Ghoulish Facts You Might Have Missed About ‘The Munsters’
When the producers of the television series Leave It To Beaver had the opportunity to make another show, they didn't go for the traditional nuclear family look that worked for them before. Instead, they took a chance and The Munsters was born. The show, which first aired on September 24, 1964, only aired for two seasons but was immensely popular and lived on in syndication.
It's been more than 50 years since the show aired and a lot of behind-the-scenes facts have come out over time. Take a look back at all the hijinks the actors and others were engaged in, where they are now, and some facts that even the most die-hard fans don't know.
Why Was The Show Shot In Black-And-White?
In 1965, it was announced that half of all network television would be airing shows in color. That didn't happen for The Munsters, which continued to air its episodes in black and white.
A number of theories seek to explain why this was the case. Some believe it was a simple case of economics — the studio didn't want to pay for a color television series and opted to do so for other shows instead. Another theory suggests that the black-and-white feel of the show made it less scary to children and that if they saw The Munsters in color they'd be frightened. The pilot episode of the show was filmed in color, but many believe the black-and-white choice was a good one — in many ways, it makes the show feel just like an old-timey monster film!
The Munsters Drove A Model T
A television series wasn't a hit or considered a success in the 1960s unless it had a vehicle to go along with it, serving almost as a member of the cast on its own. For The Munsters, that vehicle was The Munster Koach, a fixed-up Model T Ford that had many add-ons.
Designed by Tom Daniel (for a whopping $200), the vehicle was constructed at Barris Kustoms (fitting, seeing that both Kustoms and Koach began with a "K"). The 1926 Model T measured 18 feet long — too much car for most normal folk, but for Herman Munster, it was just the right fit!
Grandpa Munster Had To Buy His Car Illegally
While most TV series of this era had an iconic car that the characters rode in, The Munsters actually had two! Grandpa Munster had his own set of wheels to get around in — the Drag-U-La, which was customed designed, with a real coffin by the same person who designed the Munster Koach, Tom Daniel.
The coffin was paid for in cash by the studio in secret, because in North Hollywood it was against the law at the time to buy a coffin without first obtaining a death certificate. Sadly, the Drag-U-La only appeared in use for one episode of The Munsters — but it did appear in the end credits scenes for much of the second season of the show.
A TV Couple, Sharing A Bed?
In the early days of television, it was scandalous to discuss anything related to "relations" married couples might be having. Even though it's not uncommon for married couples to (gasp!) express their love in physical terms. Even alluding to this was considered risque and to ensure nobody got the wrong ideas, TV shows had married couples depicted sleeping in separate beds before retiring for the evening.
The Munsters was one of the first programs that bucked that trend. It was definitely a bit controversial for that time! But as Lily and Herman Munster laid in bed together, other programs further down the line started to do the same...because, after all, it was what real American married couples were doing.
Gwynne Had Three Credited Roles On The Show
Fred Gwynne performed extra roles on the show besides his character of Herman Munster. In addition to playing the father figure role on the show, Gwynne also played Herman's twin brother, Charlie.
That wasn't the only extra role that Fred Gwynne picked up while working on the set of The Munsters. Besides Herman and Charlie, Gwynne also played the rejected monster created by Doctor Frankenstein. The monster on the show was named "Johann" — true to form, as the original Frankenstein's monster is not named "Frankenstein." It takes some amazing talent to play three separate characters, and Gwynne was definitely the right person for the job! The scene pictured above is of Gwynne portraying a "disfigured" Herman.
Two Of The Stars Worked Together On A Different TV Comedy
Fred Gwynne, who played Herman Munster, and Al Lewis, who played Grandpa, were actually paired up on a different comedy that aired just before the first episode of The Munsters. They also worked together in a program called Car 54, Where Are You? There was clearly a strong chemistry between the two actors, as the show won the 1962 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directoral Achievement in Comedy. The show was also nominated for several other Emmy awards that year, demonstrating that there was a lot of talent on Car 54.
