The Addams Family

The Addams Family originated as a cartoon that appeared in the New Yorker magazine, in has become one of the most recognisable sets of comic characters in American pop culture. Melton, J. G. (1999). The Vampire Book. 2 ed. p.3-4
== History ==
The Addams Family was originally created by Charles S. Addams in the 1930s when he was a regular contributor to the magazine, and his early works were collated into the Drawn and Quartered anthology in 1942. The Addams Family comics took place in Addams' shared comic world, wherein he attempted to portray many bizarre, monstrous things in everyday settings. 
In 1964, the cartoons were adapted for television, wherein the characters were given names for the first time. Morticia Addams was played by Carolyn Jones, the family matriarch with long, black hair, a revealing skin-tight dress, and vampiric traits. She fits the character archetype of the vamp. Gomez Addams, a lawyer, was portrayed by John Astin. Their children, Pugsley and Wednesday, were played by Ken Weatherwax and and Lisa Loring, respectively. Uncle Fester was played by Jackie Coogan, Grandmama by Blossom Rock, and Lurch the butler by Ted Cassidy. Like the cartoon, the series focused on turning the bizarre into the norm, and then interacting with truly normal society. The first episode aired on ABC on September 18th, and the series lasted two seasons. Another ABC series, The Munsters, competed with it, starting and finishing at roughly the same time as The Addams Family. 
A television cartoon adaption was produced by Hanna-Barbera Studios, airing on Saturday Mornings starting in 1973, and a comic book adaption was also made by the same company from 1974, lasting three issues before it was cancelled. A film adaption with the original cast, Halloween with the Addams Family first aired on the 30th October 1977, but failed to revive the series properly. 
In 1991, Paramount Pictures released The Addam's Family, a film adaption staring Angelica Huston and Raul Julia and Morticia and Gomez Addams respectively. This film was a success, inspired two board games (The Addams Family Family Reunion Game, and The Addams Family Find Uncle Fester Game), a pinball game, a computer game, and two novelizations aimed at different age groups.
Another animated series, also created by Paramount, was released in 1992, with John Astin reprising the role of Gomez, while Morticia was voiced by Nanci Linari. 
A sequel to the 1991 film, Addams Family Values, was released in 1993, with the cast of the first film reprising their roles. 
There is a shared The Munsters and The Addams Family Fan Club for fans of both franchises. 
== Further Reading ==
* The Addams Family - The Official Poster Book
* "The Addams Family" in Epi-log 37, Anchors Jr. W.
* The Addams Family, Calmenson, S.
* The Addams Family, Faucher, E.
* "The Campaign for Addams Family Values" in Fangoria 129, Ferrante, A.
* The Illustrated Vampire Movie Guide, Jones, S.
* The Official Addams Family Magazine
* Addams Family Revealed: An Unauthorized Look at America's Spookiest Family, Van Hise, J.
== References ==
Category:The Vampire Book
Category:Pop Culture