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Encyclopedia > The Munsters
The Munsters

The Munsters - Herman, Lily, Grandpa, Marilyn and Eddie
Format Situation comedy
Created by Allan Burns
Chris Hayward
Developed by Norm Liebmann
Ed Haas
Starring Fred Gwynne
Yvonne De Carlo
Al Lewis
Beverley Owen
Pat Priest
Butch Patrick
Theme music composer Jack Marshall
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
Language(s) English
No. of episodes 70 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel CBS
Picture format Black-and-white
Audio format Monaural sound
Original run September 24, 1964May 12, 1966
External links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

The Munsters was a 1960s American television comedy depicting the home life of a family of monsters. The show was a satire of both traditional monster movies and popular family entertainment of the era, such as Leave it to Beaver. It ran concurrently with the The Addams Family, though the Addams were well-to-do, while the Munsters were decidedly more blue-collar. Image File history File links Themunsters. ... This article is about a genre of comedy. ... Allan Burns (born May 18, 1935) is a Jewish-American screenwriter and television producer. ... Chris Hayward (19 June 1925 – 20 November 2006) was an American television writer and producer. ... Frederick Hubbard Gwynne (July 10, 1926 – July 2, 1993) was an American actor, known for starring in the television sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Al Lewis (30 April 1923 – 3 February 2006) was an American actor best known for his role as Grandpa on the television series The Munsters. ... Beverley Owen (born Beverley Ogg) (1939 in Ottumwa, Iowa - ) is a classically-trained American actress perhaps most widely known for having played the role of Marilyn Munster during the first season of The Munsters (a role she disliked, and only accepted out of contractual obligations to Universal Studios). ... Patricia Ann Priest (born August 15, 1936 in Bountiful, Utah) is an American actress who is best known for portraying Marilyn Munster on the 1960s televison show, The Munsters, which also starred Fred Gwynne, Yvonne DeCarlo and Al Lewis. ... Patrick Alan Lilley (born August 2, 1953), better known as Butch Patrick, is a former American child actor best known for his role as Eddie Munster in the television show The Munsters (1964-1966) for which he received $600 per episode, and the movie Munster, Go Home. ... For other uses, see Jack Marshall (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Two seasons were made of the comedy series The Munsters. ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... Black-and-white or black and white) can refer to a general term used in photography, film, and other media (see black-and-white). ... Label for 1. ... is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about a genre of comedy. ... This article is about monsters as a kind of legendary creature. ... Monster Movie is the debut album by Krautrock Band Can. ... For other uses, see Leave It to Beaver (disambiguation). ... For the TV series, see The Addams Family (TV series). ...


The original idea came from animator Bob Clampett, who wanted to do a cartoon involving a family of monsters living in suburbia. In the 1940s, he sent the idea to movie studio executives but never got a reply. In the early 1960s, the idea was submitted to Universal Studios by Rocky & Bullwinkle writers, Allan Burns and Chris Hayward. For some time, there were some studio people who wanted the series to be made as a cartoon and others who wanted actors. Finally, a script was commissioned by Universal, using actors, and when the finished product was seen, cartoons lost out. An animator is an artist who creates multiple images called frames that form an illusion of movement called animation when rapidly displayed. ... Robert Emerson Bob Clampett (May 8, 1913–May 4, 1984) was an American animator, producer, director, and puppeteer best known for his work on the Looney Tunes series of cartoons from Warner Bros. ... For other uses, see Cartoon (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Suburb. ... A movie studio is a controlled environment for the making of a film. ... This article is about the American media conglomerate. ... The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (also known as Rocky and His Friends and The Bullwinkle Show) was a television animated series created and produced in the USA by Jay Ward. ... Allan Burns (born May 18, 1935) is a Jewish-American screenwriter and television producer. ... Chris Hayward (19 June 1925 – 20 November 2006) was an American television writer and producer. ...


The show aired at night once a week in black-and-white on the CBS Television network from 1964 to 1966 for 70 episodes. It was cancelled after ratings dropped to an all-time low due to the premiere of ABC's Batman, which was in full color. The Munsters have continued in syndication ever since. It was popular enough to warrant a clone series and several movies. Black-and-white or black and white) can refer to a general term used in photography, film, and other media (see black-and-white). ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the American broadcast network. ... This article is about the 1960s television series. ... See TV (disambiguation) for other uses and Television (band) for the rock band European networks National In much of Europe television broadcasting has historically been state dominated, rather than commercially organised, although commercial stations have grown in number recently. ... In the television industry (as in radio), syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast programs to multiple stations, without going through a broadcast network. ...


The Munsters had higher Nielsen ratings than the slightly more intellectual The Addams Family. When TV viewers or entertainment professionals in the United States mention ratings they are often referring to Nielsen Ratings, a system developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the audience size and composition of television programming. ... For the TV series, see The Addams Family (TV series). ...

