The Munsters - Did you know?

The classic family monster show only ran for 2 season, from 1964-1966, but has had a huge following from syndication to spin offs and films. Originally executives were undecided on whether or not the show should be animated or live action.

The pilot "My Fair Munster" was 16 minutes filmed in color and was used to pitch the series to CBS and its affiliates. It never aired but the script was reused for a episode of the same name. The cast was slightly different with Joan Marshall as Phoebe (instead of Lily), Beverley Owen as Marilyn, Nate "Happy" Derman as Eddie, Al Lewis as Grandpa and Fred Gwynne as Herman. Although the same house exterior was used in the actual show, it was changed to make it look more gothic and "spooky". Changes included adding the tower deck and Marilyn's deck, a new coat of paint, and enlarging the living room. Although Grandpa had the same dungeon, Herman did not have padding in the pitch episode and was broad but thin. The most noticeable difference was his somber expression, compared to his comical silliness during the series. All characters, except Marilyn, had a blue/green tint to their skin.





The title sequence had light happy music (picked up from the Doris Day movie, The Thrill of it All) instead of the more hip surf theme that was to come. The episode is available on the complete first season of The Munsters DVDs. It was also decided that Joan Marshall looked too much like Morticia Addams and that Happy Derman was too nasty as Eddie, so both were replaced. On the basis of the first presentation, the new series, still not completely cast, was announced by CBS on February 18, 1964. A second black-and-white presentation was made with the new actors.



Munstermobiles
The Munster Koach and DRAG-U-LA were designed by Tom Daniel and built by auto customizer George Barris for the show. The "Munster Koach" was a hot rod built on a lengthened 1926 Ford Model T chassis with a custom hearse body. It was 18 feet long and cost almost $20,000 to build. Barris also built the "DRAG-U-LA," a dragster built from a coffin (according to Barris, a real coffin was, in fact, purchased for the car), which Grandpa used to win back "The Munster Koach" after Herman lost it in a race




The Munster Mansion
The Munster family's Victorian mansion at 1313 Mockingbird Lane in Mockingbird Heights . The town's location is not specified in the series, but in later incarnations is described as a small town outside of Los Angeles, California. Leo Durocher, who was then coaching with the Los Angeles Dodgers, guest-starred as himself in one episode, further hinting the show was set in or near Los Angeles. The exterior shots were filmed on the Universal Studios backlot. The house was originally built in 1946 for the movie So Goes My Love, and then put into storage for several years. Sometime in the 1950s, it was assembled with other homes on the backlot. Until production of The Munsters in 1964, the house could be seen as a backdrop on many shows, including Leave It to Beaver. It was also the home of the family in Shirley (ABC, 1979–80) and has appeared in other TV shows such as Coach and most notably (after a remodel) Desperate Housewives.




The Munster's Theme Song
Yes, the theme song actually had lyrics. Sing along with the music playing in your head.

When you are walking down the street at night
And behind you there's no one in view.
But you hear mysterious feet at night,
Then the Munsters are following you.

If you should meet this strange family
Just forget what some people have said,
The Munsters may shake your hand clammily
But they're not necessarily dead.

Behind their house you mustn't be afraid
To see a figure digging with a spade.
Perhaps someone didn't quite make the grade
With the Munsters, with the Munsters.

If when you're sleeping you dream a lot,
Ghoulish nightmares parade through your head,
And then you wake up and scream a lot,
Oh the Munsters are under your bed.

At midnight if creatures should prowl about,
And if vampires and vultures swoop down.
And werewolves and fiends shriek and howl about,
Oh the Munsters are out on the town.

One night I dared peak through their window screen,
My hair turned white at such a crazy scene.
Because every evening its Halloween
At the Munsters,
At the Munsters.

The biggest character difference with Eddie was that he was portrayed by Derman as a nasty brat. As his replacement, Butch Patrick's Eddie appeared with a more "normal" look, although his hairstyle was later altered to include a widow's peak




Thanks for listening. This blog sponsored by B.L.Tees - your one stop shop for all your retro t-shirt needs. With 2 locations containing a huge selection of rare and hard to find vintage designs.
http://stores.ebay.com/B-L-Tees
http://www.bltshirt.com/