the cast members were brilliant in their own right. The casting and makeup was exactly like the cartoon by Charles Addams. As always, you find the most intriguing behind the scenes information that I find delightful, having grown up watching them all in their first run, thank you Rick!

[@christopherkraft1327]

Fascinating story Rick!! Many theme songs from shows from the fifties, sixties & seventies are so iconic & instantly recognizable to baby boomers like me that remember every word!!! Thanks for sharing another fun fact!!! 👍👍🙂

[@pagecampbelljr4562]

You are a talent in your field of documentary on sitcoms. Thanks.

[@jeffthompson549]

Carolyn Jones is absolutely beautiful

[@StormBringer-]

Everyone loves Lurch.

[@martinbeneteau309]

My favorite episode was when they had to move their house. They all sat at windows and watched things go by.

[@timothyweers8054]

It is funny how when these shows were in first-run status and subsequent reruns that all we worried about was watching the shows. As we got older, we started noticing things that were possibly not intended which grew into an obsession to find out more about the shows and to get a bit of trivia to talk about to our friends. I always enjoyed watching for Cousin Itt. You always wondered what trouble he was going to get into, his voice was so fast and to wonder what he said as one of the family would have the joke line.

[@GoettingRx]

The Carpenters used that same overdubbing technique in their recordings.

[@01chippe]

The Beatles did it a lot, called “double tracking”

[@lazyhomebody1356]

A band called Guided By Voices wanted a crowd chanting "GBV" for a song, but they had no fans yet, so they spent hours overdubbing the 5 of them saying GBV a hundred times. It did sound like a big crowd!

[@al007italia]

Once again I have learned something new. I knew Vic Mizzy wrote the theme, but not that he sung it.

[@hungfao]

I remember when I first heard this theme song back in '64. Instantly catchy. We were all singing it the next day at school (though we didn't know all of the words). At my ripe old age now I look at those lyrics and they're very clever.

[@ddavenpAZ]

That’s way cool! I knew it could be done but didn’t know it was done for this show. Ophelia would be proud, considering she could sing using multiple voices all at once. I also agree Lurch is the man! He even met Batman, so how cool is that? Thanks for another great video!

[@alanr4447a]

I note that Vic Mizzy's two famous TV themes from the mid-1960s, _The Addams Family_ and the following year's _Green Acres,_ were both punctuated by a pair of beats.

[@pipe2devnull]

Anne Reburn does a version of Mr. Sandman using separate tracks/recordings of herself. Pomplamouse does as well. They are both on KZbin.

[@bridgetdavis9752]

The song was playing in my head during this entire video. Morticia was my favorite. ❤

[@marktexaspatriot2527]

👍Great Video! Grew up with this series heard the theme song a million times but had to go listen haha. Thank you for all you do!

[@Frankie5Angels150]

Thing was my favorite. The recent versions of Things as a fully disembodied hand have actually improved the original character - not easy to do. Cousin It was a close second.

[@MsBackstager]

You rang. Uncle Fester was a cutie.

[@JillMorgan-b7y]

Gomez is my favorite. I love the delivery of the lines.

[@joesinkovits6591]

I always thought Filmways was the production company/studio, while ABC was just the airing network.

[@gailwatson4927]

Thanks Rick. I love fun facts like that. I liked Lurch too.

[@raiderjohnthemadbomber8666]

Ah,yes the old Chet Atkins trick! Lurch is far and away my favorite although I've been favorably compared to Gomez most of my life. Their love affair is iconic in that they truly, deeply love one another.

[@dmnemaine]

I always am kind of disappointed that Blossom Rock didn't do more with the Grandmama character. Had she chosen to go more "out there" with it, she could have been a standout similar to Granny on "The Beverly Hillbillies". For some reason, she held back, and it ended up quite often putting her character in the background.

