"The Addams Family" and "Green Acres" Composer Vic Mizzy Dies at 93 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 10-19-2009, 06:46 PM

Vic Mizzy, who composed the indelible theme music for "The Addams Family" and "Green Acres" died Saturday in Los Angeles. He was 93.
For the "The Addams Family" theme, which became a long-remembered part of '60s pop culture, Mizzy played the harpsichord and sang the vocal parts (overdubbing his own voice three times) and coached the actors during the main-title sequence (including on-camera finger-snapping by the actors). The equally iconic "Green Acres" theme was performed by stars Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor. Mizzy also wrote all the underscore for both series. His theme for "Addams" was reprised in the 1990s feature films.

Although he was most famous for his sitcom music, Mizzy also had a number of top-20 hits in the late 1930s, '40s and '50s when he was active as a New York-based songwriter. Doris Day sang the most popular, "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time," in 1945.

Other hit songs included "There's a Faraway Look in Your Eye" and "Three Little Sisters," both sung by the Andrews Sisters; "Take It Easy," "Pretty Kitty Blue Eyes," "The Whole World Is Singing My Song," "Choo'n Gum," "The Jones Boy," "With a Hey and a Hi and a Ho-Ho-Ho" and others.

His TV career began around 1959, with music for "Shirley Temple's Storybook" and the themes for "Moment of Fear," "Klondike" and "Kentucky Jones."

"Addams" and "Green Acres" began a run of 1960s and '70s sitcom themes that also included "The Pruitts of Southampton," "The Double Life of Henry Phyfe," "Captain Nice," "The Don Rickles Show" and "Temperature's Rising." He also wrote underscores for TV's "Richard Boone Show" and "Quincy" along with several TV movies including "Terror on the 40th Floor."

His film scores included the William Castle films "The Night Walker" and "The Busy Body"; five Don Knotts films including "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken," "The Shakiest Gun in the West," "The Reluctant Astronaut," "The Love God?" and "How to Frame a Figg"; and others including "The Caper of the Golden Bulls," "Don't Make Waves" and "Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?"

Mizzy was born in Brooklyn and attended New York U. He played accordion and piano as a child and was virtually self-taught as a composer and orchestrator. Many of his song hits happened while he was serving in the Navy during WWII.

Survivors include a daughter, a brother and two grandchildren. Another daughter died in 1995.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Eden Memorial Park in Mission Hills, Calif.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryId=25&cs=1

catlover79 · 10-19-2009, 07:43 PM

His music was easily amongst the trademarks of those shows. It was unique and quirky, just like the shows. He will be missed!

browneyes106 · 10-19-2009, 08:57 PM

RIP Vic Mizzy. He created some good theme songs.

Scoobiedoo30 · 10-19-2009, 09:15 PM

R.I.P.

Zoneboy · 10-20-2009, 04:32 AM

MickeyMac · 10-20-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

His music was easily amongst the trademarks of those shows. It was unique and quirky, just like the shows. He will be missed!

You said it.

Bob's TV Treasures · 10-20-2009, 06:29 PM

The brilliant VIC MIZZY has passed on at the ripe old
age of 93. MOST famous for writing the ADDAMS FAMILY and
GREEN ACRES themes, he also wrote the TV themes for
THE DON RICKLES SHOW, DOUBLE LIFE OF HENRY PHYFE,
PRUITTS OF SOUTH HAMPTON and TEMPERATURE'S RISING.
Not to mention, the music for EVERY Don Knotts movie ever made.....
He will be missed.

Scoobiedoo30 · 10-20-2009, 09:05 PM

R.I.P.

Ohio8 · 10-21-2009, 07:40 PM

I read yesterday in my local paper that Filmways refused to pay for singers when Vic wrote the
"Addams Family" theme song.

