Posted by Harris Lentz in OBITS by Harris Lentz, III on November 7th, 2009

Composer Vic Mizzy wrote the classic theme songs for the 1960s television comedy series The Addams Family and Green Acres. His best known work commenced with a “buh-buh-buh-bump” – two finger snaps – another “buh-buh-buh-bump”, and the opening verse “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re altogether ooky – the Addams family.” Mizzy sang, overdubbing his voice three times, and played the harpsichord himself for the theme. He also directed the title sequence where the actors who played the Addams clan where instructed to snap their fingers in a bored fashion. He also retained the publishing rights to the theme, which remained profitable throughout his life.

Mizzy was born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 9, 1916, and began playing musical instruments as a child. He began writing songs after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Mizzy began working in television in the late 1950s, scoring the Shirley Temple’s Storybook productions of The House of the Seven Gables and The Terrible Clockman. He also wrote music for the television series Moment of Fear and Captain Nice, and penned the catchy theme for the 1965 rustic comedy Green Acres.

He also worked in films, scoring William Castle’s psychological horror The Night Walker (1964), and the comedy thrillers The Busy Body (1967) and The Spirit Is Willing (1967). Mizzy was also the composer of choice for several of Don Knotts comedies including The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), The Reluctant Astronaut (1967), “The Shakiest Gun in the West” (1968), The Love God? (1969), and How to Frame a Figg (1971).

He also scored the 1977 television revival Halloween with the New Addams Family, and the provided the music for the Addams clan’s 1960s rivals with The Munsters’ Revenge in 1981. Late in his career he was hired by director Sam Raimi to provide outtake music for the DVD release of the films Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3.

Mizzy died of heart failure at his home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles on October 17, 2009, at the age of 93.

Written by Harris Lentz III