[@CoolCucumber710]

Can you believe she was the sister of Jeanette MacDonald, famous actress/ singer in all those old movies with Nelson Eddy? Interesting…

[@PaulTesta]

Rick, Was it also Vic Mizzy who said: "Neat, Sweet...Petite"?

[@Nathan-jq1uw]

Oh, hey yeah! I never thought of that. The "neat sweet petite" part sounds like Ted Cassidy!

[@robertdragoff6909]

Lurch, because no matter how big and monstrous he looks there’s a bit of love that comes through….. There’s an episode where Lurch has to learn to dance and Wednesday takes it upon herself to teach him! There’s a moment where the two of them are talking and Cassidy gently touches Wednesday’s face with his hand….

[@briangordon782]

Wasnt that the episode where he got stuck dancing and couldnt stop? Lol

[@michaeltaylor1603]

Tape recording had become an art in the 50's-60's along with other advances like the Moog Synthesizer. The theme song was another way tape was used and many artists would sing their own back ups. Bill Withers & Michael Jackson are a few examples. The scene in Cinderella 1950 Disney has her singing Sing Sweet Nightingale with her reflection in the soap bubbles. Multiple voices singing in different keys by one person. Brilliant piece of animation + vocal skills. Vick Mizzy used a lot of great instruments including the harpsichord later used by other performers. Ghost and Mr. Chicken, Green Acres theme, Did You Ever Hear the One about the Traveling Saleslady (1968 Phyllis Diller/ Bob Denver)Barry White was one that used Harpsichord. Thanks Rick!

[@GeeBoggs]

My all time favorite Addams Family character was “Cousin Itt.”

[@gljm]

Vic Mizzy wrote the music for most of Don Knotts' movies including "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" and "The Reluctant Astronaut" He is probably better remembered for also having written the theme to "Green Acres" But at least there Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor did the singing.

[@vintagemarie2391]

That song from The Ghost and Mr Chicken gets in your head! 🤣

[@nickimontie]

It's amazing the ingenuity of people when they have a need but no money 😅😊

[@dagthewog6290]

They also had a relative that could talk in various octaves...at the same time.

[@morganm9040]

Thing was a great actor. There is a youtube with Vic Mizzy discussing how he did the Addams Family theme and it shows him playing the keyboards. Mr Mizzy also did the Green Acres theme.

[@CoolCucumber710]

And I believe Lurch played Thing (well, his hand did!)

[@Susie_Floozie]

Vic Mizzy was a TV theme master! He did the GREEN ACRES theme, too. As a kid, I thought that name Mizzy was something wonderful.

[@briangriffin4937]

Vic wrote the catchiest theme songs. Have you heard his theme for comedian Red Buttons’ short-lived ‘60s spy spoof “The Double Life of Henry Phyfe”? another gem. He also co-wrote the ‘50s Mills Brothers hit “The Jones Boy.”

[@Susie_Floozie]

​@@briangriffin4937 I remember Henry Phyfe! I'm an old tart who grew up in the '60s, watching everything on a B&W TV...even STAR TREK. Rich kids with color TVs had sport with me, telling me Mr Spock's ears were green on the tips. Man, the influence Other Kids had on us was rough to suffer through.

[@MikeB071]

My favorite character is Gomez: frenetic energy combined with effortless panache. And those double breasted suits were sharp!

[@petequintanilla4237]

The episode where Lurch becomes a teen singing idol, the producer they hire to record his "songs" was named Mizzy Bickle.

[@sandrasanders706]

I thought it was a group singing this theme..Wednesday, Lurch, and Moritica!🤌🤌

[@chesterlane3032]

Wednesday is my favorite character on the Addams Family because she was named after a day of the week

[@themichiganoracle]

Morticia and Cousin Itt were always my favorites ~ and oh thats not what i was expcectimg from this video at all ~ i thought it was going to be the finger snaps being lids or something xD Thats so cool its just the one guy!

