Did I imagine this or not. I first saw the show on our local station back in the early 1970s. I was taken aback when I saw the pilot episode "My Fair Munster" and its different theme song sequence. It caught me completely off guard. Many of you have seen it in the Munsters Lost Pilots video. But here's the odd thing. I remember seeing another alternate take of the sequence altogether. It began with Herman and Grandpa sitting on the stairs, then Lily walking over to them. Did I dream this? Would anyone know if a take like this was actually filmed in 1964 and used in syndicated runs in the early 1970s?

Believe it or not, there are actually 4 versions of "My Fair Munster"!

Three pilots, the first in color featuring Joan Marshall, the second in Black & White featuring Joan Marshall, and a third featuring Yvonne De Carlo.

Then there's episode # 2 of The Munsters, which is actually pilot # 3 thats been used again.

In the video "The Monsters, The Munsters Unaired Pilots, TV Commercials and Promos" is a segment of the Yvonne DeCarlo version of the pilot with added scenes and dialog, bits of alternate takes of dialog, and a different creepy music score. The sequence of Grandpa in the basement is an alternate take from start to finish. Could this be the one I saw years ago with the alternate theme song sequence of Herman and Grandpa sitting on the stairs? That sequence doesn't appear on the video.
On Ebay once, someone was selling a 16mm film of the Joan Marshall pilot and this person included some stills. They were from the black and white version but they were alternate takes, shot from different angles not seen in the black and white Joan Marshall pilot. The black and white version of the Joan Marshall pilot on those Munsters lost pilot videos were just the color footage converted to black and white. Is it possible that they actually did film it completely over again in black and white?
Our cups runneth over in Munsters pilots here.

All I know is this...

Pilot #1
In the Spring of 1964, a color pilot was made featuring Joan Marshall and Happy Derrman.

Pilot #2
Later that Spring, Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher took that Pilot and added a few cut scenes to it and threw in a closing theme at the end of this new pilot. Then, copied it onto Black & White film.

Pilot #3
Still CBS hated it, so Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, fired Joan Marshall and Happy Derrman, and were replaced by Yvonne De Carlo and Butch Patrick. Then, they filmed a new THIRD version of "My Fair Munster".

The series was picked up by CBS.

Episode #1 aired on September 24th, 1964. The episode was titled "Munster Masquerade".

Then, Joe and Bob had to come up with Episode #2. So they took pilot #3, and they had to reshoot all the Eddie scenes, because in pilot #3 Eddie did not have a widows peak. So, with Episode #2 now complete, they aired it on CBS on October 1st, 1964.

****************************************************

Now, I want to get back to talk to you about Pilot #3.

Pilots of The Munsters have been sold by numerous manufacturers, which means somehwhere along the line, somebody fooled around with Pilot #3's music and has made it sound different from the original Pilot #3. But we will know what Pilot #3's real music sounds like, because Universal says they'll put that in as an "extra" in Season 2's DVD Box Set.

The Yvonne DeCarlo pilot, with the Eddie scenes reshot with the widow's peak and the traditional theme song sequence inserted, is all you get to see on television. Whether it was WTBS, WOR, Nickelodeon or TV Land. Even the recent Season 1 DVD release uses it. The Munsters Lost Pilots video has the original cut of the DeCarlo pilot, complete with the alternate theme song and Eddie without the widow's peak. Years ago, WPIX in New York would show that version.
You may notice that I'm obsessed with the Munsters pilot episodes!

There also seems to be two versions of episode 2. When Herman goes to the Raven, and it tells him what time it is, Herman polishes/breaks his pocket watch. In one version it makes a grandfather clock ding dong noise, and in another it makes the noise of breaking glass.

In reply to the question about the pilot featuring different music and alternate scenes. This pilot also had an alternate opening which is different from the aired season one opening. Although it is different, it doesn't show Herman and Grandpa sitting on the stairs. Although I have no idea why, a local station may have created their own opening to the show when it was shown in syndication and used a clip from one of the existing episodes.

That alternate opening you describing is in the various Munsters pilots videos. WPIX in New York showed that version. It starts with Herman stepping down from the first step with a zombie look on his face. Herman and Grandpa's makeup was creepy in the pilot. I love it. The theme song has a echo-sounding harpsicord.
Nowadays all you see of the pilot in syndication is what Munster1 described, the producers did a reshoot in 1964 to remove footage of Eddie without the widow's peak. And you see and hear the traditional theme song sequence.
Inspector Jack, that color photo you use on your post, is it from the Munsters view-master?

no, it is a picture i colorized

A nice job done. I've developed the hobby myself recently when I started tinkering with photo programs. I got tired of waiting for the show to be colorized and got into a colorizing kick. I've done a number of them and I'm working on more.
Here's one, it needs more work.

Could you colorize this one for me?

I'll try working on it. You'll notice that my pictures that I've posted on this site are what I took off the television. I have some photos that I've colorized that came off the Internet which actually turned out even better. I didn't want to post them because there could be some conflict about using other people's website pictures.

Thank You for colorizing my picture.

But back to the episodes...

