Farewell composer Vic Mizzy
As 2009 winds down I want to remember some people whose passing I hadn’t noted yet.
In this 2004 photo released by Johathan Wolfson shows Vic Mizzy at his home in the Bel Air area of Los Angeles. The Brooklyn-born songwriter who wrote the catchy theme songs to The Addams Family and Green Acres, but also dozens of #1 pop hits has passed away in Los Angeles Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. He was 93. (AP Photo/Micah Smith)
Americans of all ages are familiar with Mister Mizzy’s wonderful work. Not only was he a gifted composer he was a shrewd business man. A rare combo of talents for sure. He lived to a ripe old age living in Bel Air, not bad for a Brooklyn boy. I’m sure he is missed by fans, friends and family. For more on Vic Mizzy including some of his other infectious and cheery tunes go to www.vicmizzy.com.
He wrote Addams Family, Green Acres theme songs
www.winnipegfreepress.com | Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — Vic Mizzy, a songwriter who composed the catchy themes for the 1960s TV comedies The Addams Family and Green Acres, has died. He was 93.
Mizzy died Saturday at his home in Bel Air, his manager Jonathan Wolfson said. He said he didn’t know the cause of death.
He wrote songs that were recorded by Dean Martin, Doris Day, Perry Como and Billie Holiday in the ’40s and ’50s. His hits included Pretty Kitty Blue Eyes, My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time, and With a Hey and a Hi and a Ho-Ho-Ho.
But his most famous work was the theme to The Addams Family, a tune accented by finger snaps and opening with the cleverly quirky lyrics: “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re altogether ooky: the Addams family.”
Mizzy sang the song himself and overdubbed it three times to give the impression of multiple vocalists. He also directed the title sequence where he asked actors who played members of the Addams family to snap their fingers in a bored way.
The enduring tune is often heard during sports games to rally the home team.
“He was smart enough to demand to own the song, which was unheard of at the time. So any time you go to a Lakers game and they play that song, he made money,” Wolfson said.
He is survived by a brother, daughter and two grandchildren.
– The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 21, 2009