However, the show didn't win awards for those nominations, as the show was going against other classic programs like The Bob Newhart Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show. Still, the way Gwynne and Lewis showcased their raw comedic talent on Car 54 was a foreshadowing, in ways, of how well they'd interact together on The Munsters when that program began.
Al Lewis And Yvonne De Carlo Were Close To The Same Age
As previously mentioned, Al Lewis portrayed Grandpa Munster on the show's two-season run. His character's daughter, Lily Munster, was portrayed by actress Yvonne De Carlo. A little bit of stage make-up to make Lewis look older helped a smidgen here...
Lewis was born in 1923. De Carlo, by contrast, was born in 1922. That means that Lewis, who played the father to the matriarch of The Munsters, was actually a year younger than his co-star, who played his television character's daughter! It's amazing what the world of Hollywood can make us believe with just a little bit of stage make-up to make one of these characters appear older.
Beverley Owen Was The First Marilyn Munster
Marilyn Munster, who is the niece of Lily Munster, was portrayed by Beverley Owen from the first episode through episode 13. Her character was from Transylvania, but it's never discussed why she came to live with The Munsters. Her appearance is considered "normal" — although many fans of the show considered the blonde very beautiful, the family is distressed by her "plain" looks that they feel make her unattractive.
Owen left the show after the first thirteen episodes due to her difficulties in acting after a bad breakup with her boyfriend at the time. It was said that she would interrupt filming of the show by crying on the set. Marilyn Munster was later played by actress Pat Priest.
Beverley Owen Later
Beverley Owen left The Munsters after being unable to perform her role without acting emotionally over a breakup with her boyfriend at the time. She didn't stop acting, however, and went on to perform many roles.
She went on to marry the writer and producer of The Munsters, Joe Stone. She performed in a 1964 movie called Bullet for a Badman, and a 1971 television series called Another World. Afterward, Owen decided to leave the big and small screen, and focus on stage performances, which she did for many years with the Cambridge Theatre Company in New York. Beyond acting, Owen earned her master's degree in 1989. In 2019, Owen died from ovarian cancer.
Grandpa's Lab Looked Like Frankenstein's For A Reason
Monster films tend to have a look and feel that are familiar with audiences. Certain tropes and frames are a constant — a few Bunson burners, bubbling liquids, and usually brick masonry in the background. The Munsters was no different, but if the scene work looked a little more familiar in some places, there's a good reason for that.
The lab where Grandpa Munster worked in was designed and built by special effects technician Kenneth Strickfaden. His work was likely beloved by fans of the show, but he's worked on 100 other films as well — including the 1931 film Frankenstein. No wonder it looked so "real!"
The Herman Munster Costume Was Painfully Hot
Getting into character for any actor is a difficult process that typically requires understanding their motivations and feelings about a particular scene. For Fred Gwynne, it was that, and much more. Getting into and staying in his costume was an excruciating thing, causing his body to overheat at times and even melting his makeup off of his face.
In between takes while filming The Munsters, crew members of the show would attempt to help Gwynne out by shooting cool air into his arms sleeves. That provided a little bit of relief, but it was still reportedly a grueling role to take on!
Fred Gwynne Played Herman Munster
All of the family members on The Munsters might have looked like creepy monsters but on the show were light-hearted, sweet, and kind individuals. Herman Munster was the epitome of that kind and caring attitude in spite of his resemblance to Frankenstein. Portrayed by Fred Gwynne, the role is the one he is most famous for.
Sometimes Herman can revert to his monster-like tantrums, but typically these are more childish than frightening, resulting in him throwing up his arms and roaring a bit. More often, Herman demonstrates his devotion to his family, even if he does fall for some schemes by others once in a while.
Fred Gwynne's Later Acting Career
Fred Gwynne continued to act after The Munsters series ended, following a two-seasons run, in 1966. It was difficult at first for the actor, because Gwynne couldn't shed the Herman Munster image — he had been typecast to play the role of a monster. But that didn't last forever — eventually, he was cast to play a normal, non-monster human in the television version of Arsenic and Old Lace.