Do you mean to say that you have colorized some Munsters episodes?

I also have this picture. It is not colorized, it is an actual color photo.

No, it just the still photographs that I do. I'm a babe in the woods when it comes to this. The people who've done the colorization of film and video, Bless them, it's way past my knowledge.
I would love to see those Munsters episodes colorized.

http://www.munsterkoach.com/images/MUNS12a.jpg

This is the Munsters comic #12. It's nearly the same picture.

Happy holidays,
Dirt
MunsterKoach.com (http://www.munsterkoach.com/)

Here is an early Season 1 color photo of Herman.

Here is the family in "Munster, Go Home!".

Here is the family again, but now in "The Munsters' Revenge".

I'm still working on that photo you wanted colorized. Meanwhile, I've posted another colorized photo that I did a while ago in the photo gallery.

I saw the one you colorized, the one with Herman opening the door. And I must say, EXCELLENT JOB!!!

Munster 1,
The photo you wanted colorized. The background was difficult and some of the strings on the harp got lost in the malay.
Thanks for your compliment on Herman at the door. Another colorized photo has been posted there at the photo galleries.

Besides the harp strings and some watermarks, you did a very good job!!!

Here's also a nice green pic of Herman and Grandpa from "Munster, Go Home!".

My first shot at colorization:

http://www.munsterkoach.com/images/Grandpa1b.jpg

More later...

Happy holidays,
Dirt
MunsterKoach.com (http://www.munsterkoach.com)

Wow, really good. What program did you use? And which episode is that from?
You're not seeing my very best ones because, like I posted before, I'm being careful about not using the ones that I got from websites. They came out the best.

Glad you liked it! It took longer than I thought it would, but was fun anyway. Trying different colors and transparency degrees to make it look right. :)

I don't remember which episode it was from, but it is the first season, (it's a screen cap from the DVD.)

I'm using an old program called Micrografx Picture Publisher 8. I believe the company that made it was bought out by Corel. I keep the old program, (and will as long as it works,) because it's what I know how to use. I have Adobe Elements, but I haven't worked with it enough to know my way around.

Painted this a couple years back. It was already color. I just added the exaggerated Santa hats, the tree, bows and the snow.

http://www.munsterkoach.com/images/ChristmasBanner1a.jpg
Happy holidays,
Dirt
MunsterKoach.com (http://www.munsterkoach.com)

dirtprod,
So I guess you have a dvd player on your computer, then. Could you get screenshots from the DeCarlo pilot episode and post them here? Then I'd have some high quality images to colorize and be able to post here, with your permission.

Is there are site where I can download the thing that makes B&W photos color?

By the way, that screen shot must be from episode 33. Lily Munster, Girl Model.

Laugh30;
My laptop has one, but not my desktop. However, I don't have the DeCarlo bio-show on DVD.

Munsters#1;
Try searching for image editors on Downloads.com (http://www.downloads.com). I don't know what's out there these days. You might be able to find a free-ware one, but most have a trial period then a 'buy it if you like it' type thing. Good luck finding one that you can figure out! Shouldn't be too difficult...

Happy holidays,
Dirt
MunsterKoach.com (http://www.munsterkoach.com)

I have two Lily pics.

Here's another.

Dirtprod, what DVD player do you have on your computer? None of mine will let me take screenshots.

BL;

I think the program is called Power DVD. But, I don't have the laptop set up at the moment. I'll see if I can dig it out and find out the exact name version number. Might be a few days...

Munsters#1;

http://www.munsterkoach.com/images/1965lily1a.jpg

http://www.munsterkoach.com/images/1966lily1a.jpg

Hope they are to your liking...

Happy holidays,
Dirt
MunsterKoach.com (http://www.munsterkoach.com)

dirtprod,
You do an incredible job with the colorizing. They're better than mine. Someone looking at your colorized photos, not knowing they were colorized, would think they were shots taken with color film.

Thanks! I just try to make them look like they were color to begin with. I think that's the whole idea, though, isn't it...

The problem I have is it takes me so long to find what I think looks right. Oh, well...

Here's the latest one, hope you like it!

http://www.munsterkoach.com/images/H-S-G-G-1.jpg

(BTW: The reason I made Herman/Fred's hand flesh-tone is they hardly ever put make up on his hands, just painted his fingernails. They did make them up for Munster, Go Home, but rarely for the series. I'm, of course, guessing that it wasn't made up here, either. I made it both ways, but this looked, 'righter'.) :)

Happy holidays,
Dirt
MunsterKoach.com (http://www.munsterkoach.com)

I do know, that in The Munsters' Revenge, they had a hard time making the make-up on Herman's hands stick. You can see in a few scenes, where Herman touches something, some make-up will be left on whatever he touched.

I'll say it again, you make them look like real color photos. I'm using two different programs and my colorized stuff alot of the time looks like they're painted. I keep the "opacity" setting low, but I still can't make it look totally convincing.
You're good enough to do this as a profession.
I think that when the show first started they did apply the makeup to their hands but eventually gave up on it as the show progressed. Color still shots at the time of the early episodes I've seen on the Internet, they have their hands made up. I know the photos are from the early episodes because the makeup had a certain look and it got altered for later episodes.
My guess is toward the end of the first season they stopped bothering to make up their hands.

