Try Naming These Unidentified Actors Who Auditioned for "The Addams Family" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 09-16-2014, 11:12 PM

‘Addams Family’ Hopefuls: Photos From Auditions for a Classic TV Show

Addams Family auditions

Some familial surnames are so much a part of the American landscape that it’s difficult to discuss the country’s history, its highs and lows or its complex and often contradictory legacy without mentioning them. The Roosevelt family. The Kennedy family. The Addams family.

Consider the relevance and the cultural reach of the latter. Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Lurch and the rest have been around, in various incarnations, for eight decades. Created in the 1930s by the legendary cartoonist, Charles Addams (see below), the endearingly macabre family and assorted friends, neighbors and things have appeared in magazines (most notably The New Yorker), books, movies, on Broadway and, of course in a short-lived but fondly remembered 1960s TV series. A later, not-terrible animated series ran for a few seasons as a Saturday morning cartoon in the mid-Seventies.

Here, on the 50th anniversary of the broadcast premiere of the original TV series—it debuted on ABC on Sept. 18, 1964—LIFE.com takes a look back at the auditions for the show; some of the actors and actresses who ended up in the cast; and a number of others (largely unidentified in LIFE’s archives) who gave it their best shot, but evidently weren’t quite what producers had in mind.

paul.austin · 09-26-2014, 05:45 AM

The Wednesday on the far right in the picture of the three little girls is Tracy Stratford (The Loretta Young Show, The Twilight Zone, A Charlie Brown Christmas) who was one of the best child actresses of the 1960s. Given that Stratford was born in 1955 and Lisa Loring, who was eventually cast as Wednesday, was born in 1958, the producers must have been keeping their options wide open as to how old the character of Wednesday would be.

Zoneboy · 09-26-2014, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul.austin

The Wednesday on the far right in the picture of the three little girls is Tracy Stratford (The Loretta Young Show, The Twilight Zone, A Charlie Brown Christmas) who was one of the best child actresses of the 1960s. Given that Stratford was born in 1955 and Lisa Loring, who was eventually cast as Wednesday, was born in 1958, the producers must have been keeping their options wide open as to how old the character of Wednesday would be.

Good observation and a person on another message board also thinks it's Tracy. I looked again and I'm more convinced now that it is her. The boy trying out for Pugsley on the left in photo 14 looks like Kim Hector but I'm not certain. He was born in 1953 and Ken Weatherwax in 1955 so he's in the right age range if it's him. Here's a photo of him from The Twilight Zone .

paul.austin · 09-26-2014, 12:51 PM

Of the other two Wednesdays... one is definately Lisa Loring and the other one looks a lot like Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregard in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory).

comedyfreak · 09-27-2014, 04:55 AM

That was interesting the final choices were perfect.

09-16-2014, 11:12 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: 34,381	Try Naming These Unidentified Actors Who Auditioned for "The Addams Family" ‘Addams Family’ Hopefuls: Photos From Auditions for a Classic TV Show Addams Family auditions Some familial surnames are so much a part of the American landscape that it’s difficult to discuss the country’s history, its highs and lows or its complex and often contradictory legacy without mentioning them. The Roosevelt family. The Kennedy family. The Addams family. Consider the relevance and the cultural reach of the latter. Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Lurch and the rest have been around, in various incarnations, for eight decades. Created in the 1930s by the legendary cartoonist, Charles Addams (see below), the endearingly macabre family and assorted friends, neighbors and things have appeared in magazines (most notably The New Yorker), books, movies, on Broadway and, of course in a short-lived but fondly remembered 1960s TV series. A later, not-terrible animated series ran for a few seasons as a Saturday morning cartoon in the mid-Seventies. Here, on the 50th anniversary of the broadcast premiere of the original TV series—it debuted on ABC on Sept. 18, 1964—LIFE.com takes a look back at the auditions for the show; some of the actors and actresses who ended up in the cast; and a number of others (largely unidentified in LIFE’s archives) who gave it their best shot, but evidently weren’t quite what producers had in mind.
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09-27-2014, 04:55 AM	#5
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	That was interesting the final choices were perfect.
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09-26-2014, 05:45 AM	#2
paul.austin Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 22, 2012 Posts: 673	The Wednesday on the far right in the picture of the three little girls is Tracy Stratford (*The Loretta Young Show, The Twilight Zone, A Charlie Brown Christmas*) who was one of the best child actresses of the 1960s. Given that Stratford was born in 1955 and Lisa Loring, who was eventually cast as Wednesday, was born in 1958, the producers must have been keeping their options wide open as to how old the character of Wednesday would be.

09-26-2014, 12:51 PM	#4
paul.austin Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 22, 2012 Posts: 673	Of the other two Wednesdays... one is definately Lisa Loring and the other one looks a lot like Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregard in *Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory*).