Contents

The pilot

The first pilot was 13 minutes, 24 seconds long and was used to pitch the series to CBS. It was made in color, and though it never aired, some of the footage was later used for the episode "My Fair Munster". The cast in order of appearance in the title sequence were: Joan Marshall as Phoebe (instead of Lily), Beverly (not Beverley) Owen as Marilyn, Nate "Happy" Derman as Eddie, Al Lewis as Grandpa and Fred Gwynne as Herman. They used the same house (exterior) but slight changes were made to it such as the addition of the tower deck and Marilyn's deck, a new coat of paint, and enlargement of the living room. Grandpa had the same dungeon. Herman did not have padding and was broad but thin. Most noticeable was his sombre almost sad face much of the time unlike his comical happiness during the series. Eddie was a nasty brat. All characters, except Marilyn, had a blue tint to their skin. Marilyn was Phoebe's niece. The title sequence had light happy music (it came from an old Doris Day movie[citation needed]) instead of the more appropriate zany theme that was to come. The pilot is available on the complete first season of "The Munsters" DVDs. A television pilot is a test episode of an intended television series. ... Al Lewis (30 April 1923 – 3 February 2006) was an American actor best known for his role as Grandpa on the television series The Munsters. ... Frederick Hubbard Gwynne (July 10, 1926 – July 2, 1993) was an American actor, known for starring in the television sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters. ... A sitting room in the UK. A living room, also known as sitting room (especially in the UK), lounge room or lounge (in the United Kingdom and Australia), is a room for entertaining guests, reading, watching TV or other activities. ... The dungeons of Blarney Castle. ... Colour wheel with shading for colour picking. ... Doris Mary Ann von Kappelhoff (born April 3, 1924)[1] is an American singer, actress, and animal welfare advocate known as Doris Day. ... DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ...


It was 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 pilot, the new series, still not completely cast, was announced by CBS on February 18, 1964. A second black-and-white pilot was made (which was $10,000 cheaper per episode[citation needed]) with the new actors. In this pilot, Eddie (Butch Patrick) looked too "normal", so his hairstyle was altered to include a widow's peak, and he was given fangs. Carolyn Jones as Morticia Addams in the 1960s television series Morticia Frump Addams is the fictional matriarch of The Addams Family, created by cartoonist Charles Addams. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Black-and-white or black and white) can refer to a general term used in photography, film, and other media (see black-and-white). ... Patrick Alan Lilley (born August 2, 1953), better known as Butch Patrick, is a former American child actor best known for his role as Eddie Munster in the television show The Munsters (1964-1966) for which he received $600 per episode, and the movie Munster, Go Home. ... “Haircut” redirects here. ... Widows peak A widows peak is a descending V-shaped point in the middle of the hairline (above the forehead). ... Fang may mean: One of the Beti-Pahuin ethnic groups of Central Africa; A pointed tooth; A transliteration of Chinese Family Names 方,防,房 etc. ...


Characters

The Munsters

The family, while decidedly odd, consider themselves fairly typical middle-class Americans of the era. Herman, like so many husbands of 1960s, is the sole wage-earner in the family, though Lily and Grandpa make (short-lived) attempts to earn a little money from time to time. While Herman is titular "head of household," it is Lily who actually makes most of the decisions. This article is about the socio-economic class from a global vantage point. ...


Unlike the Addams Family, who considered their lifestyle superior to that of their neighbors, the Munsters actively made efforts to integrate with their community. Eddie occasionally had school chums over, and Herman was well-liked at his job. They occasionally made pop culture references, which would indicate that they read newspapers or listened to news on the radio. For the TV series, see The Addams Family (TV series). ... Popular culture, or pop culture, is the vernacular (peoples) culture that prevails in a modern society. ...


Herman Munster

Herman (played by Fred Gwynne) is a good-natured buffoon. Although 151 years old[citation needed], he behaves rather childishly, often throwing temper tantrums. He is employed by the Gateman, Goodbury and Graves funeral parlor (Mr. Gateman is played by John Carradine in "Herman's Raise"), having started out as a humble "nail boy." Although it is not stated what Herman does for a living, it can be inferred from his jokes that he is a gravedigger. He also gets a promotion to hearse driver in one episode, where he has to get his driver's license renewed, only to discover he is starting out driving the "economy model" hearse, which uses a horse; Herman's co-workers sometimes remark on his height and strength, but otherwise do not appear to find his appearance and color (green) out of the ordinary. Frederick Hubbard Gwynne (July 10, 1926 – July 2, 1993) was an American actor, known for starring in the television sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... John Carradine (February 5, 1906 – November 27, 1988) was a Daytime Emmy Award-winning American actor, perhaps best known for his roles in horror films and Westerns. ... Look up Gravedigger in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Funeral carriage, Museum of Funeral Customs For the extreme metal band, see Hearse (band) A hearse is a funeral vehicle, a conveyance for the coffin from e. ... Current EU driving licence, German version - front 1. ...


Herman is incredibly strong, once lifting a solid metal demolition ball casually with one hand. He is almost immovable; a number of times, cars have run into him without doing any damage. A safe fell on his head ("John Doe Munster") and though it did not hurt him, it gave him amnesia. When asked how much he weighs, Herman says: "Three spins," meaning the pointer on the scale goes around three times. In the episode "Herman's Lawsuit," his driver's license gives his weight as 380 (lbs.), height as 7 feet, 6 inches, and eyes as brown. Herman (and the rest of the family) considers himself handsome even though he can crack a mirror by looking at it, once even cracking a shiny frying pan he looked into. When frustrated (often), he tends to stamp like a child having a tantrum -- causing plaster to shower down from the ceiling. His strength is especially useful around "the Parlor" -- he can lift caskets unassisted.