TMC · 10-21-2009, 08:31 PM

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/...-dying-slowly/

As the Wall Street Journal notes, many of today’s TV themes are absent, completely forgettable, or painfully brief.

comedyfreak · 10-22-2009, 04:16 AM

He will surely be missed

10-19-2009, 06:46 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,467	"The Addams Family" and "Green Acres" Composer Vic Mizzy Dies at 93 Vic Mizzy, who composed the indelible theme music for "The Addams Family" and "Green Acres" died Saturday in Los Angeles. He was 93. For the "The Addams Family" theme, which became a long-remembered part of '60s pop culture, Mizzy played the harpsichord and sang the vocal parts (overdubbing his own voice three times) and coached the actors during the main-title sequence (including on-camera finger-snapping by the actors). The equally iconic "Green Acres" theme was performed by stars Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor. Mizzy also wrote all the underscore for both series. His theme for "Addams" was reprised in the 1990s feature films. Although he was most famous for his sitcom music, Mizzy also had a number of top-20 hits in the late 1930s, '40s and '50s when he was active as a New York-based songwriter. Doris Day sang the most popular, "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time," in 1945. Other hit songs included "There's a Faraway Look in Your Eye" and "Three Little Sisters," both sung by the Andrews Sisters; "Take It Easy," "Pretty Kitty Blue Eyes," "The Whole World Is Singing My Song," "Choo'n Gum," "The Jones Boy," "With a Hey and a Hi and a Ho-Ho-Ho" and others. His TV career began around 1959, with music for "Shirley Temple's Storybook" and the themes for "Moment of Fear," "Klondike" and "Kentucky Jones." "Addams" and "Green Acres" began a run of 1960s and '70s sitcom themes that also included "The Pruitts of Southampton," "The Double Life of Henry Phyfe," "Captain Nice," "The Don Rickles Show" and "Temperature's Rising." He also wrote underscores for TV's "Richard Boone Show" and "Quincy" along with several TV movies including "Terror on the 40th Floor." His film scores included the William Castle films "The Night Walker" and "The Busy Body"; five Don Knotts films including "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken," "The Shakiest Gun in the West," "The Reluctant Astronaut," "The Love God?" and "How to Frame a Figg"; and others including "The Caper of the Golden Bulls," "Don't Make Waves" and "Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?" Mizzy was born in Brooklyn and attended New York U. He played accordion and piano as a child and was virtually self-taught as a composer and orchestrator. Many of his song hits happened while he was serving in the Navy during WWII. Survivors include a daughter, a brother and two grandchildren. Another daughter died in 1995. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Eden Memorial Park in Mission Hills, Calif. http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryId=25&cs=1
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10-19-2009, 07:43 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	His music was easily amongst the trademarks of those shows. It was unique and quirky, just like the shows. He will be missed!
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10-19-2009, 09:15 PM	#4
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	R.I.P.
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10-20-2009, 06:29 PM	#7
Bob's TV Treasures Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 12, 2004 Location: california Posts: 529	Vic Mizzy dies at age 93 The brilliant VIC MIZZY has passed on at the ripe old age of 93. MOST famous for writing the ADDAMS FAMILY and GREEN ACRES themes, he also wrote the TV themes for THE DON RICKLES SHOW, DOUBLE LIFE OF HENRY PHYFE, PRUITTS OF SOUTH HAMPTON and TEMPERATURE'S RISING. Not to mention, the music for EVERY Don Knotts movie ever made..... He will be missed.

10-21-2009, 07:40 PM	#9
Ohio8 Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 29, 2003 Location: Wherever you aren't. Posts: 18,967	I read yesterday in my local paper that Filmways refused to pay for singers when Vic wrote the "Addams Family" theme song.
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10-19-2009, 08:57 PM	#3
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	RIP Vic Mizzy. He created some good theme songs.

10-20-2009, 04:32 AM	#5
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,467

10-20-2009, 09:05 PM	#8
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	R.I.P.

10-21-2009, 08:31 PM	#10
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 127,102	"Addams Family" song writer's death is a reminder that TV theme songs are dying http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/...-dying-slowly/ As the Wall Street Journal notes, many of today’s TV themes are absent, completely forgettable, or painfully brief.

10-22-2009, 04:16 AM	#11
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	He will surely be missed
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