[@michaelrochester48]

Rick it is quite common to overdub and make it look like there’s more than a few voices. Pop and rock records have been doing that decades earlier. Google Les Paul

[@brianrebmann5398]

Excellent video. Thanks for excellent bit of trivia. Keep up the great work

[@ricknineg]

Thank you so much Brian

[@Victor-gi3dy]

Love your videos my friend. My favorite character is uncle fester especially when he has his Musket gun & says " I'll shoot em in the back" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@JerryN7970]

I always liked Cousin It. I don’t remember him doing a whole lot but I was pretty young when I used to watch the Addams Family reruns and I always thought he was funny.

[@tolhurst44]

Hi Rick Morticia is my favourite love Carolyn jones and still love her she created a character that will never be forgotten and still iconic to this very day love your channel👍👍

[@gregoryclemen1870]

that was common during that time, it was called "FANGING"!!!.

[@robertstroback3362]

Wednesday was always my favorite. R.I.P. Lisa Loring.

[@cmm2145]

Lurch! Definitely my favorite. “You rang?” I loved all the characters though.

[@ricknineg]

🛎

[@vozpit]

When I saw the title, I thought you were going to talk about how they slow down the film of Gomez in his close-up, so they could match his snapping with the song. But, I did not know this one! Thanks for the video!

[@ricknineg]

You’re welcome!

[@timothygreene5088]

Gomez and Morticia. both my favorite.

[@donfoley6946]

Thing was played by Ted Cassidy when he wasn't in the scene. They also trick us with the model train crash scenes, which were done by trick photography, smoke, and a breakaway bridge, and the scenes were repeated on other episodes! If you watch closely, the footage is pieced together and some sections don't match the others! Different locomotives and such.

[@Jared_Wignall]

Very interesting to know something about the theme song. I didn’t know this until now, thank you for the video Rick, I hope you’re having a great day. Take care!

[@rustyrobinson8027]

Thanks again Rick

[@PaulTesta]

Had no idea, Rick, that the opening theme song was all just one man! I'm with you, Lurch was my favorite.

[@Ron_Rhodes]

This reminds me that the original Alvin and the Chipmunks were just one person: Ross Bagdasarian .

[@ricknineg]

I mean it’s a very smart idea and a wonderful way to save money. And in the end, it works

[@edbarnhart6648]

Gotta love Lurch.

[@edd2771]

Double tracking was and is very common. The Beatles did it all the time.

[@vincentlara4563]

Never really took note of it being multiple voices or just one singing the song. I'm not as sharp as you Rick, lol! But I do love the song, music, lyrics, all of it! I actually like all the characters as they all are unique in their own way, but I guess if I had to choose, I'd go with Cousin It. Loved the way the normal sized people had to duck when being inside his bedroom!

[@alanr4447a]

I think my favorite character was Cousin Itt.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

The Wellingtons sang the Gilligan's Island them only in the first season.

[@johnwilson1489]

Lurch is my favorite Adam's Family member

[@garycarpenter6433]

My favorite episodes are the only 2part of the show is the wedding 💒 where the entire family is in the episodes including Morticia 's mother Margret Hamilton Mrs.Frump and twin sister are in it.... Morticia Addams and Ophelia since they are both the same person but I also love Lurch and Uncle Fester

[@Vince_Tasciotti]

Morticia has always been my favorite.

[@luisreyes1963]

The Addams Family has been a favorite show of mine since i was 10. Neat, Sweet, Petite...👨🏻‍🦲

[@MisterPersuasion]

My favorite character was always Cousin It.

[@paulmclaughlin4132]

I liked Uncle Fester and Thing.

[@DaSupermanOf1990]

🫰 YAY ADDAMS FAMILY 🫰

[@PamperedPetz]

Wow thanks Rick🎉 i agree lurch is so cool😅

[@peter_a.6651]

Hi Rick - love the channel - you cover so many of my favorites! I’m currently streaming episodes of ‘Barney Miller’ - would love to see some trivia/behind the scenes if it’s available - Keep up the good work

[@MicahThomason]

I'm 53. I used to watch Barney Miller with my dad. I rewatched the first 4 seasons a few years ago and it is literally, LITERALLY!, funnier than anything on tv today.

