I really like it when I stumble upon something cool right out of the blue. I said that about this interesting 1974 interview with Christopher Lee, and now I’ve found something else that was just too good not to share.
I certainly never intended to write another Addams Family post so soon after the last one. In fact, I didn’t think there’d be an occasion to write about them ever again. But one of the best received features of my previous Addams Family post was the behind the scenes images of the actresses other than Carolyn Jones who auditioned for the role of Morticia.
You don’t recognize this photo from the other post? That’s because it’s a new shot. One of many wonderful unpublished images (from LIFE Magazine’s archives) that I found today. All are obviously from 1964 — the year “The Addams Family” hit the airwaves.
Most of the actors/actresses in these photos are unidentified. But Twilight Zone fans won’t need any help with this first image.
On the left is Lisa Loring, the actress who would successfully go on to play Gomez and Morticia’s daughter Wednesday. But do you recognize the girl on the right? That’s two-time Twilight Zone actress Tracy Stratford — she played Christie Streator in the classic episode “Living Doll” (1963) (“My name is Talky Tina!”), and then again in the terribly annoying “Little Girl Lost” (1962) as Tina Miller. We’ll never know why Tracy lost out to Lisa, but if I had to venture a guess, I’d say it was probably her irritating voice. ;P
This is a lovely shot of a very pretty unknown Morticia-hopeful going over her lines.
Potential Pugsleys. Ken Weatherwax (who won the role) is on the right. The kid at the top reminds me so much of Paul Teutul Jr. from American Chopper…
The much sweeter looking Blossom Rock is the Grandmama we all know and love, but this actress put her best wart, er, foot forward and auditioned for the role too. She is just so creepy. More “House of Frightenstein” than “Addams Family”, I think.
Old-man Lurch? Yeah, they tried that.
“This Lurch looks too dopey…”
“This Lurch looks too dead…”
“This Lurch has no lips…”
“This Lurch is just right!”
And let’s not forget this unidentified Uncle Fester (update: This is character actor Stanley Adams — how appropriate a name!) …
… who looks as if he wants to suck your brain out of your face.
I swear he’s probably lisping here. “Thisth isth just tho FABULOUTH!” O_o
Wasn’t that neat to see what the Addamses MIGHT have looked like? Some weird looking characters, but I got such a kick out of these images and hope you did too.
A second post changes nothing though, you understand? I’m still Munsters 100%. Me and Bo Duke. He’s a Munsters person too. Yep. So there. (You’ll have to read the other post to get the reference.)
GREAT post, GF! And not just because I’m Team Addams. I mean, the very thought of different actors and actresses in these iconic roles? Frankly, that’s more horrific than the horror-movies types they were spoofing in the first place! Every pic is just so wrong.
I know they had to audition people to see who DID work, but wow — Lurch NOT played by Ted Cassidy? Uncle Fester NOT portrayed by Jackie Coogan? It’s unthinkable. You might as well audition people’s FEET to play Thing! O_o
You know how I love behind-the-scenes facts, and this one is loaded with that. I really enjoyed it. Keep up the good work! :)
Thanks, Boss! I have to admit, your enthusiasm for this post really put a smile on my face. It was truly a spur of the moment one, which as you well know, is NOT common for Ms. Type A Personality over here. But when I saw these great images? They were just too good to pass up! Especially when I saw the TZ connection. :)
And you’re right — every picture is just SO wrong. It really is! What I like best about seeing audition photos like this is that it makes you realize just how important casting decisions are. It’s obvious that a lot of time and thought goes into choosing JUST the right actor/actress for a particular role. I mean, John Astin and Carolyn Jones just CLICK. And so do all the other actors too.
You know, that’s something else these great old shows can boast that modern TV shows can’t, at least not nearly as often — the casting is perfect. Barbara Billingsley WAS June Cleaver. Al Lewis WAS Grandpa Munster. It all just WORKED. In contrast to today where we get a show like “Constantine”. The story was great. The idea was excellent. Visually, it looked marvelous. But the lead actor? He was just too flat and boring. He wasn’t what the character should have been for the show. It was obvious from the first episode. I wanted to like it so badly, I SHOULD have liked it, but I just couldn’t get into it b/c of that actor/character. And he was a GOOD actor! It’s not that he wasn’t talented. But that role was just not for him.
Anyway, glad you liked this behind the scenes special. I’ll certainly be on the lookout for others I can do in the future. :)
I think they made all the right choices even though she only said “mommy” and “mommmeeeeee” and “can I take Tina outside”, her voice was annoying. It it’s a good thing they made the right choices (a real good thing) because I’m also on Team Adams…and Pepsi, just sayin.
Oh, it really was, wasn’t it? Like nails on a chalk board! :P And yes, ha! A real good thing indeed! Hey, at least we can both agree on Captain Picard over Captain Kirk, right?
Yes Wendy – Picard over all the other captains. I even like Earl Grey tea (but not too hot).
Tracy Stratford was mostly dubbed by an adult in “Little Girl Lost”. Rhonda Williams if i remember correctly.
She was mostly dubbed in “Little Girl Lost” by Rhoda Williams, yes (not Rhonda, but you were so close!) Good memory!
Tracy Stratford was physically a pretty and beautiful little girl. She just had the misfortune of a voice for silent movies.
Ha, yes, that’s so true!
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The unidentified Fester was character actor Stanley Adams.
Ah, thanks, Randy! I’ll update the post!