Vic Mizzy, prolific TV and film composer, passed away this week at age 93. Best known for The Addams Family and Green Acres themes, his work was widely heard on TV sitcoms throughout the 60s and 70s.
It was a common practice in those days to set up a show's premise in the opening credits. America was introduced to the "creepy and kooky" Addams Family with Mizzy playing the harpsichord and singing the lyrics himself. In an interview with the Archive of American Television, he revealed that he also conceived and directed the main titles for the show. The sitcom became a huge hit, as did the finger snapping theme.
The Addams Family success led to his being asked to write the Green Acres theme. Again, the story was laid out in the title sequence; the lawyer longing for the country battling his city-loving wife and finally ending up in Hooterville. Mizzy also created the themes for lesser known sitcoms such as ABC's The Pruitts of Southhampton and The Double Life of Henry Phyffe with Red Buttons. Phyllis Diller performed the Pruitts of Southampton theme and it's a hoot! This video defines the term, "over the top", with Ms. Diller appearing in a stunning array of 60s couture.
Mizzy branched out to film scores, most notably a trio of Don Knotts vehicles, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken", "The Reluctant Astronaut", and "The Shakiest Gun in the West". Percepto Records has released some soundtracks on CD with the best one titled "Vic Mizzy-Suites and Themes". It features an entertaining mix of his TV and film work, but unfortunately it is now out of print. If you can find a copy on Ebay, I highly recommend it.
One of the smartest business moves in Mizzy's career was retaining the complete publishing rights to the Addams Family theme. "After all", he said "two snaps got me a mansion in Bel-Air."
For a complete listing of Vic Mizzy's credits, check out his website.
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