In one episode, Lily tells Eddie that "Dr. Frankenstein" made Herman. Herman was built in Germany, adopted by the Munster family of England, then relocated to Transylvania, where he married Lily. Herman served in the U.S. Army during World War II. As of the second season, he and Lily had been married for one hundred years. Herman's family was mentioned several times but more siblings were added through the years. In the original series he has a twin brother, Charlie, who speaks with an English-sounding accent and is a scam artist. In The Munsters Today, he is given a younger brother named Frank. And in the 1995 movie, Here Come The Munsters he is given a sister named Elsa who resembles the Bride of Frankenstein. She is also married to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This article is about the 1818 novel. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article is about the region in Romania. ... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Confidence Man redirects here. ... The Munsters Today was an American syndicated television series that was a spin-off from the 1960s comedy The Munsters. ... Here Come The Munsters was a made for TV movie that aired exclusively on Halloween Night October 31st on Fox in 1995. ... Bride of Frankenstein is a horror/science fiction film released on April 22, 1935, a sequel to the 1931 film Frankenstein. ... The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll1and Mr. ...


Gwynne's costume and appearance matched the popular image of the monster (flat head, ill-fitting black suit and electrodes protruding from the neck), invented for the original 1931 Universal Studios film, Frankenstein. Under the hot studio lights, Gwynne wore so much padding and so many layers of clothes that despite drinking gallons of lemonade and taking salt tablets between takes and using an air hose between his neck and costume, he sweated so much that he continuously lost weight, becoming dangerously thin. On the DVD, Al Lewis said that Fred Gwynne suffered terribly for the role. Frankensteins monster (or Frankenstein or Frankensteins creature) is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelleys novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. ... For other uses, see Electrode (disambiguation). ... This article is about the American media conglomerate. ... Frankenstein is a 1931 science fiction film from Universal Pictures directed by James Whale and very loosely based on the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. ... This article is about the drink made with lemons. ...


Lily Munster

Lily Munster

Lily Munster (played by Yvonne De Carlo) is the matriarch of the Munster family. Her maiden name is Dracula. She is the wife of Herman Munster, the daughter of Sam Dracula and the mother of Eddie Munster. She is very close with her niece, Marilyn. She has a werewolf for a brother, who appears in one episode, and a sister who is mentioned a few times who is Marilyn's mother. Lily is the voice of reason in the Munster household, often relied upon to set problems right, and typically mediates when Herman and Grandpa squabble. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... ... Née redirects here. ... This article is about the novel. ... For other uses, see Werewolf (disambiguation). ...


Lily is mainly a housewife, and her duties include spreading garbage around the mansion and "dusting" with a vacuum cleaner operating in reverse so that it blows dirt about in the nine-room-and-a-dungeon house. During the course of the series, Lily works as a welder in a shipyard, a fashion model, and a palm reader in a tea room. In one episode she forces Herman to give her money so that she and Marilyn can open a beauty parlor, but this soon goes out of business, as Lily assumes her clientele wants to look more like her[citation needed]. These part time jobs never seem to stick, and Lily would be back to being a homemaker by the next episode. Once, when she thinks Herman is going broke, she gets a job to help out, keeping this a secret, lest it wound Herman's pride. In some ways, Lily is a proto-feminist, striving against Herman's more traditional family values. A stereotypical housewife A homemaker is a person whose prime occupation is to care for their family and home. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Regular canister vacuum cleaner for home use. ... A welder is a tradesman who specialises in welding materials together. ... A model is a person who poses or displays for purposes of art, fashion, or other products and advertising. ... The Fortune Teller, by Caravaggio (1594–95; Canvas; Louvre), depicting a palm reading Chiromancy or cheiromancy, (Greek cheir, “hand”; manteia, “divination”), is the art of characterization and foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as palmistry, palm-reading, chirology or hand analysis. ... For tea rooms used in Japanese tea ceremony, see Japanese tea house The gallery in The Willow Tearooms. ... It has been suggested that hair salon be merged into this article or section. ... A part-time job carries less hours per week than a full-time job, and usually pays less than a full-time job. ...


Lily is a beautiful and slender woman who appears to be in her middle-age years, although she is actually hundreds of years old. Her skin was green, which repelled some people. Later incarnations of the character, played by different actresses, would change her skin from green to pale white. A white streak in her hair recalls the monster's mate from Bride of Frankenstein. Lily usually dresses in an ankle-length pale pink gown that appears faded and old, sometimes covering up with a scarf. Her necklace features a bat-shaped medallion. When away from the Munster house, she sometimes wears a long silver cape with a hood. Middle age is the period of life beyond young adulthood but before the onset of old age. ... Bride of Frankenstein is a horror/science fiction film released on April 22, 1935, a sequel to the 1931 film Frankenstein. ... For other senses of this word, see necklace (disambiguation). ... A medallion is a piece of metal, usually carved or engraving, that is used as a medal, or worn on the body as a special symbol. ...


Lily was not in the original pilot episode of The Munsters. Instead, Herman is married to a much more Gothic-looking wife named Phoebe, played by Joan Marshall. The producers scrapped the Phoebe character after deciding she seemed almost an exact double of the Morticia Addams character on The Addams Family. Lily appeared in the second pilot and all other episodes. For the role, Yvonne de Carlo had to wear a wig that weighed 20 pounds (9kg). A television pilot is the first episode of an intended television series. ... Carolyn Jones as Morticia Addams in the 1960s television series Morticia Frump Addams is the fictional matriarch of The Addams Family, created by cartoonist Charles Addams. ... For the TV series, see The Addams Family (TV series). ...