In his later years, Gwynne took on smaller parts but acted all the way up to his death in 1993. He played Judge Chamberlain Haller in the critically acclaimed My Cousin Vinny, for example.
Yvonne De Carlo, Lily Munster
Lily Munster, portrayed by Yvonne De Carlo, is the perfect partner to compliment Herman Munster. Though supportive of her husband, she frequently reminds him not to fall for any more schemes that come his way (even though he always, inevitably, does). She also acts as a peacemaker between Herman and her father Grandpa Munster.
She sometimes expresses her anger out loud, but she's also the voice of reason, the matriarch of the family on The Munsters. She shows genuine affection for her son and niece. Much like "typical" television mothers of the time, she helped them out with problems, doing out advice when needed, as well.
Some Actors Were Worried About De Carlo's Casting
It might be hard to believe (due to her amazing abilities portraying Lily Munster), but some of the other actors on The Munsters doubted that Yvonne De Carlo had the talent to perform the role. Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis were not particularly thrilled when they first heard that their co-star was going to be De Carlo, who at the time was more adept at drama and glamorous movies than the comedy genre they had already established themselves in.
It's clear that their qualms were mistaken — De Carlo played the part perfectly, injecting an added bit of humor wherever she was asked to do so.
Yvonne De Carlo In Later Years
As noted earlier, De Carlo was born in 1922. By the time she landed the role of Lily Munster, she was in her 40s and already had a stellar acting career beforehand. She continued to take on roles in movies and television series, but The Munsters was closer to the end of her on-screen career.
She did remain active in Hollywood up until 1995. She appeared in Arizona Bushwhackers and Hostile Guns, both western-themed parts. She also had a role in the thriller movie The Power. In 1967, however, De Carlo shifted gears a bit, focusing on live theater roles. She appeared in the musical Catch Me If You Can, and also in Little Me. De Carlo also appeared in Munster reunion shows, such as The Munsters' Revenge in 1981. In 2007, De Carlo died of heart failure, at age 84.
Al Lewis Portrayed Grandpa Munster
The incredibly sarcastic Grandpa Munster was portrayed by Al Lewis. Grandpa is the father of Lily Munster, who is a vampire. Grandpa, therefore, is also a vampire, as evidenced by a name he's sometimes referred to — Count Sam Dracula. In the series, he runs a laboratory out of the family's basement.
Plot lines from the show frequently featured Grandpa Munster up against his son-in-law, but it wasn't always the case that the two were at each other's throats. Sometimes, they'd conspire together in some of their schemings. At the end of the day, even though they fought a lot, Grandpa Munster and Herman were family.
Al Lewis After The Munsters
Al Lewis didn't mind being typecast in the years after The Munsters went off the air, and he frequently played parts that were "grandpa" roles — although, to be honest, most of these didn't feature him as a count or a vampire. Still, he had a career that went well beyond his Grandpa Munster character.
He played bit roles in They Shoot Horses, Don' They? and They Might Be Giants. He also had a small role on Lost In Space in one of that series' episodes. Sadly, in 2006, Lewis passed away from natural causes. In an odd but humorous move, he was cremated, and his ashes were placed inside his favorite cigar box.
Butch Patrick as Eddie Munster
Eddie Munster is the son of Herman Munster, who is reminiscent of Frankenstein's monster, and Lily Munster, who is a vampire. But for some reason, Eddie, portrayed by Butch Patrick, is part-vampire and part-werewolf. Something doesn't line up here...
Eddie Munster is a typical boy in elementary school within The Munsters. The only difference? His monster-esque qualities, such as sleeping in a chest's drawers, his widow's peak, and his blatant vampire/werewolf features. He also thinks highly of his father, Herman, whom he regularly volunteers to partake in heroic actions outside of his ability to do so. Just like a typical kid might do...
