“They’re creepy and they’re cookie, mysterious and spooky…” Click click. Brooklyn bornVic Mizzy once said “That’s why I’m living in Bel Aire. Two finger snaps and you’re living in Bel Aire”. Vic Mizzy, composer on The Addams Family Theme died on Saturday at the age of ninety-three.
This overview of his career his off his website:
“Shortly after, David Levy, now in California, invited Mizzy to score THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Filmways opted not to pay for singers on the show’s Main Title, so Mizzy sang it while overdubbing himself three times to give the impression of multiple vocalists. Next came GREEN ACRES for CBS which he scored for seven seasons, along with writing cues for MR. ED, PETTICOAT JUNCTION and many others.
“More luck arrived with Stanley Shapiro, the most successful producer and writer at Universal Studios, who literally bumped heads with Mizzy at the Beverly Hills Hotel swimming pool! One splash led to another as Shapiro arranged a meeting with Joe Gershenson, head of music at Universal. Gershenson immediately gave Mizzy the assignment to score THE NIGHT WALKER directed by William Castle and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor. Based on this score alone, Lew Wasserman, then-head of the studio told Gershenson to use Mizzy as much as possible. The request lead to many of Universal’s most memorable scores, including THE GHOST AND MR. CHICKEN, THE RELUCTANT ASTRONAUT, THE SHAKIEST GUN IN THE WEST, THE LOVE GOD, HOW TO FRAME A FIGG–all starring Don Knotts, and others. The producer of these films, Ed Montagne, became Mizzy’s friend and mentor on many of his other productions, including QUINCY, DELTA HOUSE and numerous movies-of-the-week.
“At MGM, Mizzy composed the scores for DON’T MAKE WAVES and EASY TO LOVE, and while at Paramount, he scored THE CAPER OF THE GOLDEN BULLS, THE BUSY BODY and THE SPIRIT IS WILLING. More TV followed, including THE DON RICKLES SHOW, THE DOUBLE LIFE OF HENRY PHYFFE starring Red Buttons, THE PRUITTS OF SOUTHAMPTON with Phyllis Diller, as well as DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT THE TRAVELING SALESLADY? Years later, renewed interest in Mizzy’s work lead to the CD release of VIC MIZZY – SUITES & THEMES, a compilation of the composer’s film and TV themes, followed by other releases including the complete scores to THE NIGHT WALKER, THE CAPER OF THE GOLDEN BULLS with THE PERILS OF PAULINE, and THE BUSY BODY with THE SPIRIT IS WILLING.”
That’s some career Vic had -a gifted composer of perfect jingles and light hearted soundtracks. Sorry he had to die before I tipped my hat. I wonder if the guy who wrote the Bonanza theme is still kicking…