Vic Mizzy

Composer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his two-and-a-half hour Archive interview, Vic Mizzy (1916-2009) describes composing two of the most recognizable television theme songs of all time, for the series The Addams Family and Green Acres. Regarding The Addams Family, Mizzy talks about directing the main title sequence and writing motifs for the characters. He discusses meeting Charles Addams and working with the actors and producer David Levy. Regarding Green Acres, Mizzy talks about the concept for the opening titles and working with the lead actors and creator Jay Sommers. Mizzy also recalls his early years as a songwriter with Irving Taylor and later Mann Curtis. He speaks about and sings some of the lyrics for several of his hits including, "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time." Mizzy also talks about his other work in television on the series Shirley Temple's Storybook, Kentucky Jones, and The Pruitts of Southampton. Additionally, he discusses working on feature films such as the Don Knotts comedy vehicles of the '60s and '70s and his work with William Castle. B-roll consists of two photos (Mizzy at MGM and on the set of Green Acres) and a Charles Addams cartoon, as well as Mizzy in person playing his two well-known theme songs at his organ. Karen Herman conducted the interview in Bel-Air, CA on March 29, 2004.

"You better know when to stay out. That's the secret about good film scoring."

Highlights

Vic Mizzy plays the theme to Green Acres

00:32

Vic Mizzy on writing the theme song for The Addams Family and directing the main title

03:50

Vic Mizzy on scoring and writing the theme song to Green Acres

03:24

Vic Mizzy on scoring The Munsters' Revenge

00:25

Vic Mizzy on how he'd like to be remembered

03:56

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his childhood and early interests; on his early talent with instruments and being a piano prodigy; on becoming a Boy Scout

On wanting to be a composer; on attending NYU and writing songs and scripts for the school's varsity shows; on winning an amateur hour on radio's The Fred Allen Show

On writing songs with Irving Taylor; on publishing songs; on serving in the Navy's welfare recreation office during World War II; on composing songs that became hits during the war; on staying state-side to play the organ rather than getting shipped overseas

Chapter 2

On playing the organ for the Navy during World War II and falling ill

On scoring The Richard Boone Anthology for Mark Goodson; on scoring Kentucky Jones and The Addams Family

On his early memories of television and participating in experimental television; on one of his first composing jobs: Moment of Fear; on scoring Klondike

On composing for Shirley Temple's Storybook

On writing the theme song for The Addams Family and directing the main title

Chapter 3

On the promotional reel for The Addams Family; on working with the cast; on Carolyn Jones' death; on creating motifs for the show

On a typical work week scoring The Addams Family; on memorable episodes; on The Addams Family reunion special

On the music at the end of an Addams Family episode; on The Addams Family movies; on the legacy of The Addams Family theme song

On scoring and writing the theme song to Green Acres

Chapter 4

On working with Eddie Albert on Green Acres; on instrumentation on the show and working with the creator, Jay Sommers

On a typical scoring session on Green Acres; on the musical legacy of the show; on how he figures out when to put music into a scene

On scoring the Movie-of-the-week The 13th Gate; on composing for Kentucky Jones, Pruitts of Southampton, Double Life of Henry Phyfe, Captain Nice, and The Don Rickles Show

On composing for feature films; on working with William Castle

Chapter 5

On scoring films and getting a song in MGM's "Easy To Love"

On scoring the television movies The Deadly Hunt, Terror on the 40th Floor, The Perils of Pauline, Hurricane, and The Million Dollar Rip-Off

On scoring the series Temperature Rising, Quincy, M.E., and The Munsters Revenge

On then-current projects - scoring "Spiderman"; on the role of music in a TV show; on how the business of film scoring has changed over the years; on advice to aspiring composers

On colleagues with whom he's worked over the years; on his style

Chapter 6

On his musical style and conducting style; on the highlight of his career and career regrets

On how he'd like to be remembered

B-roll of photos from his career; live performances of the themes to The Addams Family and Green Acres by Vic Mizzy

Shows

Addams Family, The

Vic Mizzy on composing for The Addams Family

02:55

Vic Mizzy on writing the theme song for The Addams Family and directing the main title

03:50

Vic Mizzy on the music for the promotional reel for The Addams Family

04:05

Vic Mizzy on working with the cast of The Addams Family

02:29

Vic Mizzy on working with Carolyn Jones on The Addams Family and attending her funeral

02:29

Vic Mizzy on meeting Charles Addams, creator of the original cartoon of The Addams Family