Here is one that I did not touchup in any way, shape, or form. In this photo, their hands and arms are very lightly made-up.

Yep, that's one of those early episodes. Beverly Owen being there is the clincher. I imagine it made handling their food at lunch an easier chore when they abandoned the makeup applications to their hands later on. It didn't effect us because we never got to see the show in color, only the theatrical film finale Munster Go Home.
Take a look at that stain glass window in the back. The show would of looked great in color!

You know what would really be a pain in the butt? Trying to eat chicken wings with green make-up on your hands! LOL :lol:

Okay, just one more...

http://www.munsterkoach.com/images/ColorCloseUp1a.jpg

Happy holidays,
Dirt
MunsterKoach.com (http://www.munsterkoach.com)

Kick-ass Dirtprod! Looks great!

Thanks, Munsters#1! It's fun, but time consuming... :) Glad you like them. I'll do some more later. I'm going to have to rewatch the DVD to get some good shots. I have some, but most are the cars and different parts of the house. The last one is one I grabbed for the Koach detail.

And the last one (for today anyway...)

http://www.munsterkoach.com/images/Kitchen1c.jpg

Happy holidays,
Dirt
MunsterKoach.com (http://www.munsterkoach.com)

Guys,

So what version of the pilot are we seeing on the DVD? Also, why does the pilot end after Grandpa makes the potion in his lab? Shouldn't there be more there? I was expected a full episode! Do you think Season 2, will give us the Yvonne Decarlo version of the pilot?

Jack

The Munsters made 3 pilots, 1 in color, the other 2 in black & white.

The Season 2 DVD set, will have the other 2 B&W pilots in it :-)

Please don't ask me to explain the pilots. It's confusing enough as it is. :crazy:

Jack1000;

The color pilot is included with the first season DVD collection. It was, as far as I know, the first one filmed.

The pilot was half an episode. That was all there was. It was never intended to be an entire episode. Actually, it was never intended to be seen by the public at all. It was only to show the network brass.

I'd guess it was only half an episode to leave the execs wanting more. Which apparently worked. (To some degree, anyway. Two more pilots were made, which led to a green light for the series. :D)

Happy holidays,
Dirt
http://www.munsterkoach.com/images/Christmasbanner.jpg (http://www.munsterkoach.com)

Here is a list of everything the original Munsters did from 1964-1966.

Presentation #1 - My Fair Munster
Presentation #2 - My Fair Munster
Pilot #1 - My Fair Munster

Season 1
1. Munster Masquerade
2. My Fair Munster
3. A Walk on the Mild Side
4. Rock-a-Bye Munster
5. Pike's Pique
6. Low-Cal Munster
7. Tin Can Man
8. Herman the Great
9. Knock Wood, Here Comes Charlie
10. Autumn Croakus
11. The Midnight Ride of Herman Munster
12. The Sleeping Cutie
13. Family Portrait
14. Grandpa Leaves Home
15. Herman's Rival
16. Grandpa's Call of the Wild
17. All-Star Munster
18. If a Martian Answers, Hang Up
19. Eddie's Nickname
20. Bats of a Feather
21. Don't Bank on Herman
22. Dance With Me, Herman
23. Follow That Munster
24. Love Locked Out
25. Come Back Little Googie
26. Far Out Munsters
27. Munsters on the Move
28. Movie Star Munster
29. Herman the Rookie
30. Country Club Munsters
31. Love Comes to Mockingbird Heights
32. Mummy Munster
33. Lily Munster, Girl Model
34. Munster the Magnificent
35. Herman's Happy Valley
36. Hot Rod Herman
37. Herman's Raise
38. Yes, Galen, There Is a Herman

Season 2
39. Herman's Child Psychology
40. Herman, the Master Spy
41. Bronco Bustin' Munster
42. Herman Munster, Shutterbug
43. Herman, Coach of the Year
44. Happy 100th Anniversary
45. Operation Herman
46. Lily's Star Boarder
47. John Doe Munster
48. A Man For Marilyn
49. Herman's Driving Test
50. Will Success Spoil Herman Munster?
51. Underground Munster
52. The Treasure of Mockingbird Heights
53. Herman's Peace Offensive
54. Herman Picks a Winner
55. Just Another Pretty Face
56. Big Heap Herman
57. The Most Beautiful Ghoul in the World
58. Grandpa's Lost Wife
59. The Fregosi Emerald
60. Zombo
61. Cyrano de Munster
62. The Musician
63. Prehistoric Munster
64. A Visit From Johann
65. Eddie's Brother
66. Herman, the Tire-Kicker
67. A House Divided
68. Herman's Sorority Caper
69. Herman's Lawsuit
70. A Visit From the Teacher

Feature film - Munster, Go Home!


*** JUST SO THAT NO ONE IS CONFUSED, A "PRESENTATION" IS ALSO KNOWN AS A "PILOT" ***


Don't forget my complete Munsters guide (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=117592).