Yvonne De Carlo was cast for the role in March 1964. When first cast, Gwynne and Lewis went to the producers and complained because De Carlo was a professional actress of long standing and they were worried that she would not fit in. However, after a few shows, they had to admit they had been wrong, and all got on well. ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ...


Grandpa

Grandpa
Grandpa

Grandpa (played by Al Lewis) is Lily's father. His given name is either Sam Dracula (in the old series) or Vladimir Dracula (in The Munsters Today) but he is usually just called Grandpa. He is a mad scientist and keeps a laboratory in the cellar of the house, often referred to as going "down in the lab." Various potions and magic spells that he devises there are central to many of the show's stories. Many of his inventions are less than successful, but he never stops thinking up new ones. Grandpa appears to be able to transform into a wolf and a bat, as per Bram Stoker's Dracula. Image File history File links Al_Lewis_01. ... Image File history File links Al_Lewis_01. ... Al Lewis (30 April 1923 – 3 February 2006) was an American actor best known for his role as Grandpa on the television series The Munsters. ... For other uses, see Father (disambiguation). ... Look up Appendix:Most popular given names by country in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Munsters Today was an American syndicated television series that was a spin-off from the 1960s comedy The Munsters. ... They LAUGHED at my theories at the institute! Fools! Ill destroy them all! Caucasian, male, aging, crooked teeth, messy hair, lab coat, spectacles/goggles, dramatic posing — one popular stereotype of mad scientist. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A cellar is a storage room built below ground level (usually under a house), primarily for the storage of food and drink (especially wine) for use throughout the year. ... The spell is a magical act intended to cause an effect on reality using supernatural means of liturgical or ritual nature. ... Abraham Bram Stoker (November 8, 1847 – April 20, 1912) was an Irish writer, best remembered as the author of the influential horror novel Dracula. ... This article is about the novel. ...


He is at least 400 years old (he talks of knowing Nero, etc. though may be just given to boasting) and has been married several times; although his wives are all dead, he still keeps in touch with them. His identity as Count Dracula is established in two episodes, Mr. Gateman refers to him as "Count Dracula" when he comes to dinner and to hear Eddie play the trumpet (episode: The Musician), he's also refers to himself as "Count Dracula" when he makes a collect call to Transylvania, and the telephone operator recognizes his voice immediately. In the same episode he says he used to play poker with Jack the Ripper, from whom he won the cursed Fregosi Emerald. A collect call in the USA or reverse charge in the UK and other countries (or calling collect) is a telephone call in which the calling party wants to place a call at the called partys expense. ... This article is about the region in Romania. ... A telephone operator at work on a private switchboard A telephone operator is either a person who provides assistance to a telephone caller, usually in the placing of operator assisted telephone calls such as calls from a pay phone, collect calls (called reversed-charge calls in the UK), calls which... Jack the Ripper is the pseudonym given to an unidentified serial killer active in the largely impoverished Whitechapel area of London, England in the second half of 1888. ...


Grandpa has an extremely sarcastic personality, especially when insulting his son-in-law, Herman. Despite this, Grandpa and Herman are actually very close, and most of the episodes of the series revolve around their zany schemes, usually ending with Lily chewing them out or fixing the problem. In one episode Lily says that if it wasn't for Herman, Grandpa would be living in a cave.


Eddie Munster

Eddie Munster
Eddie Munster

Eddie (played by Butch Patrick) is a typical all-American boy apart from being a werewolf and, in some episodes, showing some signs of being part vampire. Most noticeable is the fact that he sleeps in a coffin. He has a stuffed toy werewolf named Woof-Woof,which bears an uncanny resemblance to Lon Chaney, Jr.'s character, The Wolfman. He attends elementary school, and aside from his pointed ears, severe widow's peak, and Fauntleroy suit, he is a normal kid. His full name is Edward Wolfgang Munster. Image File history File linksMetadata Butch_patrickmunster. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Butch_patrickmunster. ... Patrick Alan Lilley (born August 2, 1953), better known as Butch Patrick, is a former American child actor best known for his role as Eddie Munster in the television show The Munsters (1964-1966) for which he received $600 per episode, and the movie Munster, Go Home. ... An All-America team is a sports team composed of star players. ... For other uses, see Werewolf (disambiguation). ... Lon Chaney, Jr. ... The Wolf Man is a 1941 horror film written by Curt Siodmak and produced and directed by George Waggner, starring Lon Chaney Jr, Claude Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi, and Maria Ouspenskaya. ... Primary or elementary education is the first years of formal, structured education that occurs during childhood. ... Widows peak A widows peak is a descending V-shaped point in the middle of the hairline (above the forehead). ... Little Lord Fauntleroy is a sentimental childrens novel by American (English-born) author Frances Hodgson Burnett, serialized in St. ...


In the original pilot episode, the part was played by Happy Derman, who played a more aggressively wolfish boy. Butch Patrick was cast in March 1964 and would appear in all other episodes to follow.