[@ricknineg]

Thanks so much for your support!

[@zoperxplex]

Morticia was my favorite.

[@joeyrivful]

I liked Vic Mizzi soundtrack and music. Lurch is my favorite character. I love the episode of how Gomez and Morticia meet.

[@StarryDreamer28]

my favorite is gomez 'cause i'm a HUGE john astin fan after night court. my mom and i always watched repeats. i do love lurch though for how much effort the actor put in :)

[@mewregaurdhissyfit7733]

I figured out that trick many, many, many years ago. I love ALL the Addams', but if I had to pick ONE......right now, I'd have to say Grandma. But thats just for this show, not the movies.

[@m9078jk3]

The strangest family yet at the same time the most normal. Jackie Coogan was a friend of my Uncle Robert Frantzen but I was the same age as Lisa Loring (Wednesday). It was very hurtful that she recently passed away. Vic Mizzy was an amazing musician and all of the Addams family music of his was very original .

[@riversarcadereview385]

"You Rang"

[@roberttelarket4934]

Hell never thought about this and didn't know about one Mizzey(whoever he is) doing all the voices of the song or the Wellingtons doing Gilligan’s Island. If I had to guess I'd put my money on the fabulous DeVol as the writer of this song. He left his imprint everywhere. Listen to his supreme melody from Family Affair.

[@im_agine852]

Way to go again Rick!! LURCH

[@michaelrochester48]

The theme song is not 60 years old. The Series premiered in 1965 so it’s 58 years old

[@jonathanzuckerman520]

My favorite episode is when Gomez runs for Mayor because his property taxes are too low!

[@ricknineg]

😂

[@lorakendall4940]

I don't really like the Adam's family but I do have my favorite in the show is thing‼️👋👋👋👋👋👋

[@jmadratz]

Rick, you failed to mention he wrote the iconic Green Acres theme song, and well as iconic scores to Don Knott’s five movies including The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), The Reluctant Astronaut (1967), and The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968).

[@ricknineg]

Most composer has a long list of credits for many other shows and movies

[@jmadratz]

@@ricknineg Rick, did you know why her name was Morticia? “Charles Addams' selection of her name was inspired by "mortician". Morticia's maiden name is "Frump" and she has an older sister named Ophelia (also played by Carolyn Jones in the original TV series). In the television series, her mother is Hester Frump (played by Margaret Hamilton). Her mother-in-law is Grandmama Addams. In the 1990s Addams Family films, familial relationships are changed for the characters of Grandmama and Fester. Grandmama is actually Morticia's mother, not Gomez's, while Fester is Gomez's brother, not Morticia's uncle” [Directly taken from the Wikipedia page for Morticia Addams]. As Johnny Carson used to say : “I did not know that” BTW, with reference to the king of late night talk shows Johnny Carson, is there any possibility you could have a few videos devoted to “Here’s Johnny”

[@dennisbrown6885]

I always enjoy a picture of a candlestick phone because I used one as a very young boy.

[@Tim-57]

Hey Rick Awesome use of your talent. Take care of Yourself

[@keith-c7x]

They were really human. The Adams Family. Lurch was a half giant. Pugsley was a digger. they were all immortal.

[@8outof10catzDOOM]

So this video is actually about someone harmonising with himself? That was done all the time even back then, and has been done countless times since. No tricks really just a tried and tested musical procedure.

[@jlovebirch]

Great story -- amazing how petty and cheap the network was with the budget.

[@DedhedWaldo]

Vic Mizzy also wrote Green Acres and, I believe, Petticoat Junction, and he HATED the digital era and did everything he could to keep his music off of Napster, Kazaa, etc.

[@adventureswithmymother]

I met lurch the one from the movies from the nineties