01:30

Vic Mizzy on creating motifs for The Addams Family

01:15

Vic Mizzy on creating musical themes for The Addams Family

00:33

Vic Mizzy on his use of the harpsichord for musical themes in The Addams Family

00:52

Vic Mizzy on a typical work week scoring The Addams Family

01:35

Vic Mizzy on memorable episodes of The Addams Family

00:59

Vic Mizzy on Charles Addams and the rights to the theme of The Addams Family

00:45

Vic Mizzy on The Addams Family reunion special

01:00

Vic Mizzy on the music at the end of an Addams Family episode

00:55

Vic Mizzy on The Addams Family movies

02:43

Vic Mizzy on the legacy of The Addams Family theme song and rights through ASCAP

01:22

Vic Mizzy on a cartoon of The Addams Family, by Charles Addams

01:08

Vic Mizzy plays the theme to The Addams Family

01:10

Captain Nice

Vic Mizzy on composing the pilot and theme for Captain Nice

00:26

Don Rickles Show, The

Vic Mizzy on scoring The Don Rickles Show and appearing on camera

01:15

Double Life of Henry Phyfe, The

Vic Mizzy on composing for Double Life of Henry Phyfe

01:00

F Troop

Vic Mizzy on passing on composing for F-Troop

00:31

Fred Allen Show, The

Vic Mizzy on winning an amateur hour on the radio version of The Fred Allen Show

01:15

Green Acres

Vic Mizzy on scoring and writing the theme song to Green Acres

03:24

Vic Mizzy on the instrumentation and knowledge about the show used to create the theme song to Green Acres

01:29

Vic Mizzy on working with Eddie Albert on Green Acres

01:47

Vic Mizzy on the instrumentation for Green Acres

01:52

Vic Mizzy on working with Jay Sommers, the creator on Green Acres, and the cancellation of the show

01:46

Vic Mizzy on working with Paul Henning on Green Acres

00:41

Vic Mizzy on a typical scoring session on Green Acres

00:57

Vic Mizzy on the musical legacy of Green Acres

01:28

Vic Mizzy on a photo of him teaching the actors the theme to Green Acres

00:35

Vic Mizzy plays the theme to Green Acres

00:32

Kentucky Jones

Vic Mizzy on NBC executive Felix Jackson asking him to score Kentucky Jones

00:57

Vic Mizzy on composing the theme for Kentucky Jones

01:46

Vic Mizzy on working with a problematic director on Kentucky Jones

00:44

Munsters' Revenge, The

Vic Mizzy on scoring The Munsters' Revenge

00:25

Petticoat Junction

Vic Mizzy on writing cues for Petticoat Junction

00:15

Pruitts of Southampton, The

Vic Mizzy on composing for Pruitts of Southampton

01:25

Vic Mizzy on composing the theme for Pruitts of Southampton

01:57

Quincy, M.E.

Vic Mizzy on scoring Quincy, M.E.

00:27

Shirley Temple's Storybook

Vic Mizzy on composing for Shirley Temple's Storybook

03:19

Temperatures Rising

Vic Mizzy on scoring the series Temperature Rising

01:00

Topics

Advice

Vic Mizzy on advice to an aspiring composer

00:58

Historic Events and Social Change

Vic Mizzy on serving in the Navy's welfare recreation office during World War II - working on films and writing shows

03:53

Vic Mizzy on composing songs that became hits during World War II

01:52

Vic Mizzy on playing the organ for the Navy during World War II and falling ill

08:36

Hollywood Blacklist

Vic Mizzy on not having any involvement with the Hollywood Blacklist

01:01

Industry Crossroads

Vic Mizzy on not having any involvement with the Hollywood Blacklist

01:01

Pop Culture

Vic Mizzy on writing the theme song for The Addams Family and directing the main title

03:50

Vic Mizzy on the legacy of The Addams Family theme song

01:22

Vic Mizzy on scoring and writing the theme song to Green Acres

04:53

Vic Mizzy on composing the theme for Kentucky Jones

01:46

Vic Mizzy on composing the theme for Pruitts of Southampton

00:34

Vic Mizzy on the role of music in a TV show

01:37

Vic Mizzy plays the theme to The Addams Family

01:10

Vic Mizzy plays the theme to Green Acres

00:32

TV Theme Songs

Vic Mizzy on writing the theme song for The Addams Family and directing the main title

02:24

Vic Mizzy on the legacy of The Addams Family theme song

01:22

Vic Mizzy on scoring and writing the theme song to Green Acres

04:53

Vic Mizzy on composing the theme for Kentucky Jones

01:46

Vic Mizzy on composing the theme for Pruitts of Southampton

00:34

Vic Mizzy on the role of music in a TV show

01:37

Vic Mizzy plays the theme to The Addams Family

01:10

Vic Mizzy plays the theme to Green Acres

00:32

Television Industry

Vic Mizzy on not having any involvement with the Hollywood Blacklist

01:01

Vic Mizzy on advice to an aspiring composer

00:58

War

Vic Mizzy on serving in the Navy's welfare recreation office during World War II - working on films and writing shows

03:53

Vic Mizzy on composing songs that became hits during World War II

01:52

Vic Mizzy on playing the organ for the Navy during World War II and falling ill

08:36

World War II

Vic Mizzy on serving in the Navy's welfare recreation office during World War II - working on films and writing shows

03:53

Vic Mizzy on composing songs that became hits during World War II

01:52

Vic Mizzy on playing the organ for the Navy during World War II and falling ill

08:36

Professions

Composer

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Vic Mizzy on wanting to be a composer when he was a kid