Marilyn Munster

Marilyn (played by Beverley Owen and Pat Priest) is the daughter of one of Lily's sisters, and lives with the Munsters through the show's run. The reason Marilyn lives with the Munsters is not explained in the series. Although she is Lily's niece, she is always referred to as "Marilyn Munster". (While the character was being developed, her name was Marilyn Mundane.) In Here Come the Munsters, Marilyn is the daughter of Herman's sister Elsa and her husband. In this version her name is said to be Hyde. Beverley Owen (born Beverley Ogg) (1939 in Ottumwa, Iowa - ) is a classically-trained American actress perhaps most widely known for having played the role of Marilyn Munster during the first season of The Munsters (a role she disliked, and only accepted out of contractual obligations to Universal Studios). ... Patricia Ann Pat Priest (b. ...


A fetching young blonde resembling Marilyn Monroe, she is the only family member who is not ghoulish in appearance. The family is vaguely ashamed of their relationship to such a homely person. Although they treat her with kindness, even Marilyn is aware of her "plain-ness". She bemoans that she keeps scaring off potential boyfriends, having no clue that the young men are frightened away by her oddball family. She attends Westbury College. Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe award winning American actress, model and sex symbol. ...


Despite standing out amongst the cast more than any other character, Marilyn was the least developed character in the series. She was never the main character in any episode, and she usually acted as a catalyst for Herman and Grandpa's antics.


Marilyn was originally played by Beverley Owen, who was 30 years old at the time and had to wear a blonde wig to resemble Marilyn Monroe. The role was taken over in episode 14 by Pat Priest after Owen left to marry Jon Stone.[1] Pat Priest looked enough like Beverley Owen that many never even noticed that the role was played by another actress. It also helped the studio in that she was Owen's size and so fit into her wardrobe. In Munsters Go Home, she is portrayed by Debbie Watson. Beverley Owen (born Beverley Ogg) (1939 in Ottumwa, Iowa - ) is a classically-trained American actress perhaps most widely known for having played the role of Marilyn Munster during the first season of The Munsters (a role she disliked, and only accepted out of contractual obligations to Universal Studios). ... Patricia Ann Pat Priest (b. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... There are at least two well-known people named Debbie Watson, including: Debbie Watson, American actress, born 1949 Debbie Watson, Australian water polo player, born 1965 Category: ...


Relatives

  • Charlie Munster - Herman's twin brother, also played by Fred Gwynne
  • Frank Munster - Herman's brother in The Munsters Today
  • Elsa Hyde/Munster - Herman's Sister in Here Come The Munsters
  • Ronald Dracula - Grandpa's younger cousin, a vampire
  • Lester Dracula - Lily's brother, a werewolf
  • Uncle Gilbert - otherwise known as the Creature from the Black Lagoon
  • Uncle Boris and Aunt Mina - never depicted, said to live in Death Valley.
  • Cousin Phantom - otherwise known as the Phantom of the Opera. Has a bad habit of shattering fragile objects with his voice when hitting high notes.
  • Humphrey - a cousin of Grandpa's, who Grandpa hasn't spoken to since he stole his aspirin during the Black Plague. He is apparently a terrible piano player.
  • Johann - Herman's more primitive cousin who was brought to America by Victor Frankenstein the fourth ("A Visit from Johann"). Although physically identical the Herman, Johann is depicted as wild, inarticulate and somewhat violent, much closer in personality to Karloff's original monster. Dialogue from the episode suggests that Johann, rather than Herman, was the murderous creature depicted in the 1930s Universal Horror Cycle; a possibility reinforced by Johann wearing the same costume Karloff wore in Son of Frankenstein.
  • Boris - a mechanical brother made for Eddie when he said he wanted a baby brother. He soon grabs most of the family's attention.

Fraternal twin boys in the tub Twins in animal biology is a case of multiple birth in which the mother gives birth to two offspring from the same pregnancy. ... The Munsters Today was an American syndicated television series that was a spin-off from the 1960s comedy The Munsters. ... Here Come The Munsters was a made for TV movie that aired exclusively on Halloween Night October 31st on Fox in 1995. ... For other uses, see Werewolf (disambiguation). ... Creature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 black-and-white science fiction film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, and Whit Bissell. ... For other uses, see Death Valley (disambiguation). ... The title character as depicted by Lon Chaney, Sr. ... This article concerns the epidemic of the mid-14th century. ... A short grand piano, with the lid up. ... Son of Frankenstein is a horror film made by Universal Studios in 1939 and directed by Rowland V. Lee. ...

Other recurring characters

  • Dr. Edward H. Dudley, MD. The Munsters' family doctor was portrayed by Paul Lynde. Dr. Dudley is nearsighted and sometimes rather prefers to have his glasses off whenever he examines members of the family, especially Herman. His secretary and nurse is Miss Fairchild. Dr. Dudley is married and has a son named Elmer, who becomes Eddie's playmate. Paul Lynde only appeared in three episodes of The Munsters and was replaced by Dom Deluise in "Just Another Pretty Face".
  • Mr. Gateman. Herman's boss at the funeral parlor was played by John Carradine. Mr. Gateman is the only normal person who is not taken aback by Herman and the rest of the Munster clan. On two occasions, Mr. Gateman fires Herman, the first time when Herman asks for raise. Lily helps Herman to get his old job back by convincing Mr. Gateman of Herman's value to the company. The second time is after Herman invites him over for dinner and has Eddie play jazz on his trumpet, of which Mr. Gateman disapproves. He reluctantly has a change of heart and rehires Herman.
  • Clyde Thornton. Herman's co-worker at the funeral parlor was portrayed by Chet Stratton. When first introduced, Clyde is continuously tricking and ridiculing Herman into one of his practical jokes until Herman finally stands up to him and Clyde gets caught in one of his own traps. After settling their differences, in "Cyrano De Munster", Clyde uses Herman's poems to woo the girl of his dreams. When she finds out that Clyde is not the one writing the poems, she rejects him and goes after Herman. After discovering Herman, the girl screams and runs away. Angry at seeing his dream girl so emotional, Clyde punches Herman in the jaw and breaks his hand.

