In 1964 through 1966, I was just starting junior high school. I was 15 years old and was really into the old Universal Studios monsters. Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, Dracula and all the rest were the craze of the 1960s. At the time, these monsters were actually around 30-years old as the movies were made in 1931 and after. But there were now monster magazines and model kits on the market that featured all of these creatures.

I built the models, I bought the magazines and I watched the old films on the late show on TV. In the Akron, Ohio area there was a show on late night Fridays that was hosted by Ghoulardi. Television host, Ernie Anderson played Ghoulardi, a guy with a small paste-on beard, wild hair and sunglasses with one lense missing. Yeah, I know, it was stupid. But it was Our Kind of stupid. Many cities all over the country had these shows with various hosts throughout the '60 and '70s. They were fun. The highlight was an old black and white monster or sci-fi movie.

Each of these show's hosts had a gimic. Ghouldardi's was blowing up models and dolls with fire crackers. Back then it was normal for kids to watch monster movies and these hosts. There was no reference to sex, drugs, language or any of the crap that modern day television displays. Just good fun.

As the monster craze grew in the 1960s, two TV shows were introduced in 1964 that were based around them. One was the Addams Family which featured A family of ghouls who lived in an old Victorian mansion and lived their daily lives in very strange ways. The other show was called The Munsters.

The Munster family were different than the Addams Family. The Munsters were actually real monsters. Well, on the show they were. The father was Herman Munster who was the Frankenstein monster, his wife, Lilly was a vampire. Grandpa was also a vampire and Herman and Lilly's son, Eddie Munster was a werewolf. Cousin Marilyn was the strange one as she was completely normal, but not to them.

The Munsters were a normal, everyday family all but the fact that they were monsters. Herman worked at the local funeral parlor, Grandpa had a lab in the basement pretty much the way that regular men at the time had workshops in theirs's. Lilly was a standard housewife who cooks for the family and dusted the furniture...with actual dust. Eddie was in grade school and Marilyn was attending college. Just a regular suburban family living in an old house at 1313 Mockingbird Lane along with their pet, Spot, a fire breathing dragon and their coo-coo clock raven. The family's telephone was in a casket that acted as a phone booth and their staircase raised up which is where Spot stayed.

The show was created by the same guy who started another popular show of the times called Leave It To Beaver. And the funny part was that the two shows were pretty much the same except for the monster aspect.

I couldn't wait to get home on Thursday afternoons, have dinner and then get ready in the living room for the Munsters. I was never a big fan of the Addams Family, though I did really like their butler, Lerch. But I was a big fan of the Munsters. Everything about the show stood out. The old mansion with it's cobwebs, trap doors and dark features. The family with their way-out costumes and the cars, oh yeah, the cars. Hollywood car designer and builder, George Barris, the same guy who brought us the Batmobile, Monkee Mobile and the ever popular, Green Hornet's Black Beauty, built two of the craziest autos for the Munsters. The Munster Koach was a weird sort of hearse design and Grandpa's Drag-U-La was a dragster built around an old burial casket. The show was shot in black and white which highlighted the old 1930s monster film effect. The makeup for the characters was flawless. The makeup artists for the show really did their best work. The scene and prop people were fabulous. The show, for only a two season run, featured many of the popular character actors of the times.

The Munsters show ran for only two seasons. It was in the top ratings until another show called, Batman hit the air. Batman took the Munster's ratings. WHY? Batman was probably the top worst show on TV at the time. But it went crazy and people loved it. So, the Munsters was buried in the ratings and soon fell victim to the networks. Only 70-episodes of the show were produced.

However, over the years and with the show going into syndication, it has grown and grown in popularity and is still broadcast today and watched by millions of viewers. Sadly, only two of the original players are still alive at this writing. Butch Patrick who played son Eddie Munster and cousin Marilyn actress Pat Priest. They attend conventions throughout the year and make appearances here and there. The others are all gone now. The house is gone to. Well, the original house that is. The old mansion on Universal's back lot street has been remodeled over and over for other productions. The two cars are still around. And no doubt, a few of the props may well be in collections around the world being sold on eBay and other auction sites.

The 1960s was a great time for television. We had so many wonderful TV shows to watch. Every night was full of great entertainment. From the doctor shows, dramas, comedies and variety shows, to the horror and comic monster programs. We today have taken away beggar's night after dark. We are careful not to expose our children to monsters and creatures. We have tried very hard to protect them from anything sinister. And look at the problems with the youth today. Now the kids are running around with guns...real guns. They have no problem cussing you out and have committed some of the worst crimes in the news. Maybe some good old-time monster movies and magazines would have helped. It sure did in the 1960s.

In this blog we look at the Munsters TV show. How it was filmed, the people behind the show from the cast and crew to the creators. We will look over the house and the cars and will see the behind-the-scenes antics of the actors and crew. If you've watched the re-runs of the show lately, you should enjoy this blog. So, sit back, relax and see Herman and his family live their "normal" lives on Mockingbird Lane. But be careful and keep your bedroom windows closed and locked. Grandpa may come by to get a bite on your neck.