02:02

Vic Mizzy on how he figures out when to put music into a scene

01:37

Vic Mizzy on the role of music in a TV show

01:37

Vic Mizzy on how the business of film scoring has changed over the years

01:26

Vic Mizzy on how technology has affected scoring

00:23

Vic Mizzy on advice to an aspiring composer

00:58

Vic Mizzy on his style

01:01

Vic Mizzy on his musical style

02:30

Vic Mizzy on his conducting style

00:51

Music Professionals

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Vic Mizzy on wanting to be a composer when he was a kid

02:02

Vic Mizzy on how he figures out when to put music into a scene

01:37

Vic Mizzy on the role of music in a TV show

01:37

Vic Mizzy on how the business of film scoring has changed over the years

01:26

Vic Mizzy on how technology has affected scoring

00:31

Vic Mizzy on advice to an aspiring composer

00:58

Vic Mizzy on his style

01:01

Vic Mizzy on his musical style

02:30

Vic Mizzy on his conducting style

00:51

Genres

Comedy Series

Vic Mizzy on writing the theme song for The Addams Family and directing the main title

02:24

Vic Mizzy on working with the cast, scoring and writing the theme song to The Addams Family

23:50

Vic Mizzy on scoring and writing the theme song to Green Acres

04:53

Vic Mizzy on composing for Green Acres

08:46

Vic Mizzy on composing for Pruitts of Southampton

04:11

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

Vic Mizzy on writing the theme song for The Addams Family and directing the main title

02:24

Vic Mizzy on working with the cast, scoring and writing the theme song to The Addams Family

23:50

People

Charles Addams

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Vic Mizzy on meeting Charles Addams, creator of the original cartoon of The Addams Family

01:30

Vic Mizzy on a cartoon of The Addams Family, by Charles Addams

01:08

Eddie Albert

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Vic Mizzy on scoring and writing the theme song to Green Acres

03:24

Vic Mizzy on working with Eddie Albert on Green Acres

01:47

Fred Allen

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Vic Mizzy on working with Fred Allen

00:13

John Astin

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Vic Mizzy on working with John Astin on The Addams Family

00:55

Vic Mizzy on composing music for John Astin for the promotional reel for The Addams Family

00:22

Richard Bare

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Vic Mizzy on working with Richard Bare

00:15

William Castle

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Vic Mizzy on working with William Castle

00:57

Perry Como

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Vic Mizzy on working with Perry Como

00:33

Jackie Coogan

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Vic Mizzy on composing music for Jackie Coogan for the promotional reel for The Addams Family

00:31

Phyllis Diller

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Vic Mizzy on composing the theme for Pruitts of Southampton

00:38

Vic Mizzy on composing for the Phyllis Diller movie "Did You Hear The One About The Traveling Saleslady?"

00:49

Vic Mizzy on composing the theme for Pruitts of Southampton

00:34

Eva Gabor

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Vic Mizzy on scoring and writing the theme song to Green Acres

03:24

Mark Goodson

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Vic Mizzy on scoring The Richard Boone Anthology for Mark Goodson

02:30

Vic Mizzy on scoring the pilot Legal Eagle

02:09

Paul Henning

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Vic Mizzy on working with Paul Henning on Green Acres

00:41

Felix Jackson

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Vic Mizzy on NBC executive Felix Jackson asking him to score Kentucky Jones

00:57

Carolyn Jones

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Vic Mizzy on working with Carolyn Jones on The Addams Family and attending her funeral

02:18

Vic Mizzy on composing music for Carolyn Jones for the promotional reel for The Addams Family

00:23

Dave Kahn

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Vic Mizzy on working with Dave Kahn

00:20

Don Knotts

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Vic Mizzy on working with and composing for Don Knotts

00:57

Andre Kostelanetz

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Vic Mizzy on working with Andre Kostelanetz

00:17

Gypsy Rose Lee

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Vic Mizzy on working with Gypsy Rose Lee on Pruitts of Southampton

01:23

David Levy

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Vic Mizzy on scoring The Richard Boone Anthology for Mark Goodson

02:30

Vic Mizzy on composing for The Addams Family

02:55

Vic Mizzy on writing the theme song for The Addams Family and directing the main title

03:50

Vic Mizzy on David Levy casting The Addams Family and other shows

00:49

Lisa Loring

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Vic Mizzy on working with child actor Lisa Loring, "Wednesday Addams" on The Addams Family

00:45

Nat Perrin

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Vic Mizzy on working with Nat Perrin

00:21

Frank Sinatra

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Vic Mizzy on working with Frank Sinatra

01:17

Jay Sommers

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Vic Mizzy on scoring and writing the theme song to Green Acres

03:24

Vic Mizzy on working with Jay Sommers, the creator on Green Acres

01:46

Vic Mizzy on Jay Sommers wanting lots of interstitial music on Green Acres

00:26

Shirley Temple

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Vic Mizzy on composing for Shirley Temple's Storybook and composing "The Enchanted Melody"

03:19

Lana Turner

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Vic Mizzy on dancing with Lana Turner at a barbeque hosted by Carolyn Jones

00:40

Frederic Ziv

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Vic Mizzy on scoring Ziv's Klondike

00:42