Paul Edward Lynde (June 13, 1926 — January 11, 1982) was an American comedian and actor. ... Normal vision for a achromatopsic colour-blind person. ... 2004 Playmate of the Year Carmella DeCesare meets with fans A Playmate is a female model featured in the centerfold/gatefold of Playboy magazine as Playmate of the Month (or PMOM). ... Dominick Dom DeLuise (born August 1, 1933) is an American actor, comedian, film director, television producer and chef. ... Just Another Pretty Face is an episode of season two of The Munsters. ... John Carradine (February 5, 1906 – November 27, 1988) was a Daytime Emmy Award-winning American actor, perhaps best known for his roles in horror films and Westerns. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ...

Production

The show was produced by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, who were already known for creating the Leave it to Beaver television series. Prior to that, they wrote over 1,500 episodes of Amos 'n' Andy, a presence on network radio for nearly its entire history. Author Joe Connelly is regarded as one of Americas most promising young writers, mentioned along with his contemporaries such as literary stars Dave Eggars and Jonathan Lentham. ... Bob Mosher (d. ... For other uses, see Leave It to Beaver (disambiguation). ... Illustrator J.J. Goulds 1930 drawing of Amos and Andy for New Movie Magazine Amos n Andy was a situation comedy popular in the United States from the 1920s through the 1950s. ...


While its humor was usually broad, the series was visually sophisticated, particularly for an early-sixties sitcom. The Munsters' home was a burnt, crumbling Gothic mansion, riddled with smoke, filthy with dust and cobwebs. Rich, shadowy photography echoed James Whale's expressionistic Frankenstein films, emphasizing the family's ghoulishness. The moving camera (a rarity in television comedies even today) often paused on busy compositions, focusing on multiple characters amid detailed settings. Victoria Tower at the Palace of Westminster, London: Gothic details provided by A.W.N. Pugin San Sebastian Church in Manila, Philippines made entirely of steel. ... James Whale (July 22, 1889 – May 29, 1957) was a ground-breaking British Hollywood film director, best known for his work in the horror movie genre, making such pictures as Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, and The Invisible Man. ... This article is about the 1818 novel. ...


The Munsters was filmed in black-and-white, though the never-aired pilot episode was filmed in color. Black-and-white or black and white) can refer to a general term used in photography, film, and other media (see black-and-white). ... Color is an important part of the visual arts. ...


The Munstermobile

George Barris built two automobiles for the show: "The Munster Koach", a hot rod built on a lengthened 1923 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 (which inspired a Rob Zombie song by the same name), a dragster built from a coffin, which Grandpa used to win back "The Munster Koach" after Herman lost it in a race. (According to Barris, a real coffin was, in fact, purchased for the car.) In real life, Yvonne de Carlo drove a Jaguar sedan fitted with custom-made "spooky" ornaments, for example spider webs on the rims. She had to give up on it, as the car was repeatedly vandalized by fans hunting for souvenirs. Two men called George Barris were prominent in the latter half of the twentieth century for their links to the Hollywood entertainment community. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into The Munsters. ... T-Bucket hot rod Hot rods are older, often historical, cars. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1927. ... This article is about The Munsters car. ... Robert Cummings (born January 12, 1965 in Haverhill, Massachusetts), better known as Rob Zombie, is an American musician, film director, and writer. ... Dragula is the first single from Rob Zombie solo debut Hellbilly Deluxe. ... Jaguar Cars Limited is a luxury car manufacturer, originally with headquarters in Browns Lane, Coventry, England but now at Whitley, Coventry. ...


The Munster Mansion

The original Victorian home of the Munster family was at 1313 Mockingbird Lane in the fictional 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.) In reality, the exterior shots were filmed on the Universal Studios backlot. The house was built in 1946 for the movie So Goes My Love. It was then put into storage for several years. Then sometime in the fifties it along with other Facades was assembled with other homes on the back lot which was called River Road. Until production of The Munsters in 1964 the house could be seen as a back drop on many shows including Leave it to Beaver. It was remodeled and featured on Desperate Housewives and located on Colonial Street in the backlot. It was also the home of the family in Shirley (ABC, 1979-80) and has also appeared in other TV shows such as Coach and Leave it to Beaver. The interiors were contained entirely on an enclosed sound stage. Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... For other uses, see Leave It to Beaver (disambiguation). ... Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series, created by Marc Cherry, who also serves as show runner, and produced by ABC Studios - The Walt Disney Companys main television studio - and Cherry Productions. ... Colonial Street is one of the backlot street sets at Universal Studios. ... Shirley is the name of several places in the world: Shirley, London in the London Borough of Croydon, England Shirley, West Midlands, England Shirley, New Zealand, a suburb of Christchurch Shirley, Arkansas, United States of America Shirley, Massachusetts, United States of America Shirley, New York, United States of America Shirley... Coach is a popular American television sitcom that aired for nine seasons on ABC from 1989 to 1997. ... For other uses, see Leave It to Beaver (disambiguation). ... Soundstage redirects here. ...