The Munsters Comic Book
The Munsters had their very own comic book — but it almost couldn't happen. In 1954, the Comics Code Authority banned the depiction of vampires in comics, determining them to be too frightening or not appropriate for children to read about. That didn't stop The Munsters from getting their own comic book series, however!
From 1965 to 1968 (more years than the actual series ran), Gold Key Comics published The Munsters, which even included picture stills from the TV series. How did they get away with it? Gold Key wasn't an official member of the Comics Code Authority, and so didn't have to abide by their rules.
Beyond (And Reprising) Eddie Munster
Butch Patrick had a long career beyond The Munsters. While filming on that show, he also appeared in the series My Three Sons from 1962 to 1971. After The Munsters ended, he appeared in a number of other network shows, including I Dream of Jeannie and The Monkees. He's even made an appearance on The Simpsons, where he was animated as an adult version of himself, dressed in his Eddie Munster attire.
Patrick is still working in Hollywood to this day. He had roles in 2015's Zombie Dreams as well as Bite School — where he reprised Eddie Munster in both movies. Hey, it's a living!
Pat Priest As Marilyn Munster (After Episode 13)
Pat Priest took over the role as Lily Munster's niece Marilyn after Beverley Owen was fired from The Munsters after episode 13. Priest, who bore a striking resemblance to Owen, continued to play the role to the series' end, portraying Marilyn from episode 13 to episode 70.
After the end of the program, Priest continued landing small parts on shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including on Mission: Impossible, Perry Mason, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and several small character roles on Bewitched. She formally retired from acting in the 1980s, but continues to attend some nostalgia-themed events for The Munsters, and even appeared in the made-for-TV movie Here Comes The Munsters. She was diagnosed with lymphoma in the 2000s, but is currently in remission.
How Pat Priest Got The Role
The character of Marilyn Munster was originally portrayed by Beverley Owen, but when she was fired a replacement was needed to fill her shoes — and her wardrobe. As it turned out, a big reason why Pat Priest got the role wasn't her looks (although she definitely fit the part very well), but rather her height and size.
Priest was the exact same height and very close to the same fitting for dress sizes that Owen was when she played the character. This was very helpful for the costume department! That said, her acting chops were superb as well. All that was needed to help her fit the role perfectly? A blonde wig.
Mel Blanc As The Raven
The character of Charlie the Raven (sometimes referred simply to as "The Raven") was a direct reference to the poem by Edgard Allen Poe — its catchphrase was even taken straight out of that poem, as it would come out of the cuckoo clock and say "Nevermore!"
Mel Blanc, one of the world's most famous voice actors, had over 400 distinct voices he could perform. He was the perfect role to cast as The Raven for The Munsters (though sometimes, the bird was voiced by Bob Hastings). He voiced characters on various programs, usually animated, beyond The Munsters, including The Flinstones, The Jetsons, and Looney Tunes (he's the voice of Bugs Bunny, too). Blanc died in 1989, but his voice work lived on through 1992, as new episodes of The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show aired through that year.
Two Actors Performed The Voice Of Charlie The Raven
Bob Hastings was a well-known actor and voice actor when The Munsters began. He was recognizable in public for his character of Elroy Carpenter on McHale's Navy. But his voice was noticeable, too, on several animated programs.
Hastings performed the voice of Charlie The Raven on The Munsters — at least, he did so in a part-time capacity. The role was primarily performed by legendary voice artist Mel Blanc, but Blanc's busy schedule (he did the voices of Bugs Bunny and most of the other Looney Toons), Hastings filled in to perform the duties of the Raven on the show, singing out his classic catchphrase: "Nevermore!"
The Munsters and The Cleavers Were Practically Neighbors
As the show was created by the same people who also created Leave It To Beaver, it's inevitable that some connections between the two shows might exist. In one example, the two houses that are shown as the exteriors of the homes of the Cleavers and the Munsters are on the same real-life street. The Munsters home can still be visited by fans to this day.
The home cost $1,000,000 to renovate in order to become Munster mansion, and is located today in Universal City at Universal Studios. It's also showcased in other television programs over the years, including Coach and Desperate Housewives.