In the spring of 2001, Sandra and Charles McKee of Waxahachie, Texas began construction of a fully livable recreation of the Munster home, inside and out. With initial construction completed in 2002, cast alumni Al Lewis and Butch Patrick appeared at the public grand opening. Lewis exclaimed, with tears in his eyes, "This brings back warm memories." The house comes equipped with a grand staircase (which opens up to reveal Spot), a rotating suit of armor, trap doors, secret passages, Grandpa's electric chair, a pipe organ, raven cuckoo clock, a crooked bat weather vane on the roof and even a dungeon complete with trap door. Waxahachie is a city located in Ellis County, Texas. ... Cuckoo clock, a so-called Jagdstück, Black Forest, ca. ... Weather vane Weather cock Aerovane A weather vane, also called a wind vane, is a movable device attached to an elevated object such as a roof for showing the direction of the wind. ...


Since then, the McKees have opened their private home to the public for two nights each year on the weekend of Halloween. Since the death of Lewis, Pat Priest has returned to appear multiple times. The Munster Mansion Halloween Bash each year selects a local charity and donates all proceeds from the event. This article is about the holiday. ... The Munster Mansion is the house most associated for its use in the sixties sitcom The Munsters and other uses since then. ...


Episodes

Two seasons were made of the comedy series The Munsters. ...

Spinoff series

The Munsters Today ran from 1988 to 1991 and lasted for 72 episodes. The unaired pilot episode, written by Lloyd J Schwartz, explained the 22 year gap through an accident in Grandpa's lab that put the family to sleep. They awake in the late 1980s and have to adapt to modern life in the 80s. It featured John Schuck (Herman), Lee Meriwether as Lily, Howard Morton (Grandpa) and Jason Marsden (Eddie). Marilyn was portrayed by Mary-Ellen Dunbar in the first episode, and by Hilary Van Dyke thereafter. The Munsters Today was an American syndicated television series that was a spin-off from the 1960s comedy The Munsters. ... John Schuck (born February 4, 1940 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American character actor. ... Lee Ann Meriwether (born May 27, 1935) is Miss America 1955, and an American actress, appearing in movies, soap operas, game shows and television, best known for her roles as Buddy Ebsens daughter-in-law and crime-solving partner, Betty Jones, in the long-running 1970s crime drama, Barnaby... Howard Morton (May 15, 1925 -- May 11, 1997) was an American actor. ... Jason Christopher Marsden (born January 3, 1975) is an American screen and voice actor largely known for numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series. ... The talented actress and singer Hilary Van Dyke, began her career in TV advertisements before landing the role as Marilyn in The Munsters Today, replacing original pilot episodes Mary Ellen Dunbar. ...


The show used many props and set pieces from the original series, and also reworked some old story-lines. From the second series onwards, the show developed a more modern approach, with colorful new costumes and more contemporary storylines, as the Munsters embrace their new lives. In the living room above the fireplace, there a small picture and portraits of the original cast members.


Films

Several Munster films were released, two with the original cast.

  • Munster, Go Home (1966). The Munsters go to England to claim the Munster Hall after the death of an old relative. The film starred the series' cast, with the exception of Pat Priest who was replaced by Universal Pictures by its teenage contract player Debbie Watson. Priest commented on the DVD interview that she was devastated at the producers' decision not to include the then-30-year-old actress. The film gave fans a chance to see the Munsters in color during their original 1960s run for the first and only time. The film also featured the "Dragula" car.
  • The Mini Munsters (1973), a 23 minute cartoon movie that aired on ABC.
  • The Munsters' Revenge (1981), a made-for-TV movie. The owner of a museum with a Munsters exhibit makes robots of Herman and Grandpa and uses them to rob a bank. Gwynne, De Carlo, and Lewis recreated their roles, but Eddie and Marilyn were played by K.C. Martel and Jo McDonnell respectively.
  • Here Come The Munsters (1995), another made-for-TV movie. The family search for Herman's brother-in-law Norman Hyde, only to find out that he has unknowingly turned himself into Brent Jekyll, who is running for congress, and Grandpa must make a formula to change him back. The film featured a cameo scene of DeCarlo, Lewis, Priest, and Patrick as a bickering family in restaurant who were served by (the new) Herman Munster who was a waiter.
  • The Munsters (film) This is an upcoming movie set for a 2008 release and no plot or details have been released.

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Universal Pictures is the main motion picture production/distribution arm of Universal Studios, a subsidiary of NBC Universal. ... Debbie Watson, (born 17 January 1949) is an American actress. ... The Mini-Munsters was a 23 minute cartoon that was aired as part of the The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie in 1973. ... The Munsters Revenge The Munsters Revenge was a 1981 tv movie produced by Universal Studios. ... “Telefilm” redirects here. ... Here Come The Munsters was a made for TV movie that aired exclusively on Halloween Night October 31st on Fox in 1995. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... This television movie featured an entirely different cast from the previous movie Here Come The Munsters. ... A typical depiction of Santa Claus. ... Interior decoration or décor is the art of decorating a room so that it is attractive, easy to use, and functions well with the existing architecture. ... The Munsters is an upcoming 2008 comedy film. ...

Comic book

Gold Key Comics produced a "Munsters" comic book which ran 16 issues from 1965 to 1968 and had photo covers, from the TV series. When it first appeared, the Comics Code Authority still forbade the appearance of vampires in comic books. Lily and Grandpa were permitted without apparent objection. Gold Key Comics was an imprint of Western Publishing cteated for comic books distributed to newstands. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... The seal of the Comics Code Authority, which appears on the covers of approved comic books. ... Philip Burne-Jones, The Vampire, 1897 Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings that subsist on human and/or animal lifeforce. ...


A false first

Herman and Lily Munster are often mistakenly named as the first couple to share the same bed on American television, in the episode "Autumn Croakus" on November 26, 1964. In reality, that distinction goes to Mary Kay and Johnny, in an episode aired on November 18, 1947 on the DuMont network. The first television couple to share a bed when the actors were not married in real life was Samantha and Darrin Stephens of Bewitched, on October 22, 1964. Mary Kay and Johnny was probably the first situation comedy broadcast on television in the United States. ... The DuMont Television Network was the worlds first commercial television network, beginning operation in the United States in 1946. ... This article is about an American television sitcom. ...


In popular culture

  • The soap opera As the World Turns did a mini-spoof of The Munsters called "The Munsonsters" as a part of their 50th anniversary celebration on March 30, 2006. Character Hal Munson played Herman, Barbara Ryan played Lily, Dr. Bob Hughes played Grandpa, Jennifer Munson played Marilyn, and Will Munson played Eddie. Spot was also shown and mentioned.
  • The Munsters is one of the most merchandised shows of all time compared with other similar TV shows. There is over 1,000 officially merchandised items made by Ideal, Mattel, Hasbro, and other big name companies. With products ranging from magic slates, games, shirts, puzzles, dolls, records, books, music boxes, model kits, rub ons, paint by numbers, color by numbers, magazines, cars, cards, castex sets, plates, trays, paper dolls, TV guides, sticker fun books, coloring books, puppets, rings, mugs, cups, colorforms, pencils, photos, magnets, buttons, pins, cupcakes, sodas, and hundreds of thousands of other items.
  • The Munsters have always been featured in Cracked magazine Halloween editions, most of which feature a photograph with a balloon caption.
  • In the closing credits for an episode of MTV's Pirate TV, Eddie Munster performs a guitar solo while smoking a cigarette. This may be in reference for Butch Patrick being in a band called Eddie and the Monsters. The band released a single, "Whatever Happened to Eddie?"
  • Animal Planet named Spot, the family pet, as one of its 50 greatest TV animals. Spot was a fire-breathing Tyrannosaurus Rex living under the staircase.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... The first TIME cover devoted to soap operas: Dated January 12, 1976, Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes of Days of our Lives are featured with the headline Soap Operas: Sex and suffering in the afternoon. A soap opera is an ongoing, episodic work of fiction, usually broadcast on television... As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ... is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Harold Hal Todd Munson, Jr was a character on the American soap opera As The World Turns. ... For the Alaska Airlines Flight 261 passenger, see that article Barbara Ryan is a fictional character in an American soap opera, a resident of Oakdale in As the World Turns. ... Dr. Robert Bob Hughes. ... Jennifer Munson Donovan (aka Jennifer Louise Munson Donovan) is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. ... Will Munson (born William Harold Ryan Munson) is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. ... iDEAL is an Internet payment method in The Netherlands, based on online banking. ... Mattel headquarters in El Segundo Mattel Inc. ... Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) is an American toy and game company. ... Cracked Mazagine issue 31 - September 1963 Cracked was one of Americas oldest surviving national satire and humor magazines. ... This article is about the holiday. ... This article is about the original U.S. music television channel. ... Pirate TV was a show on MTV that premiered January 26, 1990. ... Animal Planet, launched in 1996, is a cable and satellite television network co-owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. ... Binomial name Tyrannosaurus rex Osborn, 1905 Synonyms Manospondylus gigas Dynamosaurus imperiosus Dinotyrannus megagracilis Nanotyrannus lancensis? Tyrannosaurus (IPA pronunciation or ; from the Greek τυραννόσαυρος, meaning tyrant lizard) is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur. ...

DVD releases

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has released both seasons on DVD: Universal Studios Home Entertainment (formerly Universal Studios Home Video or MCA/Universal Home Video) is a home video company founded in 1979. ...

Title Region 1 Region 2 Additions
Season 1 August 24, 2004 October 17, 2005
  • Original un-aired pilot
Season 2 October 25, 2005 May 1, 2006
  • America's First Family Of Fright
  • Fred Gwynne: More Than A Monster
  • Yvonne De Carlo: Gilded Lady
  • Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa
Seasons 1 & 2 (Closed Casket Collection) not available October 8, 2007

is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 281st day of the year (282nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Notes

  • Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher. (1964). The Munsters. Hollywood: Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS).
  • Munsters, The Complete First and Second Seasons [DVD Commentary]. (2005). Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
  • The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane

References

  1. ^ According to Al Lewis in a 2001 interview with Pittsburgh radio's Doug Hoerth, Beverley Owen was troubled by the separation from her boyfriend, who stayed in New York City, and on petitions from Al Lewis and Fred Gwynne was let go by the studio.

External links


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