The Show Wasn't A Rip Off
Many fans of a similar show to The Munsters many allege that the program copied them. The Addams Family, it turned out, aired at the exact same time, debuting in the same season that The Munsters did. Did either of the two shows rip off the other?
No, in fact — the two shows debuted on separate networks without them knowing that they had somewhat of the same idea (a nuclear family with darker connotations). The Addams Family was admittedly more popular than The Munsters was, but that doesn't mean the latter show didn't have merits on its own — it provided laughter about a family of monsters that was original, and different in many ways, from its counterpart.
The Pilot Never Aired On TV (And Had Different Actors)
There was indeed a pilot episode of The Munsters — it never aired on network television, and it was filmed in color. The decision to shoot in black and white was made later, after producers got the network to sign onto the program.
Other differences abound. Some of the actors who later portrayed the family weren't in the pilot, such as Fred Gwynne and Yvonne De Carlo. Another interesting fact? The character of Lily Munster was originally named Phoebe. Who knew! Even though color television shows dominated television thereafter, many fans appreciated the black and white look of the hit monster show.
Not The First Choice
Other roles for the show were not the first picks for the producers of The Munsters. Grandpa Munster was originally asked to be played by Bert Lahr, who famously played the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard Of Oz. Bill Mumy was also asked to play Eddie Munster, and John Carradine was requested to play the character of Herman Munster.
It'd definitely be quite the changeup in roles! Luckily, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, and Fred Gwynne landed these roles instead. We believe that they played them perfectly, and wouldn't make any changes to the cast, were we given such a choice.
Gwynne Was An Artist With the Harvard Lampoon
Fred Gwynne had a background in comedy. Besides starring in Car 54, Where Are You? Gwynne was also a cartoonist at Harvard and served as president at the infamous Harvard Lampoon, the school's satirical magazine. That publication went on to become a national one (hence, the National Lampoon), and from there produced comedic movies of its own.
Beyond the National Lampoon movies, there have been comic books, TV shows, records and other comedic media produced by the company over the years. Gwynne didn't play a direct role in that enterprises rise, but he definitely helped it out by drawing doodles at Harvard.
The Munsters Cheerios Commercial
Many TV shows' characters endorse products, and The Munsters was no different. One of the items the actors advertised, in character, was the popular cereal Cheerios. The commercial featured Eddie narrating several classic scenes from the show, showing him making mistakes around the house.
According to Eddie (in the commercial), his daddy "gets his go" from his Cheerios. New scenes, filmed specifically for the commercial, featured Gwynne as Herman Munster enjoying a bowl of the cereal at the breakfast table. The commercial worked — and not just because Herman calls them "the greatest thing since bat wings!"
Appearing In The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
They were only on for two full seasons, but The Munsters garnered enough popularity to be involved in the biggest parade of the year. An invitation to The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is nothing to sneeze at: such an invite isn't just given out to anyone, and if you're asked to attend, it's because the organizers think the people want to see you.
Only Fred Gwynne (Herman) and Al Lewis (Grandpa) of The Munsters attended the soiree — in full costume and makeup, of course. But they did so with great fanfare, standing on the back of the Munster Koach. Even though there were monsters parading down the streets of New York, they undoubtedly got a ton of applause from their fans!
Home, Sweet Home
There were a lot of fans of The Munsters — the invite to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the commercials they filmed are just a small testament to that. Their fans, too, demonstrate that the show had etched a place in the hearts of millions — including the actions of their super fans, who sometimes went over the top with their fandom!
Enter Charles and Sandra McKee of Waxahachie, Texas. The couple loved the show immensely — so much that they decided they wanted to actually live in the same home as the Munsters did. They obviously couldn't buy the house, located in Universal City at Universal Studios, so they did the next best thing: they built their own replica of the Munster mansion, which is almost a complete, spot-on replica of the home. Now that's how you become a #1 fan!
Munster, Go Home! The Munsters' Movie
The show was canceled in 1966, but before the cancellation was announced, The Munsters made a movie for television called Munster, Go Home! All of the cast members make an appearance in the short film, which is really just a longer version of a regular Munsters episode with a more involved plot. Oh, and there's one more noticeable difference: it was shot in color!
The movie involves Herman Munster being informed that he's inheriting a fortune from a distant British Earl, who is his uncle. When the family travels to the United Kingdom, they also discover an illegal counterfeiting scheme.
A Munsters Board Game, And Other Odds And Ends
Merchandise from many 1960s television series made its way into the homes of families across America, mostly for the benefit of kids (lunch boxes, coloring books, and more). Shows like Batman and The Monkees had many items up for sale — and The Munsters had quite a bit of memorabilia, too..
There were a lot of Munsters items that could be bought, including dolls, card games, T-shirts, board games, even a replica of the house in which The Munsters lived in. It's likely that, if you own any of these items (and if they're still in good condition), they're worth a lot of money now!
People Wanted More Munsters
The Munsters were popular in the 1960s, but the show got canceled after only two seasons. Still, people loved the characters, and their made-for-TV movie made them even more popular. To help continue this love for the show, another television reunion episode called The Munsters Revenge was aired in 1981, and featured Gwynne, De Carlo, and Lewis in it.
There was even a revived television series: The Munsters Today. It had nearly the same number of episodes that the original series had but was spread out across three seasons instead of two. Two more movies were made in the 1990s, including a Christmas special.
Al Lewis Opened A Restaurant
Al Lewis took on many roles after being Grandpa Munster in the series, but they weren't just limited to television or movies. Some were more professional and "real" — and in 1987, Lewis took on the role of restaurateur! In Greenwich Village, New York, Lewis opened up Grampa's Bella Gente, an Italian restaurant that stayed open up until 1993.
Fans of the show or of Lewis frequently went to the venue in hopes of seeing him in person — and they were often treated to such a sight, as Lewis often greeted customers right up to their tables. The logo for the restaurant was also drawn up by co-star Fred Gwynne. It was a side profile of Lewis, dressed in his vampire outfit from The Munsters. But that wasn't the only role outside of acting that Lewis took on...
Grandpa Al Lewis Runs For Governor
Al Lewis's next move was in politics. In 1998, he ran for governor of New York, on the Green Party ticket. He attempted to run using a familiar moniker from his past — as Grandpa Al Lewis — but the board of elections rejected that request. Lewis received 52,000 votes, just over 1 percent of the vote. Though losing the election, his efforts helped guarantee the Green Party would be automatically placed on the ballot for the next four years.
Lewis's politics skewed to the left. He was a proponent of legalizing marijuana, as well as reforming the police departments in the state by addressing complaints of police brutality. He also pushed for prison reform, during and after his election.
Leave It To Beaver And The Munsters Connection
Viewers of The Munsters are probably already aware of this fact, but the show isn't incredibly different from others at the time involving a family. They faced the same situations as others did, albeit with a few small differences (their monster abilities helped out once in a while).
There's a reason why the show was similar to others, especially one in particular: the individuals who produced The Munsters also produced Leave It To Beaver. The writing for the show followed a simple philosophy: write what you know. And the writers knew how to be part of families. Thus, even a show about monsters and ghouls had a very special feel to it.
The Characters Gave Them An Advantage Against The Addams Family
Though both shows were original creations (neither ripped off the other), The Munsters had an advantage over The Addams Family: Universal Television, which produced The Munsters, owned the copyrights to the monsters featured on the program. That meant other shows (The Addams Family and others) couldn't use the likenesses of Dracula, the Wolf Man, or Frankenstein without paying a fee.
This forced The Addams Family to come up with their own set of characters, which television viewers didn't always relate to. The tropes behind Grandpa and Lily being vampires, Eddie being a werewolf, and Herman bearing a likeness to Frankenstein's Monster, however, had already been long-established, and were relatable (in a way) to the viewing public.
